Venghai
| Venghai | |
|---|---|
 Release poster | |
| Directed by | Hari |
| Produced by | B. Bharathireddy |
| Written by | Hari |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Devi Sri Prasad |
| Cinematography | Vetri |
| Edited by | V. T. Vijayan |
Production company |
Vijaya Productions |
| Distributed by | Vijaya Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 155 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Venghai (English: Jaguar/Leopard) is a 2011 Tamil action masala film written and directed by Hari, starring Dhanush and Tamannaah.[1] The story is based in Sivagangai district. The film started shooting in November 2010 at Trichy,[2] and was released on 8 July to mixed reviews
Plot
Veera Pandi (Raj Kiran) is a powerful and rich man in Pandiapuram, Sivagangai district. Selvam (Dhanush) is his son who is a lot more responsible and affectionate towards his family. Rajalingam (Prakash Raj) is the local MLA whose victory is backed by Veera Pandi’s support. But Rajalingam is money minded and pretends to act as a good human while he wants to cheat Veera Pandi and make more money through politics. One day Selvam gets into a clash with a group of thugs following which Veera Pandi sends Selvam to Trichy to stay with his uncle so that he can have a peaceful life ahead.
In Trichy, Selvam meets Radhika (Tamannaah), his child hood friend and tries to befriend her. But Radhika avoids Selvam pretending as she does not recognize Selvam. Slowly Selvam and Radhika become good friends. Selvam proposes to Radhika but she remains calm and tells that she needs time to think about it.
Meanwhile Veera Pandi gets know about the true identity of Rajalingam and prevents him from involving in corruption which angers Rajalingam and he decides to revenge Veera Pandi by killing Selvam. Rajalingam sends a few thugs to Trichy to kill Selvam. Veera Pandi gets to know about his plans and rushes to Trichy to save Selvam. Radhika is feared seeing a group of violent men with Selvam and prefers not to disclose her love.
Rajalingam becomes minister now and he openly challenges Veera Pandi as he need not depend on Veera Pandi’s support hereafter. Selvam gets back to Pandiapuram to safeguard his family from Rajalingam. Radhika gets to know that it was Selvam who helped her uncle by recovering the money invested in a disputed land and she decides to convey her love to Selvam. Radhika requests Selvam to stay away from his family, so that they can lead a peaceful life. Selvam gets furious hearing this and ditches Radhika saying that his family is more important to him than anything else in the world.
Later Radhika realizes her mistake and apologizes to Selvam following which both get united. Radhika visits Selvam’s house often. Rajalingam plans to kill Veera Pandi knowing about his train journey based on the information from a stranger. But Selvam comes to rescue. Suddenly Veera Pandi realizes that poison is mixed in the coffee given to him and is rushed to hospital immediately and saved. Selvam enquires about the incident and finally gets shocked to know that it was Radhika who added poison. Also it was Radhika who informed Rajalingam about Veera Pandi’s travel plans.
Selvam rushes to Radhika’s home. Radhika’s mother and grandfather say that Veera Pandi killed Radhika’s father years ago and they were waiting for a right opportunity to revenge. But Veera Pandi also comes to Radhika’s home and tells a flashback about the true incident behind the murder of Radhika’s father. He also clarifies that it was not him who killed her father. Now Radhika’s family feels guilty about their acts. Selvam feels bad that Radhika cheated him in the name of love and leaves her.
Next day, Radhika’s family apologizes to Veera Pandi and informs that they are leaving to another town. Veera Pandi and his wife Thangam (Urvasi) forgives Radhika’s mistake and urges Selvam to accept Radhika which he does. Selvam and Radhika get united. Finally Selvam and his friends decide to kill Rajalingam which they do successfully.
Cast
- Dhanush as Selvam(Tamil)/Shiva(Telugu)
- Tamannaah as Radhika (Selvam love interest)
- Rajkiran as Veera Pandi (Selvam's father)
- Prakash Raj as Rajalingam
- Srithika as Selvi (Selvam's sister)
- Ganja Karuppu as Ganesan (Selvam's sidekick)
- Livingston as Selvam's uncle
- Y. Gee. Mahendra as Tamil Professor
- Ponnambalam as Anbu
- Oorvasi as Thangam (Veera Pandi's wife)
- Nizhalgal Ravi as Radhika's father
- Sudha Chandran as Padmavathi (Radhika's mother)
- Charle as Murugesan
- Paravai Muniyamma as Veera Pandi's house cook
- Uma Padmanabhan
- Shivani as Jayanthi
- Azhagu as Gurusaamy
- O. A. K. Sundar as Deputy Commissioner of Police
- Bayilwan Ranganathan as Veera Pandi's henchman
Production
It was announced in 2010 that Hari and Dhanush would collaborate.[3] Title was said to be "Aruva"[4] but Hari denied that he would never keep such title[5] instead title is announced as "Venghai". Telugu cinematographer Vetri as appointed for cinematograph, Hari regularly worked with Priyan. where he was busy working on Velayudham. [1] The film started its shooting in November 2010 at Trichy,[2] took place in Karaikudi, Kutralam, and Munnar. The song sequences have been shot in Phuket Islands and Malaysia.[6]
Venghai was Hari's first collaboration with Dhanush, his second film with Vijaya Productions after Thamirabharani. This was Dhanush's second collaboration with Vijaya Productions and Tamanna after Padikkathavan.
Soundtrack
| Venghai | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Original CD Cover | ||||
| Soundtrack album by Devi Sri Prasad | ||||
| Released | 10 June 2011 | |||
| Recorded | 2011 | |||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
| Length | 24:40 | |||
| Language | Tamil | |||
| Label | Sony Music | |||
| Producer | Devi Sri Prasad | |||
| Devi Sri Prasad chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Behindwoods |   [7] |
The film's music was scored by Devi Sri Prasad.
All lyrics written by Viveka, except where noted.
| Track list | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Dhenam Dhenam" (Rap: Baba Sehgal) | Benny Dayal, Baba Sehgal | 4:47 |
| 2. | "Kaalangathale" | Karthik | 5:12 |
| 3. | "Yenna Solla Pore" (Hari) | Devi Sri Prasad, M. L. R. Karthikeyan | 4:26 |
| 4. | "Orey Oru" | Tippu, Harini | 3:58 |
| 5. | "Pudikale Pudikudhu" (Hari) | Mukesh, Suchitra | 4:17 |
| Total length: | 22:40 | ||
Release
Critical reception
Venghai received mixed reviews from critics. Rediff's Pavithra Srinivasan gave the film 2.5 out of 5, labelling it as "tedious" and "an overdose of rural action", further claiming that it was "so overlaid with unnecessary bloodshed, repetitive action and predictable plot twists, that after a point you lose interest".[8] Behindwoods gave 2.5 out of 5 and deemed that Venghai was "another Hari film with his usual ingredients but sans his usual spirit and this film might work for people who seek action entertainers set in villages."[9] Rohit Ramachandran of nowrunning.com rated it 1/5, calling it "cheap entertainment."[10] IBN Live gave 2.5 of 5 citing that the film was "typical Hari style formula movie [...] Despite the predictable story, Hari has managed to make the script interesting to some extent [...] The major flaw is that the story and screenplay have nothing new. Everything happens in a predictable manner.[11] KollyInsider gave the film 2 out of 5 stars, claimed it as a 'Masala Entertainer'.[12] Another portal, Indiaglitz said "Venghai is an entertainer that is racy and pacy. At the same time, there is no denial that a section of the audience would grouse, alleging that the film has nothing new to offer. But they are not Hari's target..."[13]
Box office
The film collected ₹8.9 million (US$140,000) worldwide on its opening weekend.[14]
References
- 1 2 "Dhanush and Hari take 'Aruva' – Tamil Movie News". IndiaGlitz. 23 February 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- 1 2 "'Venghai' on floors – Tamil Movie News". IndiaGlitz. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ "Hari to work with Dhanush ???". Kollywood Today. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ "Dhanush’s next with Hari titled ‘Aruva’". Kollywood Today. 2 March 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ "Title change for Hari’s ‘Aruva’". Kollywood Today. 26 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ "Song sequences for Vengai has been shot in Phuket Islands". Kollywood Today. 28 May 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ "Venghai Music Review – Venghai Music Review". Behindwoods.com. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ "Review: Venghai is tedious". Rediff. 8 July 2011.
- ↑ "VENGHAI REVIEW – VENGHAI MOVIE REVIEW".
- ↑ "Venghai Review – Tamil Movie Review by Rohit Ramachandran". Nowrunning.com. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ↑ "Venghai film review". IBN Live.com.
- ↑ "Venghai Movie Review, Rating". KollyInsider.com.
- ↑ "Venghai – A Dejavu ride". Indiaglitz. Retrieved August 2011. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Venghai – Behindwoods.com – Tamil Top Ten Movies – Venghai Theneer Viduthi 180 Pillaiyar Nootrenbadu Theru Kadaisi Veedu Udhayan Avan Ivan Aaranya Kaandam Azhagarsaamiyin Kudhirai Aanmai Thavarel Kanden Engeyum Kadhal Ko Vaanam".