Advance bookings for the re-release of Mankatha have opened across several theatres, with early trends indicating rapid ticket sales in multiple centres. Headlined by Ajith Kumar, the 2011 Tamil action thriller is scheduled to return to cinemas worldwide on January 23, with initial audience response reflecting strong interest in the film’s theatrical comeback.

Originally released on August 31, 2011, Mankatha was written and directed by Venkat Prabhu and produced by Dayanidhi Azhagiri under the Cloud Nine Movies banner. The film featured an ensemble cast led by Ajith Kumar, alongside Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Lakshmi Rai, Anjali, Andrea Jeremiah, Ashwin Kakumanu, Vaibhav Reddy, Premji Amaren, Mahat Raghavendra, Jayaprakash, Aravind Akash, and Subbu Panchu. The project marked Ajith Kumar’s 50th film as a lead actor and was among the final productions from the studio.

The re-release announcement gained additional traction on January 19, when Sun Pictures shared a countdown poster on social media, confirming the film’s theatrical return within four days. This followed the release of a re-release trailer on January 15, 2026, which further set the stage for the renewed big-screen outing.

According to theatre-level reports, advance bookings have already begun in many locations, with several shows selling out shortly after ticket counters opened. In response to the strong demand, exhibitors in select centres have added additional screenings. Rakesh Gowthaman, proprietor of Vettri Theatres in Chrompet, stated on X that all three first-day shows at his venue were sold out, advising audiences to secure weekend tickets in advance. He also recalled the film’s sustained audience turnout during its original theatrical run.

Mankatha revolves around Vinayak Mahadevan, a suspended police officer who becomes entangled in a high-stakes betting money heist linked to the criminal underworld. Set largely in Mumbai, the narrative explores shifting alliances between law enforcement officials and criminals, driven by deception, betrayal, and competing personal motives.

The film’s technical team included cinematographer Sakthi Saravanan and editors Praveen K. L. and N. B. Srikanth, with music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Upon its original release, Mankatha recorded one of the biggest openings for a Tamil film at the time. With the re-release now just days away, theatres continue to adjust show counts as audiences prepare to revisit the film nearly 15 years after its initial theatrical debut.