Parasakthi () is a 2026 Indian Tamil-language political action drama film directed by Sudha Kongara and produced by Aakash Baskaran of Dawn Pictures. The film stars Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa and Sreeleela. Set mainly in 1964, it follows two brothers protesting the promotion of Hindi as India's national language, but face threats from a brutal Intelligence Bureau officer.
Initially, Sudha and Suriya were set to collaborate after Soorarai Pottru (2020). The project, tentatively titled Suriya 43, was announced in October 2023 but was later shelved. Sudha then revived the script with Sivakarthikeyan, and the revived project was announced in December 2024 under the tentative title SK25, while the official title was announced the following month. Principal photography commenced the same month and wrapped in October 2025, taking place in Chennai, Chidambaram, Karaikudi, Madurai, Colombo and Pollachi. The film has music composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, cinematography handled by Ravi K. Chandran and editing by Sathish Suriya. It faced numerous controversies before release, including rights issues over the title Parasakthi, funds used in financing the film, and plagiarism allegations.
Parasakthi was released in theatres on 10 January 2026, during the Pongal week. The film received mixed reviews from critics and underperformed at the box office, grossing between – against a production budget of -.
Plot
In 1959, the Purananuttru Padai ("Purananuru Army") – a radical student outfit opposed to the promotion of Hindi as India's national language – blocks and burns a train after deboarding its passengers. Among the passengers is Thirunaadan ("Thiru"), a KGB-trained Indian Intelligence Bureau officer. Hoping to capture the group, Thiru fights their leader Chezhiyan but ends up losing part of a finger. As for the outfit, one of Chezhiyan's friends dies in the fire. Heartbroken by the loss, Chezhiyan ceases the group's activities.
Five years later, Chezhiyan becomes a steam locomotive fireman to support the education of his younger brother Chinnadurai ("Chinna"), an engineering student at Annamalai University in Chidambaram. Initially, Chinna is carefree and playful, detached from politics. However, observing the injustices faced by the general public (such as an elderly woman being unable to use the Hindified money order service) makes him a committed member of the Purananuttru Padai, despite Chezhiyan's dissuading.
The brothers' contrasting paths eventually converge as they come to a shared understanding of what they are fighting for: not merely opposition to a policy, but the protection of self-respect, access, and cultural identity for future generations after Chezhiyan is rejected from the fireman steam engine job due to not having the Hindi accent and witnesses a similar person burn to death the way his friend did because he was unable to write UPSC due to not knowing Hindi, the language the question paper was in.
Chinna and his friends then lead a protest in front of the police station only to be shot by the police on Thiru's orders as a helpless Chezhiyan watches and Thiru then personally kills the wounded Chinna by kicking him into the sewage waters after he has Chezhiyan be arrested by the police to be interrogated. Chezhiyan is saved by Thiru's assistant, after revealing he assisted to the death of Chezhiyan's friend and understand his combat. Thiru later kills his assistant.
Meanwhile, Chezhiyan meets the I & B Minister and finds an arrangement on the question of the Hindi imposition, that is a vote by many Indians about it around the country. The solution gets successful countrywide. However, Thiru runs an operation to stop the revolutionary group. Despite that, Chezhiyan and his group, including old members from earlier years, still manage to take the situation on control. In a climatic fight with Chezhiyan in which Thiru dies from his wounds after a train wreck, the votes come to safety and the rules are changed.
Cast Adapted from the closing credits:
Production Development In late October 2021, reports claimed that actor Suriya, director Sudha Kongara and music composer G. V. Prakash Kumar would collaborate for the second time after Soorarai Pottru (2020). The following January, Suriya confirmed their reunion. Initially conceived as a biographical film inspired by true events, the project was delayed due to their respective commitments to Kanguva (2024) and Sarfira (2024), the Hindi remake of Soorarai Pottru. Discussions resumed in mid-2023 under the tentative title Suriya 43, as it would be the actor's 43rd film as leading actor. Jointly produced by Suriya's 2D Entertainment and Sudha's Meenakshi Cinemas, the companies made a public announcement on 26 October, confirming the lead cast and revealing a part of the title as Purananooru. Cinematographer Jomon T. John confirmed joining the crew few days after the announcement.
In March 2024, after the project was reported to have been shelved, Sudha denied those claims and stated that she needed more time for the film's pre-production, that resulted in the delay of its shooting. However, the following July, Suriya was reported to have left the film, and Sivakarthikeyan was in consideration as his replacement. Production was reported to commence after the latter completed his commitments, Madharaasi (2025) and SK24. Aakash Baskaran's Dawn Pictures, a recently established production house, announced the project, tentatively titled SK25, on 14 December, confirming the project, and the official title Parasakthi was announced on 29 January 2025. Made on a budget of 150–250 crore, Sivakarthikeyan was reported to receive as his remuneration. However, along with Sudha, he reportedly decided to take the revenue sharing model to benefit the film's production; as per basis, they would receive an advance and a major portion of the profits would be received as their remuneration. Sudha wrote the script, screenplay and dialogues with Arjun Nadesan, with additional dialogues provided by Madhan Karky and Shan Karuppasamy. Professor Dr. A. Ramasamy served as the script consultant.
Pre-production Pre-production began in May 2024, and was completed after six months. A muhurat puja was held at Chennai in early November 2024 with the presence of the film's cast and crew. During a test shoot, which was reportedly held in early December in Chennai, Sivakarthikeyan who was requested by Sudha to remove his beard was reported to have denied to do so and left the film. Soon after, however, the team shot the promotional teaser for the film and completed within few days.
In mid-December 2024, Ravi K. Chandran was announced as cinematographer, in his first film with Sudha and Sivakarthikeyan. Prakash Kumar would score the music, in his third consecutive film with the director. Sudha further retained her norm technicians, including editor Sathish Suriya, production designer Bindiya Chhabria, art director Karthick, and stunt choreographer Supreme Sundar. Actor Dev Ramnath, besides appearing in a prominent role, also served as the creative producer of the film.
Casting Following the first announcement of the film, Suriya was reported to lose weight for his character in the film as a college student. Dulquer Salmaan was reportedly brought on board the cast in July 2022, while his inclusion was confirmed after a year, in July 2023. The following September, Nazriya Nazim was reported to be a part of the cast, in her first Tamil film after Thirumanam Enum Nikkah (2014). The same month, Vijay Varma, Ajay Devgn and Aditi Shankar were reportedly a part of the cast, with Varma being reported to play the lead antagonist role. Madhavan, who acted with Suriya in Aayutha Ezhuthu (2004), was also reported to reunite with him, playing a primary role. Nazriya and Varma's presence were confirmed in October. Soon after Suriya reportedly left the project, Sivakarthikeyan was reported to sport three different looks for his character.
In November 2024, Ravi Mohan or Vishal were reportedly in consideration for playing the antagonist; Vishal, however, denied the reports. Sreeleela further replaced Nazriya as the female lead, while also making her debut in Tamil. Atharvaa was reported to be cast in the role originally offered to Dulquer. Ravi, Sreeleela and Atharvaa's presence in the film was confirmed by the production house in mid-December 2024. Sreeleela went through a workshop for three months to learn Tamil for her character as she, per the producer, was used to commercial films and not a period film. Sudha later said that Suriya left due to his inability to commit continuously as required. Chetan plays the politician C. N. Annadurai, and took help from S. S. Stanley, who played Annadurai in Periyar (2007). The film features cameo appearances by Malayalam actor Basil Joseph, Telugu actor Rana Daggubati and Kannada actor Dhananjaya; Sudha said their casting was to represent the different linguistic regions of South India. Abhishek Bachchan too had been considered for a cameo but this idea was discarded as Sudha felt too many cameos would dilute the film's narrative. She also said she initially wanted Vijay Deverakonda in Daggubati's role, but Devarakonda could not accept due to scheduling conflicts with Kingdom (2025).
Filming Principal photography began with the first schedule on 14 December 2024 at Binny Mills in Chennai. Sequences involving Sivakarthikeyan and Ravi were reportedly shot first during this schedule. Aakash Baskaran stated that filming would be shot extensively in and around Tamil Nadu and would be completed by June or July. He also stated that they had already shot two songs composed by Prakash Kumar, during the first schedule. The second schedule commenced on 6 February at Annamalai University in Chidambaram, in where fans of Sivakarthikeyan gathered and posted pictures of the actor in social media. Atharvaa also joined the sets during this schedule. In late February, production moved to Karaikudi. The third schedule took place at Karaikudi Stores.
Sequences featuring Sivakarthikeyan and Prithivi Rajan were shot on 20 February. Later that month, Sudha stated that they soon after moved to Meenakshi Temple at Madurai and completed the schedule by 26 February. A few days later, during the launch of a restaurant, Ravi stated that they would shoot the following schedule in Sri Lanka. Sivakarthikeyan arrived at Sri Lanka on 11 March for the concurrent schedule, which took place on 12 March at Colombo. During this schedule, the team erected sets which resembled Madurai Junction railway station and Delhi, for major sequences. Guru Somasundaram joined the production in this schedule. In mid-March, Ravi and Basil Joseph began filming their portions of the schedule. Basil Joseph's presence at the sets confirmed his inclusion in the film.