SP Jhananathan's Vijay Sethupathi-starrer Laabam to release on Netflix in October

SP Jhananathan's Laabam, starring Vijay Sethupathi in the lead, was the first Tamil film to have hit the screens after the government granted permission to movie halls to resume functioning. The theatres in Tamil Nadu were shut down for four months, and Laabam was the first film to announce its release. 

The movie, which has Sethupathi playing a revolutionist, who stops a corporate fraud from spoiling the lives of farmers and others, released on last Thursday. The project, which is the last directorial venture of Jhananathan, opened to mixed reviews from critics and audience alike. The filmmaker passed away earlier this year when the movie's post-production was going on in full swing.     

Though there were speculation about the film premiering on an OTT platform before its theatrical release, Sethupathi, who is also one of the producers of the project, quashed it as a rumour. He took to Twitter to clarify the same by posting, "Socio political thriller #Laabam, its not a direct OTT premiere it will have a big theatrical release." A source now says that the movie, which has Shruti Haasan playing the female lead in it, will release on Netflix in October. It is also said that the television premiere of the movie will happen on Deepavali. The actor's last outing, the political thriller Tughlaq Durbar, had a television premiere on last Friday.       

Jagapathi Babu plays the antagonist in Laabam, while Kalaiyarasan, Ramesh Thilak, Dhanshika and Daniel Annie Pope among others are seen essaying pivotal roles in the movie. D Imman composed music for the film which has Ramji of Paruthiveeran fame cranking the camera for it. It was in 2019 that Sethupathi announced his reunion with Jhananathan after Purambokku Engira Podhuvudamai. The shooting of Laabam was wrapped up in early 2020 and the makers had initially planned to release the movie in May last year.