Aranmanai 2

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Aranmanai 2 (2016) is a Tamil comedy-horror film directed by Sundar C. It’s the second film in the Aranmanai series, following the 2014 hit Aranmanai. The ensemble cast includes Sundar C, Siddharth, Trisha Krishnan, Hansika Motwani, and Poonam Bajwa.

Plot
A man and his fiancée return to their ancestral palace after his father falls into a mysterious coma. They soon uncover dark family secrets and a vengeful spirit connected to Maya, a woman from the family’s past who was driven to tragedy. As the spirit wreaks havoc with possessions and murders, a priest and the village goddess Mariamman play crucial roles in trying to exorcise the evil. The climax involves ritual acts at the temple, and Maya’s spirit is ultimately trapped in a doll, leaving a hint of a sequel.

Production
The project was announced with Trisha and Hansika joining the cast, and Aadukalam Naren was cast as the antagonist. Filming ran from June to December 2015, and a large 103-foot statue of the sleeping goddess Mariamman was created for a song sequence. The music is by Hiphop Tamizha, with the soundtrack released on December 27, 2015. Aranmanai 2 was released on January 29, 2016, distributed by Sri Thenandal Films.

Reception and box office
Aranmanai 2 received mixed reviews. Some critics called it a straightforward, entertaining masala film, while others felt the horror elements were not very scary and that it relied on the original film’s formula. Despite mixed reviews, the film performed well at the box office, earning about 16 crore in the first three days. Director Sundar C. said the movie financially surpassed its predecessor.

Sequels
The story continued with Aranmanai 3, released in 2021, followed by Aranmanai 4 in 2024.