Gatta Kusthi 2
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Chella Ayyavu
Written by Chella Ayyavu
Produced by Ishari K. Ganesh
Vishnu Vishal
Ishan Saksena
Starring
  • Vishnu Vishal
  • Aishwarya Lekshmi
Cinematography K. M. Bhaskaran
Edited by Barath Vikraman
Music by Sean Roldan
Production
companies
Vels Film International
IVY Entertainment
Vishnu Vishal Studioz
Distributed by Red Giant Movies
Release date
  • 3 July 2026 (2026-07-03)
Running time
154 minutes[1]
Country India
Language Tamil

Gatta Kusthi 2 (transl. Tied wrestling 2) is a 2026 Indian Tamil-language sports comedy drama film written and directed by Chella Ayyavu. It was jointly produced by Ishari K. Ganesh, Vishnu Vishal and Ishan Saksena through the companies Vels Film International, Vishnu Vishal Studioz and IVY Entertainment. The film, a sequel to Gatta Kusthi (2022), stars Vishnu Vishal and Aishwarya Lekshmi, while Zara Zyanna Karunas, Munishkanth, and Kaali Venkat play supporting roles. It was released on 3 July 2026.

Plot

The film begins with a promise that Veera makes to Keerthi: that he will stand by her wrestling career when she had become pregnant. Years later, Veera is a house husband, while Keerthi manages her work and wrestling career. However, when she discovers that their daughter Mathi Malar is not into sports and is failing in subjects, chaos ensues. Veera and Keerthi want to bring up their child in different ways. One disagreement after another ends up costing Keerthi her wrestling career and causing a crack in their relationship. What happened to them? Why are they heading for a divorce? What does Mathi Malar want?

Cast

  • Vishnu Vishal as Veera
  • Aishwarya Lekshmi as Keerthi Nair
  • Zara Zyanna as Mathi Malar
  • Ramya Krishnan as Judge Raja Rajeshwari
  • Yogi Babu as Balbir Singh
  • Karunas as Ratnam
  • Munishkanth as Ganesan, Keerthi's Uncle
  • Kaali Venkat as Sattanathan alias Sattam
  • Lizzie Antony as Padma;Ratnam's wife and Veera's aunt
  • Gajaraj as Keerthi's father
  • Sreeja Ravi as Keerthi's mother
  • Nikhila Sankar as Raaji, Keerthi's sister
  • Kalamandalam Mallika as Keerthi's grandmother
  • Karunakaran as Partha
  • Mokksha as Meenu

Production

In early July 2025, Vishnu Vishal confirmed there were plans to make a sequel to Gatta Kusthi (2022).[2] Subsequently, the sequel was formally announced on 1 September the same year, with director Chella Ayyavu, lead actress Aishwarya Lekshmi and producer Ishari K. Ganesh confirmed to return.[3] and principal photography began shortly thereafter.[4] The film was shot in locations including Ambasamudram, Chennai, Pollachi and Palakkad. By May 2026 filming was almost complete, with only a few days of filming left.[5]

Music

The music was composed by Sean Roldan.[6][7]

Track listing
No. Title Lyrics Singer(s) Length
1. "Sambavakaari" Mohan Rajan Sean Roldan, Saindhavi 4:08
2. "Magaraasi" Muthamil Vijay Narain, Sean Roldan 3:53
3. "Lesa Eduthuka" Mohan Rajan Sean Roldan 3:40
4. "House Husband" Mohan Rajan Sathyan Mahalingam 2:47
5. "Thanga Magale" Mohan Rajan Shweta Mohan 3:20
6. "Chill Mummy" Mohan Rajan Mithran Shenbagaraj 3:04
Total length: 20:52

Release

Theatrical

Gatta Kusthi 2 was released on 3 July 2026.[8] In Tamil Nadu it was distributed by Red Giant Movies.[9] Despite politician Aadhav Arjuna of the ruling party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam declaring they would stop Red Giant Movies from releasing films over the next five years,[10] the film was released as scheduled.[11]

Home media

Gatta Kusthi 2 will begin streaming on Netflix after its theatrical run.[12]

Reception

Janani K of India Today rated the film 2/5 stars and wrote, "Gatta Kusthi 2 undoes whatever little progress the first part made and takes us back to the 80s and 90s – where the men crack wife jokes and talk about putting women in their place. What's worse is how the screenplay masquerades this lopsided view on gender politics as an attempt to promote family values".[13] Bhuvanesh Chandar of The Hindu, however, called it an improvement over its predecessor with "sharper writing" but "repeat[s] its biggest mistakes when it matters most".[14] M. Suganth of The Times of India wrote, "While the premise does have potential, the film that we get rarely lives up to it". He called the writing "convenient and predictable", the staging like a television serial, and the music "generic".[15] Avinash Ramachandran of Cinema Express wrote, "Gatta Kusthi 2 comes together well mainly because the screenplay has long gags that you warm up to. Yes, there are moments when you are worried if the one-dimensional characters might become an excuse to derail the call for feminism. And yet, at the same time, you might look around to see if anyone is judging you for laughing out too loud".[16]

References

  1. ^ "Gatta Kusthi 2nd Round". Central Board of Film Certification. Archived from the original on 4 July 2026. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  2. ^ "Vishnu Vishal confirms Gatta Kusthi 2 and Ratsasan 2". Cinema Express. 7 July 2025. Archived from the original on 6 March 2026. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  3. ^ Nasreen, Raisa (1 September 2025). "Gatta Kusthi 2: Vels Film International, Vishnu Vishal Announce Sequel With Hilarious Video". Times Now. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  4. ^ "Vishnu Vishal-Aishwarya Lekshmi's Gatta Kusthi 2 goes on floors". The New Indian Express. 3 September 2025. Archived from the original on 10 March 2026. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
  5. ^ "Vishnu Vishal's 'Gatta Kusthi 2' to hit screens on July 3". DT Next. IANS. 16 May 2026. Archived from the original on 3 July 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  6. ^ "Gatta Kusthi 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. 27 June 2026. Archived from the original on 3 July 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  7. ^ Sony Music South (29 June 2026). Gatta Kusthi 2 - Jukebox (Audio) | Sean Roldan | Vishnu Vishal, Aishwarya Lekshmi | Chella Ayyavu. Archived from the original on 6 July 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "'Gatta Kusthi 2' release date announced: Vishnu Vishal and Aishwarya Lekshmi reunion locks July 2026 release". The Times of India. 16 May 2026. Archived from the original on 9 June 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  9. ^ Red Giant Movies [@RedGiantMovies] (18 June 2026). "Proud to bring #GattaKusthi2 to audiences across Tamil Nadu! 💥 Full-on family entertainment awaits in theatres from July 3rd! 🔥 Starring @TheVishnuVishal and #AishwaryaLekshmi Produced by @VelsFilmIntl & @VVStudioz A film by @ChellaAyyavu A @RSeanRoldan Musical" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 3 July 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  10. ^ "Aadhav Arjuna issues challenge to Red Giant Movies: 'We will not allow them to release films'". Cinema Express. 2 July 2026. Archived from the original on 4 July 2026. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  11. ^ "அடுத்தடுத்து படங்களை வெளியிடும் ரெட் ஜெயன்ட்" [Red Giant releases films back-to-back]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 3 July 2026. Archived from the original on 3 July 2026. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  12. ^ "Netflix India South unveils 2026 Tamil slate including Suriya 46, Marshal, D55, Idhayam Murali and Gatta Kusthi 2". DT Next. 15 January 2026. Archived from the original on 26 June 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  13. ^ K, Janani (3 July 2026). "Gatta Kusthi 2 review: Men talk feminism in Vishnu Vishal film, but women pay for it". India Today. Archived from the original on 3 July 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  14. ^ Chandar, Bhuvanesh (3 July 2026). "'Gatta Kusthi 2' movie review: Double the fun, same old pitfalls". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 July 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  15. ^ Suganth, M (3 July 2026). "Gatta Kusthi 2 Movie Review: A more predictable, less punchy Round 2". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 July 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  16. ^ Ramachandran, Avinash (3 July 2026). "Gatta Kusthi 2 Movie Review: This old-school battle of the sexes is funny, flawed, and familiar". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 4 July 2026. Retrieved 4 July 2026.