On Monday, Sun Pictures officially unveiled their upcoming project featuring the iconic Rajinikanth. The film, tentatively titled “Thalaivar 171,” will be both penned and helmed by filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj.
One prevailing question that has piqued everyone’s curiosity is whether “Thalaivar 171” will be integrated into the LCU (Lokesh Cinematic Universe). This inquiry is particularly captivating because if this movie becomes a part of the LCU, it could potentially lead to a historic moment where Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, two Tamil cinema legends, share the screen together for the first time in decades. Such an occurrence would fulfill the dreams of countless fans.
Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, the titans of cinema.
When Rajinikanth made his entry into the Tamil film industry in the early 1970s, Kamal Haasan was already a prominent star. Rajinikanth began his career in minor roles in films headlined by Kamal Haasan before progressing to significant supporting and antagonistic roles. Eventually, he solidified his position as the quintessential hero of Tamil masala cinema. In their early careers, they shared the screen in over a dozen films. However, they later made a strategic decision to focus on their individual paths, cementing their legendary status.
As multi-hero starrers continue to be a crucial component of blockbuster films, the time appears ripe for a director to craft a movie that can accommodate both of these cinematic giants. Lokesh Kanagaraj possesses the necessary skills and market influence to make this monumental collaboration a reality.
Naturally, there is widespread curiosity about whether “Thalaivar 171” is part of the LCU (Lokesh Cinematic Universe), which already includes Karthi’s “Kaithi,” Kamal’s “Vikram,” and potentially Thalapathy Vijay’s “Leo.”
SR Prabhu of Dream Warrior Pictures further fueled speculation with his tweet, “Congratulations @Dir_Lokesh Keep rocking with new and exciting worlds!! The universe is with you.” As a producer of “Kaithi” and the upcoming “Kaithi 2,” Prabhu’s tweet raised the possibility that “Thalaivar 171” might belong to the same universe as “Vikram.”
However, there are also reports suggesting that “Thalaivar 171” might remain a standalone film with no ties to Lokesh’s cinematic universe. Rumor has it that Rajinikanth personally requested Lokesh to keep it separate.
As for “Leo,” which stars Vijay in the lead, Lokesh has kept the suspense alive, leaving fans guessing about whether it’s part of the LCU or not.
So, what’s your best guess?
