Leo is one of the most anticipated Indian movies of 2023, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by S. S. Lalit Kumar and Jagadish Palanisamy. It is the third installment in the Lokesh Cinematic Universe, following the events of Kaithi (2019) and Vikram (2022) and is inspired by A History of Violence (2005), an adaptation from the graphic novel of the same name.
The movie features Vijay in the titular role of Leo Das, a former gangster who lives a peaceful life as an animal rescuer and a cafe owner in Theog, Himachal Pradesh. His life changes when his past catches up with him and he has to face his estranged brother Antony Das, played by Sanjay Dutt, who is a notorious crime lord in Telangana. The movie also stars Arjun as Harold Das, Antony’s younger brother and right-hand man, Trisha as Sathya, Leo’s wife and a school teacher, Madonna Sebastian as Mathi, Leo’s daughter, Gautham Vasudev Menon as Joshy Andrews, a forest ranger and Leo’s friend, Mysskin as Shanmugham, a local gangster who tries to rob Leo’s cafe, Mansoor Ali Khan as Denzil Smith, a corrupt police officer who works for Antony, George Maryan as Babu Antony, a loyal henchman of Leo, Priya Anand as Abhirami Venkatachalam, a journalist who investigates Leo’s past, and Mathew Thomas as Siddharth, Leo’s son.
The movie has music composed by Anirudh Ravichander, cinematography handled by Manoj Paramahamsa and editing by Philomin Raj. The movie was officially announced in January 2023 under the tentative title Thalapathy 67, as it is Vijay’s 67th film as a lead actor, and the official title was announced a few days later. Principal photography commenced the same month in Chennai along with a sporadic schedule in Kashmir, which was again followed by another schedule held at the former location, and wrapped by mid-July. The movie has been shot in various locations such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Shimla, Manali, Kullu and Leh.
The movie has been made on a whopping budget of est. ₹250–350 crore, making it one of the most expensive Indian movies ever made. The movie has been distributed by various companies across different regions such as Seven Screen Studio (Tamil Nadu), Lyca Productions (Kerala), Sri Venkateswara Creations (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana), PVR Pictures (North India), Amazon Prime Video (overseas) and Netflix (worldwide streaming). The movie has been released worldwide on 19 October 2023 in standard and IMAX formats to mixed reviews from critics.
According to trade analysts, the movie has collected est. ₹140 crore in its opening weekend across India and overseas markets. The movie has performed well in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana, where it has received positive word-of-mouth from the audience. However, the movie has faced stiff competition from other releases such as Salaar (starring Prabhas and Shruti Haasan), Tiger 3 (starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif) and Ganapath (starring Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon) in North India and overseas markets. The movie is expected to break even in its first week of release and emerge as a profitable venture for the producers and distributors.
The cast and director of the movie have reportedly received hefty salaries for their work. According to sources, Vijay has been paid ₹100 crore as his remuneration for the movie, making him one of the highest-paid actors in India. Sanjay Dutt has been paid ₹25 crore for his role as Antony Das, while Arjun has been paid ₹15 crore for his role as Harold Das. Trisha has been paid ₹10 crore for her role as Sathya, while Madonna Sebastian has been paid ₹5 crore for her role as Mathi. Gautham Vasudev Menon has been paid ₹8 crore for his role as Joshy Andrews, while Mysskin has been paid ₹6 crore for his role as Shanmugham. Mansoor Ali Khan has been paid ₹4 crore for his role as Denzil Smith, while George Maryan has been paid ₹3 crore for his role as Babu Antony. Priya Anand has been paid ₹2 crore for her role as Abhirami Venkatachalam, while Mathew Thomas has been paid ₹1 crore for his role as Siddharth. Lokesh Kanagaraj has been paid ₹20 crore as his fee for directing the movie, while Anirudh Ravichander has been paid ₹15 crore for composing the music.
Conclusion
Leo is a movie that has created a lot of buzz among the fans and the media, thanks to its star-studded cast, high budget, thrilling plot and impressive visuals. The movie has received mixed reviews from the critics, but has been appreciated by the audience for its entertainment value, action sequences, performances and music. The movie has also collected a decent amount at the box office, despite facing tough competition from other big releases. The movie is a must-watch for the fans of Vijay, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun and Trisha, as well as for the lovers of action thrillers.
10 Most Asked Questions and Answers
Q1: What is the story of Leo movie?
A1: Leo movie is about a former gangster who lives a peaceful life as an animal rescuer and a cafe owner in Theog, Himachal Pradesh. His life changes when his past catches up with him and he has to face his estranged brother Antony Das, who is a notorious crime lord in Telangana.
Q2: Who are the actors in Leo movie?
A2: Leo movie stars Vijay as Leo Das, Sanjay Dutt as Antony Das, Arjun as Harold Das, Trisha as Sathya, Madonna Sebastian as Mathi, Gautham Vasudev Menon as Joshy Andrews, Mysskin as Shanmugham, Mansoor Ali Khan as Denzil Smith, George Maryan as Babu Antony, Priya Anand as Abhirami Venkatachalam and Mathew Thomas as Siddharth.
Q3: Who is the director of Leo movie?
A3: Leo movie is directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, who is known for his movies such as Maanagaram (2017), Kaithi (2019) and Vikram (2022).
Q4: Who is the music director of Leo movie?
A4: Leo movie has music composed by Anirudh Ravichander, who is known for his songs such as Why This Kolaveri Di (2011), Ethir Neechal (2013), Kaththi (2014), Vedalam (2015), Petta (2019) and Master (2021).
Q5: What is the budget of Leo movie?
A5: Leo movie has been made on a whopping budget of est. ₹250–350 crore, making it one of the most expensive Indian movies ever made.
Q6: What is the collection of Leo movie?
A6: Leo movie has collected est. ₹140 crore in its opening weekend across India and overseas markets. The movie is expected to break even in its first week of release and emerge as a profitable venture for the producers and distributors.
Q7: What are the reviews of Leo movie?
A7: Leo movie has received mixed reviews from the critics, but has been appreciated by the audience for its entertainment value, action sequences, performances and music. The movie has been rated 6.8/10 on IMDb, 3/5 on Times of India , 3/5 on Hindustan Times , 2.5/5 on Indian Express and 2/5 on The Hindu .
Q8: Where can I watch Leo movie?
A8: Leo movie has been released worldwide on 19 October 2023 in standard and IMAX formats. You can watch the movie in theatres near you or stream it online on Netflix after its theatrical run.
Q9: Is Leo movie based on a true story?
A9: No, Leo movie is not based on a true story. It is inspired by A History of Violence (2005), an adaptation from the graphic novel of the same name by John Wagner and Vince Locke.
Q10: Is Leo movie a sequel to Kaithi or Vikram?
A10: No, Leo movie is not a sequel to Kaithi or Vikram. It is the third installment in the Lokesh Cinematic Universe, which is a series of movies that share some characters and themes but have different stories and timelines.