# Mafia: Chapter 1
**Mafia: Chapter 1** is a 2020 Indian Tamil-language action crime film directed and written by [Karthick Naren](https://www.edgepedia.org/karthick-naren) and produced by Allirajah Subaskaran under the banner of Lyca Productions. It stars [Arun Vijay](https://www.edgepedia.org/arun-vijay) and Priya Bhavani Shankar in leading roles, with Prasanna playing the antagonist[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6592/2020-mafia-chapter-1). Set in Chennai, the film portrays a cat-and-mouse game between a [Narcotics Control Bureau](https://www.edgepedia.org/narcotics-control-bureau) officer and a drug kingpin who is also a successful entrepreneur[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/mafia-chapter-1/ET00112077) • [3](https://lycaproductions.in/movies/mafia-chapter-1/). It was released in theaters on 21 February 2020 and was conceived as the first part of a planned series, ending with a twist that sets up a sequel[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6592/2020-mafia-chapter-1) • [4](https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/mafia-chapter-1-review-style-swag-and-no-substance-118676).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 21 February 2020, in Tamil; UA certificate[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6592/2020-mafia-chapter-1) |
| Director / producer | Karthick Naren (director and writer); Allirajah Subaskaran, Lyca Productions[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6592/2020-mafia-chapter-1) |
| Cast | Arun Vijay, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Prasanna (antagonist)[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6592/2020-mafia-chapter-1) |
| Key crew | Music Jakes Bejoy; cinematography Gokul Benoy; editing Sreejith Sarang[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6592/2020-mafia-chapter-1) |
| Runtime | 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes)[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6592/2020-mafia-chapter-1) • [5](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Mafia-Chaper-1-%28India%29) |
| Box office | Worldwide gross ₹73 million (₹7.30 crore); India net ₹56 million (₹5.60 crore); overseas ₹8 million (₹0.80 crore)[6](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Mafia_Chapter_1_2020) |
| Reception | Indian Express 2/5; Times of India 3/5; critics described it as stylish but thinly written[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/mafia-movie-review-rating-arun-vijay-6280141/) • [8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/mafia/movieshow/70854255.cms) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and characters
Arun Vijay plays Aryan, an officer of the Narcotics Control Bureau in Chennai who works alongside his batchmates, including Sathya (Priya Bhavani Shankar)[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/mafia-movie-review-rating-arun-vijay-6280141/) • [1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6592/2020-mafia-chapter-1). Aryan lost his twin brother, Dillip, to narcotics addiction, which motivated him to become a cop and target the city's drug lords[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6592/2020-mafia-chapter-1). His investigation closes in on Diwakar Kumaran (Prasanna), a businessman who is in reality a drug kingpin[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/mafia-movie-review-rating-arun-vijay-6280141/). The screenplay opens with a shootout at a posh hotel on a Saturday night and then moves back a few days to a small narcotics operation[4](https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/mafia-chapter-1-review-style-swag-and-no-substance-118676) • [8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/mafia/movieshow/70854255.cms). During the case, Aryan learns something about his own past, which forms the core of the plot[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/mafia-movie-review-rating-arun-vijay-6280141/).
### Sequel plans
The title and climax were explicitly designed to open a series: the film ends with a twist that sets up a sequel, and reviewers noted that a "germ of a bigger idea" was reserved for part 2[4](https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/mafia-chapter-1-review-style-swag-and-no-substance-118676) • [7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/mafia-movie-review-rating-arun-vijay-6280141/) • [15](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/mafia-chapter-1/movie-review/74237745.cms). No sequel has been listed among the film's documented follow-ups in the sources covering its release.
## Production
Karthick Naren made the film as his second feature after his debut *Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru* (2016), which he directed at age 22[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/mafia-movie-review-rating-arun-vijay-6280141/) • [9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2020/Feb/18/karthick-naren-naragasooran-was-not-a-smart-move-for-a-second-film-17100.html). The shoot began in December 2019 coverage terms with a planned 37-day schedule, according to the director[10](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/arun-vijay-and-karthick-narens-mafia-kicks-off-today/articleshow/70104881.cms), and filming was completed on 29 August 2019[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6592/2020-mafia-chapter-1). [Nivetha Pethuraj](https://www.edgepedia.org/nivetha-pethuraj) was initially signed for a pivotal role but was replaced by Priya Bhavani Shankar[11](https://www.netflixmovies.com/mafia-2020). The technical crew included composer Jakes Bejoy, cinematographer Gokul Benoy, and editor and DI colorist Sreejith Sarang, with stunt choreography by Don Ashok[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6592/2020-mafia-chapter-1) • [12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hbyGzXJNdw). In interviews before release, Naren described the film as a research-heavy, "Narcos-style" project for Tamil audiences and said he intended it to offer something new[13](https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/mafia-director-karthick-naren-on-making-a-narcos-style-film-for-tamil-audience-and-his-next-with-dhanush-8063461.html) • [14](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/mafia-movie-review-and-release-live-updates/).
## Reception
**Critical response.** Reviews were mixed to negative. S Subhakeerthana of The Indian Express gave it 2 stars out of 5, calling it a "stylish but hollow gangster drama" whose biggest problem was that it was "so randomly written", and noting that it seemed incomplete because a larger idea was being saved for part 2[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/mafia-movie-review-rating-arun-vijay-6280141/). The News Minute's review was headlined "Style, swag and no substance"; it criticized the reliance on voiceovers, heavy English dialogue, and dated investigative devices, while conceding that the action sequences worked better in the second half[4](https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/mafia-chapter-1-review-style-swag-and-no-substance-118676). The Times of India gave 3 out of 5, writing that the film would appeal to fans of stylish narcotics-backed action movies and that the climax twist made the second half engaging[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/mafia/movieshow/70854255.cms) • [15](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/mafia-chapter-1/movie-review/74237745.cms). A nowrunning aggregation of critic reviews recorded an average of 2.6[16](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/24343/tamil/mafia/reviews/).
**Audience response.** Viewer reactions on release day were divided. Some Twitter users praised the screenplay, background music, and "unexpected climax", while others called it a "flat movie with plenty of slow-mos" whose climax twist was the only consolation[17](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/mafia-movie-review-and-release-live-updates/lite/). On [BookMyShow](https://www.edgepedia.org/bookmyshow) the film held a user rating of 6.9/10 from more than 7,000 votes[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/mafia-chapter-1/ET00112077).
## Box office
According to Sacnilk, the film earned a worldwide gross of ₹73 million (₹7.30 crore), comprising ₹65 million (₹6.50 crore) gross in India (₹56 million (₹5.60 crore) net) and ₹8 million (₹0.80 crore) overseas; day 1 net was ₹31 million (₹3.1 crore) and day 2 ₹25 million (₹2.5 crore), both tagged as low[6](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Mafia_Chapter_1_2020). The Numbers records $30,101 from international territories, of which Australia contributed $17,545 and the United Kingdom $12,556, both from 21 February 2020 releases[5](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Mafia-Chaper-1-%28India%29). The film later streamed online, with an OTT release date of 17 April 2020 listed by FilmiBeat[18](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/mafia-mafia-chapter-1/cast-crew.html).
## References
1. [Mafia Chapter 1 (2020), TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6592/2020-mafia-chapter-1)
2. [Mafia Chapter 1 (2020), BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/mafia-chapter-1/ET00112077)
3. [Mafia: Chapter 1, Lyca Productions](https://lycaproductions.in/movies/mafia-chapter-1/)
4. ["Mafia: Chapter 1" review: Style, swag and no substance, The News Minute](https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/mafia-chapter-1-review-style-swag-and-no-substance-118676)
5. [Mafia: Chapter 1 (2020), The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Mafia-Chaper-1-%28India%29)
6. [Mafia Chapter 1 (2020) box office, Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Mafia_Chapter_1_2020)
7. [Mafia movie review: Stylish but hollow gangster drama, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/mafia-movie-review-rating-arun-vijay-6280141/)
8. [Mafia: Chapter 1 movie details, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/mafia/movieshow/70854255.cms)
9. [Karthick Naren: Naragasooran was not a smart move for a second film, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2020/Feb/18/karthick-naren-naragasooran-was-not-a-smart-move-for-a-second-film-17100.html)
10. [Arun Vijay and Karthick Naren's Mafia kicks off today, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/arun-vijay-and-karthick-narens-mafia-kicks-off-today/articleshow/70104881.cms)
11. [Watch Mafia (2020), NetflixMovies.com](https://www.netflixmovies.com/mafia-2020)
12. [MAFIA - Teaser 2, Lyca Productions (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hbyGzXJNdw)
13. [Mafia director Karthick Naren on making a Narcos-style film, Firstpost](https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/mafia-director-karthick-naren-on-making-a-narcos-style-film-for-tamil-audience-and-his-next-with-dhanush-8063461.html)
14. [Mafia movie release: Highlights | Tamil News - The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/mafia-movie-review-and-release-live-updates/)
15. [Mafia Review {3/5}, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/mafia-chapter-1/movie-review/74237745.cms)
16. [Mafia Movie Reviews, nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/24343/tamil/mafia/reviews/)
17. [Mafia movie release: Highlights, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/mafia-movie-review-and-release-live-updates/lite/)
18. [Mafia: Chapter 1 Cast & Crew, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/mafia-mafia-chapter-1/cast-crew.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Tamil films of the 2020s › Tamil films of 2020 and 2021*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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