Sightlines · reception

How Jigarthanda DoubleX was received

2023 · Karthik Subbaraj · Jigarthanda DoubleX on Sightlines

The arc

A Diwali 2023 release that opened to warm reviews and strong word of mouth — instantly hailed as Karthik Subbaraj's return to form after the mixed responses to Jagame Thandiram and Mahaan — and its stature has only grown since hitting Netflix, where it settled in as one of the decade's most-loved Tamil films.

What’s debated

The eternal fan debate: is DoubleX actually better than the 2014 Jigarthanda, and is its cinema-can-change-the-world final stretch profoundly moving or a touch too message-heavy?

Its footprint

The poster image of Raghava Lawrence in full Clint Eastwood cosplay with a film camera slung like a rifle became instantly iconic — and the film's social life peaked when Clint Eastwood's own account responded that he planned to watch it, a surreal crossover moment Tamil film Twitter still brings up.

Where it stands

A fast-track canon climber among Tamil cinephiles and a Letterboxd favorite — the 'no really, you must watch this' pick from 2023 Indian cinema.

Did you know? After the film's Eastwood tributes went viral, Clint Eastwood's team publicly confirmed the 93-year-old knew about the film and would watch it once he finished shooting Juror #2 — Karthik Subbaraj called the moment 'surreal'.

Named by the director

• Clint Eastwood — Subbaraj openly called the film his tribute to the Western genre and to Eastwood in particular, whose screen persona the whole project is built around.
• Satyajit Ray — Subbaraj framed the film equally as a tribute to Ray and his idea of cinema, woven directly into S.J. Suryah's character.