Thenavattu
| Thenavattu | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | V. V. Kathir |
| Written by | V. V. Kathir |
| Produced by | Anthony |
| Starring | Jiiva Poonam Bajwa Ganja Karuppu Ravi Kale Shafi Saikumar Rajan P. Dev |
| Cinematography | Vetri |
| Edited by | Raja Mohammad |
| Music by | Srikanth Deva |
Production company | ELK Productions |
| Distributed by | Sun Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 140 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Thenavattu(transl. Courage) is a 2008 IndianTamil-languageaction drama filmwritten and directed by V. V. Kathir, starringJiivaandPoonam Bajwa,withGanja Karuppu,Ravi Kale,Shafi,Saikumar,andRajan P. Devin supporting roles. The music of the film was composed bySrikanth Deva.The film was released on 21 November 2008 and received highly negative reviews from critics. It was a commercial failure in metros but performed well at B and C-centers, or lower class theatres.
Plot
[edit]Kailasam, a somber bigwig, performs the last rites of someone dear to him, while Kottai appears swinging a scythe. In a flashback from a few months ago in Ramnad, Kottai's mother cuts down logs while boasting about her son; a god that deserves to see the world. Kottai then journeys to Chennai in company with Vellaiayan, a dimwit friend. The two end up at a massive house of Kailasam, a local terror.
Kottai and Vellaiayan think that Kailasam only cuts up trees from their blacksmithing skills, but Kottai discovers that he was hired by Kailasam to make sickles to kill people. Kottai then feeds crying children milk and helping men with epileptic seizures. Later, he falls in love with kind-hearted music teacher Gayathri.
Santhosh, Kailasam's son who regularly rapes women, is helplessly watched by a cop called Suryaprakash. Kottai continues making arrivals until he sees Santhosh touching Gayathri inappropriately. Kottai then beats Santhosh to death, unbeknownst to him that he is Kailasam's son, when he learns about this, he attempts to get revenge on Kottai, but he and the minister is killed by him along with Suryaprakash. Kottai later returns back to his home.
Cast
[edit]- Jiivaas Kottai
- Poonam Bajwaas Gayathri (voice dubbed by Renuka Kathir)
- Ganja Karuppuas Vellaiayan
- Ravi Kaleas Kailasam
- Shafias Santhosh
- P. Sai Kumaras Suryaprakash (voice dubbed byP. Ravi Shankar)
- Rajan P. Devas Minister
- Saranyaas Kottai's mother
- Nassaras Shanmugavel Kottai's father
- Sumithraas Gayatri's mother
- Delhi Ganeshas Gayatri's father
- A. Revathi as Transgender Chief
- Suja Varuneein a special appearance
Production
[edit]V. V. Kathir, a former assistant director ofSeemanandSurya Prakash,narrated the script toR. B. Choudary,who liked it.[1]The lead role was offered to actorJiivawho agreed to do the film. A photo session was completed in Pallavaram Hills.[2]Jiiva's older brother,Jithan Ramesh,had earlier starred in producer Anthony'sPuli Varudhu(2007).
Bhavanawas originally slated to play the female lead but she left the film due to unknown reasons.[3]Poonam Bajwa(who was also shooting forSeval(2008) simultaneously) was then signed, thus making her debut in Tamil cinema.
Saranya Ponvannanwas then cast to play the mother of Jiiva's character.[4]
Art director Roobesh created a huge set at YMCA resembling Koothaandavar Temple.[5]
Thenavattuwas the first Tamil film which displayed respect and dignity towards the transgender section of the society.[6]
Soundtrack
[edit]The soundtrack was composed bySrikanth Devain his second collaboration with Jiiva afterE(2006).[citation needed]
| Song | Singers | Lyrics |
|---|---|---|
| "Enakkena Pirandhavalo" | Karthik,Suchitra,Arun | Na. Muthukumar |
| "Enge Irundhai" | Harish Raghavendra | |
| "Onnu Rendu" | Tippu,Ganga | |
| "Pattampoochi" | Krish,Chinmayi | |
| "Usilampatti Sandhaiyila" | Shankar Mahadevan,Mahalakshmi Iyer,Senthildass Velayutham |
Reception
[edit]Thenavattureleased to critical failure.Behindwoodswrote: "Thenavattuis for people who just adore illogical masala flicks ".[7]Rediff called it "silly and ridiculous" and also added "the culprit here clearly is V. V. Kathir's half-baked script that manages to destroy Jiiva's credibility. This flick is allaruvaaland no brains ".[8]Indiaglitz wrote: "Director Kathir shied away from experimenting with his latest venture and took the familiar path of commercial entertainer following the footsteps of his guru".[9]
References
[edit]- ^""My hero is a soft person"".Behindwoods.3 August 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 27 June 2018.Retrieved7 June2012.
- ^"Jeeva's next, Thenavattu".IndiaGlitz.7 December 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 8 December 2006.Retrieved7 June2012.
- ^"Bhavana opposite Jeeva again".IndiaGlitz.24 May 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 26 May 2007.Retrieved7 June2012.
- ^"Saranya- The Godmother".IndiaGlitz.23 May 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 25 May 2008.Retrieved7 June2012.
- ^"Recreating the famous temple in Chennai - Thenavattu".IndiaGlitz.18 June 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 20 June 2007.Retrieved7 June2012.
- ^"Transgender and Tamil cinema".IndiaGlitz.2 February 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 3 February 2008.Retrieved7 June2012.
- ^"Thenavattu –review".Behindwoods.5 December 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 7 August 2022.Retrieved9 August2022.
- ^Srinivasan, Pavithra (21 November 2008)."Silly and ridiculous".Rediff.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2009.Retrieved28 October2009.
- ^"Thenavattu - A Commercial Cocktail".IndiaGlitz.22 November 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 2 December 2008.Retrieved7 June2012.
