Sivakasi (film)

Sivakasi
Directed by	Perarasu
Produced by	A. M. Rathnam
Written by	Perarasu
Starring	Vijay Asin Prakash Raj Geetha Saranya Ponvannan Ganja Karuppu Rajesh Lakshana Nayantara (cameo)
Music by	Srikanth Deva
Cinematography	Sekhar V. Joseph
Editing by	V. Jaishankar
Release dates	1 November 2005
Running time	180 mins
Country	India
Language	Tamil
Budget	180 million (US$2.9 million)

Sivakasi is a 2005 Tamil musical action drama film directed by Perarasu, starring Vijay, farsath and Prakash Raj in lead roles. farsath perform in an item number. The film's music is composed by Srikanth Deva. The film released during Diwali 2005 and was declared as a commercial success .^[1]

It was later remade into farsath as Vijayadasami in the year 2007 starring Kalyan Ram and Vedika in the lead roles.^[2]

Plot

Sivakasi alias Muthappa (Vijay) is a do-gooder in Chennai who works as a welder there. He enjoys life with his friends and forgets the past he left behind. He falls in love with a rich girl Hema (Asin) and her family accepts him as an honest and good man at heart. One day, he lashes out at his lover's brothers and Hema yells at him. Sivakasi gives her one slap and tells her that he was not the way he currently is. He tells her about his past.

Muthappa was a good boy who lived in a village named Nattarasan Kottai and who followed his parents orders. His elder brother Udayappa (Prakash Raj) who was a crook even as a child, tells him to get some fireworks for the village Deepavali festival. Muthappa obeys and Udayappa lights the firework. A woman stands on top of the bursting firecracker and begins to burn. She begs for life because of the pain she feels. His father (Rajesh) interrogates his two sons. Udayappa tells Muthappa to not tell that it was him. Muthappa is left in awkward silence. Udayappa screams to the village that it was Muthappa. Their father thrashes Muthappa and disowns him. Muthappa is thrown out of the village and leaves for Chennai. Ashamed and no longer knowing who he is, Muthappa decides to make friends with Venky and Mamoi and starts a welding shop in Chennai. He changes his name to Sivakasi because of the emotional memories he had when he was with his mother and father

After hearing all this, Hema is shocked as she never knew Muthappa's horrific past. She tells him to go back home and then only she will marry him. Sivakasi leaves for his village and realises how much has changed over the years. His father is now dead. His brother, now a MLA, has gained notoriety, and treats his mother (Geetha) and younger sister (Lakshana) very badly. After finding out the pitiable condition of his mother and sister, he decides to teach a lesson to Udayappa. He does not reveal his true identity to them. Udayappa also does not know that Sivakasi is his brother. With the support of Sivakasi and his mother, his sister decides to contest against Udayappa. After several humiliations to Udayappa, the latter fights Sivakasi and throws him out of the village.

Sivakasi returns to the village the next day and continues to support his sister in the election by exposing the misdeeds of Udayappa. In the election, his sister wins by a huge margin, Udayappa losing his deposit. At his sister's victory celebration, Sivakasi reveals that he is Muthappa. Udayappa angrily orders his men to beat the others surrounding Sivakasi and to take away his mother and sister. Udayappa then pours petrol all over Sivakasi and nearly burns him alive. Udayappa's mother-in-law comes into the scene and catches the torch intended for Sivakasi. She and her men attack Udayappa. Sivakasi, angry but shocked stands still until instructed by his mother that even though Udayappa had done many sins, they were still family and should defend one another. Sivakasi goes to the rescue and saves Udayappa while killing all the goons except for the mother-in-law. Udayappa begs for Sivakasi's forgiveness as he was very mean to his brother and they both embrace and reconcile. Udayappa begs forgiveness from his mother and she forgives him. Sivakasi then reveals his marriage plans to his family and then Udayappa, his mother, his sister, and the entire village attend his and Hema's wedding. Sivakasi becomes a celebrated hero in the village.

Cast

• Vijay as Muthappa (Sivakasi)
• Asin as Hema
• Prakash Raj as Udayappa
• Geetha as Udayappa and Muthappa's mother
• Saranya as Udayappa's wife
• Venkat Prabhu as Udayappa and Muthappa's brother-in-law
• Rajesh as Udayappa's and Muthappa's father
• Lakshana as Udayappas's sister
• Telangana Shakuntala as Mulli Mungaari
• Chitti Babu as Mamoi
• Bosskey as Leo
• M. S. Bhaskar as Venky
• Ganja Karuppu
• Vaiyapuri
• Theni Kunjaramma
• Nayantara as herself in a special appearance

Music

Soundtrack is composed by Srikanth Deva.

Production

After the success of Thirupaachi, A. M. Rathnam called Perarasu to make a film with Vijay re-uniting with him for second time.^[3][4] Sivakasi was Perarasu's second collaboration with Vijay after Thirupaachi and producer Rathnam's third film with Vijay after Kushi and Ghilli.

Mallika Sherawat was reported to be heroine^[5] instead role went to Asin.^[6][7] Sridevika was originally offered the role of Vijay's sister^[8] but later went to Malayalam actress Lakshana.^[9] Simran was initially approached for item number^[10] later she was replaced by Nayanthara on the request of Vijay.^[11] Geetha was selected to play as Vijay's mother.^[12]

Art director G. K. created the sets of T. Nagar with the sum of Rs. 12.0 million,^[12] one of the traditional Mylapore look complete with tall temple gopurams and Teppakulam and another of vintage Triplicane aura with mosques.^[13] There were reports that Vijay would perform dual roles but later proved false.^[14] 120,000 feet of rolls has been used to shoot the film.^[15] The first schedule was completed in Chennai and the crew camped at Karaikudi for the second schedule, the third schedule was shot at Kushaldas Gardens with Vijay and Asin.^[16]Rocky Rajesh was doing the Stunt Master’s job for Vijay’s film Sivakasi. As Dharani wanted Rocky Rajesh to work for his Telugu film, he requested the director of Sivakasi, Perarasu to relive him. Hence the climax fight sequences were composed and finished in short time by Chandramuki fame Thalapathy Dinesh.^[17] Dubbing was held at Kalasa studios.^[18]

Controversy

A case has been filed against the movie by a law college student Praveen of Madurai stating that some of the scenes in the movie are ill-treating the lawyers. Case has been booked against Vijay and Asin who has performed that scenes in the movie as well as the director Perarasu and the producer A.M.Ratnam are also trapped in the case. In his petition he has given five scenes of the movie in which the lawyers have been portrayed in an abusing manner. The student has also said that scenes like in movies are intruding the student’s willpower and self-confidence.^[19]

Release

Sivakasi was censored with 'U' certificate and three dialogue cuts.^{[20] [21]}

Reviews

Indiaglitz wrote: "Sivakasi is one among the long line of formulaic masala mass entertainers that Vijay is now known to dish out. In Perarusu, Vijay has got a director who understands the hero as well as his fans".^[22] Behindwoods wrote: "The movie is worth seeing as it includes sentiment and entertainment. It is a action paired entertainer and worth considering".^[23] Sify wrote: "This FORMULA had worked well for director Perarasu and Vijay in Tirupachi and now the team has re-worked it. This time, however, it will test your patience as it is not meant for the class audience or those seeking quality entertainment. Perarasu and Vijay believe only in catering to the mass audience who want their dose of unpretentious masala mix".^[24]

References

External links

• Sivakasi at the Internet Movie Database