Neelira
2026 Tamil-language film
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Neelira (transl. Long Night) is a 2026 Indian war film written and directed by Someetharan. Set against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan civil war, the film stars an ensemble cast including Naveen Chandra, Sananth, Kapila Venu, Roopa Koduvayur, and Tharmeega Manimaran.[1] Set in Sri Lanka, it features the Eelam Tamil dialect.
- Kaarthikeyan S
- Karthik Subbaraj
- Rana Daggubati
- Kalyan Subramanian
- Naveen Chandra
- Sananth
- Kapila Venu
- Roopa Koduvayur
- Tharmeega Manimaran
| Neelira | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Someetharan |
| Written by | Someetharan |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Selvarathinam Pradeepan |
| Edited by | Radha Sridhar |
| Music by | K |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | AGS Cinemas |
Release date |
|
Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
The film was released theatrically on 3 April 2026. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who noted its realistic portrayal of the conflict's impact on civilians.
Plot
In 1988 in Jaffna, amidst the Sri Lankan civil war, an Eelam Tamil family is in the midst of preparing for the wedding of their daughter, Vasuki. On the eve of the wedding, a group of Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) soldiers led by a Captain inadvertently occupy the family's home due to a navigational error. Realising they are stranded without backup and surrounded by local militants,[clarification needed] the soldiers take refuge inside, effectively holding the family hostage.
Cast
- Naveen Chandra as Captain
- Sananth as Castro/ Devan
- Kapila Venu as Devaki
- Roopa Koduvayur
- Tharmeega Manimaran
- Sidhu Kumaresan as Vasuki
- Vidhu
- Namasivayam Thambipillai
- Kayal Vincent
- Gajaraj[2]
Production
Neelira marks the feature film directorial debut of Someetharan, a Eelam Tamil journalist and documentary filmmaker.[3] Someetharan stated that the film was inspired by his own lived experiences growing up in a militarised zone in Jaffna.[4] The film was produced by Kaarthikeyan S, Karthik Subbaraj, Rana Daggubati and Kalyan Subramanian under the banners of Stone Bench Studio and Spirit Media. The technical crew includes music composer K, cinematographer Selvarathinam Pradeepan and editor Radha Sridhar.[5]
Release and reception
Neelira was released in theatres on 3 April 2026, by AGS Cinemas.[6] The film received generally positive reviews, with critics largely praising Someetharan's authentic writing, the tense chamber-drama format, and the performances of the ensemble cast.[1][7]
K. Janani of India Today similarly praised Chandra's "measured" acting, describing the film as a "quietly devastating" portrait of war.[8] Baradwaj Rangan commended the "tight, tense drama" for effectively distilling the broader tragedy of Eelam Tamils through its single-night premise.[9] Akshay Kumar of Cinema Express praised the cast and the film's incisive dialogue, but felt the tight 92-minute runtime occasionally rushed the character transformations.[10] The film was also reviewed by Cinema Vikatan and Virakesari.[11][12]
