Padai Thalaivan

• Shanmuga Pandian
• Kasthuri Raja
• Yamini Chander
• Munishkanth
• Karudan Ram
• Rishi Rithvik
• A. Venkatesh
• Yugi Sethu
• Sreejith Ravi
• Aruldoss
• Logu NPKS

In mid-July 2023, it was reported that Walter (2020) and Rekhla (2022) fame director U. Anbu{{Cite web |date=2023-07-16 |title=யானைகளுடன் நடிக்கும் விஜயகாந்த் மகன் சண்முக பாண்டியன்... |url=https://tamil.news18.com/entertainment/cinema-captain-vijayakanth-son-shanmuga-pandian-next-film-shoot-starts-from-today-1065104.html |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=News18 தமிழ் |language=ta |archive-date=16 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716091819/https://tamil.news18.com/entertainment/cinema-captain-vijayakanth-son-shanmuga-pandian-next-film-shoot-starts-from-today-1065104.html |url-status=live }} will be helming Vijayakanth's younger son Shanmuga Pandian's next project tentatively titled Production #1,{{Cite news |date=2023-07-14 |title=Shanmuga Pandian to feature in an elephant-based action film |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/shanmuga-pandian-to-feature-in-an-elephant-based-action-film/articleshow/101746493.cms |access-date=2024-12-13 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=15 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715140734/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/shanmuga-pandian-to-feature-in-an-elephant-based-action-film/articleshow/101746493.cms |url-status=live }} who was last seen in Madura Veeran (2018).{{Cite web |last=Features |first=C. E. |date=2023-07-16 |title=Actor Shanmuga Pandian's next goes on floors |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/Jul/16/actor-shanmuga-pandians-next-goes-on-floors-45678.html |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}} The real-life incident based movie has dialogues and screenplay written by Natpe Thunai (2019) fame Parthiban Desingu.{{Cite web |title=Veteran Actor Vijayakanth's Son Shanmuga Pandian To Return To Big Screen With This U Anbu-directorial |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/veteran-actor-vijayakanths-son-shanmuga-pandian-to-return-to-big-screen-with-this-u-anbu-directorial-8358181.html |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=News18 |language=en |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718073828/https://www.news18.com/movies/veteran-actor-vijayakanths-son-shanmuga-pandian-to-return-to-big-screen-with-this-u-anbu-directorial-8358181.html |url-status=live }} The film is produced by Jaganathan Paramasivam under his VJ Combines banner in association with Rajukalidass's Dass Pictures.{{Cite web |title=padai thalaivan |url=https://zeenews.india.com/tamil/photo-gallery/vijaykanth-son-shanmukha-pandian-padai-thalaivan-releasing-soon-in-theaters-531234/-531239 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Zee Hindustan Tamil |language=ta}} The technical team consists of cinematographer SR Sathish Kumar, editor S.P. Ahamed, and stunt choreographer Mahesh Mathew.{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Akshay |date=2024-12-12 |title=Padai Thalaivan trailer to be out on this date |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Dec/12/padai-thalaivan-trailer-to-be-out-on-this-date |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}

Yamini Chander, grand-daughter of A. C. Tirulokchandar who is known for her roles in Nenjuku Needhi (2022) and Dinosaurs (2023) was cast as the female lead.{{Cite news |date=2024-03-13 |title=Yamini Chander joins Shanmuga Pandian's action film set in a forest |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/yamini-chander-joins-shanmuga-pandians-action-film-set-in-a-forest/articleshow/108454799.cms |access-date=2024-12-13 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=13 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313064205/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/yamini-chander-joins-shanmuga-pandians-action-film-set-in-a-forest/articleshow/108454799.cms |url-status=live }} The film also features, director Kasthuri Raja{{Cite web |date=2023-08-25 |title=விஜயகாந்த் மகன் சண்முகபாண்டியனின் 'படைத் தலைவன்' கிளிம்ப்ஸ் வெளியீடு |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1107648-shanmuga-pandian-starring-padai-thalaivan-glimpse.html |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta |archive-date=25 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825090444/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1107648-shanmuga-pandian-starring-padai-thalaivan-glimpse.html |url-status=live }} in an important role alongside, Munishkanth, M.S. Bhaskar, Karudan Ram, Rishi Rithvik,{{Cite web |last=Features |first=C. E. |date=2024-08-25 |title=Shanmuga Pandian's Padai Thalaivan gets release window |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Aug/25/shanmuga-pandians-padai-thalaivan-gets-release-window |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Cinema Express |language=en |archive-date=26 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826083552/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Aug/25/shanmuga-pandians-padai-thalaivan-gets-release-window |url-status=live }} A. Venkatesh, Yugi Sethu, Sreejith Ravi, Aruldoss and others in supporting roles.{{Cite web |last=Features |first=C. E. |date=2024-04-07 |title=New glimpse of Shanmuga Pandian from Padai Thalaivan out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Apr/07/new-glimpse-of-shanmuga-pandian-from-padai-thalaivan-out |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}} Actor Raghava Lawrence was approached to essay a cameo appearance in the film, after his interest to work with Shanmuga Pandian.{{Cite web |title=Raghava Lawrence To Make Special Appearance In Shanmuga Pandian's Padai Thalaivan |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/raghava-lawrence-to-make-special-appearance-in-shanmuga-pandians-padai-thalaivan-8831290.html |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=News18 |language=en |archive-date=8 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408213934/https://www.news18.com/movies/raghava-lawrence-to-make-special-appearance-in-shanmuga-pandians-padai-thalaivan-8831290.html |url-status=live }}

Principal photography began after a pooja ceremony on 14 July 2023 in Chennai.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-17 |title=Shanmuga Pandian's next begins with pooja |url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/cinema/shanmuga-pandians-next-begins-with-pooja-724747 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=www.dtnext.in |language=en}} In an interview with Cinema Express, Anbu revealed that the first schedule of 20 days got wrapped in Kerala,{{Cite web |date=2023-10-05 |title='படை தலைவன்' படத்துக்காக கேரளாவில் அசத்தல் அரங்கம் |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1133904-huge-set-for-padai-thalaivan-movie-in-kerala.html |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta |archive-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011031659/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1133904-huge-set-for-padai-thalaivan-movie-in-kerala.html |url-status=live }} while the second schedule was then planned to commence by 8 September 2023 in locations like Bangkok and Odisha.{{Cite web |last=M |first=Narayani |date=2023-08-27 |title=The rebirth of a promising action hero |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2023/Aug/27/the-rebirth-of-a-promising-action-hero-47023.html |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Cinema Express |language=en |archive-date=5 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905124000/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2023/aug/27/the-rebirth-of-a-promising-action-hero-47023.html |url-status=live }}

{{Infobox album

| name = Padai Thalaivan

| type = soundtrack

| artist = Ilaiyaraaja

| studio = Ilaiyaraaja Studios, Chennai

| genre = Feature film soundtrack

| label = MRT Music

| producer = Ilaiyaraaja

| prev_title = Dinasari

| prev_year = 2025

| year = 2025

| misc = {{Singles

|name = Padai Thalaivan

|type = soundtrack

|single1 = Un Mugathai Paarkkalaiyae

|single1date = 30 November 2024

}}

}}

The soundtrack and background is composed by Ilaiyaraaja.{{Cite web |last=Bharat |first=E. T. V. |date=2024-03-06 |title=சண்முக பாண்டியனின் 'படைத்தலைவன்' பட இசை பணியை துவங்கிய இளையராஜா! |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/ta/!entertainment/actor-shanmuga-pandian-in-padai-thalaivan-movie-song-recording-start-by-ilayaraja-tns24030602388 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=ETV Bharat News |language=ta}} The first single "Un Mugathai Paarkkalaiyae" was released on 30 November 2024.{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Akshay |date=2024-11-30 |title='Un Mugathai Paarkkalaiyae' from Shanmuga Pandiyan's Padai Thalaivan out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Nov/30/un-mugathai-paarkkalaiyae-from-shanmuga-pandiyans-padai-thalaivan-out |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| title1 = Un Mugathai Paarkkalaiyae

| lyrics1 = Ilaiyaraaja

| extra1 = Ananya Bhat

}}

On the occasion of Vijayakanth's birthday, on 25 August 2023, the title-reveal first-look poster was released, revealing the title of the film as Padai Thalaivan.{{Cite news |date=2023-08-25 |title=Shanmuga Pandian's comeback film titled 'Padai Thalaivan' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/shanmuga-pandians-comeback-film-titled-padai-thalaivan/articleshow/103053879.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831222945/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/shanmuga-pandians-comeback-film-titled-padai-thalaivan/articleshow/103053879.cms |archive-date=31 August 2023 |access-date=2024-12-13 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} On 13 December 2024, a two-minute long trailer was released, with the song late-Vijayakanth's song "Nee Pottu Vacha"{{Cite web |last=manimegalai.a |title=விஜயகாந்த் என்ட்ரி; ஹிட் பாடல் என 'படை தலைவனாக' இறங்கி போலந்து கட்டிய ஷண்முக பாண்டியன்! |url=https://tamil.asianetnews.com/video/cinema/vijayakanth-son-shanmuga-pandian-starrier-padai-thalaivan-trailer-mma-sofxld |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd |language=ta}} from his film 1989 film Ponmana Selvan and his AI appearance.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-13 |title=கேப்டன் பையனா சும்மாவா! பட்டையை கிளப்பும் சண்முக பாண்டியனின் படைத்தலைவன் ட்ரெய்லர்! |url=https://tamil.timesnownews.com/entertainment/shanmuga-pandiyan-starring-padai-thalaivan-trailer-is-out-captain-vijayakanth-son-movie-padai-thalaivan-release-date-video-116297608 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Times Now Tamil |language=ta}} Furthur a dialogue, "If my father was here now, he would ask me to protect the people who trusted me." by Shanmuga Pandian was added as a tribute to his father.{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Akshay |date=2024-12-13 |title=Shanmuga Pandian's Padai Thalaivan trailer out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Dec/13/shanmuga-pandians-padai-thalaivan-trailer-out |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-12-13 |title=சண்முக பாண்டியனின் 'படை தலைவன்' ட்ரெய்லர் எப்படி? - கவனம் பெறும் விஜயகாந்த் ரெஃபரன்ஸ்! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1343220-shanmuga-pandiyan-starrer-padai-thalaivan-official-trailer.html |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}} The pre-release audio launch event was held in Chennai on 15 May 2025 in the presence of AR Murugadoss,{{Cite web |date=2025-05-17 |title=விஜயகாந்தின் கடின உழைப்பு அவரது மகனுக்கும் வேண்டும்-ஏ.ஆர்.முருகதாஸ் பேச்சு! |url=https://zeenews.india.com/tamil/movies/vijaya-prabhakaran-starrer-padai-thalaivan-movie-audio-launch-ar-murugadoss-sasikumar-praises-captain-vijayakanth-583494 |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=Zee Hindustan Tamil |language=ta}} M. Sasikumar,{{Cite web |last=Mullappilly |first=Sreejith |date=2025-05-15 |title=Sasikumar appreciates Shanmuga Pandian's hard work at Padai Thalaivan audio launch |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/May/15/sasikumar-appreciates-shanmuga-pandians-hard-work-at-padai-thalaivan-audio-launch |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}} Ponram and other important personalities.{{Cite web |last=Mullappilly |first=Sreejith |date=2025-05-15 |title=Director Ponram at Padai Thalaivan audio launch: 'I saw Captain in Shanmuga Pandian' |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/May/15/director-ponram-at-padai-thalaivan-audio-launch-i-saw-captain-in-shanmuga-pandian |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}

Padai Thalaivan was scheduled to release in theatres on 23 May 2025, but got postponed citing screen allocation issues, without informing a specific date.{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Akshay |date=2025-05-22 |title=Shanmuga Pandian's Padai Thalaivan release pushed further |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/May/22/shanmuga-pandians-padai-thalaivan-release-pushed-further |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=தினத்தந்தி |date=2025-04-27 |title=சண்முக பாண்டியனின் "படை தலைவன்" ரிலீஸ் தேதி அறிவிப்பு |url=https://www.dailythanthi.com/cinema/cinemanews/shanmuga-pandiyans-padai-thalaivan-release-date-announcement-1154929 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=www.dailythanthi.com |language=ta}} Earlier it was scheduled for Pongal 2025.{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Akshay |date=2025-01-01 |title=Shanmuga Pandian's Padai Thalaivan gets a release window |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/Jan/01/shanmuga-pandians-padai-thalaivan-gets-a-release-window |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|tt28764064}}

Category:Unreleased films

Category:2020s Indian films

Category:2020s Tamil-language films

Category:Films about elephants

Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja

Category:Tamil-language action films

Category:Tamil-language Indian films