Sivakarthikeyan’s Cinematic Shift: Ayalaan to Amaran, and the Rise of Madharaasi

Sivakarthikeyan's evolution in Tamil cinema has been marked by increasingly ambitious projects, notably Ayalaan, Amaran, and the upcoming Madharaasi. Released in January 2024 after years of delay, Ayalaan was a sci-fi fantasy directed by R. Ravikumar and featured Sivakarthikeyan alongside Rakul Preet Singh with music by A.R. Rahman.

The film's novelty lay in its alien-centric plot and extensive VFX work, which took over four years to complete. Despite pacing criticisms, it found favour with family audiences and collected an estimated ₹75 crore globally, with around ₹50 crore from Tamil Nadu.



In contrast, Amaran, released in October 2024, was a patriotic war biopic based on Major Mukund Varadarajan, directed by Rajkumar Periyasamy and co-starring Sai Pallavi. Produced by Kamal Haasan's Raaj Kamal Films International, it became a major commercial and critical success, grossing ₹333.67 crore worldwide.

It broke multiple records, becoming the second-highest-grossing Tamil film of 2024 and the eighth-highest of all time in the language, with a strong emotional core that resonated widely. Interestingly, despite fewer screens, Amaran outperformed bigger-budget films in footfalls, with audiences and critics praising its heartfelt storytelling and war sequences.

Here is a list of his notable movies that grossed 100 cr: 



Doctor (2021) - ₹ 100.5 Cr

Don: (2022) - ₹ 114 Cr

Amaran (2024) - ₹ 333.67 Cr



Now, anticipation surrounds Madharaasi, a psychological action thriller slated for release in September 2025. Directed by A.R. Murugadoss and featuring music by Anirudh Ravichander, the film boasts a strong ensemble cast including Vidyut Jammwal, Biju Menon, and Vikranth.

Backed by a big budget, it is expected to push Sivakarthikeyan further into mass action territory while offering depth through Murugadoss’s signature narrative style. In essence, while Ayalaan showcased Sivakarthikeyan’s genre experimentation, Amaran proved his mettle in serious cinema and box office dominance, and Madharaasi could be the defining next step in an already remarkable career.

Stat tuned...