After being accused of a high-profile political murder, a teenage boy named Surya is secretly sent to a juvenile reformatory, cut off from the outside world. But what awaits him inside is far more brutal than confinement a relentless series of assassination attempts aimed at silencing him forever. As danger closes in from all sides, Surya must summon every ounce of strength and resilience to survive. Trapped between a dark past and an uncertain future, can he outlast the system that wants him gone.
On 24 November 2023, Anl Arasu through a first-look poster confirmed his debut directorial featuring Surya Vijay Sethupathi as the male lead in his sportsaction drama film.[13] The film teaser was released by Sivakarthikeyan in X[14] on 17 June 2024 after a teaser launch event at Le Magic, Nungambakkam, where Surya's father, Vijay Sethupathi was also present.[15] The pre-release trailer cum audio launch event was conducted in Chennai on 27 June 2025 in the presence of Vijay Sethupathi[16] and other prominent faces like H. Vinoth[17] and T. Siva attending the event.[18]
Release
Theatrical
Phoenix released in theatres on 4 July 2025.[19] It had been scheduled for 14 November 2024, clashing with Kanguva,[20] but it was postponed without immediately announcing a date, due to the cuts issued by the Central Board of Film Certification.[21]
Critical Reception
Phoenix received some mixed initial reviews from critics, who praised its technical quality and the strength of its lead. Writing for The Times of India, Abhinav Subramanian gave the movie three out of five stars, saying that its "technical excellence elevate[d] the material considerably" and that it "succeed[ed] in establishing its young lead's action credentials," but lamented its predictability as its "biggest handicap."[22]Cinema Express's Rohini M. also rated the movie three out of five, saying that "Surya Sethupathi impresse[d] in his debut" and that the movie "stood tall" in a technical and cinematographical sense.[23]
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