Even as Ajith's Mankatha opens in theatres once again after 15 years, the film's director, Venkat Prabhu, took to his official X handle to pen a note on the film, while also sharing the photo featuring him alongside Vijay and Ajith.
Sharing the photo, Venkat wrote, "It’s time to relive Mankatha from today!! Please don’t reveal the climax… and spoil the experience!! This picture is the மறக்க முடியாத moment during the Mankatha shoot!!! Which can never ever happen in the near future!! Hope and wish I am wrong!!! LETS ENJOY MANKATHA." (sic)
Apart from Ajith, Mankatha also stars Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Lakshmi Rai, Anjali, Andrea Jeremiah, Ashwin Kakumanu, Vaibhav Reddy, Premji Amaren, Mahat Raghavendra, Jayaprakash, Aravind Akash and Subbu Panchu in prominent roles.
The film follows a police officer who is on suspension and who joins a group of robbers to help them steal a whopping amount of money emerging from cricket betting. However, when the time comes to divide the amount, some of them betray the rest, setting the stage for a rollicking ride.
Mankatha brought Ajith back in a grey-shaded role after 2007's Billa and is one of the highest-earning films in his career. It is also among the biggest hits in Venkat Prabhu's career. Recently, he said that with the 2011 film, Ajith showed faith in him despite his lack of experience directing a film featuring a big star.
Besides the intriguing plot and compelling performances, led by Ajith himself, the film is remembered for Yuvan Shankar Raja's music. The Mankatha theme music, especially, is widely praised and plays as part of the Ajith tribute montage ahead of the actor's subsequent films.
Venkat Prabhu has expressed his desire to do a sequel to the film, provided he gets Ajith's dates. In the past, the filmmaker had said that he approached it as a fan of Ajith, thinking about how he would like to see the superstar on the big screen.