Mankatha(2011)
Mankatha is a 2011 Indian Tamil-language crime action film directed by Venkat Prabhu. It stars Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Lakshmi Rai, and Andrea Jeremiah. The story follows Vinayak, a corrupt ACP in Mumbai, who joins a gang to steal ₹500 crore from a cricket betting operation during the 2011 IPL. The film is notable for Ajith's portrayal of a full-fledged anti-hero with no moral compass. It received critical acclaim and became the second biggest opening for a Tamil film at the time, behind Enthiran. The film won the Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil and grossed over ₹100 crore worldwide. It was re-released in theatres in January 2026.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Sun Nxt, Amazon Prime Video, Airtel Xstream Play
- Theatrical Release
- 31 August 2011
- Director
- Venkat Prabhu
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 40m
- Rating
- 7.1/10
Storyline
A suspended police officer named Vinayak learns about a plan to steal ₹500 crore from a cricket betting den. He joins the gang but secretly plans to keep all the money for himself. As the heist unfolds, trust breaks and violence erupts. Vinayak must outsmart his partners and the police to win the ultimate gamble.
“The ultimate gamble. No rules. No heroes.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Mankatha
Cast reunions in this film: Premgi Amaran & Venkat Prabhu (15 films together), Premgi Amaran & Yuvan Shankar Raja (9 films together), Venkat Prabhu & Yuvan Shankar Raja (9 films together), Ajith Kumar & Yuvan Shankar Raja (8 films together), Jayaprakash & Yuvan Shankar Raja (7 films together), and Vaibhav Reddy & Premgi Amaran (6 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Mankatha' is a slang term for a type of dice game, reflecting the movie's high-stakes gamble theme.
- This was the only film where actor Ajith Kumar sported a full beard and long hair for his entire role.
- Director Venkat Prabhu cast his father, veteran singer-actor Gangai Amaren, in a key role as a police commissioner.
- The iconic coin-flipping scene by Ajith's character was his own idea and became a major signature of the film.
- A real, functional set of a police station was built for filming instead of using an existing location.
- The film's climax was shot in a single, continuous 20-minute take requiring precise coordination from the entire crew.
- Despite mixed initial reviews, it became a major box office hit and developed a strong cult following over the years.
