One of 2026's most anticipated Tamil films is the Sudha Kongara directed Parasakthi starring Sivakarthikeyan in the lead, and Sreeleela, Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa among others in its multi-starrer ensemble. Parasakthi hits theater screens on January 14, 2026 marking the Tamil festival of 'Pongal', and the film produced by Dawn Pictures is also releasing in dubbed versions marking the 'Makar Sankranthi' festival PAN India. 

Set in 1960s Tamil Nadu, Parasakthi is based on true life events, and particularly circles around the 1965 anti-Hindi agitations in the Tamil state. In a recent print interview with Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan, Parasakthi director Sudha Kongara opened up about how her film's story came about. 

Sudha Kongara clicked during Parasakthi filming

Vikatan quotes the filmmaker as stating, "The discussions for Parasakthi began 5 years ago. GV Prakash Kumar (music composer of 'Parasakthi') is a friend of mine. He was acquainted with Mathimaran Pugazhendhi, who is currently making 'Mandadi' (Tamil film starring Soori in the lead). GV Prakash was the one who told me Mathimaran had good stories with him."

"Not a story, but Parasakthi started off as a concept that takes place in the 1960s. Events and details of the movie are taken from history. Mathimaran interlinked a lot of these, and gave me a base script", said Sudha Kongara of the Mandadi writer-director's involvement in Parasakthi. 

A still of Sivakarthikeyan from Parasakthi (2026)

A historical political drama, Sudha Kongara's Parasakthi is titled after the Sivaji Ganesan starrer Parasakthi (1952), which is a celebrated satirical drama in Tamil Cinema. The original Parasakthi with screenplay by DMK founder and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, is based on Pavalar Balasundaram's play of the same name, and narrates the misfortunes that befall the members of a Tamil family during World War II.

All eyes now are on whether Sivakarthikeyan-Sudha Kongara's Parasakthi will live upto the name of the legendary original.