Pongal is one of the important festivals celebrated by the people of Tamil Nadu and also for the filmgoers. Because it is a culture followed by the Kollywood industry for a long time. From stalwarts like MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, and Kamal, the ritual of releasing their movies on or a few days before the Pongal festivals is observed. It is due to the significance of the festival (auspicious day to begin anything new) and a marketing strategy to captivate many audiences by releasing both big budget movies and small budget movies of new filmmakers.
Fans and cinephiles are all set to witness the upcoming movies in Tamil which release during the Pongal festival. The following lists are the officially announced movies arriving on the special day.
Vanangaan
Director Bala is well-known for his realistic and raw emotions exhibited by the characters weaved in his heart-pounding stories. Actor Arun Vijay and director Bala collaborated for the first time in an action drama movie titled as “Vanangaan”. After four years his directorial movie “Vanangaan” is coming to theatres on Pongal. On the birthday of actor Arun Vijay the movie team of “Vanangaan” has announced that they are entering the race of Pongal 2025 with a poster release. This is a back-to-back pongal release of actor Arun Vijay after “Mission : Chapter 1” which was released on January 12, 2024.
The gripping trailer of “Vanangaan” which was released four months ago satisfied the ardent fans of director Bala and actor Arun Vijay.
Director – Bala
Starring – Arun Vijay, Roshni Prakash, Samuthirakani, Mysskin, Radha Ravi
Release Date – 10 January, 2025
#Vanangaan in cinemas from 10-1-2025 !!💥#VanangaanFromJan10 pic.twitter.com/RgiT8F5zxR
— ArunVijay (@arunvijayno1) December 30, 2024
Set Up your watchlist: Here’s all the new OTT watches for November 3rd weekGame Changer
Director Shankar’s pan Indian action, political movie “Game Changer” is also officially releasing on Pongal. The 400 crore budget movie “Game Changer” is believed by the team that it is going to change the game at the box office collection. The recently unveiled teaser showcased the mass visionary screenplay of director Shankar, portraying the globally popular actor Ram Charan as an honest IAS officer thwarting the corrupted political system. Ram Charan and Kiara Advani have united together in a Telugu movie, after “Vinaya Vidheya Rama” (2019). Though, it is a Telugu movie it is releasing in Tamil language as well. Ram Charan is one of the Tollywood actors who owns a huge fan base and a successful market in the Tamil Nadu box office.
The #GameChanger is arriving in just 9 days! A storm is about to break in cinemas near you ❤️🔥
— Game Changer (@GameChangerOffl) January 1, 2025
The #GameChangerTrailer drops tomorrow at 5:04 PM.
Stay tuned! 💥#GameChangerOnJAN10 🚁 pic.twitter.com/OmxYsT6vr3
Director – Shankar
Starring – Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, SJ Suryah, Samuthirakani
Release Date – 10 January, 2025
Kadhalikka Neramillai
Actor Jayam Ravi is back in his Romantic era after a long time with the 2025 release Kadhalikka Neramillai along with the immensely talented Nithya Menen. The film with its posters and songs looks like a feel good Romantic drama that leans in the vein of ‘Oh Kadha Kanmani’ also starring Nithya Menen. It might be because of the energetic and fresh audios and singles from AR Rahman but the movie is already eagerly anticipated due to the hook song ‘Ennai Izhukkuthadi’.
The more you resist, the more you'll fall in love..the wait is finally over ! #KadhalikkaNeramillai is hitting the big screens this Pongal, January 14th, 2025! 🕊️
— kiruthiga udhayanidh (@astrokiru) January 1, 2025
An @arrahman musical 🎶@actor_jayamravi @MenenNithya @astrokiru @RedGiantMovies_ @tseriessouth @MashookRahman… pic.twitter.com/2dKIZYuCum
Director – Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi
Production – Red Giant movies
Starring – Jayam Ravi, Nithya Menen, Lal, Vinay Ray, Yogi Babu, TJ Bhanu, Jon Kokken.
Release Date – 14 January, 2025
Tharunam
“Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee” fame Kishen Das’ first pongal release will be a romantic movie which is titled as “Tharunam”. From the trailer the movie looks like a triangular love story and its consequences due to an imbalanced emotions of the leads. Kishen Das, Raj Ayyappa and Smruthi Venkat do the lead roles. Director Aravindh Srinivasan has switched his storytelling arc from a mystery thriller movie “Dejavu” to a romantic emotional movie “Tharunam”. The romantic and feel good movie fans are looking up to this new arrival during the Pongal festival.
Director – Aravindh Srinivasan
Production – Zhen Studios
Starring – Kishen Das, Smruthi Venkat and Raj Ayyappa
Release Date – 14 January, 2025
10 Hours
Sibi Sathyaraj’s upcoming gripping thriller movie is 10 Hours that is announced on New Year with a poster. The movie is supposed to be “An Intense & Gripping seat edge thriller packed with lots of riveting & thrilling moments! Every second counts !!” as the makers described. The movie also marks Sibi Sathyaraj on screen appearance after two years since his last release in 2022, ‘Maayon’ and ‘Vattam’.
Happy to share the first look of my next film #TenHours!
— Sibi Sathyaraj (@Sibi_Sathyaraj) January 1, 2025
An Intense & Gripping seat edge thriller packed with lots of riveting & thrilling moments!
Every second counts !!
Releasing in theatres on Pongal 2025 🥳#SSR19 #TenHoursFromPongal#TenHoursFromPongal2025… pic.twitter.com/QR0ewMGmlo
Director – Ilayaraja Kaliyaperumal
Production – Duvin Studios
Starring – Sibi Sathyaraj.
Release Date – TBA Pongal Release
Madraskaaran
Malayalam Actor Shane Nigam’s Tamil debut is the action drama ‘Madraskaaran’. The story is about two young men whose lives change after a small dispute, leading to a violent and ruthless situation. The movie also stars Kalaiyarasan as a lead man along with Shane Nigam as the two men go through life altering situations.
Director – Vaali Mohandas
Production – SR Productions
Starring – Shane Nigam, Kalaiyarasan, Karunas, Niharika Konidela, Aishwarya Dutta.
Release Date – 10 January, 2025
Padai Thalaivan
Late Tamil actor and politician Captain Vijayakanth’s son Shanmuga Pandiyan’s upcoming action drama ‘Padai Thalaivan’ is expected by fans and audience. The movie narrates the bond between an elephant and a human mixed with action. With major traction getting for the film due to the few Vijayakanth references in the trailer, the movie is all set to hit the screens on Pongal.
Director – U. Anbu
Production – Jaganathan Paramasivam
Starring – Shanmuga Pandiyan, Kasturi Raja, Yamini Chander, Munishkanth, Yugi Sethu.
Release Date – 10 January, 2025
Nesippaya
Seems 2025 brings in the resurgence of Rom Coms in Tamil as director Vishnuvaradhan is on his way to release a beautiful romantic action drama of a passionate love story between Arjun and Diya.
A festive treat from #VishnuXYuvan🌟
— XB Film Creators (@XBFilmCreators) January 2, 2025
Get ready to celebrate #Pongal with a love story that brims with fire and passion—#Nesippaya🥀, in cinemas January 14!#NesippayaFromJan14♥🔥
A @vishnu_dir film
A @thisisysr musical#VV10 #ArjunDiya@_akashmurali @AditiShankarofl pic.twitter.com/bBfPykT5h7
Director – Vishnuvardhan
Production – XB Film Creators
Starring – Akash Murali, Aditi Shankar, Kalki Koechlin, Sarathkumar, Prabhu, Khushbu.
Release Date – 14 January, 2025.
Madha Gaja Raja
Madha Gaja Raja is a surprise inclusion in the 2025 Pongal race as the movie has been shelved for over decade due to financial reasons and is now planned on releasing this January. The movie’s plot is a fun, romantic comedy a usual of Sundar C’s.
After 12 long years, one of my career favourite family entertainer #MadhaGajaRaja with my fav. #SundarC & @iamsanthanam combo is all set to release this #Pongal to create a laughter riot among the audience.
— Vishal (@VishalKOfficial) January 3, 2025
A @vijayantony musical.#GeminiFilmCircuit.
Worldwide release on #Jan12.… pic.twitter.com/r2pvZyOa7S
Director – Sundar C
Production – Gemini Film Circuit
Starring – Vishal, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Anjali, Santhanam, Sonu Sood
Release Date – 12 January, 2025.
