Vathiyar (/vɑːðjɑːr/ transl. Teacher) is a 2006 Indian Tamil-language action film directed by A. Venkatesh from a story written by Arjun. The film stars Arjun and Mallika Kapoor, while Vadivelu, Pradeep Rawat, Prakash Raj, Manivannan and Amit Tiwari play supporting roles. The soundtrack and background score were composed by D. Imman.
| Vathiyar | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | A. Venkatesh |
| Written by | A. Venkatesh G. K. Gopinath (dialogues) |
| Story by | Arjun |
| Produced by | V. Palanivel A. C. Anandan |
| Starring | Arjun Mallika Kapoor |
| Cinematography | K. S. Selvaraj |
| Edited by | P. Saisuresh |
| Music by | D. Imman |
Production company | AP Film Garden |
Release date |
|
Running time | 170 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Vathiyar was released on 11 November 2006 and recorded as an average venture at the box office. The film's climax action sequences were inspired by the 2005 Thai film Tom-Yum-Goong.
Plot
editThis article needs an improved plot summary. (August 2024) |
Annadurai alias "Dorai" is a helpful school teacher-turned-gangster who learns that MP Nachiyar is planning to bomb the city for his profits and sets out to destroy his plans while being watched by ACP Eashwara Pandian and his team.
Cast
edit- Arjun as Annadurai alias "Dorai"
- Mallika Kapoor as Anjali
- Vadivelu as Ayyanar
- Prakash Raj as ACP Eashwara Pandian
- Pradeep Rawat as MP Nachiyar
- Manivannan as Subramaniam
- Sathyan as Easwara Pandian's sidekick
- Amit Tiwari as Dorai sister's love interest and later husband
- Sujatha as Dorai's mother
- Devan as a factory Owner
- Thalaivasal Vijay as a school teacher
- Manobala as Ayyanar's father
- Singamuthu as Ayyanar's father's friend
- Vennira Aadai Moorthy as Anjali's father
- Mahanadhi Shankar as a hooligan
- Sabitha Anand
- Thambi Ramaiah as a flower seller
- S. N. Lakshmi as a orphanage inmate
- King Kong
- Bonda Mani
- Cameo appearances
- T. K. S. Natarajan in "Yennadi Muniyamma"
- Shakeela
- Antara Biswas
- Suja Varunee
Production
editThe film was officially launched at AVM Studios in 2006.[1] Tulip Joshi was originally selected as the heroine, but was thrown out of the film as the crew couldn't control her starry tantrums[2] and Mallika Kapoor was selected instead. Blaaze was selected to make a cameo appearance in the film.[3] The scene where Arjun defuses a bomb in Vinayaka Chathurthi was shot in Sri Perumbudur and cost ₹20 lakh.[4]
Plagiarism allegations
editAn assistant director named Rajkumar had lodged a complaint with the Chennai police commissioner stating that his story has been stolen and made as Vathiyar. However, Arjun has denied the accusations and said "I have no reasons to steal someone else’s work and call it mine. Vathiyar is my own creation."[5]
Soundtrack
editSong composing and background score was done by D. Imman.[6] The song "Yennadi Muniyamma" is a remix of "Nee Munnala" from Vaanga Mappillai Vaanga (1984) sung by T. K. S. Natarajan.[citation needed]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Yennadi Muniyamma" | T. K. S. Natarajan | Karthik, Blaaze | 04:32 |
| 2. | "Engo Paarthirukiren" | Thabu Shankar | D. Imman | 04:34 |
| 3. | "Thanjavooru Gopuramey" | Thabu Shankar | Karthik, Kalyani | 04:12 |
| 4. | "Kayyaveesamma" | Palani Bharathi | D. Imman, Joshna | 04:27 |
| 5. | "Pappalapaappa" | Kalai Kumar | Anuradha Sriram | 04:51 |
| Total length: | 22:36 | |||
Release
editThe film was originally slated to release on Diwali, but was postponed due to financial strains.[7] It was delayed for a month and finally released on 10 November 2006.[8]
Reception
editPVS of Nowrunning wrote "Except for the action sequences there is nothing much to write about the movie".[9] S. R. Ashok Kumar of The Hindu wrote "The story is by Arjun and director A. Venkatesh has neatly woven the script to make it enjoyable for the masses".[10] TSV Hari of Rediff.com wrote "It is incredible that with two decent films Yei and Madarasi under his belt, director Venkatesh could not come up with something better. The songs of D. Imman are terrible. In a nutshell, the normally saleable star Arjun has torpedoed his future with this dud."[11] Lajjavathi of Kalki wrote in order to move the screenplay briskly, director Venkatesh seems to have overlooked logic. This would have been another Gentleman for Arjun had the director shown the elegance for the whole film like he did in flashback.[12] Malini Mannath of Chennai Online wrote "'Vathiyar' is an amalgam of various films like 'Gentleman' and 'Muthalvan', incidentally, both were Arjun-starrers. But despite the sense of [deja vu], what keeps the story moving is the racy narration, Arjun's fight scenes and the Vadivelu track that provides some fun moments".[13] Sify wrote "Arjun has been doing the same formula action movies for the last two decades and still survives! The 40 plus actor is giving competition to our younger heroes! The secret of his success is that, the man sticks to the basics and delivers quite a kick with his actioners. For the Nth time, in Vathiyar, he once again re-heats his magic potion, which still seems to be working with B and C audiences".[14]
References
edit- ^ "'Vaathiyar' Arjun to fight with five baddies". Behindwoods. 30 June 2006. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "Expensive Anjali thrown out of Vaathiyar!!". Behindwoods. 13 July 2006. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "Blaaze's guest appearance in Vaathiyar with Arjun". Behindwoods. 11 July 2006. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "Arjun diffuses bomb in Vinayaka Chaturthi function". Behindwoods. 3 October 2006. Archived from the original on 16 May 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "Vathiyar is mine, claims Arjun". Behindwoods. 20 November 2006. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- ^ "Vathiyar (2006)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ "Why did Arjun's Vathiyar run into trouble?". Behindwoods. 25 October 2006. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "வாத்தியார் / Vathiyar (2006)". Screen 4 Screen. Archived from the original on 11 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ PVS (16 November 2006). "Vaathiyar Tamil Movie". Nowrunning. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ Kumar, S. R. Ashok (17 November 2006). "Message with popcorn flavour – Vaathiyar". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ Hari, TSV (13 November 2006). "Vathiyar: Pathetic". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ லஜ்ஜாவதி (3 December 2006). "வாத்தியார்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 64. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Mannath, Malini (21 November 2006). "Vaathiyar". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 7 January 2007. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Vathiyar". Sify. Archived from the original on 8 December 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
