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Virumaandi

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Virumaandi
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKamal Haasan
Written byKamal Haasan
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyKeshav Prakash
Edited by
  • Ram Sudharsan
  • Kamal Haasan
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Release date
  • 14 January 2004(2004-01-14)
Running time
178 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil
Budget₹10 crore
Box office₹40 crore

Virumaandiis a 2004 Indian Tamil-languageaction drama filmwritten, co-edited, produced, and directed byKamal Haasan,who also performed in the title role. The cast also includesPasupathy,Napoleon,Abhirami,Rohini,ShanmugarajanandNassarin pivotal roles. The film's score and soundtrack were composed byIlaiyaraaja.The film won critical acclaim and was a commercial success at the box office. It also marked Abhirami's last film before her marriage and Rohini’s comeback film after an 8-year hiatus from acting.[1]

The film revolves around the interview of two prison inmates, firstly, Kothala Thevar's (Pasupathy) life sentence, and secondly, Virumaandi (Kamal Haasan), who is sentenced to be hanged. The criminals express how they feel about the direction that their lives have taken and how they have ended up where they are. The film's narrative is based on theRashomon effect.

Plot[edit]

InChennai,Angela Kathamuthu, a civil rights activist, and her cameraman inMadras Central Prisoninterview prisoners serving life imprisonment and awaiting thedeath sentence,for her PhD thesis in law, against the death penalty. When she enters the prison for the second day, there is a sit-in protest, demanding the reason for the sudden death of death penalty convict Narayanan, who secretly told Angela, the previous day, about the immoral practices of Deputy-Jailer Peykkaman. Angela meets Kothala Thevar, who is serving a life sentence for assisting in the murder of 24 people inTheni district.He tells his version of the story that led to his conviction.

According to Kothala, the root cause of the problem is Virumaandi Thevar, a happy-go-lucky rogue. Virumaandi has a large part of the land in Chinna Kolarupatti, their village, and has high underground water levels, which is eyed by every other farmer. Virumaandi lost his mother when he was 12. He was taken to Chennai and later to Singapore by his father. Even after his father died, Virumandi still lived there, but at the age of 25, he was convicted for a small crime and exiled back to India. He comes back to live with his paternal grandmother in Chinna Kolarupatti and practice agriculture. His support to his uncle Kothala in his clash against Nallama Nayakkar brings about a bonding between the two, as Nayakkar killed Kothala's father Thavasi Thevar in a melee caused during a peace meeting between Virumandi and Kothala's father. Annalakshmi, Kothala's niece, falls in love with Virumaandi. Kothala, with an eye on the fertile land owned by Virumaandi, does not object to the romance. Meanwhile, Virumandi's grandmother dies, and at the funeral, Nayakkar offers a huge sum for Virumandi's land. Virumandi rejects the bid, insults both Kothala and Nayakkar, and warns everyone from buying his land. Within a week, an assassination attempt is made on Virumaandi. He is injured and brought to the hospital by Annalakshmi. Virumandi realizes his love for Annalakshmi and rejoins with Kothala. Annalakshmi secretly gives Virumandi the evidence that Kothala is the one who tried to kill him. Virumandi attacks Kothala and his gang, but Kothala again blames the murder attempt on Nayakkar, and Virumandi goes to file a complaint on Nayakkar. APanchayatis held to solve this issue, and in the ensuing peace meeting of eight villages, Virumaandi's gang is verbally humiliated. Virumaandi goes to Nayakkar's village to take revenge at night, and Kothala's gang is forced to save him, where 24 lives are taken. Virumaandi saves all of them by his false testification so that he can marry Annalakshmi, but Kothala seemingly refused the marriage. According to Kothala, Annalakshmi was abducted by Virumaandi and brutally raped. She later escapes from him, comes home, tells what happened, and commits suicide by hanging herself. A clash between Virumaandi and Kothala takes place in which six henchmen are killed. Virumaandi then escapes and kills Nayakkar but is later caught by the police. In the 26 people murder case, Virumaandi testifies against Kothala's gang, getting them all 15-year sentences, while Virumaandi gets a five-year sentence for raping Annalakshmi and then the death penalty for the six people murder case. Here, Kothala stops and says that God has given justice, but Virumaandi is still angry.

Angela tries to make Virumaandi talk, but Virumaandi verbally assaults her. Finally, Angela says that she is doing a PhD against the death penalty as her father, who got her married to a man named James by hard work, was forced to kill James to save her from marital abuse. Her father was hanged in the same prison, and then she chose law as a career. After much resentment and objection, Virumaandi agrees to turn to tell his version to Angela. Virumaandi, 25, a manual laborer, wassent back to homefrom Singapore for taking responsibility for his cousin's fault. His only relation was his grandmother, who practices natural farming without artificial fertilizers and avoids deep bore wells. Kothala had a silent eye on the fertile land owned by Virumaandi as it had the only rich underground water availability. He treats Virumaandi as his nephew. Virumaandi falls in love with Annalakshmi after he tames her stubborn bull at ajallikattuevent. That night, his grandmother dies, and two days later, an attempt is made on Virumaandi's life. Annalakshmi finds him and admits him to the hospital. Gradually, she falls in love with him. She teaches him the importance of apology and forgiveness. A clash at the peace Panchayat insults Kothala's gang, and their need for revenge infuriates Annalakshmi, who asks Virumaandi to apologize to the elders whom he insulted. He goes to apologize single-handedly at night to Nayakkar's village, but Kothala and his men, thinking he has gone to take revenge, come in groups and hack down innocents to death, despite his pleas. Kothala uses his clout to get out of the murder charge, but Virumaandi, who was not involved in the bloodbath, is disturbed because he had to lie in court to save Kothala and his kin. As part of the penance, he transfers all his land for the affected villagers. Annalakshmi asks him to marry her and leave the village. He marries her at the village temple, goes away at night with her, and stays with his aunt, whose son he helped. They consummate their marriage that night.

Kothala's men come the next day, when Virumaandi was away, and abduct Annalakshmi, forcibly taking her home. Kothala and his gang remove herthaali,and forcibly get her married again, to Kothala's nephew Kottaisamy. This is to ensure that Annalakshmi's share in property does not go to Virumaandi. Kottaisamy is then asked by Kothala to consummate his marriage immediately, by raping Annalakshmi. Unable to tolerate, Annalakshmi avoids Kottaisamy and hangs herself. Upon hearing the news, a distraught Virumaandi enters Kothala's house to kill the gang. He takes revenge by hacking Kothala's four men, including Kottaisamy, to death but finds Kothala holding his own son upside down on a staircase. Virumaandi places his weapon down, and Kothala escapes. Nayakkar shelters Virumaandi and sends him off to Chennai. Kothala and his men corner Nayakkar to hand over Virumaandi. A melee ensues in which Nayakkar is killed. Virumaandi turns up in court, where he finds that all evidence is framed against him. He is convicted of having raped and killed Annalakshmi and later on being the main reason for killing Kothala's four relatives, and also the main accused for the murder of 26 lives in Nayakkar's village. He is sentenced to the first six years in jail, followed by death by hanging. He turns approver in the latter case, causing the jailing of Kothala and his men.

While leaving the jail, Angela's cameraman discreetly films a conversation between Peykkaman and other jail wardens and convicts to bump off Chief Jailer Jayanth. This is because all of them traffic drugs into the prison, and this is now under investigation by Jayanth. Peykkaman also reveals that Virumaandi never killed anyone except Kottaisamy and a henchman of Kothala, but his explicit charge sheet got him a death sentence. A revolt among the jail staff leads to a jailbreak, as Jayanth gets stabbed and Virumaandi saves the evidence and Angela from Peykkaman and his henchmen. Jayanth insists Virumaandi to wear a police uniform and safely get Angela out of the jail. When Virumaandi and Angela are about to leave the jail, Kothala stabs Virumaandi, proving that Virumaandi was true all the time. Virumaandi then barehandedly almost kills Kothala, but Angela insists not to kill him. Kothala ends up being killed in the melee, while Virumaandi and Angela escape. The riot is stopped, and Angela presents the evidence in court. Angela applies for Virumaandi's clemency to thePresident of India,stating that the six-year prison sentence is enough as he did not commit any other offense other than the action of instant emotion, and to release him immediately. Virumaandi, on TV, pleas for a quick judgement, either to reach Annalakshmi by hanging to death or to live life as a silent man, seeking retribution.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

The film was launched on 18 April 2003 under the titleSandiyar(transl. Ruthless/troublesome person) at Madurai.[4][5]K. Krishnasamy,the leader of Pudhiya Tamizhagam, a caste-based political organisation in Tamil Nadu protested against the titleSandiyar,citing that it might create problems.[6]Kamal Haasansubsequently met thenChief MinisterJ. Jayalalithaa,[7]and the film was later retitledVirumaandi.[8]Shrutikawas initially chosen as the lead actress, but ultimately did not continue.[9]

For the scenes involvingJallikattu,real-life bulls were brought in and were recorded live and also Nuendo machine was kept at the shooting venue.[10][11]Due to political controversy, Kamal had to shift the shoot from Madurai to Chennai. Prabhakar, art director recreated the set of Madurai villages in Chennai.[12]

CinematographerKeshav Prakash,who was trained in India and the United States, was an assistant toRavi K. ChandraninMarudhanayagamproject. Both Kamal Haasan and Keshav Prakash tried to make the film in high definition mode but had to abandon the project due to some technical snags.[11]

Music[edit]

The music was composed byIlaiyaraaja.[13]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Onnavida"Kamal HaasanKamal Haasan,Shreya Ghoshal6:25
2."Andha Kandamani"MuthulingamIlaiyaraaja,Kamal Haasan,Karthik Raja,S. N. Surendar,Tippu3:28
3."Anna Lakshmi"IlaiyaraajaKamal Haasan3:02
4."Sandiyare Sandiyare"IlaiyaraajaShreya Ghoshal3:09
5."Karbagraham Vitu Samy Veliyerathu"MuthulingamIlaiyaraaja, Kamal Haasan, Karthik Raja,S. N. Surendar,Tippu3:23
6."Karumathur Katukulae"MuthulingamMary,Periya Karuppu Thevar,Sukumar, Thiruvudiyan, Karunanidhi7:00
7."Kombulae Poov Suthi"IlaiyaraajaKamal Haasan5:01
8."Maada Vilakkae"MuthulingamKamal Haasan3:36
9."Magarasiyae Manna Vitu Poniyae"MuthulingamTheni Kunjarammal1:20
10."Nethiyelae Pottu Vai"MuthulingamKarunanidhi, Sukumar, Thiruvudiyan1:02
Total length:37:26

Release[edit]

The film was certified "A"(adults only) by thecensor boardfor excessive violence.[14]In 2015,Virumaandiwas screened at the Habitat Film Festival.[15]It was released onAmazon Prime Videoon 14 January 2021.[16]

Reception[edit]

Critical response[edit]

Critics praised the screenplay and performances of the cast, but criticised the excessive violence.Sifycalled it "vital, sardonic and disturbing brave attempt at good cinema with a provocative message. It is an eloquent argument against capital punishment without excusing the killer for his crimes."[17]Shobha WarrierofRediff.comwrote, "Virumaandi is definitely a Kamal film but this one belongs to Kamal the director, not Kamal the actor."[18]Malathi Rangarajan ofThe Hinduwrote "Virumaandi" s case it [..] is backed by a strong story, astute screenplay, stirring dialogue and deft direction ".[19]Malini Mannath ofChennai Onlinewrote, "the film yet again reveals Kamal Haasan’s undying passion for cinema, his desire and boldness to experiment, irrespective of commercial viability."[20]G. Ulaganathan ofDeccan Heraldwrote, "It is a disturbing but brave attempt with a provocative message--It is an eloquent argument against capital punishment", but criticised the excessive violence.[21]Visual Dasan ofKalkipraised Haasan for screenplay and direction while also praising Prabhakar's work for recreating real prison set, Ilaiyaraaja for using songs and background score effectively in sync with the story and that their contributions lent helping hand to Haasan.[22]Cinesouthwrote "Once again, Kamal has taken up the mantle of a director, actor and producer for the film ‘Virumandi’. The film is not exactly another experimentation, but it has ignored some aspects of commercial cinema to tell us a powerful and strong story on the screen."[23]

Box office[edit]

The film released on 456 screens worldwide and first in Tamil cinema with crossing 400 screens. The film got the best opening among Pongal releases grossing₹6 crores in first weekend worldwide.[24]

Accolades[edit]

At the eighthPuchon International Fantastic Film Festival,held in South Korea,Virumaandiwon the International Award for Best Asian Film.[25][26]

Legacy[edit]

DirectorVetrimaarancited Virumaandi as one of the inspiration for the screenplay for his national award-winning 2011 filmAadukalam.[27]DirectorLokesh Kanagarajcited the film as a source of inspiration for his 2019 filmKaithi.[28]

References[edit]

  1. ^Rasika (12 February 2004)."Virumaandi goes abroad".Chennai Online.Archived fromthe originalon 20 June 2004.Retrieved27 June2022.
  2. ^Weissberg, Jay (25 February 2004)."Virumaandi".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on 2 February 2021.Retrieved26 January2021.
  3. ^"Pyramid Natarajan".Rotten Tomatoes.Archivedfrom the original on 27 October 2020.Retrieved26 January2021.
  4. ^Mannath, Malini (22 April 2003)."Sandiyar".Chennai Online.Archived fromthe originalon 10 April 2004.Retrieved16 October2013.
  5. ^"When Kamal Haasan lost his cool and slammed self-appointed guardians of culture".The Indian Express.22 May 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 13 March 2022.Retrieved13 March2022.
  6. ^"Kamal Haasan's Virumaandi, finally!".Rediff.com.15 January 2004. slide 1.Archivedfrom the original on 20 January 2018.Retrieved20 January2018.
  7. ^Iyer, Shilpa Bharatan (29 June 2003)."'Sandiyar' to fight, film another day ".Variety.Retrieved13 June2024.
  8. ^Harvey (2 February 2004)."Kamal Hassan needs help".Chennai Online.Archived fromthe originalon 2 February 2004.Retrieved16 October2013.
  9. ^"Sruthika selected for SANDIYAAR".indiainfo.com.Archived fromthe originalon 5 December 2004.Retrieved28 March2022.
  10. ^"Kamal Haasan's Virumaandi, finally!".Rediff.com.15 January 2004. slide 5.Archivedfrom the original on 20 January 2018.Retrieved20 January2018.
  11. ^abRR (12 January 2004)."The making of VIRUMANDI".Archived fromthe originalon 24 January 2004.Retrieved16 October2013.
  12. ^"Kamal Haasan's Virumaandi, finally!".Rediff.com.15 January 2004. slide 4.Archivedfrom the original on 20 January 2018.Retrieved20 January2018.
  13. ^"Virumandi (2004)".Music India Online.Archivedfrom the original on 23 April 2019.Retrieved23 April2019.
  14. ^Rangaraj, R (4 February 2004)."Virumaandi cleared by Censors".Chennai Online.Archived fromthe originalon 4 February 2004.Retrieved16 October2013.
  15. ^"The 10th Habitat Film Festival 2015"(PDF).Habitat Film Club.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 22 March 2017.Retrieved26 October2020.
  16. ^"Kamal Haasan interacts with 'Virumaandi' crew ahead of OTT release".The News Minute.13 January 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 24 January 2021.Retrieved23 January2021.
  17. ^"Virumaandi".Sify.15 January 2004. Archived fromthe originalon 9 September 2017.Retrieved20 January2018.
  18. ^Warrier, Shobha(16 January 2004)."Virumaandi is Kamal all the way!".Rediff.com.Archivedfrom the original on 27 June 2021.Retrieved23 April2019.
  19. ^Rangarajan, Malathi (23 January 2004)."Virumaandi".The Hindu.Archivedfrom the original on 19 April 2020.Retrieved23 January2021.
  20. ^Mannath, Malini (19 January 2004)."Virumaandi".Chennai Online.Archived fromthe originalon 14 February 2004.Retrieved16 October2013.
  21. ^Ulaganathan, G. (18 January 2004)."Virumandi - Tamil".Deccan Herald.Archived fromthe originalon 5 July 2017.Retrieved15 December2022.
  22. ^தாசன், விஷுவல் (1 February 2004)."விருமாண்டி".Kalki(in Tamil). pp. 57–58.Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2023.Retrieved14 April2023.
  23. ^"Virumandi".Cinesouth.Archived fromthe originalon 2 February 2004.Retrieved5 September2023.
  24. ^"'Virumaandi' opens to packed houses ".Sify.19 January 2004. Archived fromthe originalon 1 September 2017.Retrieved1 September2017.
  25. ^"Award, accolade and much more..."The Hindu.30 July 2004. Archived fromthe originalon 21 September 2004.Retrieved22 January2011.
  26. ^Vijiyan, K.N. (23 August 2004)."Another comic turn by Kamalhaasan".New Straits Times.p. 27.Retrieved19 August2020.
  27. ^Lakshmi, V. (16 November 2010)."'Aadukalam is a contemporary film'".The Times of India.Archivedfrom the original on 4 February 2017.Retrieved21 January2022.
  28. ^"Has this Hollywood movie inspired Kaithi?".The Times of India.29 October 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2020.Retrieved21 January2022.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Virumaandi&oldid=1232374723"