(This article is authored by Alar)

Rajinikanth, the superstar of Tamil cinema, is known for his larger-than-life roles and charismatic screen presence. His fans are eagerly waiting for his next film, Jailer, which promises to be a thrilling action drama with Rajinikanth playing the role of a jailer. However, the film has run into a legal trouble over its title, as another Malayalam film with the same name is also slated to release around the same time.

The makers of the Malayalam film have requested the Tamil film to change its title in Kerala, but the Tamil film’s producers have refused to do so, leading to a clash between the two films. The Malayalam film Jailer is a period thriller set in the 1940s, starring Dhyan Sreenivasan as a freedom fighter who gets imprisoned by the British.

The film is directed by Sakkir Madathil and produced by N K Mohammad. The Tamil film Jailer is directed by Nelson Dilipkumar and produced by Sun Pictures, one of the biggest production houses in South India.  The title controversy has escalated after Sakkir Madathil held a press conference in Kerala and stated that he has requested Sun Pictures to change or modify the title of Jailer for its Kerala release.

He said that he fears that the audience will get confused between the two films and that his film will suffer due to the star power of Rajinikanth and Mohanlal. He also said that he respects Rajinikanth as an actor and a person, but he cannot compromise on his film’s title.

However, Sun Pictures issued a legal statement in response to Sakkir Madathil’s press conference and said that they cannot change the title of Jailer as it is a corporate decision and that they have invested a lot of money and effort into the film. They also said that they have obtained the title rights from the Tamil Film Producers Council and that they have no intention of hurting anyone’s sentiments. They added that they hope that both films will do well at the box office and that there is enough space for all kinds of films in the industry.

The title tussle between Jailer and Jailer has created a lot of curiosity among the moviegoers and has also sparked a debate on social media. Some fans have supported Rajinikanth’s film and said that it deserves to keep its title as it is a bigger and more anticipated film. Some others have sided with Sakkir Madathil’s film and said that it should get its due respect as it is an original and independent film. Some others have suggested that both films should change their titles to avoid confusion and conflict.

Jailer (Tamil) is scheduled to release on August 10, 2023. It remains to be seen how this issue will be resolved amicably and whether both films will be able to coexist peacefully in Kerala. The film also stars Mohanlal, Tamannaah Bhatia and Yogi Babu in pivotal roles.