Mani Ratnam’s next romantic drama, officially titled Inji Vellam, stars Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi in their first on-screen pairing. Announced by Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions, the film features music by A R Rahman. A first look poster and glimpse video show the duo embracing in the rain with Kolkata’s iconic Howrah Bridge, hinting at the city as the story’s backdrop.
Mani Ratnam has unveiled the title of his next romantic drama, starring Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi. The director's production house, Madras Talkies, announced the film and its title on September 7 on its social media accounts.
Titled Inji Vellam, the film is produced by Subaskaran, Mani Ratnam and Siva Ananth under Lyca Productions and Madras Talkies, with music composed by A R Rahman.
The banner announced the film with a first look poster and first glimpse video, featuring Sethupathi and Pallavi. Sethupathi and Pallavi are seen standing together in the rain in a close embrace on the first look poster. Both the poster and the first glimpse feature Kolkata's Howrah Bridge in the background, hinting at the story's setting being Kolkata.
Inji Vellam, which was officially announced by its makers earlier this year, was tentatively referred to as Madras Talkies Production No. 23. Ahead of the title reveal, the makers released a teaser built around visuals of Kolkata, including its streets, trams and crowds, which concluded with close-ups of Sethupathi and Pallavi. The teaser did not disclose plot details.
This film marks the second collaboration between Ratnam and Vijay Sethupathi, who previously worked together on the 2018 sibling action drama Chekka Chivantha Vaanam. It is the first film pairing Sethupathi with Sai Pallavi, as well as Pallavi's first project with Ratnam.
Sai Pallavi, who was last seen in Sunil Pandey's Ek Din, alongside Junaid Khan, will next be seen in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana. Vijay Sethupathi, on the other hand, was last seen in the JioHotstar series Kaattaan and Kadhal Kadhai Solva (2026).
In other upcoming productions, Sethupathi will also be seen in Balaji Tharaneetharan's Baththa, which was presented by director Atlee earlier this year. Baththa will release worldwide in theatres on October 1, 2026. The film is written and directed by Balaji Tharaneetharan.
Baththa marks the third collaboration between Sethupathi and director Balaji Tharaneetharan. Their previous projects together are Tharaneetharan's debut directorial Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom (2012), and Seethakaathi (2018).