Overview
2.0 is a 2018 Indian Tamil-language science fiction action film directed by S. Shankar and produced by Subaskaran Allirajah under the banner of Lyca Productions. It is a standalone sequel to the 2010 Tamil film Enthiran (released in Hindi as Robot). The film stars Rajinikanth in dual roles as Dr. Vaseegaran and the android Chitti, alongside Akshay Kumar as the antagonist Pakshirajan, with Amy Jackson playing the humanoid robot Nila. Music was composed by A. R. Rahman.
Made on a reported production budget of around ₹570 crore, 2.0 was, at the time of its release, among the most expensive Indian films ever produced. It was shot simultaneously in Tamil and Hindi and dubbed into Telugu and several other languages, releasing worldwide on 29 November 2018. The film is also notable for being shot natively in 3D using stereoscopic cameras.
Key facts
| Title | 2.0 |
|---|---|
| Director | S. Shankar |
| Producer | Subaskaran Allirajah |
| Production company | Lyca Productions |
| Writer | S. Shankar (story and screenplay); B. Jeyamohan (dialogues) |
| Music | A. R. Rahman |
| Cinematography | Nirav Shah |
| Editor | Anthony |
| Visual effects | Legacy Effects, Double Negative (DNEG), and others |
| Lead cast | Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson |
| Original languages | Tamil, Hindi |
| Theatrical release | 29 November 2018 |
| Format | Native stereoscopic 3D |
| Predecessor | Enthiran (2010) |
Plot and themes
The film opens with mobile phones across Chennai mysteriously flying out of the hands of users and disappearing into the sky. Investigations by the government and Dr. Vaseegaran reveal that the phenomenon is caused by a giant entity formed from electromagnetic energy, traced to a former ornithologist named Pakshirajan, whose grievance against unchecked mobile-tower radiation and its impact on bird populations has driven him to seek revenge. To counter the threat, Vaseegaran reactivates the dismantled Chitti and later employs the upgraded "Chitti 2.0" version.
Themes addressed in the screenplay include the ecological impact of mobile-phone radiation on birds, environmental ethics, and the conflict between technological progress and the natural world.
Production
Development
A sequel to Enthiran was announced by Lyca Productions in 2015, with Shankar returning as director. The film was officially launched in Chennai on 15 December 2015. Akshay Kumar was confirmed as the antagonist, marking his debut in Tamil cinema.
Filming
Principal photography began in December 2015 and continued in schedules at Chennai, Delhi and abroad over more than two years. The production employed motion-capture and prosthetic make-up techniques, and was filmed using 3D camera rigs rather than relying on post-conversion. Visual effects involved a number of Indian and international studios.
Music
The soundtrack and background score were composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics in Tamil by Madhan Karky. The audio was launched on 27 October 2018 in Dubai at a large public event.
Release
2.0 released theatrically on 29 November 2018 in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, and was subsequently dubbed into multiple other languages including Mandarin Chinese for the East Asian market. The film opened on a wide global screen count, with significant 3D screen presence in India.
Box office
The film recorded one of the highest opening weekends for an Indian film at the time of release, and became one of the top-grossing Tamil-language films. Trade reports placed its worldwide gross in the range of around ₹650–700 crore, making it one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2018.
Reception
Critical reception was mixed to positive. Reviewers praised the film's visual effects, 3D cinematography, scale, and Rajinikanth's screen presence, while opinions varied on the screenplay and pacing. The environmental message regarding mobile-tower radiation drew particular discussion in the press.
Awards and recognition
2.0 received recognition at several Indian film award ceremonies, with nominations and wins in technical categories including visual effects and production design. It was also among the Indian films that achieved a significant theatrical footprint in international 3D markets.
Significance
2.0 is regarded as a landmark in Indian cinema for its scale of visual-effects work, native 3D production, and budget. It demonstrated the commercial viability of high-budget science fiction in Tamil cinema and reinforced Shankar's reputation for technologically ambitious projects. The film also expanded the cross-language reach of Tamil productions by securing wide simultaneous releases in Hindi, Telugu and Chinese-language markets.
Related topics
- Enthiran
- S. Shankar
- Rajinikanth
- Akshay Kumar
- A. R. Rahman
- Lyca Productions
- Tamil cinema
- Indian science fiction films
References
- Press releases and official announcements by Lyca Productions regarding the production and release of 2.0.
- Contemporary coverage in major Indian newspapers and trade publications during 2015–2018 documenting filming, audio launch and box-office performance.
- Film festival and award listings recognising the technical crew of 2.0.