Director Venkat Prabhu, whose offbeat storytelling was once celebrated, is going through a rough patch in his career. His last few outings — Manmadha Leelai, Custody, and The Greatest of All Time — have been less than expected. Having generated strong pre-release buzz, these movies failed to make an impact among the audiences and critics, proving to be big box office flops.
In an attempt to get back on track, Venkat Prabhu is said to be remaking one of his biggest hits — Maanaadu. Released in 2021, the sci-fi action thriller starring Simbu and S.J. Suryah proved to be a game-changer, particularly for Simbu, who was going through back-to-back flops then. The intelligent time-loop concept and nail-biting execution of the film connected well with the audience.
The Telugu-dubbed version, The Loop, also received good reviews, as fans enjoyed the performances and the clever script. Industry rumour now indicates a Maanaadu sequel is in the offing, with Venkat Prabhu eager to repeat the magic of the first one.
Though there is no confirmation yet, reports suggest that Maanaadu 2 may go on floors at some point next year. Still, both the director and Simbu are busy — Simbu is working on future projects with Ashwath Marimuthu and Vetrimaaran, while Venkat Prabhu is finishing up his current movie with Sivakarthikeyan.
With the recent succession of lackluster releases, there is much riding on Venkat Prabhu. If the sequel does deliver, Maanaadu 2 could be the long-awaited game-changer in his directorial career.
