In a surprising turn of events, two highly-awaited movies with the same title, “Jailer,” with Rajinikanth and Dhyan Sreenivasan in the lead roles, respectively, are slated for a box-office clash on August 10, 2023. The magnified interest lies in their coincidental release date and an ongoing legal dispute over the title.
An Encounter of Unprecedented Proportions
Rajinikanth’s Tamil film “Jailer” and Sreenivasan’s Malayalam “Jailer” have been controversial due to their shared title. The excitement is palpable, with both films gearing up for an August 10 release.
Interestingly, the Malayalam “Jailer” is also scheduled to be dubbed and launched in multiple languages on the same day. The decision by the film’s makers comes in the wake of a protracted legal skirmish over the movie’s title.
The Dispute Over ‘Jailer’
The controversy erupted when Sakkir Madathil, director of the Malayalam film “Jailer,” proclaimed that he had registered the title “Jailer” with the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) back in 2021, well before the Tamil film of the same name was announced.
Madathil also alleged that he had approached the production house Sun Pictures requesting a title change for their film to avoid potential confusion amongst audiences, a request that was reportedly declined. Consequently, Sun Pictures decided to retain “Jailer” as the title for the Rajinikanth-starrer. Eventually, the dispute made its way to the Madras High Court.
The hearing for the issue is due on August 2, adding more to the suspense surrounding both films.
‘Jailer’ Double Dose: Tamil Vs Malayalam
The eventual domination at the box office aside, fans eagerly await both films. Rajinikanth’s “Jailer,” directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, is a high-octane action thriller that sees the superstar enact the role of a mission-driven jailer. The movie boasts an impressive star cast, including Tamannaah Bhatia, Mohanlal, Shiva Rajkumar, and Jackie Shroff.
Meanwhile, actress Divya Pillai takes the lead in Dhyan Sreenivasan’s ‘Jailer,’ touted to be a period thriller set in 1956-57. Despite carrying the same title, both films bear no resemblance in their plots, according to the makers.
With legal tussles, audience excitement, and box-office challenges adding to the drama, this double dose of “Jailer” promises a cinematic experience of an unusual kind for movie buffs. No matter the outcome, the face-off of Rajinikanth’s “Jailer” vs Dhyan Sreenivasan’s “Jailer” is already scripting a fascinating chapter in the history of both Tamil and Malayalam cinema.
