In 2014, ace filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj released a crime drama titled Jigarthanda. The film was lauded by critics, and the audience eventually became one of the most spoken-about movies of the year. Eight years after the release, the makers have announced a sequel titled Jigarthanda DoubleX, which boasts an eminent cast and technical crew.
Jigarthanda: Cast and Crew
Written and directed by Karthik Subbaraj, the production for Jigarthanda Double X began on December 12, 2022, in Madurai. The film stars Raghava Lawrence and SJ Suryah in lead roles and is produced by Kaarthekeyen Santhanam & Kathiresan under the banner Stone Bench Films, which will be presenting the film. The music for the film will be composed by Santhosh Narayanan, who was also an integral part of the 2014 release Jigarthanda.
The cinematographer for the film will be managed by S Thirunavukkarasu, and the editing will be done by Shafique Mohamed Ali. Dhilip Subbarayan will be choreographing the stunts, and the songs will be choreographed by Sherif M.
Jigarthanda: Official Announcement and OTT Rights
The official announcement of the film was made by director Karthik Subbaraj on Superstar Rajnikanth’s birthday on December 12, 2022. He took to Twitter to share the official first look of the film with a message that read, “On this Auspicious day with all your blessings…. We have started the Shoot of #JigarthandaDoubleX.”
In another tweet, he said, ”
So Happy to have started the shoot of #JigarthandaDoubleX on Thalaivars birthday. And so there was a slight delay in #Petta unseen. Here we go. #HBDThalaivaa”
So Happy to have started the shoot of #JigarthandaDoubleX on Thalaivars birthday….. https://t.co/3OqBPNW8Yg
And so there was a slight delay in #Petta unseen….. 😊
Here we go…… #HBDThalaivaa 🙏🏼🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/M1I4FHpVAJ
— karthik subbaraj (@karthiksubbaraj) December 12, 2022
While the release date of the film has not been announced yet, the digital rights have already been finalised. Post the theatrical release. Fans will be able to watch Jigarthanda Double X on Netflix. It is said that the makers have planned for the film to release in three languages – Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil. The film might hit the theatres in December 2023. An official announcement is awaited.
Jigarthanda: Trailer and Premise
Reports state that the film is inspired by A Dirty Carnival, a film originally made in South Korea. It has also been adapted as Gaddalakonda Ganesh in Telugu and Bachchhan Pandey in Hindi. Makers plan to continue the premise from where the prequel ended and have planned a nail-biting, high-octane film with leading protagonists. Not much has been revealed about the film yet, and an official announcement regarding the synopsis will be revealed soon.
Jigarthanda Double X: Message from the Cast
Talking about the film, lead actor Raghava Lawrence, in a press statement, said, “I am a huge fan of ‘Jigarthanda’ which brought in a new style of narrative in Tamil cinema. When I was approached for ‘Jigarthanda DoubleX’, I said yes immediately because I was positive that Karthik would deliver something unique and extraordinary. I am looking forward to my collaboration with Stone Bench films, and I am extremely happy that the film’s shoot is kicking off.”
Actor SJ Suryah added: “Karthik Subbaraj has a cult following and is one of the most celebrated directors of Tamil cinema. His storytelling and world-building endeavours have always stood out and ushered in a new era in Tamil cinema.”
About Jigarthanda: The Prequel
The first instalment of the film was set against the backdrop of Madurai. Revolving around a gangster, the film starred Siddharth, Guru Somasundaram, Karunakaran and Lakshmi Menon in pivotal roles. Besides the story and direction, the critics lauded the performances. The film was also nominated for several awards that year and a few cast and crew members also bagged national film awards for their work. Fans in India can watch Jigarthanda on Amazon Prime Video, and viewers outside India can stream the film on Simply South.