Rajinikanth confirms sequel of 1999 Tamil film Padayappa titled Neelambari, film to re-release in theatres on his 75th birthday

In exciting news for fans, Padayappa will return to the big screen on Rajinikanth’s birthday, December 12, giving audiences a chance to relive the classic on the silver screen once again.

Tamil film Padayappa, starring Rajinikanth, Ramya Krishnan and Soundarya, is all set to rerelease in theatres to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The milestone comes at a time when Rajinikanth has already confirmed that a much-anticipated sequel to the iconic film is in the works.

Directed by K. S. Ravikumar, Padayappa created history upon its 1999 release, becoming Tamil cinema’s highest-grossing film at the time and cementing its place as a cultural phenomenon.

In exciting news for fans, Padayappa will return to the big screen on Rajinikanth’s birthday, December 12, giving audiences a chance to relive the classic on the silver screen once again. Sharing a new poster featuring the star himself, Rajnikanth shared on X, "In my film life, Padayappa holds immense importance. I am sharing some of those movie memories with you. #Padayappa."

என் திரை வாழ்வில் படையப்பா மிகவும் முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்தது. அந்தப் பட நினைவுகள் சிலவற்றை உங்களுடன் பகிர்ந்துக் கொள்கிறேன். #Padayappahttps://t.co/bHMT39f1Whpic.twitter.com/pRaPmOE5Mv

— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) December 8, 2025

Rajinikanth recently released a 37-minute video reflecting on his memories of making and releasing Padayappa. Speaking about the unprecedented craze the film generated, he said, “In my 50 years of career, I had never seen women breaking gates to watch a film as they did for Padayappa.”

In the same video, he officially announced the sequel, revealing, “Now, when I see sequels like 2.0 (sequel of Robo) and Jailer 2, I wonder why not Padayappa 2? The title will be Neelambari: Padayappa 2. We are discussing the story, and if it comes out well, much like Padayappa, there will be a Neelambari. It will be exciting for the audience, and I’m working on it.”

Rajinikanth also shared that Padayappa originally released during the 25th year of his career, making it a meaningful project for him, especially because he worked on it with close friends. He added, “We didn’t give the film to any OTT or satellite. I only allowed Sun Pictures to run it. It’s the kind of film that’s meant to be watched in theatres. And now, 25 years later, you will see Padayappa on 12 December, my birthday.”

Also read: Rajinikanth gets front page honour as 'Rajinikanth Times' for 50 years in cinema

In the original film, Rajinikanth played Aaru Padayappan, while Soundarya portrayed his wife, Vasundhara. Ramya Krishnan’s Neelambari remains one of Tamil cinema’s most unforgettable antagonists — a bold, modern woman whose long-standing grudge against the couple drives the central conflict.

On the work front, Rajinikanth is currently shooting for Jailer 2. He is also set to appear in a new film alongside Kamal Haasan, making this an exciting phase for fans of the superstar.