Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, May 6: Telugu actor Suhas has clarified that he plays the antagonist—not a co-lead—in the upcoming Tamil-Telugu bilingual film Mandaadi, directed by Mathimaran Pugazhendi. The film features actor Soori in the titular and sole lead role.

The clarification comes shortly after the release of Suhas’s first-look poster on Monday, which also doubled as the Telugu version's promotional debut. The poster, shared by the film’s production house RS Infotainment on X (formerly Twitter), generated buzz and led to speculation that Suhas and Soori were sharing protagonist duties.

To put the rumors to rest, Suhas posted a statement on X Tuesday:

"Hello. This is a small clarification on my upcoming Tamil film #Mandaadi, which will also have a Telugu release. Unlike all the speculated rumours, I'll be playing only the Antagonist and Soori anna will be the Protagonist."

Previously, RS Infotainment had captioned the first-look reveal with:

"All it needs is a Tsunami to wake your fighting spirits up. Here's the terrific Telugu First Look of the film #Mandaadi. @sooriofficial and @ActorSuhas are all set to Ride & Rule the Sea."

Suhas’s own initial post read:

"Here is the first look of #Mandaadi. Can't wait to ride and rule the sea with @sooriofficial anna."
While this wording sparked speculation, the actor’s follow-up removed ambiguity regarding character roles.

Mandaadi features actress Mahima Nambiar as the female lead. Known for her performances in films like Asuraguru, Magamuni, and the biopic 800, she joins a strong ensemble cast including veteran actor Sathyaraj, Bigg Boss fame Sachana, and acclaimed Kannada actor Achyuth Kumar.

The film’s title poster, earlier released by Soori, hinted at a sea-based narrative with dramatic stakes:

"When the sea carries secrets, the fire will tell us stories. When the sea, which has no bounds, keeps endless secrets within itself, only the fire is able to tell its stories."

On the technical front, the film boasts a stellar crew:

• Music by G.V. Prakash Kumar
• Cinematography by S.R. Kathir
• Editing by Pradeep E. Ragav
• Stunt choreography by Peter Hein
• Sound design by Prathap
• VFX supervision by Harihara Suthan
• Dance choreography by Azar

Acclaimed filmmaker Vetrimaaran serves as the film’s creative producer, with production helmed by Elred Kumar of RS Infotainment.

Mandaadi promises to be a high-stakes action drama with a maritime mystery at its core and is set to make waves in both Tamil and Telugu cinema.