It’s been nine years since Atlee directed Theri starring Thalapathy Vijay hit theatres, and the film still holds a special place in the hearts of fans. It combined mass appeal with emotional storytelling, making it one of the most memorable films of 2016. The film revolves around a doting father with a mysterious past, blending stylish action, tender father-daughter moments, and sharp social commentary. Atlee’s signature blend of drama and heroism truly shone through, cementing his place among the top commercial filmmakers in Tamil cinema.

Atlee, who had already made a successful debut with Raja Rani (2013), showcased a different side of his storytelling in Theri, leaning into high-voltage action and emotional stakes. His flair for presenting his heroes in larger-than-life avatars without losing emotional depth made him a fan favorite. Theri’s success not only added another blockbuster to Vijay’s career but also pushed Atlee closer to the pan-India spotlight, a journey that would continue with Mersal, Bigil, and his Bollywood debut Jawan with Shah Rukh Khan. With each film, he raised the bar in terms of scale, emotion, and mass appeal.

Now, nine years after Theri, Atlee is stepping into a new cinematic frontier—directing the most expensive film in Indian cinema history. Backed by the powerhouse production house Sun Pictures and headlined by Allu Arjun, the film is tentatively titled AA22*A6. The scale of the film is said to be unprecedented, with a vision that spans global storytelling, high-octane action, and never-before-production grandeur. The combination of Atlee’s emotional storytelling and Allu Arjun’s magnetic screen presence is already generating massive buzz across the country with the announcement video released on April 8th.

AA22 A6 is more than just another big-budget movie—it's a cinematic event in the making. With Atlee at the helm, known for delivering emotion-packed blockbusters, expectations are sky-high. As the filmmaker who gave us Theri, a film that touched hearts while delivering thunderous applause-worthy moments, Atlee now gears up to redefine scale and spectacle in Indian cinema. From the passionate story of a father in Theri to a globally ambitious cinematic beast in AA22*A6, Atlee’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary.