5 years of Kaithi: Lokesh Kanagaraj reflects on the film, promises return of Dilli soon

Filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj recently celebrated the 5th anniversary of Kaithi, the gritty thriller that cemented his place in Indian cinema. Sharing an unseen behind-the-scenes photo from the set, Lokesh was seen giving notes to Karthi, the film’s star.

Expressing gratitude to Karthi and producer S.R. Prabhu, Lokesh reflected on Kaithi as a pivotal moment in his career. “It all started from here! Grateful to @Karthi_Offl sir, @prabhu_sr sir, and the ‘universe’ for making this happen. Dilli will return soon,” he tweeted, hinting at the return of Karthi’s character Dilli, an ex-convict on a mission to reunite with his daughter. Dilli’s resilience and moral grit, set against a night of relentless threats from a drug cartel, made him an unforgettable character.

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This 5-year milestone not only highlights Lokesh’s journey but also marks the beginning of his meticulously crafted cinematic universe—a darker, layered world where characters cross paths, creating a deeper narrative experience. The Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) has expanded with films like Vikram and Leo, each introducing crossover elements that build on Kaithi, making every new release an extension of Lokesh’s vision.

Following his upcoming project Coolie, starring Rajinikanth and separate from the LCU, Kaithi 2 is expected to begin production, a sequel that has been long anticipated. Lokesh is also set to direct Tamil superstar Suriya in a standalone film as part of the LCU canon. Lokesh introduced Suriya to the cinematic universe with Vikram, where he played Rolex, a ruthless drug cartel boss whose performance was a massive hit with fans. Lokesh and Suriya have promised a standalone film centred on Rolex, and it’s anticipated that this project may finally unite the brother duo, Suriya and Karthi, on the big screen.

Lokesh is currently engrossed in the production of Coolie. After a short break, filming resumed in Chennai on Friday.

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