Vijay Sethupathi’s Baththa releases in theatres worldwide today, October 1, with Panorama Studios and Zee Studios joining hands for the global rollout.

The Tamil action drama is set in 1986 Madras and follows Kothu Baththa, a feared gangster who sees the film industry as a path to fame and eventually political power. It marks Cine1 Studios’ entry into Tamil cinema.

A Zee Studios spokesperson said the global audience for Indian cinema is “no longer defined by language or geography,” calling Baththa a film with a strong creative identity whose ambition is an international theatrical platform.

The release builds on Zee Studios’ recent push into regional cinema, including its Gujarati slate. The studio believes the next chapter of Indian cinema’s global journey will be shaped by stories that are authentically rooted yet powerful enough to travel.

Baththa faces a crowded weekend: Drishyam 3 and Tom Cruise’s Digger open on October 2, alongside Tamil romantic drama Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai and the Doraemon animated film.