As the festive fervor of Pongal swept across Tamil Nadu, a cinematic release carrying the weight of historical narrative and high expectations arrived in theaters: Sudha Kongara’s ‘Parasakthi.’ Starring Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan, Sreeleela, and Atharvaa, this period political drama, set against the tumultuous backdrop of the 1960s, hit screens on January 10, 2026. However, its journey to the big screen was anything but smooth, marked by significant delays and last-minute certifications, ultimately leading to a polarized reception from both critics and audiences.
Originally conceived with Suriya in the lead, the project was shelved for undisclosed reasons before being revived by Kongara in 2024 with Sivakarthikeyan at the helm. This revival sparked immediate interest, positioning ‘Parasakthi’ as a potential cinematic event. Its release was further amplified by the unexpected postponement of another major film, ‘Jana Nayagan,’ which cleared the path for ‘Parasakthi’ to emerge as the undisputed biggest Pongal release, commanding a substantial budget of approximately Rs 142 crore and securing over 600 screenings in Chennai alone.
A Glimpse into 1960s Tamil Nadu: The Core Narrative
At its heart, ‘Parasakthi’ transports viewers to a pivotal era in Tamil Nadu’s history: the anti-Hindi imposition protests of the 1960s. The film centers on Chezhaiyan, affectionately known as Che, a peace-loving railway worker and the sole provider for his family. His life takes a dramatic turn through the actions of his younger brother, Chinna Durai, a passionate college student and activist deeply entrenched in the civil conflict against systemic oppression.
The narrative intensifies with the introduction of Thirunaadan, a vicious police officer played by Ravi Mohan, who embodies the government’s harsh response to the protests through brutal force. Che, initially hesitant to join the movement, is compelled to stand with his brother after a life-altering event. This transformation forms the emotional backbone of the story, exploring themes of identity, freedom, and the supreme sacrifice made by students and people fighting to preserve their mother tongue, as highlighted by trade analyst Ramesh Bala on X, who called it ‘Emotional.. Engaging.. Powerful..’
Navigating Production Hurdles and Box Office Expectations
The road to release for ‘Parasakthi’ was fraught with challenges. The film faced multiple hurdles, most notably delays in receiving its certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Just a day before its scheduled release, the film finally secured a U/A (UA 16+) certificate, but not without significant modifications. The censor board reportedly ordered 25 cuts, including muting several words and trimming certain scenes, which the makers agreed to implement.
Sivakarthikeyan himself addressed the last-minute uncertainty, telling *India Today*, ‘We received the changes at the last minute. After that, we had to make the suggested changes and upload them to QUBE. Our main focus was to release the film as we were chasing a release date.’ He further noted the lack of time to analyze the reasons behind the CBFC’s suggestions. This rush, however, did not deter advance bookings, with BookMyShow opening sales post 3 PM on Friday, quickly selling nearly 20,000 tickets within the first hour, showcasing the immense public anticipation.
The film’s emergence as the primary Pongal attraction, following ‘Jana Nayagan’s’ postponement, allowed it to capture a massive number of screens. In Chennai alone, ticket prices ranged from Rs 150 to Rs 300, while in other cities, they climbed up to Rs 500. Despite the opening-day buzz, ‘Parasakthi’ aimed to surpass Sivakarthikeyan’s previous box office milestones, with ‘Amaran’ holding his biggest opener record at Rs 21.4 crore.
The Verdict from Critics and Audiences: A Mixed Canvas
Upon its release, ‘Parasakthi’ was met with a broad spectrum of reactions, painting a mixed canvas of critical and audience opinion. Many praised the film’s strong intentions and its attempt to depict a crucial historical period.
On the positive side, the performances of the lead cast received considerable acclaim. Sivakarthikeyan was lauded for delivering one of his best performances, shedding stereotypical mannerisms to portray a nuanced and occasionally flawed character. Ravi Mohan, in particular, was hailed as a ‘revelation’ and for truly mesmerizing with his ‘slick villainy,’ often stealing the show. Atharvaa Murali and Sreeleela also delivered strong supporting performances, with Sreeleela noted for redefining her image in Tamil cinema, as highlighted by *Pinkvilla*.
Film producer G Dhananjheyan took to X, proclaiming, ‘#parasakthi is authentic, powerful, impactful, well made and a superb film. Very engaging & emotionally moving film on the struggle of student community against the imposition of Hindi.’ Other X users echoed this sentiment, describing the film as ‘Dramatic, Powerful and Engaging,’ ‘thought-provoking,’ and ‘a solid and emotionally gripping film.’ The recreation of the 1960s period, GV Prakash Kumar’s soulful musical tracks, and Ravi K. Chandran’s striking cinematography also garnered appreciation, with some calling it a ‘technically rich film’ with ‘hard-hitting revolutionary dialogues.’ The ‘powerful interval block’ was a recurring point of praise, generating ‘terrific applause’ in early screenings.
However, the film was not without its detractors. A significant portion of the criticism centered on the narrative’s pacing and execution, particularly in the second half. *Pinkvilla*’s review, which gave the film 2.5/5 stars, noted that while ‘Parasakthi’ held strong in the first half, it ‘loses its way in the second half,’ gradually losing momentum and straying from its core plot. Anandu Suresh of *SCREEN*, also rating it 2.5 stars, expressed disappointment, stating that Sudha Kongara ‘forced a 24-year-old Sreeleela to romance a 40-year-old Sivakarthikeyan, thinking it wouldn’t appear extremely odd and awkward.’
Several X users found the film to be a ‘boring period drama with honest intentions but a tedious, lengthy narration that tests your patience.’ Criticisms included a ‘slow narration and dull love track’ dominating the first half, ‘convenient writing and stretched-out sequences’ post-interval, and emotions surrounding the pro-language movement feeling ‘superficial.’ Some felt the film was ‘formulaic, predictable cringe drama’ with ‘lazy making and lackluster screenplay.’ The 25 censor cuts also seemed to have a detrimental effect, with some viewers noting ‘abrupt edits lead to emotional disconnect.’ The comedy sequences were also widely criticized for failing to land, feeling forced and out of sync with the film’s serious tone.
‘Parasakthi’ stands as a testament to ambitious storytelling that grapples with the complexities of historical narrative and public sentiment. While its powerful subject matter and compelling performances, particularly from Sivakarthikeyan and Ravi Mohan, struck a chord with many, the film’s uneven pacing and narrative inconsistencies prevented it from achieving universal acclaim. It’s a film that clearly aimed for an epic scale and emotional depth, and while it delivered moments of undeniable impact, it ultimately struggled to maintain a consistent grip, leaving audiences divided on whether its honest intentions fully translated into a flawless cinematic experience.