The success of ‘Mandaadi’ brought the film’s team together for a special celebration, with actor Soori receiving praise for his performance and the effort that went into the project. Directed by Mathimaran Pugazhendhi, the film explores the lives of fishermen and the challenging world of boat races.The success meet turned into a memorable gathering as several members of the film fraternity spoke about Soori’s journey from comedy roles to more performance-oriented characters.Soori mimics Rajinikanth and recreates his phone call on stageOne of the highlights of the ‘Mandaadi’ success meet was Soori’s imitation of Superstar Rajinikanth. The actor recreated Rajinikanth’s mannerisms, voice modulation and distinctive dialogue delivery, entertaining those gathered at the event.Soori also recalled receiving a personal phone call from Rajinikanth after the veteran actor watched ‘Mandaadi’. Recreating the Superstar’s energetic voice, Soori narrated how Rajinikanth reacted to the film’s intense sea-based action sequences and appreciated the effort involved in filming them.The moment became particularly special as Soori appeared to recreate the conversation for the audience, giving them a glimpse into the appreciation he received from one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars.Rajinikanth’s appreciation becomes a special moment for SooriAccording to Soori’s account, Rajinikanth was particularly impressed by the film’s challenging action sequences set around the sea. The appreciation appeared to hold special significance for Soori, whose career has gradually evolved from comedy roles to more performance-driven parts.Films such as ‘Viduthalai’, ‘Garudan’ and ‘Kottukkaali’ have been significant milestones in that transition. With ‘Mandaadi’, Soori has added another performance-led project to his filmography, while Rajinikanth’s personal praise has become one of the memorable moments surrounding the film’s success.Vetri Maaran praises Soori’s journey and connection with audiencesFilmmaker Vetri Maaran also spoke about Soori’s growth as an actor and the strong connection he has built with audiences over the years.“On one side, Soori has responsibilities and hard work, but the scenes are the evidence of his journey. From being someone who stood somewhere in a corner in his first film, he has reached this stage today. Everyone who watches Soori’s journey feels that he is the boy from their own home. People see him as one among them. When Soori succeeds, they celebrate it as if someone from their own family has succeeded. That gives him a lot of encouragement. He has an innocence in him, and he should retain it. The love people have for him will always remain,” Vetri Maaran said.His comments highlighted the sense of familiarity audiences have developed with Soori over the course of his career. According to Vetri Maaran, that emotional connection has played an important role in how viewers have responded to the actor’s evolution.With Rajinikanth’s appreciation and Vetri Maaran’s words adding to the celebrations, the ‘Mandaadi’ success meet became another notable moment in Soori’s ongoing journey as a lead actor.About ‘Mandaadi’‘Mandaadi’ stars Soori, Suhas, Mahima Nambiar, Sathyaraj, Ravindra Vijay and Mithun Jai Sankar. Mathimaran Pugazhendhi has directed the film, with GV Prakash Kumar composing the music.Released in theatres on September 10, 2026, ‘Mandaadi’ has reportedly grossed around Rs. 76 crore worldwide in its first week, according to Sacnilk.
