Master is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, who co-wrote the screenplay with Rathna Kumar and Pon Parthiban. The film was produced by Xavier Britto under the banner XB Film Creators. It stars Vijay in the title role of a college professor opposite Vijay Sethupathi as the antagonist, with Malavika Mohanan, Andrea Jeremiah, Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, Arjun Das and Gouri G. Kishan in supporting roles. The musical score was composed by Anirudh Ravichander, with cinematography by Sathyan Sooryan and editing by Philomin Raj.
| Title | Master |
|---|---|
| Director | Lokesh Kanagaraj |
| Producer | Xavier Britto |
| Production company | XB Film Creators |
| Writers | Lokesh Kanagaraj, Rathna Kumar, Pon Parthiban |
| Starring | Vijay, Vijay Sethupathi, Malavika Mohanan |
| Music | Anirudh Ravichander |
| Cinematography | Sathyan Sooryan |
| Editing | Philomin Raj |
| Language | Tamil |
| Theatrical release | 13 January 2021 |
| Country | India |
The narrative follows JD, an alcoholic but charismatic college professor, who is transferred to a juvenile detention centre as a disciplinary measure. There he confronts Bhavani, a hardened criminal who has long exploited the inmates of the observation home for his illegal activities. The film traces JD's reform of the boys and his confrontation with Bhavani.
The project was officially announced in late 2019 following the success of Lokesh Kanagaraj's earlier work Kaithi. Principal photography began in Chennai in November 2019 and continued through early 2020, with additional schedules in Cuddalore, Delhi and Neyveli. Filming was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed later in the year, with the shoot wrapping in October 2020.
The soundtrack and background score were composed by Anirudh Ravichander, marking his collaboration with Vijay after Kaththi. The album includes tracks such as "Vaathi Coming", "Kutti Story", "Andha Kanna Paathaakaa" and "Quit Pannuda", which gained substantial popularity on streaming and short-video platforms ahead of the film's release.
Master was originally scheduled for an April 2020 theatrical release tied to the Tamil New Year, but was postponed due to the pandemic-related closure of cinemas. It eventually released theatrically on 13 January 2021, coinciding with the Pongal festival, and was among the first major Indian films to open in cinemas after lockdown restrictions were eased. The film was released across Tamil Nadu and other Indian states, as well as in international markets, and was dubbed into Telugu as Vaathi and Hindi for later release. Digital streaming rights were acquired by Amazon Prime Video, where it premiered on 29 January 2021.
The film opened to large audiences despite COVID-19 capacity restrictions in cinemas, which limited seating to 50 per cent in Tamil Nadu at the time of release. It received generally positive reviews, with particular praise directed at the performances of Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi and Anirudh Ravichander's music, while pacing in the second half drew some criticism. Master emerged as one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of 2021 and was widely credited with reviving theatrical footfall in South India during the pandemic period.
Master is regarded as a turning point for the Tamil exhibition sector during the pandemic, demonstrating audience willingness to return to theatres when a major star vehicle was made available. It also strengthened director Lokesh Kanagaraj's standing in mainstream Tamil cinema and contributed to the development of what later came to be known as the Lokesh Cinematic Universe, although Master itself is not a part of that continuity.