Silambarasan TR in still from ‘Arasan’
After premiering exclusively in select theatres, the much-awaited promo of Arasan, the upcoming collaboration between Silambarasan TR and acclaimed filmmaker Vetri Maaran, has finally dropped online. The five-minute video has already created a stir, confirming that the film unfolds within the same cinematic universe as Vada Chennai, Vetri’s 2018 gangster epic starring Dhanush.
The promo immerses us once again into North Chennai’s underbelly. Silambarasan appears in dual roles — as a young, street-smart man with a slick hairstyle and as an older, greying gangster facing trial for multiple murders. The portrayals tease a potential non-linear narrative, one of Vetri Maaran’s trademarks, and signals a story that may span decades.
An unexpected twist is director Nelson Dilipkumar makes an appearance as a filmmaker interviewing Silambarasan’s character, who insists that a movie be made about his life — even suggesting that Dhanush play him. The meta sequence ties Arasan directly to Vada Chennai, deepening the mythology of the shared world that fans have been eager to revisit.
Vada Chennai, widely considered as one of the best gangster dramas in Tamil, featured Dhanush as a young man who is pulled into a world of crime, one where you either do or die. Over the years, the film has attained cult status among audiences. Interestingly, Vetri had also announced a spin-off series centred around Ameer Sultan’s character Rajan, titled Rajan Vagaiyara; however, there haven’t been any updates on the same.
Unlike Vetri Maaran’s previous films, Arasan features music by Anirudh Ravichander, marking their first collaboration. The film is produced by Kalaippuli S. Thanu under V Creations, though the rest of the cast and release date remain under wraps.
Further speculations added that actors Kavin and Manikandan are also part of the film, and that actors Andrea Jeremiah, Samuthirakani and Kishore are reprising their roles from Vada Chennai.
Arasan is slated for release during Onam next year.
Published – October 17, 2025 12:50 pm IST
