Vikram · reception & legacy
2022 · Lokesh Kanagaraj
How Vikram has been received, argued over, and remembered.
The arc
A day-one blockbuster that instantly rewrote Kamal Haasan's box-office story — his biggest hit in decades after a long dry spell — and it's since settled in as the keystone of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe, the film people rewatch before every new LCU entry.
What's debated
Fans still argue whether it's Lokesh's true masterpiece or whether Kaithi is the leaner, better film — and whether Vikram's cameo-driven universe-building is thrilling or a crutch.
Its footprint
Suriya's Rolex entrance became instant meme currency across Indian film Twitter, and Anirudh's 'Once Upon a Time' theme turned into a shorthand drop for any hype moment; the film basically mainstreamed the 'cinematic universe' idea in Tamil cinema.
Where it stands
A modern Kollywood essential and a common Letterboxd gateway drug into Tamil cinema — the 'start here' recommendation for the Lokesh Cinematic Universe.
Named by the director
Influences Lokesh Kanagaraj has publicly named — the director's own word, distinct from the inferred lines of influence.
- Vikram (1986) — Lokesh publicly framed his film as drawing its title and agent premise from Kamal Haasan's 1986 original, while stressing it wasn't a direct sequel.
- Kamal Haasan — Lokesh has repeatedly called himself a lifelong Kamal Haasan fanboy and described Vikram as his tribute to the star, threading the film with references to Haasan's filmography.