Mani Ratnam’s ‘Inji Vellam’ with Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi gets January 29 release date

The makers of Mani Ratnam's romantic drama Inji Vellam have announced that it will release in theatres on January 29. The announcement came through a short video with a motion poster of its leads, Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi, shared on social media. another report gives the year as 2027. a report's text gives no year.

The two reports are separate write-ups of the same announcement, so they are not independent confirmation of it. The 2027 year rests on another report alone. a report's article is dated 11 November 2026 by its URL, and it lists another Vijay Sethupathi film for Pongal on January 14, 2027, which fits the 2027 reading.

What the announcement video shows

According to another report, the promo shows Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi as a couple and as parents to two girls, and appears to follow them from dating to married life. a report is more cautious. It says the pair "presumably" play a married couple and that the twins alongside them "could be" their daughters.

Neither outlet has confirmed the characters or story. another report says the film is in the production stage and that plot and character details have not been revealed.

Who is behind the film

Mani Ratnam directs and has also written the film, both reports say. AR Rahman composes the music. a report calls this Ratnam's 19th collaboration with Rahman and says the film marks his return to romance. another report compares its theme of contemporary relationships to his earlier romantic dramas Mouna Ragam, Alai Payuthey and OK Kanmani.

Avik Mukhopadhyay is the cinematographer and Sreekar Prasad the editor, according to both outlets. a report also names Sharmishta Roy as art director and Dhilip Subbarayan as action choreographer. Chaithra (Chaitra) J Achar is also in the cast, and another report describes her role as "key".

Production and rights details from one source

Some details appear only in a report and were not echoed by another report:

• Ratnam produces under his Madras Talkies banner with Siva Ananth.
• Subaskaran produces under Lyca Productions, in his first collaboration with Ratnam since Thug Life (2025).
• Netflix has acquired the streaming rights, and Sony Music has the music rights.

another report notes that Thug Life, which starred Kamal Haasan, remains Ratnam's most recent film.

The leads' other releases

Vijay Sethupathi's next film is Mysskin's Train, scheduled for December 4. another report gives the year as 2026. His Pocket Novel, directed by Thiagarajan Kumararaja according to a report, is set for January 14, 2027. another report adds that he is also due to headline Puri Jagannadh's Slum Dog: 33 Temple Road. That film is reportedly aiming for February 2027, but the date is not officially confirmed.

Sai Pallavi's next release is OM: Chapter 1, due November 20. another report gives the year as 2026. Both outlets also mention her recent role in Ramayana: Rise of a Legend.

What remains unclear

• Whether the characters are a married couple and whether the twins are their daughters. This is the outlets' reading of the promo, not an official statement.
• The Netflix and Sony Music deals and the producer credits, which come from a report only.
• The plot and the leads' roles, which another report says have not been revealed.

Questions answered

When will Inji Vellam release in theatres?

The makers have announced January 29. another report specifies 2027, while a report's text gives no year.

Who stars in Inji Vellam and who is behind it?

Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi star, with Chaithra (Chaitra) J Achar also in the cast. Mani Ratnam directs and writes, and AR Rahman composes the music.

What is Inji Vellam about?

The plot has not been revealed. another report says the promo appears to show the leads as a couple with two girls, but a report says the leads only presumably play a married couple.