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Eeswaran
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySuseenthiran
Written bySuseenthiran
Sanjay
Produced byBalaji Kapa
StarringSilambarasan
Bharathiraja
Nidhhi Agerwal
Nandita Swetha
CinematographyTirru
Edited byAnthony
Music byThaman S
Production
companies
Madhav Media
D Company
Distributed by7G Films
Release date
  • 14 January 2021 (2021-01-14)
Running time
123 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Eeswaran is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by Suseenthiran. The film stars Silambarsan in the titular role, alongside Bharathiraja, Nidhhi Agerwal (in her Tamil debut) and Nandita Swetha. The film has music scored by Thaman S, whereas cinematography and editing were handled by Tirru and Anthony respectively.

Principal photography commenced on Dindigul in October 2020 and wrapped up within a single schedule of 22 days.[1] The film was released on 14 January 2021, coinciding with Pongal.

Plot

[edit]

Periyasamy is a farmer who leads a simple and happy life with his wife, Paapathi, and their children. One day, the family astrologer Kaali, who is also Paapathi's younger brother, visits Periyasamy's family and makes accurate predictions about their past and future. Periyasamy's world turns upside down the very same day. Just as Kaali had predicted, Paapathi slips and injures her head and succumbs to her injuries. Years go by, and Periyasamy's children marry and move to Chennai for their livelihood, leaving him alone in the village. He eagerly awaits his family's occasional visits.

A young man, Eeswaran, joins as a house help/foster son for Periyasamy. Eeswaran is street-smart and wise and runs from pillar to post to get things done while establishing connections with many VIPs in the state. In March 2020, the Indian government imposed a COVID-19-related lockdown, and Periyasamy's family chose to move to the village rather than remain in the city. Periyasamy rejoices at the idea of spending more time with his grandchildren, so he calls astrologer Kaali, who predicts that there will certainly be a death in the next few days, leaving them worried about contracting the coronavirus and dying from the complications. The whole family takes PCR tests, and to their relief, the results are negative. However, the doctor informs Eeswaran about Periyasamy's young granddaughter Diya's rare heart condition, which requires immediate attention. Eeswaran arranges Diya's surgery without the family's knowledge to keep them calm and happy.

Meanwhile, Eeswaran's married ex-girlfriend and Periyasamy's granddaughter, Vasuki, also came to stay with them during the lockdown, and this caused tension between the two. Vasuki and Eeswaran fell in love, but they broke up when Eeswaran refused to leave the village for the sake of Periyasamy. Vasuki's younger sister, Poongodi, falls in love with Eeswaran, but he doesn't reciprocate his feelings. For the same reason, he doesn't want to leave Periyasamy alone. Periyasamy understands this situation and confesses to Eeswaran that Periyasamy lost the one true love of his life, Parvathi. He states that he married Paapathi because of his mother's wish, but Parvathi reentered his life again. He had no choice but to marry her as his second wife, and they had a son, Aadhisivan. But things go awry when Paapathi discovers Parvathi and Periyasamy's relationship. So, Parvathi took Aadhisivan and disappeared for good. Periyasamy doesn't know their whereabouts to date. He urges Eeswaran to accept Poongodi's proposal, and Eeswaran obliges.

Periyasamy's daughter and son-in-law Maragadhamani's business keeps incurring losses, and his wife's brothers lend him money, but he fails to repay them, leading to family feuds. Maragadhamani asks Periyasamy to sell the family-owned land and help him in his business, but Periyasamy vehemently refuses. So, Maragadhamani plans to kill Periyasamy to usurp the family property. He sends poisonous cobras to Periyasamy's farm; Eeswaran discovers the plan and saves the family, but a cobra bites Eeswaran. He thrashes Maragadhamani, but the family expels Eeswaran, citing that he is an outsider. Seeing the commotion, Diya faints, and the whole family tries to rush her to the hospital for surgery. But Rathnaswamy, Periyasamy's arch-nemesis, a recent release from jail, stops them. Rathnaswamy wants revenge against Periyasamy as he believes that the latter was the root cause of the suicide of his wife and daughter. Eeswaran rescues the family again from Rathnaswamy despite the snake poison affecting his body. Finally, he rushes to see Diya, where he collapses, and they take her for emergency treatment. Amidst all the confusion, Sonamuthu, a close aide of Periyasamy and Kutty Puli, Eeswaran's friend, explain that Eeswaran is none other than Periyasamy and Parvathi's son, Aadhisivan, and, as a dying wish from Parvathi, she hid the truth from him. Periyasamy and the whole family are overwhelmed by this news and rush in to see him. Eeswaran recovers from the snake bite, Diya's surgery is also a success, and the entire family is happily reunited.

Eeswaran marries Poongodi; he solves Maragadhamani's loan problems and asks him to manage his money efficiently. He is informed of the sudden demise of astrologer Kaali, indicating that Kaali's predictions came true in some form.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

In August 2020, Silambarasan was reported to be a part of Suseenthiran's untitled film. A source claimed that Silambarasan had read the script through a virtual meeting with the director, due to the COVID-19 lockdown, and expected to shoot the film in October 2020.[2] Producer Balaji Kapa of Madhav Media, stated an official announcement of their collaboration with the director and actor on 10 October 2020.[2] Silambarasan released the first look of the film on 26 October 2020, in which the title was revealed to be Eeswaran.[3]

Casting

[edit]

The film's cast members had Bharathiraja signing to act as the father of Silambarasan. Bala Saravanan signed to appear in a comical role, and Nidhi Agerwal playing the female lead. Thaman S was roped in to compose music, whilst cinematographer Tirru, editor Anthony and art director Rajeevan, were also a part of the technical crew.[4]

For his role in the film, Silambarasan took an extremely intense weight training and strict diet regime, under his trainer Sandeep Raj, in which he lost 30 kilograms in the process. He also indulged in sports, yoga and Bharatanatyam, as a part of the fitness regime.[5] He learnt Bharatanatyam from former actress Saranya Mohan, for few sequences.[6]

Filming

[edit]

Principal photography commenced on 17 September 2020. The production team adhered to safety guidelines imposed by the government to control the spread of COVID-19.[2] Primarily shot at Dindigul, the principal photography wrapped on 7 November 2020.[7][8] Silambarasan completed his dubbing portions the next day.[9]

Soundtrack

[edit]
Main article: Eeswaran (soundtrack)

The music for the film is composed by Thaman S, in his third collaboration with Silambarasan after Osthe (2011) and Vaalu (2015); first time collaborated with Suseenthiran. The lyrics for the songs were written by Yugabharathi.[citation needed] Thaman composed the film's music within a record time of two months.[10] The first single "Thamizhan Paattu" was released on 14 December 2020.[11] The four-song soundtrack was released on 2 January 2021, at the Albert Theatre in Chennai.[citation needed]

Release

[edit]

Eeswaran was released on 14 January 2021, coinciding with Pongal.[12] The Tamil Nadu theatrical rights were bought by 7G Films.[13] It was released directly via the streaming service OlyFlix for viewers overseas.[14]

Reception

[edit]

M. Suganth of The Times of India, gave 2.5 out of 5 and stated "The lack of novel ideas, ineffective twists and female leads who have hardly anything to do affect the flow of the film. The emotional scenes lack required intensity, and the tension surrounding the antagonist could have been much better."[15] Srinivasa Ramanujan of The Hindu stated "The Simbu-starrer is yet another village-based tale that has more uncles and relatives than ideas."[16] Sify gave 2.5 out of 5 and stated "Eeswaran is an average formulaic rural family entertainer."[17]

Ranjani Krishnakumar of Firstpost gave 1.5 out of 5 and stated "In bringing together this colourful and relatable cast of characters, Suseenthiran scores. But that's that. Once he's established the milieu, he doesn't know where to take the film."[18] Ashameera Aiyappan of Cinema Express gave 1.5 out of 5 and stated "It is great that Simbu looks like he has turned back time. But it isn't great that the film also seems to have travelled back with him."[19] Manoj Kumar R of The Indian Express gave 1 out of 5 stars "Eeswaran is nothing but a two-hour-long verbal and visual flow of cues that reinforce the patriarchal view of women's subservient role to men in a family."[20]

Logesh Balachandran of India Today gave 3.5 out of 5 and wrote "Eeswaran isn't a great film, but director Suseenthiran gets many things right. At a time when fans are longing to witness that energetic Simbu on screen, which has been missing for years now, Suseenthiran delivers a perfect rural entertainer that serves just that. The screenplay has been developed in a manner to please both the star's fans and family audience. Unlike the actor's previous films, there is adequate emotion in the script which works big time."[21]

Controversies

[edit]

Snake issue

[edit]

In the motion poster of the film which was released on 26 October, the protagonist Silambarasan had a snake wrapped around his neck a forest official filed a case stating that the team had given sedatives to the animal to prevent it from harming the team which kills the animal very soon and also said that many crews are lying telling it is a fake snake. However, the team stated that the snake was plastic and no harm was there for the animal as well as the crew. But a video was released in which Silambarasan practised throwing a snake in a sack bag, but the team said it was a scene in the movie and the snake was a fake one.[22] On 19 November, the Animal Welfare Board of India, objected the film's team to remove the controversial motion poster, which was later removed from YouTube.[23][24]

Harassment against Suseenthiran

[edit]

Suseendhiran was involved in controversy over unnecessarily interrupting when Nidhhi Agerwal was speaking in front of public during the audio launch of the film.[25] The director reportedly urged the actress to say that she loves Silambarasan.[citation needed] His distateful behaviour was heavily criticised in the social media for harassing Agerwal in front of public.[26] However the director clarified the controversy stating that he wanted to give the essence to the audience on how the film will work.[25][27]

100% seating capacity issue in Tamil Nadu

[edit]

The film was given permission to release the film with 100% seating capacity in theatres along with another Pongal release Master (2021) by the Government of Tamil Nadu despite the increase in COVID-19 cases in India especially with cases also increasing in Tamil Nadu.[28][29] However the Central Government of India issued warrant against Tamil Nadu government's decision to approve the release of the films with full 100% seating capacity.[30] The central government stated that 100% seat occupancy is clearly in violation of the guidelines of MHA which only allows 50% seat occupancy in theatres.[31] Some doctors also cautioned against full seating capacity for the film.[32][33] Soon after, Central Government notice was passed and it was revoked back to 50% seating capacity in Tamil Nadu theatres.[34]

Streaming release issue

[edit]

In overseas countries, the makers had signed a deal for the new streaming service OlyFlix, where the makers would premiere the film through video-on-demand from 14 January 2021 (coinciding with the release in Indian theatres). However, the Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association opposed the decision for a simultaneous streaming release, fearing that piracy sites may upload the high definition print of the film, which will affect the theatrical business.[35] The exhibitors also threatened to boycott the film, if they suggest for a streaming release on the said date.[36] Following pressure from theatre owners and exhibitors, the makers decided to hold the release over video-on-demand,[37] and instead they requested the theatre owners to increase the number of screens for the film.[38]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Eeswaran

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by Suseenthiran. The story centers on a close-knit family unraveling due to an astrologer's prediction of impending tragedy, leading to internal disputes and efforts by the protagonist Eeswaran to safeguard them. It stars Silambarasan TR in the lead role, with supporting performances by Bharathiraja, Nidhhi Agerwal, Nandita Swetha, and Bala Saravanan. Released on January 14, 2021, the film features music composed by S. Thaman and emphasizes themes of familial bonds strained by superstition and conflict. Despite its focus on rural Tamil family dynamics, Eeswaran garnered mixed audience reception, evidenced by an average rating of 4.3 out of 10 on IMDb from over 2,450 votes, often critiqued for predictable plotting amid positive notes on action sequences.

Synopsis

Plot Summary

Periyasamy, an elderly patriarch and farmer in a rural village in Tamil Nadu, resides with his nephew Eeswaran after the death of his wife, an event accurately predicted by a local astrologer years earlier. His adult children, who have migrated to Chennai, maintain distance due to unresolved disputes stemming from property inheritance and financial disagreements following their mother's passing. In 2020, amid the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, Periyasamy extends an invitation for his children and grandchildren to return to the ancestral home, aiming to revive family bonds during the Pongal festival season. Eeswaran, acting as the devoted caretaker and family mediator, orchestrates elaborate preparations for the reunion, including traditional Pongal rituals to symbolize prosperity and unity. Yet, the gathering quickly unravels as latent conflicts resurface: siblings accuse each other of greed over land divisions, younger generations clash with elders over modern versus traditional values, and old grievances from Periyasamy's youth— including a past incident leading to a man's imprisonment—fuel escalating tensions. Compounding the discord, the family astrologer foretells another imminent death, heightening and prompting accusations of betrayal among relatives. A external threat emerges when the imprisoned criminal, harboring a grudge against Periyasamy for his role in the earlier conviction, orchestrates revenge by infiltrating the village and targeting members. Eeswaran confronts personal history as well, including a terminated romance with a village whose ambitions diverged from his rural commitments, which indirectly ties into secrets revealed during the crisis. Familial betrayals come to light, such as hidden alliances over assets and suppressed events from Periyasamy's early hardships, eroding trust further. In response, Eeswaran rallies the fractured kin, invoking the village panchayat—a traditional council of elders—to adjudicate disputes and enforce communal norms. The unfolds with direct confrontations against the , whose plot is thwarted through collective family defense rooted in hierarchical loyalty and cultural rituals. Ultimately, the ordeal catalyzes reconciliation, as members acknowledge shared heritage and prioritize over material strife, restoring Periyasamy's household under Eeswaran's guidance.

Cast and Characters

Principal Cast

, also known as Simbu, stars as Aadhisivam, referred to as Eeswaran, the film's protagonist who navigates rural family challenges with determination. His portrayal draws on his established screen presence in , emphasizing a character rooted in village traditions. enacts the role of Periyasamy, the elder patriarch whose influence shapes the household's moral and social framework. As a veteran known for rural-themed roles, he provides the ensemble with a stabilizing, authoritative presence. Nidhhi Agerwal makes her Tamil debut as Poongodi, one of the key female characters integral to the family unit's interpersonal relations. Her role highlights supportive dynamics within the narrative's domestic setting. plays , contributing to the portrayal of multifaceted female figures in the story's familial ensemble. This casting adds depth to the supporting leads alongside the central male characters.

Supporting Roles

Bala Saravanan portrays Kutty Puli, Eeswaran's close friend who aids in navigating village social dynamics and provides levity amid familial tensions. plays Maragathamani, Periyasamy's son-in-law, whose interactions highlight intergenerational conflicts within the family structure. enacts Aadhinarayanan, a rival figure exacerbating the central through antagonistic actions in the rural setting. appears as a , intervening in escalations of community disputes to propel resolution efforts. These roles collectively underscore the film's emphasis on obligations and village , with actors delivering performances that sustain narrative momentum across key confrontations.

Production

Development

The development of Eeswaran originated in 2020, when director conceived the project as a rural action emphasizing themes of family cohesion and conflict resolution. The script, penned by himself, centered on a village navigating familial discord intensified by the , reflecting real-time societal strains on joint family structures during lockdowns. This narrative approach drew from 's prior explorations of rural Tamil life, aiming to recapture authentic village dynamics amid a shift toward urban-centric stories in recent . Production was backed by Balaji Kapa under the Madhav Media banner, with advancing rapidly despite pandemic-related disruptions to scripting and planning timelines across the industry. finalized the core concept to align with cultural resonance, scheduling the film's release for Pongal 2021 on January 14, a evoking rural traditions of community and familial gatherings in . This timing underscored the story's empirical grounding in seasonal village life, where festivals like Pongal historically reinforce kinship ties through rituals and feasts.

Casting

Silambarasan TR was cast in the lead role of Aadhisivam, also known as Eeswaran, following reports of his involvement in director Suseenthiran's project in August 2020, with the script aligned rapidly to facilitate quick production commencement. To prepare for the rural protagonist, Silambarasan underwent a physical transformation, losing approximately 20 kilograms. His portions were filmed in a condensed 22-day schedule concluding in early November 2020, reflecting the expedited process necessitated by the . Veteran actor was selected for the role of Periyasamy, the family patriarch, to infuse authenticity into the depiction of rural elder dynamics, drawing on his extensive career portraying village life in . was chosen as the female lead Poongodi, marking her debut in Tamil films after prior work in Telugu and Hindi projects. Supporting roles, including as Vasuki and as Kutty Puli, were assembled to form an ensemble suited to the film's rural family narrative. The casting process occurred amid restrictions, presenting challenges in coordinating actor availability and ensuring safety protocols for rehearsals and fittings, which contributed to the decision for a single, streamlined shooting schedule starting in 2020. This approach minimized exposure risks while prioritizing actors capable of embodying archetypal rural characters without extensive urban adaptations.

Filming

for Eeswaran commenced in October 2020 in , , shortly after the easing of lockdown restrictions that had halted film productions earlier in the year. The shoot was conducted in rural locales within the district to suit the film's village-based narrative. The entire wrapped in a single continuous schedule lasting 22 days, with lead actor completing his portions by early November 2020. This expedited process facilitated in time for the film's targeted Pongal release on 14 January 2021. The production incorporated practical techniques for key sequences, including the use of a live snake in a scene where the captures one from a , which forest department officials commended for its realistic execution without harm to the animal.

Music

Soundtrack Composition

S. Thaman composed the soundtrack for Eeswaran, completing all songs and background score in under two months, which he described as his second fastest project after the Telugu Businessman. This rapid timeline aligned with the 's production schedule, with musical works finalized by December 28, 2020. Thaman's approach emphasized mass appeal through energetic rhythms, while integrating folk influences to complement the narrative's rural village setting. The composition blended traditional Tamil musical elements, such as folk-inspired melodies in tracks like "Thamizhan Pattu," with Thaman's signature commercial beats and percussion-driven arrangements to evoke cultural pride and communal energy. The background score similarly supported the film's themes of village life and familial bonds, using layered instrumentation to heighten dramatic tension and emotional depth without overpowering the rustic authenticity. The full soundtrack was released on January 2, 2021, ahead of the film's theatrical debut.

Track Listing and Release

The soundtrack for Eeswaran, composed by Thaman S, features four songs, all with lyrics penned by Yugabharathi.
No.TitleSinger(s)Duration
1"Thamizhan Pattu"Ananthu, Deepak, Thaman S4:34
2"Eeswaran (Title Song)"Deepak, Aravind Srinivas, Thaman S2:58
3"Mangalyam"Silambarasan TR, Roshini JKV, Thaman S4:21
4"Velli Nillavae"ML Gayatri, Thaman S2:46
The album was released digitally on January 2, 2021, coinciding with its audio launch event at Albert Theatre in Chennai, attended by principal cast members including Silambarasan TR. The lead single, "Thamizhan Pattu", was promoted ahead of the full album release.

Release

Theatrical Release

Eeswaran was certified UA by the on 6 January 2021, permitting viewing by audiences above age seven with parental guidance. The film premiered theatrically on 14 January 2021, aligning with the to attract family viewership during the celebratory period. Tamil Nadu theaters operated under evolving COVID-19 protocols, with the state government authorizing full 100% occupancy from 13 January 2021 after earlier 50% caps, specifically to support Pongal releases like Eeswaran and Master. This adjustment responded to industry appeals amid the pandemic, enabling broader distribution logistics without mandatory social distancing reductions in seating. The release featured promotional posters emphasizing Pongal themes of familial unity, tying into the film's rural village narrative to resonate with festival-goers. Distribution targeted and other Tamil-speaking areas, with screenings in major cinema chains to maximize accessibility during the holiday window.

Digital and Streaming Release

The digital rights for Eeswaran were secured by following its theatrical release. The film became available for streaming on the platform starting June 12, 2021, approximately five months after its Pongal theatrical debut. Plans for an earlier OTT rollout, including for overseas audiences, faced delays due to resistance from theatre owners, who conditioned screenings on postponing digital availability to safeguard collections amid recovery. These negotiations highlighted broader industry shifts during the era, where producers navigated heightened demand for rapid digital premieres against exhibitors' push for extended theatrical exclusivity to recoup investments.

Commercial Performance

Box Office Earnings

Eeswaran grossed ₹9.4 worldwide, with contributing ₹9.2 in gross collections and overseas markets adding ₹0.2 . The film's net collections totaled ₹7.91 . Produced on a of ₹15 , the earnings represented underperformance relative to the production costs, particularly given the high expectations for lead actor TR's comeback vehicle during the competitive Pongal 2021 season. The majority of collections originated from , where the film achieved its primary audience draw, though specific regional footfalls were not publicly detailed beyond aggregate figures. Day-wise net collections showed a strong opening but steady decline, as summarized below:
Day Net Collection (₹ Cr)Change (%)
Day 1 (Thu)1.90-
Day 2 (Fri)1.20-36.84
Day 3 (Sat)1.00-16.67
Day 4 (Sun)0.70-30.00
Week 1 Total6.08-
Week 2 Total1.26-79.28
Week 3 Total0.50-60.32
Week 4 Total0.07-86.00
The Pongal release timing pitted Eeswaran against major competitors like Master, limiting screen availability and contributing to moderated earnings despite initial momentum. Sacnilk classified the verdict as a hit based on recovery metrics, while other trackers noted it as below average in key circuits like .

Reception

Critical Response

Critics generally panned Eeswaran for its formulaic storytelling and reliance on outdated rural family drama tropes, resulting in low aggregate scores across major outlets. awarded it 2.5 out of 5 stars, noting that while it serves as a partial entertainer with effective emotional peaks, the film suffers from a lack of novel ideas, ineffective twists, and underdeveloped female characters who contribute little to the narrative. Similarly, Cinema Express rated it 1.5 out of 5, criticizing the script's haphazard construction, likening it to a disjointed story-building exercise that fails to sustain momentum beyond TR's (Simbu) committed performance. The Hindu described the film as a predictable rural subject that "goes nowhere," highlighting narrative stagnation where familiar village conflicts and resolutions—centered on family patriarch Periyasamy () and his kin—offer no fresh insights despite Simbu's earnest portrayal in a rural setting reminiscent of roles by actors like . The Indian Express issued a harsher 1 out of 5 rating, condemning the film's reinforcement of patriarchal norms through cues portraying women in subservient family roles, rendering it an outdated exercise in visual and verbal clichés. A minority of reviews acknowledged strengths in its authentic depiction of rural Tamil Nadu life and Simbu's resurgent form post-hiatus, with giving 3.5 out of 5 for its engaging family dynamics suitable for festive viewing. Behindwoods scored it 2.2 out of 5, praising Simbu's screen presence in parts but faulting the overall failure to elevate scenes through innovative direction or scripting. These critiques, published around the film's January 14, 2021, Pongal release, underscore a consensus on hasty production compromising depth, though Simbu's rural authenticity was a noted bright spot amid the trope-heavy execution.

Audience Reception

Eeswaran garnered a mixed reception from audiences, reflected in its user rating of 4.3 out of 10 based on over 2,450 votes as of recent data. Many viewers praised elements like the , comedic sequences, and performances, particularly TR's portrayal of the lead role, noting these as highlights in an otherwise formulaic narrative. For instance, users highlighted enjoyable songs and background music that provided relief amid slower pacing, with some appreciating the film's depiction of rural family bonds and traditional values as culturally resonant for festive viewing. Conversely, significant disappointment centered on the plot's predictability and reliance on clichés, with viewers criticizing the first half for lacking thrill and originality, often describing it as an "old-fashioned" rural that failed to innovate. Post-release discussions on platforms like echoed this, pointing to repetitive tropes and weak writing as detracting from engagement, though a of fans defended its unpretentious family-oriented themes against perceptions of them being "outdated" by more progressive audiences. Overall, while the film's entertainment value in lighter moments appealed to casual viewers, its narrative shortcomings led to lukewarm empirical feedback, with average scores around 2.6 on from 1,265 ratings.

Controversies

On-Set Incidents

During the production of Eeswaran in rural locations in 2020, a video emerged on November 3 showing lead actor TR (Simbu) capturing what appeared to be a snake from a and securing it in a for a scene. The footage, shared widely on , prompted a from Chennai-based animal activist Arivaizhagan to the Forest Department on November 4, alleging violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, as the snake appeared real and potentially defanged or drugged, constituting cruelty. Director responded on November 7, denying any use of a live snake and asserting compliance with regulations, while the production house Madhav Media received a show-cause notice from the Animal Welfare Board of on November 20 for depicting a computer-generated in promotional materials without prior no-objection certificate. The Department investigated and confirmed on November 22 that no real snake was handled, identifying the prop as rubber and the effects as CGI, with no permissions required for non-live animals; the activist's claims were deemed unfounded, resolving the matter without reported injuries to personnel or animals.

Release and Regulatory Disputes

The release of Eeswaran on January 14, 2021, coincided with ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in Tamil Nadu, where theaters operated at 50% seating capacity following the state government's revocation of a January 4 order permitting full occupancy. This reversal, prompted by a Madras High Court stay and advisory from the Union Home Ministry citing pandemic risks, limited potential earnings during the Pongal festival period, as lower attendance exacerbated revenue pressures amid health protocols. Producers had anticipated higher turnout under the initial 100% allowance, which was influenced by requests from film industry stakeholders for Pongal releases including Eeswaran, but the policy shift prioritized safety over commercial recovery. A primary post-production conflict arose with the Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association over the film's planned overseas video-on-demand (VOD) release on the Olyfix platform, scheduled shortly after its theatrical debut to capture international audiences amid domestic restrictions. Exhibitors refused screenings unless the digital rollout was deferred, arguing it would enable piracy and undermine local box office viability during the pandemic's second wave, when physical attendance remained subdued due to capacity caps and virus fears. The producers complied, postponing overseas OTT access to 3-4 weeks post-theatrical, highlighting exhibitors' leverage in enforcing an extended exclusivity window to safeguard revenue streams strained by regulatory limits on gatherings. Director and the production team emphasized adherence to theatre demands to ensure domestic screenings proceeded, reflecting broader industry tensions where government-mandated health measures clashed with economic imperatives for films like Eeswaran, which relied on festival timing for visibility but faced diluted returns from enforced separations between theatrical and digital platforms. This episode underscored causal frictions: policies curtailed occupancy and prolonged recovery, prompting digital pivots that exhibitors viewed as threats to their model, ultimately delaying global monetization and contributing to reported underwhelming performance.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13350412/
  2. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/eeswaran
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDfuP0YeIQk
  4. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/eeswaran/movie-review/80261417.cms
  5. https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/eeswaran-movie-review-a-predictable-rural-subject-that-goes-nowhere/article33574757.ece
  6. https://lensmenreviews.com/eeswaran-tamil-movie-review-2021/
  7. https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2021/06/13/suseenthirans-eeswaran-starring-silambarasan-is-a/
  8. https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/eeswaran-english/eeswaran-english-review.html
  9. https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/eeswaran-review-an-outdated-film-7146331/
  10. https://deepanboopathy.com/blog/eeswaran/
  11. https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/eeswaran-movie-review-silambarasan-is-earnest-in-an-otherwise-middling-family-drama-9201951.html
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13350412/fullcredits/
  13. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/eeswaran/cast-and-crew
  14. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/simbus-eeswaran-teaser-to-be-released-during-diwali-2020/articleshow/79016403.cms
  15. https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/eeswaran-trailer-simbu-promises-an-old-school-rural-drama-7138508/
  16. https://www.facebook.com/24cinewoods/posts/eeswaran2021-dramaaction-2h-10mrelease-date-14-january-2021-india-trendingdirect/101592485254166/
  17. https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/simbu-confirms-eeswarans-release-date-7126630/
  18. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/silambarasan-confirms-completing-eeswaran-shoot/articleshow/79083857.cms
  19. https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2020/Nov/06/its-a-wrap-for-simbus-eeswaran-21184.html
  20. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtJHKf9uBVN/
  21. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/simbu-wraps-his-shoot-for-eeswaran/articleshow/79035672.cms
  22. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/forest-officers-praise-eeswaran-crew-for-making-the-snake-scene-look-more-realistic/articleshow/79352582.cms
  23. https://www.onlykollywood.com/eeswaran-composer-thaman-calls-the-project-his-second-fastest-in-his-career/
  24. https://twitter.com/musicthaman/status/1343370547804061696
  25. https://music.apple.com/us/album/eeswaran-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1546999186
  26. https://www.moviecrow.com/News/27449/eeswaran-audio-release-date-is-here
  27. https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/eeswaran-songs-T0004939
  28. https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/Jan/02/eeswaran-audio-launch-strto-join-hands-with-susienthiran-again-actor-announces-three-more-project-22052.html
  29. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/simbu-makes-a-marana-mass-entry-to-eeswaran-audio-launch/articleshow/80075395.cms
  30. https://music.youtube.com/browse/MPREb_F2rzFrn4gLs
  31. https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/assets/pdf/Films_certified_2021.pdf
  32. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/silambarasan-trs-eeswaran-set-for-a-pongal-release/articleshow/80007792.cms
  33. https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/Jan/04/tamil-nadu-government-allows-100-occupancy-in-theatres-ahead-of-master-eeswaran-release-22065.html
  34. https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/tamil-nadu-government-grants-100-percent-occupancy-for-theatres-ahead-of-master-release/story-orWGhHjg1KrNkAE6GYnUdL.html
  35. https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/chennai/eeswaran/ET00300388
  36. https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/tamil/article/strs-eeswaran-ott-release-date-announced-heres-all-you-need-to-know/769218
  37. https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/eeswaran.html
  38. https://www.binged.com/streaming-premiere-dates/eeswaran-tamil-movie-streaming-online-watch/
  39. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ott-release-of-simbus-eeswaran-held-back-after-pressure-from-theatres/articleshow/80218418.cms
  40. https://www.imdb.com/news/ni63156398/
  41. https://boxoffice.sacnilk.com/movie/Eeswaran_2021
  42. https://twitter.com/MrBoxOffice5/status/1362385110318804992
  43. https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/eeswaran/eeswaran-box-office-jan-24.html
  44. https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/tamil/2021/Jan/14/eeswaran-movie-review-a-resurgent-simbu-but-little-else-22247.html
  45. https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/eeswaran-movie-review-simbu-excels-in-this-largely-satisfying-rural-drama-1759084-2021-01-14
  46. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13350412/ratings/
  47. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13350412/reviews/
  48. https://letterboxd.com/film/eeswaran/
  49. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/viral-video-simbu-spotted-catching-snakes-on-eeswaran-sets/articleshow/79020439.cms
  50. https://www.moviecrow.com/News/27180/eeswaran-silambarasan-tr-snake-video-wildlife-protection-act
  51. https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/simbu-captures-cobra-snake-in-eeswaran-chennai-animal-activist-files-complaint-1737913-2020-11-04
  52. https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2020/Nov/04/actor-simbu-in-trouble-forhandling-snake-in-eeswaran-2219014.html
  53. https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2020/simbu-eeswaran-in-trouble-director-suseenthiran-gives-clarification-over-snake-cruelty-305985.html
  54. https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2020/Nov/20/simbu-starrer-eeswarans-producer-gets-show-cause-notice-for-using-cgi-snake-without-permission-2225865.html
  55. https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2020/Nov/22/simbu-didnt-use-a-real-snake-in-eeswaran-forest-department-21409.html
  56. https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/tamil-cinema/article/has-str-performed-with-a-real-snake-in-eeswaran-officials-clarify/685142
  57. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/state-reverses-decision-allowing-100-seating-in-cinema-halls/article33531758.ece
  58. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-cinema-hall-covid-19-7138618/
  59. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/centre-asks-tn-to-drop-move-on-100-occupancy-in-cinemas/articleshow/80141063.cms
  60. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/Jan/04/tn-government-allows-100-percent-seating-in-theatres-ahead-of-pongal-experts-oppose-move-2245247.html
  61. https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/eeswaran-overseas-ott-release-postponed-after-tn-theatres-object-141385
  62. https://www.moviecrow.com/News/27525/eeswaram-ott-release-postponed-silambarasan-tr
  63. http://silverscreenindia.com/movies/news/eeswaran-ott-platform-release-on-hold-as-tamil-nadu-theatre-owners-raise-piracy-concerns/
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