Kaithi (2019 film)

Kaithi is a 2019 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film stars Karthi in the lead role, alongside Arjun Das, George Maryan, and Narain.

The story revolves around a recently released prisoner, Dilli (Karthi), who is trying to meet his daughter for the first time. However, his plans are disrupted when he gets caught in a massive drug bust orchestrated by a corrupt police officer. Dilli is forced to transport a group of injured policemen to a hospital while simultaneously protecting them from gangsters seeking to retrieve the seized narcotics.

Kaithi is notable for its unconventional storytelling, featuring no female lead characters or romantic subplot. It is also praised for its action sequences, performances, and technical aspects. The film was a critical and commercial success, and has been dubbed and remade in other Indian languages, including Hindi as Bholaa (2023). The film is part of Lokesh Kanagaraj's "Lokesh Cinematic Universe" (LCU), with connections to his other films, Vikram (2022) and Leo (2023). A sequel, Kaithi 2, is currently in development.