From Thuppakki to Sarkar: AR Murugadoss’s Legacy Meets the Rise of Madharaasi

AR Murugadoss, one of Tamil cinema’s most commercially successful directors, has delivered multiple blockbusters over the years, including Thuppakki (2012), Kaththi (2014), and Sarkar (2018)—all starring Vijay—and now returns with Madharaasi (2025), this time teaming up with Sivakarthikeyan. Each film showcases a unique combination of star power and technical finesse.

Thuppakki, with music by Harris Jayaraj and cinematography by Santosh Sivan, was one of the first Tamil films to gross over ₹100 crore, eventually earning ₹130 crore worldwide. It featured slick action sequences and won 19 awards across various categories.

Here are some of its box office milestones:

1.It was Vijay's first film to achieve a worldwide collection of over ₹100 crore. 2. The film set a new record for the highest opening day collection in Tamil Nadu, netting around ₹9.2 crores. 3. It was the highest-grossing film of 2012 in the Tamil film industry. 

Kaththi, starring Vijay in dual roles with music by Anirudh Ravichander, earned over ₹132 crore and bagged over 30 major awards despite controversies. Here are some of the key box office records achieved by Kaththi:

1. The film quickly surpassed the ₹100 crore mark worldwide, achieving it in just 12 days.  2. It set a new record for the biggest first-day collection in the South Indian film industry, collecting ₹23.8 crore on its opening day. 3. The movie was the second-highest-grossing Tamil film of 2014. 4. The film marked the third consecutive ₹100 crore film for director A.R. Murugadoss, following Thuppakki and Holiday.

Sarkar, backed by AR Rahman’s music and bold political themes, became Murugadoss’s highest-grossing film with over ₹250 crore in worldwide collections. The movie, which marked the third collaboration of AR Murugadoss and Vijay, has grossed over Rs 30 crore in Tamil Nadu on day one, thereby setting a huge benchmark in the state where it released in almost 650 screens. This was the sixth 100-crore grosser for Vijay and fourth in a row after Theri, Bairavaa and Mersal.

Sarkar Box Office Records (2018):

1. All-Time Tamil Nadu 1st Day Record. 2. 4th Biggest South India Opening Record. 3. Non-Rajini Day 1 Record. 4. Collected around Worldwide 107cr share in the first week. 5. 3rd million-dollar movie in the USA, after Theri and Mersal. 6. 1st 250cr grosser for Vijay.



Now, Madharaasi, set to release on September 5, 2025, marks Murugadoss's first collaboration with Sivakarthikeyan and features a stellar crew including editor A. Sreekar Prasad, cinematographer Sudeep Elamon, and action director Kevin Kumar. Interestingly, the protagonist's role was originally pitched to Shah Rukh Khan nearly a decade ago, reflecting Murugadoss's long-standing pan-Indian vision.

The film also reunites Vidyut Jammwal with Murugadoss after Thuppakki and includes a director cameo, following his tradition in earlier films. Behind-the-scenes footage has already teased Sivakarthikeyan’s intense action preparation, and the buzz around this project suggests it may represent the next evolution of Murugadoss’s cinematic legacy.

While its box office performance is yet to be seen, Madharaasi is clearly positioned to be a high-stakes, technically ambitious venture that aims to bridge the blockbuster formula of his Vijay-led hits with a new-age, content-driven storytelling approach suited to today’s audiences.

From redefining Tamil cinema’s box office standards with Thuppakki to scaling new commercial heights with Sarkar, A.R. Murugadoss has consistently blended mass appeal with cinematic craft. His films with Vijay not only delivered blockbuster earnings—each crossing the coveted ₹100 crore mark—but also set multiple records in opening-day collections, award wins, and overseas performance. With Madharaasi (2025), Murugadoss embarks on a fresh chapter alongside Sivakarthikeyan, bringing a new face to his signature high-octane storytelling. If history is any indicator, Madharaasi could very well be the next landmark in Tamil cinema’s evolving commercial narrative.

Stay tuned...