It's a celebration time for Thalapathy Vijay fans across Tamil Nadu. The actor's blockbuster 'Theri', directed by Atlee, finally returned to theatres on Friday, February 27, marking its comeback exactly a decade after its original release .
The re-release followed two earlier postponements in January, which had only built anticipation among fans who were eagerly waiting for a confirmed revival date. As soon as the film resumed its theatrical journey, theatres saw large-scale celebrations and special shows organised across Tamil Nadu .
A Decade-Long Journey Back to Theatres

Originally released on April 14, 2016, 'Theri' was produced by Kalaipuli S. Thanu under the V Creations banner . The film revolves around a former police officer living under a different identity to protect his daughter, only to be drawn back into conflict with adversaries from his past. The cast includes Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Amy Jackson, and child actor Nainika in key roles, with music composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, cinematography by George C. Williams, and editing by Ruben .

During its original theatrical run, the film received positive reviews and reportedly earned ₹150 crore against a ₹75 crore budget, becoming the second highest-grossing Tamil film of 2016 . This track record has set high expectations for the re-release.

The Road to Re-release: Two Postponements
The journey to bring 'Theri' back to theatres wasn't smooth. The re-release was initially planned for January 15 to coincide with the Pongal festival and mark its 10th anniversary . However, it was deferred after requests from producers of other Pongal releases .

Producer Kalaipuli S. Thanu stated on social media at the time, "As per the request from the producers of upcoming releases, we have decided to postpone the release of 'Theri'" . A subsequent date of January 23 was also pushed following an appeal from the team of 'Draupathi 2', with Thanu explaining that the banner's priority was to support emerging filmmakers .

The January 23 date had originally set up a potential high-profile box-office clash with Ajith Kumar's cult classic 'Mankatha' , which was also slated to return to theatres on the same day . This would have revived memories of the intense box office rivalry between Vijay and Ajith, who last clashed in 2023 when 'Varisu' and 'Thunivu' released simultaneously during Pongal . However, with both films eventually moving to different dates, fans had to wait a little longer for 'Theri's return.

Tough Competition in the Re-release Space
According to industry-tracking platform Cinetrak, 'Theri' steps into a competitive space dominated by iconic titles with impressive re-release openings .
The state's re-release records illustrate how powerful older blockbusters remain within the Tamil theatrical ecosystem. Here are the top re-release openers in Tamil Nadu :
Rank Film Star Re-Release Opening
1 Mankatha Ajith Kumar ₹3.75 crore
2 Ghilli Vijay ₹3.6 crore
3 Padayappa Rajinikanth ₹2.8 crore
4 Sachien Vijay ₹2.2 crore
5 Kushi Various ₹90 lakhs
6 Dheena Ajith Kumar ₹70 lakhs

A remarkable detail this year is 'Ghilli's second re-release , which has secured another place in the Top 10 list . Given Vijay's consistent fan following and the renewed interest in re-releases over the past year, industry observers expect 'Theri' to register a competitive opening. However, actual figures will only become clear once official estimates are compiled after the first day's shows .

As the weekend progresses, the film's performance will indicate whether it can enter the list of top re-release openings in Tamil Nadu and cement its legacy as one of Vijay's most beloved commercial entertainers.