“Aranmanai” stands as one of the prominent franchises in Kollywood, carving its niche in the Horror Comedy genre. The journey began with the first installment, released on September 19, 2014, featuring Sundar C., Hansika Motwani, Vinay Rai, Andrea Jeremiah, and Raai Laxmi. The film’s commercial success paved the way for the second installment, hitting theaters on January 29, 2016. While Sundar C. and Hansika Motwani reprised their roles, the cast saw a complete overhaul with Siddarth, Trisha, and Poonam Bajwa joining the ensemble. Despite mixed reviews, the franchise persisted, unveiling the third installment on October 14, 2021, with Sundar C., Andrea, Aarya, and Raashi Khanna. Despite critical feedback, the film emerged as a commercial triumph, ranking among the highest-grossing and most profitable Tamil films of 2021.
Notably, Sundar C., not only a key player as the lead role in the film but also the director for all installments of the franchise, continues to lead the charge, bringing his creative vision to life in each thrilling chapter. Now, as the franchise gears up for the fourth installment slated for Pongal 2024, the return of Sundar C. along with Raashi Khanna and the addition of Tammannaah Bhatia promises another exciting escapade for fans.
The Aranmanai franchise, known for its straightforward yet engaging plot, consistently employs a winning formula that captures the audience’s attention. In each installment, the initial half unfolds with a delightful mix of entertainment, seamlessly blending humor with a hint of horror to create a unique and comical atmosphere. As the storyline progresses into the latter half, a shift occurs, delving into emotional complexities and introducing a serious plotline to confront the supernatural elements. While the stories in the franchise are not interconnected, the thematic structure remains unchanged. What distinguishes each installment is the continuous enhancement in the quality of filmmaking, leveraging technological advancements, and the infusion of a new cast to offer a refreshing take on the familiar content.
In contrast to the success of the Kanchana series, the Aranmanai franchise faced challenges in capturing the Telugu audience. While the initial installment, Chandrakala, managed to perform reasonably well at the box office, the subsequent parts, Kalavathi and Anathapuram, struggled to resonate with viewers. Notably, the third part didn’t even have a simultaneous Telugu release, hinting at potential challenges or a lack of interest from distributors. It appears that the franchise’s appeal may not have translated effectively to the Telugu market, leading to a decision by the makers to forego simultaneous releases or a lack of buyers for the Telugu version. Judging from the first look poster of Aranmanai 4, it seems the makers are leaning towards a Tamil-only release, scheduling it for Pongal 2024 despite the intense competition in Telugu cinema during Sankranti 2024.
