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Vaibhav’s ‘Manikanda’ First Look Out: ‘Malikappuram’ Director Brings Ayyappa Pilgrimage Drama to Tamil Cinema
Vaibhav’s spiritual action film Thatthvamasi is now Manikanda. Ravi Mohan unveils the Ayyappa-themed first look, with a release planned in Karthigai 2026.
Key Highlights
- New title: Vaibhav’s spiritual action entertainer, earlier titled ‘Thatthvamasi’, has been renamed ‘Manikanda’.
- First look: Ravi Mohan released the poster, showing Vaibhav in blue holding a spear, with a Lord Ayyappa statue behind him in golden light and flames.
- Proven director: Vishnu Sasi Shankar, known for the Malayalam hit ‘Malikappuram’, directs. Venkat Prabhu is the creative producer.
- Story focus: The film follows Ayyappa devotees who keep strict vows, wear the sacred mala and make the pilgrimage.
- Release window: Shooting is complete and post-production is in its final stages. The makers are targeting the Tamil month of Karthigai in 2026.
Actor Vaibhav, long known as Tamil cinema’s dependable entertainer, is stepping into new territory. His upcoming film, earlier titled ‘Thatthvamasi’, has been renamed ‘Manikanda’, and its first look was unveiled by actor, director and producer Ravi Mohan. Directed by Vishnu Sasi Shankar and produced by Tantra Films, the spiritual action entertainer has filmmaker Venkat Prabhu on board as creative producer.
The first-look poster shows Vaibhav in a powerful avatar, dressed in blue and gripping a spear. Behind him rises a grand statue of Lord Ayyappa, bathed in golden light and surrounded by blazing flames against a cosmic backdrop. The tagline, “The Journey of the God and His People,” sets the tone for a story about faith and the people who live by it.
The new title is also a smart choice. ‘Thatthvamasi’, the Sanskrit phrase inscribed at Sabarimala, carries deep philosophical meaning but is not instantly familiar to most viewers. ‘Manikanda’, one of Lord Ayyappa’s most popular names, connects immediately with millions of devotees across South India.
