Kollywood
Mankatha Re-Release Fever: Ajith Kumar's Cult Classic Chasing All-Time Records in Tamil Nadu and Bengaluru
BY SACNILK
The Mankatha Rage is reaching a boiling point as the 2011 cult classic prepares for its grand 4K re-entry into theaters on January 23, 2026. With only a few hours left before the first shows begin, the pre-sales data suggests that the film is on the cusp of creating a new history for re-releases in South India. The hype surrounding the return of Vinayak Mahadev has resulted in one of the most aggressive advance booking phases seen in recent years. In Tamil Nadu, Mankatha has officially entered the elite club of re-releases, with pre-sales grossing over ₹2.00 crore for the opening day through tracked cinemas. According to reports from Cinetrak, the film is now within striking distance of the final pre-sales record held by Vijay's Ghilli, which stands at ₹2.15 crore. The trend is equally massive in Bengaluru. According to Karnataka Talkies, the Mankatha re-release has already crossed ₹13.75 lakh in Bengaluru pre-sales. This performance has already overtaken the pre-sales of Rajinikanth's Padayappa (₹12.65 lakh) at the same stage. While it has already surpassed Padayappa's trend, it is currently on track to challenge the final Bengaluru pre-sales record of ₹16 lakh to become the highest pre-booked Tamil re-release in the city. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) This surge in demand highlights the timeless appeal of the Venkat Prabhu directorial and Yuvan Shankar Raja's iconic score. With fans across both states rushing to grab the remaining tickets for a celebratory opening day, all eyes are now on the final numbers to see if Mankatha will officially set a new benchmark for Tamil film re-releases. Mankatha remains a landmark heist thriller that marked Ajith Kumar's milestone 50th film. At the time of its original release in 2011, it was produced on a budget of approximately ₹24 crore and went on to become the second-highest-grossing Tamil film of that year, trailing only Enthiran. The film was a commercial juggernaut from day one, shattering records for the highest opening day in Chennai. In its first week alone, it grossed over ₹53 crore worldwide, with ₹33.4 crore coming from Tamil Nadu. Its success extended well beyond state borders, earning roughly ₹14.3 crore ($3.10 million) overseas and emerging as a major hit in Kerala (~₹3.4 cr) and Karnataka (~₹2.75 cr). Given its historic 2011 run, this 4K re-release is more than just a screening—it is a tribute to one of Kollywood's most impactful blockbusters.