In an unexpected turn of events, actor Rajinikanth's next release Lal Salaam has opted out of the Pongal, 2024 box-office race. Word in the grapevine is that the team unfortunately lost a chunk of the movie's shot footage, and it is presumed that reshoots are in order for now. 

Written and directed by Aishwarya Rajinikanth and backed by Lyca Productions, Lal Salaam also stars Vishnu Vishal, Vikranth and has AR Rahman for music. Since the film will not be hitting theaters in January, 2024, other Tamil movies that are expected to become Pongal releases are Sundar C directed horror-comedy franchise movie Aranmanai 4 and Jayam Ravi starrer Siren.

Official announcements on the same are currently awaited.

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[November 10, 2023: Update] There is no change in Lal Salaam release date. The Rajinikanth, Vishnu Vishal, Vikrant starrer with AR Rahman for music will be out for Pongal in January, 2024 as planned. Lal Salaam teaser will be out on Diwali day i.e. November 12, 2023 [Sunday] at 10: 45 AM in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada languages.

#LaalSalaam teaser releasing on 12th Nov 10:45 am #StayTuned

🌟 @rajinikanth
🎬 @ash_rajinikanth
💫 @TheVishnuVishal & @vikranth_offl
🎥 @DOP_VishnuR
⚒️ @RamuThangraj
✂️🎞️ @BPravinBaaskar
👕 @NjSatz
🎙️ @RIAZtheboss @V4umedia_
🎨🖼️ @kabilanchelliah
🤝 @gkmtamilkumaran

🪙… pic.twitter.com/tK38xn7j3K

— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) November 10, 2023

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[January 9, 2024: Update] Lal Salaam has indeed backed out of the Pongal, 2024 race and will now be releasing on February 9, 2024. 

Namma THER THIRUVIZHA'ku Alappara kelappa neram vandhachu! 🤩 LAL SALAAM 🫡 hits the big screen 📽️✨ on February 9th 2024! Save the date! 🗓️#LalSalaam 🫡 @rajinikanth @ash_rajinikanth @arrahman @TheVishnuVishal @vikranth_offl @LycaProductions #Subaskaran @gkmtamilkumaran… pic.twitter.com/CbYHQ4J0sq

— Lyca Productions (@LycaProductions) January 9, 2024