Dhanush love playing the local gangster, doesn't he? Recently, he impressed the critics by playing a gangster in Vetrimaaran's Vada Chennai. Now he is again playing a ruffian in Maari 2, only this time there is a big comical touch to the proceedings. Maari 2 is the sequel to the 2015 hit, Maari. Like most of the sequels made these days, Maari 2 has retained its lead actor and the director, Balaji Mohan, while ditching the heroine and the antagonist. Shah Rukh Khan's Zero To Face More Competition on December 21; Four Big Tamil Movies, Starring Dhanush, Vijay Sethupathi Clashing on Same Day!

So this time it will be Premam fame Sai Pallavi who will be romancing Dhanush, instead of Kajal Aggarwal. And continuing the tradition of hiring a Malayalam actor as the villain (last time it was singer Vijay Yesudas), this time, it is Tovino Thomas who will be harassing Dhanush's Maari. Both Pallavi and Thomas' characters manage to stand out in the trailer, the former for her spunk and being the one to make the first moves for the hero. The latter, playing an obsessed psychotic villain who is hell-bent on killing Maari and anyone who comes in the way. Rajinikanth, Ajith, Thalapathy Vijay or Dhanush - Who is The BIGGEST Crowd-Puller in Tamil Cinema Right Now? Vote!

But Maari 2 is a Dhanush show all the way, as he gets to crack jokes and knuckles all in one movie, not to forget all those rowdy dance moves. He also seems to channel the spirit of his father, Rajinikanth, in some of his mannerisms.

Watch the trailer of Maari 2 here -

Maari 2 also stars Varalaxmi Sarathkumar as a top cop (man, isn't she getting typecast these days?), along with Krishna Kulasekaran, Robo Shankar and Kalloori Vinoth. The movie is confirmed to release on December 21, clashing with three other Tamil movies, including Vijay Sethupathi's Seethakaathi.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 05, 2018 01:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).