Ajith Kumar fans attack Vijay supporter, tear his shirt at ‘Mankatha’ re-release screening

ajit kumar mankatha

• Ajith fans allegedly attacked Vijay supporter at Mankatha re-release in Karaikudi.
• Violence over TVK flag sparks social media criticism after video surfaces.
• Mankatha re-release sets Tamil box office record with Rs 3.75–4.1 crore opening.

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A passionate fan culture turned ugly at a Mankatha re-release screening on January 24, 2026, when a group of Ajith Kumar devotees allegedly attacked a Vijay supporter for displaying a TVK (Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam) flag inside a cinema hall in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu. A video circulating online shows the man being physically confronted by several others, having his shirt torn off and being shoved out of the theatre lobby as some onlookers cheered the incident.

The clip — reportedly taken at Pandian Cinemas — captures a chaotic moment amid the enthusiastic re-release of Mankatha, the 2011 thriller that has built an enduring cult following among Ajith’s fans more than a decade after its original launch. While many fans have celebrated the film’s return with barricades, confetti and chants inside theaters, this filmed altercation has drawn sharp criticism from social media users.

In the video, the victim is surrounded by multiple people before being struck and forced across the lobby. At one point, his shirt is ripped off during the attack as a section of the crowd looks on. Commenters who shared the clip online condemned the violence; some tagged regional police in hopes of action, while others noted that the targeted fan looked very young. It remains unclear whether an official FIR or police report has been filed in connection with the incident.

New video of Vijay fans getting beaten by Thala fans for waving party flag for reels during #Mankatha to irritate Ajith fans. Only Ajith fans and Rajini fans know the method to cure delusional Tharkuri #Vijay fans mental illness.#JanaNayaganpic.twitter.com/R0wUBDGB1z

— மிஸ்டர்.உத்தமன் (@MrUthaman) January 24, 2026

TVK, short for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, is a political outfit associated with actor Vijay, and its flags are increasingly visible at public events as the star extends his presence beyond cinema — a context that may have amplified tensions at the screening. The Mankatha re-release itself has been marked by huge fan enthusiasm, with celebratory barricades and barricade setups inside halls to manage crowds.

Also read: Mankatha Re-Release sparks fan frenzy, crackers burst inside the theatre during Ajith’s intro scene

Ajith Kumar’s cult hit Mankatha has rewritten the re-release record books in Tamil cinema, delivering an extraordinary comeback at the box office. When the film returned to theatres on January 23, 2026, advance bookings for the opening day crossed around Rs 2.20 crore in Tamil Nadu, surpassing the previous pre-sales record held by Vijay’s iconic Ghilli re-release (which had collected about Rs 2.15 crore in advance). Mankatha went on to gross an estimated Rs 3.75–Rs 4.1 crore on its first day across India, edging past Ghilli’s opening figures and making history as one of the strongest re-release openings for a Tamil film in recent times.