Mani Ratnam’s Inji Vellam locks January 29 release date

Motion poster reveals Kolkata setting

Promotional materials for the film suggest the story is set in Kolkata. A motion poster shared by Lyca Productions shows Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi holding two young girls who appear to be twins against a bustling city backdrop.

Earlier promotional content, including a first-look poster and a glimpse video released in September 2026, featured the Howrah Bridge in the background. That reveal also showed the leads standing together in a close embrace in the rain.

A teaser released prior to the title reveal showcased Kolkata’s streets, trams, and crowds. The clip concluded with close-ups of Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi without revealing the film plot.

Cast and crew of the Mani Ratnam project

Mani Ratnam wrote and directed the project, which stars Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi in the lead roles. Chaitra J Achar also plays a key character in the film.

Subaskaran, Mani Ratnam, and Siva Ananth produced the feature under the banners Lyca Productions and Madras Talkies. Avik Mukhopadhyay is the cinematographer, while Sreekar Prasad is the film editor.

Rahman composed both the music and the background score for the production. In an interview with THR India on November 11, 2026, Rahman said that principal photography is complete and the team is now scoring the songs. Ratnam has finished shooting the film, and the production team is currently focused on the musical score, according to the details provided to THR India.

Production history and actor collaborations

23 before the title reveal. This project marks the second collaboration between director Mani Ratnam and actor Vijay Sethupathi.

Inji Vellam is the first on-screen pairing of Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi. It also serves as Sai Pallavi’s first project with director Mani Ratnam.

Thematic focus on contemporary relationships

The story focuses on contemporary relationships. This is a theme that Ratnam previously explored in his films Mouna Ragam, Alai Payuthey, and OK Kanmani.

Upcoming projects for the lead cast and director

Mani Ratnam’s last released film was the 2025 production Thug Life, which starred Kamal Haasan. Sai Pallavi recently portrayed the role of Sita in the mythological epic Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, which starred Ranbir Kapoor and Yash.

Vijay Sethupathi has multiple projects in the pipeline. His next film is Train, directed by Mysskin, which is scheduled for release on December 4, 2026. He will also appear in Pocket Novel with Malavika Mohanan and Raj B Shetty. This film is slated for release on January 14, 2027, coinciding with Pongal and Sankranti festivities.

This project is targeting a release in February 2027.