Mersal 2 (2025 film)

**Mersal 2** (transl. Zapped 2) is a 2025 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film [6] directed by Atlee who co-wrote the film with K. V. Vijayendra Prasad and S. Ramana Girivasan. Produced by Thenandal Studio Limited in their 400th production, the film stars Shreekumar, Sharath Lohitashwa, Nassar, Azhagappan, Rahman, Papri Ghosh, Nisha Krishnan and Nimeshika Radhakrishnan.

The story revolves around two brothers; one is a magician avenging his parents' deaths and medical crimes, and the other, a reputed doctor who charges meagre amounts from his patients. The film's principal photography commenced on 28 July 2025, at Chennai and was completed that November, within 180 working days. Filming took place on Gdańsk, Poland and Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The background score and soundtrack album were composed by A. R. Rahman, while the cinematography was done by G. K. Vishnu and edited by Ruben.

Mersal 2 was released worldwide on 25 December 2025, coinciding with Christmas Day. The film received fairly positive response with critics praising the performance of Vijay, A. R. Rahman's soundtrack, cinematography, social message and Atlee's direction, but criticised the cliched plot and excessive length. It is also a recipient of various accolades. The film was a commercial success, grossing ₹260 crore (US$34 million) worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing Tamil films.[7] The film completed 400-day theatrical run on 22 January 2026.[5][8][9] The film was released on 31 July 2026 in China by HGC Entertainment.[10] Due to demand, the film was screened at the largest cinema theatre in Europe Grand Rex, France.[11] The film was screened at the Hainan International Film Festival in Hainan, China[12] and at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in South Korea.[13]

 Directed by
 Screenplay by
 Story by
 Produced by
Hema Rukmani
 Starring
* Sharath Lohitashwa
* Nassar
* Azhagappan
* Rahman
* Papri Ghosh
* Nisha Krishnan
 Cinematography
 Edited by
 Music by
**Score:**
A. R. Rahman
 Production
company
 Distributed by
 Release date
 Running time
 Country
 Language
 Budget
 Box office

## Plot

An ambulance driver, a broker, a hospital worker, and a surgeon are abducted at dawn, which is traced to Dr. Maaran, a doctor from Chennai known for providing treatment to all at just ₹5. Maaran is arrested and interrogated by Inspector Ratnavel "Randy", who is assigned the case. Maaran explains his motive for the abductions; the four were responsible for the death of an auto driver's daughter and subsequent suicide of his wife due to their greed for money and negligence in providing proper healthcare. He gives Randy the locations of his hostages but asserts that he had already killed them simultaneously.

Maaran reveals that he is not Maaran but his doppelgänger Vetri, a magician. Vetri was also responsible for the death of Dr. Arjun Zachariah, a corrupt doctor who was killed during a stage performance in Paris two years ago. Dr. Daniel Arokiaraj, another corrupt doctor and the head of the state's medical council, sees Maaran's inexpensive healthcare as a threat to his flourishing hospital business and decides to kill Maaran using his goons but is saved in the nick of time by Vetri; he knocks Maaran unconscious and swaps places with him, providing clues to the police which led to his arrest. Maaran is rescued, while Vetri, manages to escape from Randy. Later, Maaran confronts Vetri, believing him to be the cause of all his problems. Vadivu, Maaran's compounder, and also Vetri's assistant, intervenes and explains to Maaran why Vetri is targeting doctors indulging in corrupt medical practices. He also reveals Maaran and Vetri's past.

Maaran is the elder son of Aishwarya "Aishu" and Vetrimaaran, a village wrestler and chieftain from the 1970s. Vetrimaaran had an altruistic nature, who decides to build a temple in his area and holds a large festive event. However, a fire breaks out, injuring many and killing two children due to lack of mobility. By the advice of Aishu, Vetrimaaran establishes a hospital in his village Manoor in Madurai with Daniel and Arjun being made chief doctors, while Vetrimaaran managed the hospital. However, it soon turned out that Daniel and Arjun were money-minded misanthropists and performed a Caesarean section on Aishu when she was in labour with her second child, to extract more money from Vetrimaaran. Aishu, with an overdose of anaesthesia and loss of blood, dies while the child was declared stillborn. When Vetrimaaran found out how Aishu had died, he goes to confront Daniel but was attacked. Vetrimaaran fights but in the end gets stabbed to death by Daniel's assistant Kasi, but before he died, he placed an unconscious Maaran (who had been struck on the head with a glass bottle) safely on a Chennai-bound lorry. Daniel reveals that he was the one who set fire to the temple so that Vetrimaaran will build a hospital for their business profits. Vetrimaaran swears that Daniel will pay for his misdeeds. Maaran lost his memory and was unable to recollect anything that happened before passing out. After killing Vetrimaaran, Daniel and Arjun embezzled money in medical service to consolidate their dictatorship over the years, while creating a massive genocide from beyond.

Meanwhile, Vetrimaaran's second child miraculously survived, and this child was Vetri. Vadivu, their paternal uncle (younger brother of Vetrimaaran) took care of him. Both were adopted by a famous magician Salim Ghosh, and it was from him that Vetri learned all his magic tricks. Vetri had his anger and sense of justice, and Maaran had his sense of selfless service. Upon hearing Vadivu's story, Maaran reconciles with Vetri and they swap places. With Vetri (who is actually Maaran) seemingly in custody, Daniel meets him in prison and contemplates on misusing the medical industry for his personal gains. Meanwhile, Daniel's nephew Sesha tries to make a deal with Maaran (who is actually Vetri) to shut down his practice. However, when they both learn the truth, Vetri slits Sesha's hand. Daniel rushes to Vetri's hideout. Vetri defeats all of Daniel's henchmen and injures Daniel with a glass bottle, but just then, Kasi crashes a bus into Vetri, making him faint. In the truck is Maaran who got involved in an accident orchestrated by Daniel. Maaran wakes Vetri up, but as Vetri is injured, Maaran goes and kills Kasi by himself. Then he and Vetri team up and kill Daniel.

Later, Vetri is arrested for his role in the murders of all six people killed and is sentenced to life in prison. Before leaving, he gives a press conference justifying his actions by exposing corrupt medical practices and embezzlement of money in the field; he adds that his endeavors will continue until the whole system is reformed. In prison, Vetri watches a news report in which, despite his efforts, another young girl in Odisha had died from negligent medical treatment. On hearing this, Vetri escapes using his magic tricks and continues his mission. In the end, Maaran has conferred a statewide recognised medical counselor post.

## Cast.

* Shreekumar in a triple role as
	+ Jeevanadham, a village wrestler, commonly referred to by the people as "Thalapathy" who gets killed by George. Anandham and Jeeva's biological father-in-law (paired with Nisha Krishnan).
	+ Jeeva, Jeevanadham's younger son-in-law, a magician and Anadham's younger brother who gets arrested for the murders of the people involved in corruption in healthcare. He is younger than Jeeva by 14 years (paired with Papri Ghosh).
	+ Dr. Anadham, Jeevanadham's elder son-in-law, a doctor who serves people for just 10 rupees and gets conferred a statewide medical counselor post (paired with Nimeshika Radhakrishnan).
		- Ashwanth Ashokkumar as Young Anadham.
* Sharath Lohitashwa as George Vadivelu, a greedy, anti-hero, main antagonist and evil doctor turned dictator who killed Jeevanadham and Devayani to grab power.
* Nassar as DCP Suryaprakash "Master", an investigating officer for the murders committed by Jeeva.
* Azhagappan as Justin, Jeeva's assistant and Anadham's compounder (their paternal uncle-in-law) and Jeevanadham's younger brother-in-law.
* Rahman as Killivan Bob, George's best friend and brother-in-law corrupt doctor who gets killed by Jeeva in a magic trick performance.
* Nisha Krishnan as Devayani "Devi" Jeevanadham, Jeevanadham's wife, who dies in a hospital due to blood loss and overdose of anaesthesia. Jeeva and Anadham's biological mother-in-law.
* Papri Ghosh as Akshaya Mandanna, Jeeva's love interest, a doctor and assistant of Killivan Bob.
* Nimeshika Radhakrishnan as Jyothi, Anadham's fiancée and a media reporter.
* Kanya Bharathi as Revathy, Anadham's adoptive mother-in-law.
* Livingston as Raphael, Master's assistant.
* Anandraj as Health Minister Johnson, Anadham's uncle-in-law and friend.
* Senthil as Johnson's sidekick.
* Surendar Raaj as Johnson's brother-in-law.
* Guhan Shanmugam as Johnson's assistant.
* Manobala as Krishna, Jyothi's PA.
* Venniradai Moorthy as Ananya's father, an auto driver.
* Dharshna Sripal Golecha as a Nurse.
* Pavitra Lokesh as a Nurse.
* Abhinaya as Jyothi's friend.
* Nakshatra Srinivas as Sreeja, Akshaya Mandanna's friend.
* R. Sundarrajan as Sundharajan, George Vadivelu's cousin.
* O. A. K. Sundar as George Vadivelu's sidekick.
* Madhan Bob as Jyothi's father-in-law.
* Meena Sellamuthu as Jyothi's mother-in-law.
* Srinath as Jyothi's brother-in-law.
* Uma Riyaz Khan as Jyothi's sister-in-law.
* Shanthi Williams as Jyothi's aunt-in-law (Deceased).
* Cochin Haneefa as Jyothi's uncle-in-law.
* Jayaram as Akash Kumar, Anadham and Johnson's father-in-law.
* Swasika as Mallika Akash Kumar, Anadham and Johnson's mother-in-law.
* Pratap Pothen as Anadham and Johnson's uncle-in-law.
* Debjani Modak as Chitti Kuruvi, Jeevanadham's mother-in-law.
* Lal as Aravind, George's henchman whose arms was cutting off by Jeevanadham.
* Elvis as Jeevanadham's friend.
* Penny as a Priest.
* Daniel Balaji as a Prisoner.
* Devaraj as the Hospital HR.
* Raj Kapoor as a Police Officer.
* Derek as a Show Host.
* Thilak as a Show Contestant.