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Laththi
Theatrical release poster
Directed byA. Vinoth Kumar
Written byA. Vinoth Kumar
Produced byRamana
Nandha Durairaj
Starring
CinematographyBalasubramaniem
Balakrishna Thota
Edited byN. B. Srikanth
Music byYuvan Shankar Raja
Production
company
Rana Productions
Distributed byRed Giant Movies
Release date
  • 22 December 2022 (2022-12-22)
Running time
144 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Laththi (transl. Baton), also known as Laththi Charge (Lathi/Baton Charge), is a 2022 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film directed by A. Vinoth Kumar and produced by Ramana and Nandha Durairaj under Rana Productions.[2] The film, which marks Vinoth's directorial debut, stars Vishal, alongside Ramana, Master Lirish Raghav, Sunaina and Prabhu.[3] The music was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, while the cinematography and editing were handled by Balasubramaniem & Balakrishna Thota and N. B. Srikanth.

This is the second collaboration between Vishal and Sunaina after Samar. It was shot extensively across Tamil Nadu, including Thiruvanmiyur and Chennai and the final schedule in Hyderabad.

Laththi was released on 22 December 2022 to mixed reviews from critics.

Plot

[edit]

Muruganantham is a police constable living with his wife, Kavitha, and ten-year-old son, Rasu, an asthmatic. His asthma flares up when he becomes scared. One day, Muruganantham gets suspended for having tortured an innocent civilian suspected of assaulting a girl named Pavithra, who later dies due to her injuries. Six months later, Muruganantham rescinded his suspension with help from DSP Ranganathan and joined back on duty.

Weeks later, DIG Kamal called Muruganantham to a secluded spot to torture a suspect for harassing his daughter. Kamal took voluntary retirement effective that day and had met the suspect by accident. He had managed to catch him and bring him bound. Muruganantham reluctantly tortures the suspect and later drops him off in a waste yard. It turns out that the suspect is Vellai, the son of an influential mafia kingpin named Sura. Sura had planned to get Vellai married to an ex-minister in the opposition party and make his son an MLA and a minister in the coming elections. Enraged about Vellai's torture, Sura learns about Muruganantham and sends his henchmen to bring him. Muruganantham and Rasu escape from Sura's henchmen, where they get trapped in an under-construction building.

Muruganantham finds a place for Rasu to hide, but it turns out that Rasu is not feeling well and needs his inhaler in his bag near the ground floor of the building. Muruganantham attempts to reach the ground floor, but Vellai and his men capture and beat Muruganantham with a laththi. Muruganantham informs that he knew about Vellai earlier and his involvement in Pavithra's death. Muruganantham also reveals that he purposely brought Sura, Vellai and their henchmen to the building to finish them and secretly brought weapons from the station's weaponry to attack the henchmen.

After the revelation, Muruganantham escapes and sets off machine guns, killing most of the henchmen. Rasu attempts to escape the building, but Vellai captures him. Rasu is buried alive, and Muruganantham desperately comes down and tries to find Rasu. Vellai stabs and injures Muruganantham. After a brief emotional breakdown, worrying over his son's fate, Muruganantham finds Rasu and administers the inhaler. Muruganantham attacks the henchmen with his laththi and kills Sura. He then kills Vellai, thus avenging Pavithra's death. Muruganantham reunites with Rasu and tells him to forget the incident, and they return home.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

The film was tentatively titled as Vishal32. On 17 October 2021, the film's official title was unveiled as Laththi Charge, which was chosen as it would work across multiple languages.[5] At the same time, it was reported that the film will have a pan-Indian release (in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi) and will be released in the month of September although the release date got postponed.[6]

Casting

[edit]

Vishal was once again signed to play the role of a cop after previously appearing in cop roles in films like Veeramae Vaagai Soodum, Ayogya and Paayum Puli and Vedi and Satyam.[5][7] Sunaina was signed in to play the female lead which marks her second collaboration with Vishal after Samar.[8] The makers announced that Ramana who produced the film was cast as the main antagonist in the film.[9] Veteran actor Prabhu was signed in to play an important role in this film which marks his third collaboration with the lead actor after Aambala and Thaamirabharani.[10]

Filming

[edit]

Principal photography of the film began on 29 August 2021. The first schedule is taking place on Thiruvanmiyur and was wrapped up on 14 September 2021. The second schedule taking place in Chennai and wrapped up on 13 December 2021.[11][12] The third schedule taking place in Hyderabad. During this phase, Vishal was injured while filming an action sequence in early February 2022, with multiple hairline fractures on one of his hands, and he took a break from shooting to heal.[13] After recovering, he returned to shooting in March with increased caution exercised during stunts.[14] On 14 May 2022, the crew would begin the dubbing process for the movie.[15] On 15 July 2022, the film was wrapped completed.[16] The post production works of the film began on 7 December 2022.[17][18]

Soundtrack

[edit]

Sam C. S. was earlier chosen as the composer of the film's score and soundtrack. Later, on 4 April 2022, it was reported that he has been replaced by Yuvan Shankar Raja.[19] The audio rights were acquired by U1 Records. The first single "Thotta Load Aage Waiting" was released on 5 October 2022.[20][non-primary source needed] The second single " Oonjal Manam" was released on 13 November 2022.[21] The third single titled "Veerathukkor Niramundu" was released on 19 December 2022.[22][non-primary source needed]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Thotta Load Aage Waiting"DuraiYuvan Shankar Raja, MC Vickey3:35
2."Oonjal Manam"Karthik NethaRanjith, Shweta Mohan3:59
3."Veerathukkor Niramundu"Madhan KarkyYuvan Shankar Raja, MC Sanna3:02
Total length:10:36

Release

[edit]

Theatrical

[edit]

The film was released in theatres on 22 December 2022 coinciding with Christmas.[23][24] The film was initially planned for release in theatres on 12 August 2022, but got postponed to 15 September 2022 due to multiple injuries of actor Vishal and heavy visual effects for the fight sequences although the release date was again postponed indefinitely.[25][26][27] The distribution rights of the film in Tamil Nadu were acquired by Udhayanidhi Stalin under the banner of Red Giant Movies. The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana distribution rights of the film have been bagged by JPR Films.[28][29][30]

Home media

[edit]

The post-theatrical streaming rights of the film has been sold to Sun NXT, while the satellite rights were sold to Sun TV.[31] The Hindi version of the film was telecast through Star Gold on 12 March 2023.[citation needed]

Reception

[edit]

Laththi received mixed reviews from critics with praise for Vishal's performance and action sequences, but criticized its screenwriting.

Critical response

[edit]

Logesh Balachandran of The Times of India gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Laththi gives forceful blows at times, but only a few make us feel the real pain."[1] Janani K of India Today gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "On the whole, Laththi is a compelling action drama with excellent stunt choreography. The film manages to hold your attention, for the most part."[32]

Thinkal Menon of OTT Play gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Laththi has Vishal putting his best foot forward in stunt and emotional sequences, but his hard work required a far more engaging screenplay and character design."[33] Navein Darshan of The New Indian Express gave 2/5 stars and wrote "Though Laththi tries hard to be an edge-of-the-seat thriller, it's not a good sign that you're laughing for most of it."[34]

Vishal Menon of Film Companion wrote "Laththi is an assembly line of plot points that are either a hit or a miss makes the film ridiculously incoherent."[35] Praveen Sudevan of The Hindu wrote "Despite a promising first half, Vinoth Kumar’s directorial debut falters post-intermission and becomes a generic action film."[36]

References

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

Laththi

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Laththi (transl. Baton; also known as Laththi Charge) is a Indian Tamil-language action written and directed by A. Vinoth Kumar in his directorial debut. The film stars Vishal as Muruganandam, a police proficient in lathi usage, who incurs the enmity of a and his son following a , resulting in Muruganandam and his young son becoming trapped in a building besieged by adversaries. Produced by Nandha and featuring a supporting cast including as the constable's wife, as a senior , and , the project marked Vishal's collaboration with music composer , whose score emphasized the film's tense action sequences. Released on , 2022, Laththi garnered mixed , with praise for Vishal's committed performance and the high-energy stunt work but criticism directed at the predictable plot and uneven pacing.

Synopsis and Themes

Plot Summary

Laththi centers on Muruganandam, a police constable renowned for his expertise with the lathi baton, who is reinstated to duty after a six-month suspension for assaulting a later . Upon rejoining his station, Muruganandam confronts and beats the son of a powerful following an incident involving the youth's , provoking the gangster's retaliation. The narrative escalates when Muruganandam becomes trapped inside an abandoned building with his 10-year-old son, surrounded by the gangster's armed henchmen intent on eliminating him. Driven by paternal instincts, Muruganandam employs his combat skills and improvised tactics to fend off attackers during repeated escape attempts, navigating confined spaces and limited resources. plays a role, as departmental orders and delays in reinforcements constrain his options, heightening the peril from the encroaching threats. Through sequential action sequences, Muruganandam systematically neutralizes assailants and exploits structural vulnerabilities in the building to progress toward safety, culminating in a resolution tied to his resourcefulness against overwhelming odds.

Central Themes and Motifs

The centers on the theme of restrained yet decisive in , with the lathi embodying both a constable's standard-issue tool for non-lethal intervention and a of individual resolve against disproportionate criminal . This portrayal underscores causal mechanisms in policing, where empirical tactics like baton use enable survival and deterrence in asymmetrical confrontations, contrasting the unchecked violence of gangsters. Paternal duty emerges as a core motivator, privileging the protagonist's agency in safeguarding his child over passive obedience to bureaucratic protocols, thereby critiquing depictions of police as undifferentiated enforcers of orders. The posits personal as the primary driver of heroic outcomes, rooted in biological imperatives of protection rather than collectivist institutional loyalty. Recurring motifs of and evasion highlight the protagonist's navigation of spatial and systemic confinements, such as an rigged as a deathtrap, symbolizing the real-world bind of lower-rank officers outnumbered by entrenched criminal elements. Escape sequences emphasize pragmatic ingenuity—leveraging environmental affordances and physical endurance—over reliance on external aid, reflecting a realism of isolated operational hazards in urban policing dynamics. The work advances a view of police empowerment through self-directed , grounded in verifiable roles involving direct confrontation with low-level threats, while avoiding narratives of systemic redemption. Critiques of potential glorification appear in noting formulaic escalation, yet the film's focus aligns with evidence of frontline officers' discretionary judgments in high-stakes scenarios, prioritizing individual efficacy amid institutional limitations.

Cast and Characters

Principal Cast

Vishal stars as Constable Muruganantham, a laththi specialist and the film's , drawing on his established background in action cinema where he has previously enacted characters. Sunaina portrays Kavitha, Muruganantham's wife, serving as the familial emotional anchor in the narrative. Ramana plays Vellai, the antagonist figure tied to the central conflict as the son of a gangster. Prabhu appears as DIG Kamala Kannan, the senior police official overseeing the protagonist's department.

Supporting Roles

Prabhu enacts the role of DIG Kamala Kanna, the senior police official who directs strategic oversight in the department's handling of the escalating conflict with the antagonistic gang. His character reinforces the bureaucratic layers within the law enforcement structure, influencing key decisions on resource allocation and pursuit tactics during the central confrontations. Thalaivasal Vijay portrays DSP Ranganathan, a deputy superintendent involved in coordinating on-ground police operations and interrogations, thereby supporting the procedural elements of the investigation subplot. Munishkanth plays Panneer Selvam, an associate in the villainous faction, who contributes to group dynamics in ambush and retaliation sequences that amplify the action's intensity. Ramana appears as Vellai, a figure tied to the gangster's inner circle, aiding in the depiction of organized threats through coordinated assaults on the protagonist's family and allies. Master Lirish Raghav depicts Rasu, the young son of Muruganantham, whose vulnerability heightens the personal stakes in protective subplots amid the familial endangerment by rivals.

Production Process

Development and Pre-production

The project for Laththi, Vishal's 32nd film as an , was officially announced on October 18, 2021, under the Laththi Charge, a reference to the lathi (baton) charge technique employed by police forces in crowd control and confrontations, which became a core motif of the narrative. The film was produced jointly by Ramana and Nandaa under their banner, in association with , emphasizing an action thriller centered on challenges. Directed by debutant A. Vinoth Kumar, the screenplay was developed to feature Vishal as a police , shifting from the high-ranking officer roles he had portrayed in prior cop dramas such as Ayogya (2019) and (2022), to highlight the vulnerabilities and dynamics of an entry-level constable, including a father-son relationship rarely explored in such genres. Vinoth Kumar's vision positioned the story as a to constables, focusing on their frontline experiences against criminal elements, with the protagonist depicted as a lathi specialist facing retaliation from a gangster's network. Financial planning allocated a budget of approximately ₹25 , the highest in Vishal's career up to that point, supporting ambitious action sequences and production scale while prioritizing authentic depictions of elements. advanced without reported major hurdles, culminating in the wrap of the second shooting schedule by December 13, 2021, ahead of further location work.

Casting Decisions

Vishal was selected for the lead role of Muruganantham, leveraging his established action-hero image and experience portraying characters, as seen in his previous film Ayogya (2019). Director A. Vinoth Kumar initially envisioned the role for Samuthirakani, which might have resulted in a more restrained production scale, but chose Vishal to facilitate expansive action sequences aligned with the script's demands for high-stakes confrontations. This decision underscored Vishal's suitability for physically demanding roles, given his self-described commitment to action cinema. Sunaina was cast as Kavitha, the protagonist's wife, providing emotional grounding to the narrative amid the action focus, though specific selection criteria beyond her prior supporting roles in Tamil films were not publicly detailed in production announcements. Ramana portrayed the primary antagonist Vellai (also referred to as Veera), a emphasizing ruthless opposition to the lead, selected to contrast Vishal's heroism in the film's central conflict. Veteran actor joined as DIG Kamala Kannan, bringing authority to hierarchy depiction, capitalizing on his extensive in authoritative figures. No reports indicated significant audition processes or scheduling conflicts influencing these choices, with casting finalized to support the debut director's vision of a constable-centric thriller.

Filming and Technical Aspects

Principal photography for Laththi spanned from late 2021 into early 2022, with the second schedule wrapping in December 2021 following a 24-hour continuous shoot to complete key portions. The Hyderabad leg, dedicated to high-octane stunts, concluded in April 2022, marking the near-completion of filming by mid-May. This schedule included 40 days of intensive action sequences choreographed to depict a constable's laththi-based amid a building . Action direction was overseen by , who designed sequences emphasizing raw baton fights, including an introductory clash and a mass confrontation with over 300 fighters. Hein's prioritized physical execution, with lead actor Vishal wielding the laththi against assailants in on-location setups simulating enclosed escapes. The second half featured approximately 45 minutes of such sustained action. Cinematography by Balasubramanyam captured the kinetic energy of these stunts using practical setups in Hyderabad. Editing by Srikanth N.B. focused on rhythmic cuts to heighten tension in the siege dynamics and baton maneuvers. Filming faced setbacks from injuries to Vishal, including multiple hairline fractures in his hand and finger during Hyderabad stunts in early 2022, followed by a leg injury in . Hein enforced elevated safety measures for the climax, incorporating recovery protocols post-injury to mitigate risks in the high-stakes sequences.

Music and Audio

Soundtrack Composition

The soundtrack for Laththi comprises three vocal tracks composed by , featuring lyrics by and Durai that underscore the film's themes of familial bonds and valor in conflict. "Oonjal Manam", the released on November 13, 2022, is performed by , Ranjith Govind, and ; its lyrics poetically depict the onset of first love and the solace of family cradling, with verses like "Oonjal manam aadidum neram manadhoram mudhal kaadhal thondrum" emphasizing tender emotional introspection suited to the protagonist's domestic life. "Thotta Load Aage Waiting", rendered by and MC Vickey (Mubashir Ahmed), integrates rap rhythms and urban slang in Durai's to convey restless anticipation and street-level defiance, aligning with sequences of rising tension and pursuit in the narrative. "Veerathukkor Niramundu", a high-energy track with Karthik Netha's invoking heroic resolve and battle readiness, was released as a lyrical video on December 19, 2022, prior to the film's theatrical debut, providing rhythmic propulsion for action-driven motifs of resistance and empowerment. These compositions, produced under U1 Records, were unveiled progressively as singles in late 2022, with a compilation following on February 3, 2023, to amplify promotional reach post-release.

Background Score

The background score for Laththi was composed by , a frequent collaborator with lead actor Vishal, marking their twelfth joint project since 2005's . Released separately from the on January 28, 2023, it features nine tracks spanning 22 minutes and 30 seconds, emphasizing non-vocal cues for narrative propulsion. These include ambient sustains for building unease in confined settings and pulsating rhythms for escalation, as heard in tracks like "Rise of Laththi" and "The Vengeance." Yuvan Shankar Raja's technical approach incorporates layered percussion and string ostinatos to mirror the film's core motif of lathi enforcement, creating rhythmic intensity that aligns with baton impacts and sequences. This causally amplifies tension by synchronizing sonic pulses with visual cues of physical confrontation, fostering a heightened sense of immediacy and peril in police-versus-gangster dynamics without relying on diegetic alone. Reviewers highlighted how such elements elevate action realism, with the score's dynamic swells providing structural support for suspenseful builds leading to climactic releases. In police scenario integrations, the score's minimalist ambient drones during standoffs underscore causal chains of assessment and retaliation, drawing from Yuvan's established style of restraint-to-explosion transitions to reinforce the protagonist's resource-limited responses. Tracks like "Father - " blend subtle motifs with escalating percussion to tie emotional stakes to procedural urgency, ensuring the layer causally drives viewer immersion in the film's high-stakes evasion narrative. Overall, the background score's precision in cue timing—verifiable via production credits—avoids overpowering while bolstering the realism of asymmetric confrontations.

Release and Marketing

Theatrical Release

_Laththi was released theatrically on 22 December 2022, coinciding with the weekend. The film received a U/A certification from the in prior to its debut. Originally scheduled for 12 August 2022, the release was delayed multiple times due to injuries sustained by lead actor Vishal during filming and subsequent requirements, shifting first to 15 2022 before settling on the final date. The Tamil-language original premiered alongside dubbed versions in Telugu (titled Laatti or Laththi Charge), , , and , facilitating a pan-Indian rollout. Distribution occurred primarily in and select international markets including the , , , and the on the same day. The runtime was certified at 144 minutes.

Promotional Strategies

The promotional campaign for Laththi centered on leveraging lead actor Vishal's established fanbase and presence to generate pre-release anticipation for the action thriller. Vishal actively toured southern , including stops in , , and , to engage local audiences through promotional events in the weeks leading up to the December 22, 2022, release. These efforts emphasized Vishal's portrayal of a determined police constable in a high-stakes scenario, aligning with cop tropes of heroism and resilience to appeal to mass audiences. Key visual assets included first-look posters released in April 2022 via newspapers, which highlighted Vishal in an intense, action-oriented pose to underscore the film's thriller elements. Trailers formed the core of digital promotion: the official teaser dropped on July 24, 2022, setting an engaging premise of a constable trapped with his child amid enemies, while the full trailer launched on December 12, 2022, at 5 p.m. during a Chennai event attended by industry figures like Lokesh Kanagaraj. These videos were amplified across Vishal's social media channels, including Instagram and Facebook, driving viral buzz through fan shares and clips from promotional promos. Additional hype was built via announcements tying the film to social causes, such as Vishal's pledge on , 2022, to donate a portion of box-office proceeds to farmers, framed during his promotional tours to resonate with rural and working-class viewers. The campaign avoided major controversies, focusing instead on empirical metrics like teaser and trailer view counts to sustain momentum without relying on debates or external publicity stunts. Telugu-dubbed trailers were also released to target bilingual markets, broadening reach in and . Overall, the strategy prioritized engagement and digital virality over large-scale , capitalizing on Vishal's direct audience connection for cost-effective pre-release buildup.

Home Media and Digital Distribution

The post-theatrical digital streaming rights for Laththi were acquired by , with the film premiering on the platform on January 14, 2023, as part of Pongal festivities. The availability extended to dubbed versions in Telugu, , , and , broadening accessibility across regional audiences in . By 2025, Laththi remained accessible for streaming on for subscribers, while non-subscribers could rent or purchase the film digitally on platforms including Amazon Video and Google Play Movies. No official physical home media releases, such as DVD or Blu-ray editions, have been announced or distributed as of October 2025.

Commercial and Critical Reception

Box Office Performance

_Laththi earned an estimated ₹1.75 in net collections on its opening day, December 22, 2022, primarily from markets. The film's advance bookings generated around ₹1 in gross, reflecting moderate pre-release interest for a mid-budget action thriller led by . Over its theatrical run, Laththi accumulated approximately ₹13.28 in India gross collections, with net figures at ₹11.25 , and negligible reported overseas earnings. Produced on a budget of ₹25 , the film did not recover its costs through revenue alone, as subsequent daily collections in dwindled to under ₹0.6 by the second week. The action genre's audience turnout was constrained by the film's release timing amid holiday competition and Vishnu Vishal's non-star status, limiting sustained occupancy below 10% in later weeks despite initial multiplex appeal in . estimates for regional Tamil films like Laththi rely on trade trackers rather than audited data, introducing variability across sources.

Critical Analysis

Critics accorded Laththi mixed reviews, with aggregate scores hovering around 2.5 out of 5 from major Indian outlets, reflecting appreciation for its kinetic action sequences alongside persistent narrative shortcomings. The film's stunt choreography, particularly Vishnu Vishal's lathi-based combat, drew praise for its visceral execution and innovation within Tamil action conventions, elevating routine confrontations into highlight moments without relying on excessive gore or digital effects. However, this technical prowess often masked underlying causal inconsistencies, such as the protagonist's improbable survival and dominance in outnumbered skirmishes, which strained plausibility given his portrayal as an ordinary lacking or weaponry. The narrative's first half effectively grounded the story in the mundane realities of lower-rank policing, fostering for the lead's family-man ethos and aversion to , but devolved into formulaic tropes post-intermission, undermining initial setup with underdeveloped antagonists who serve merely as fodder rather than credible threats. critiqued this shift, noting the villains' lack of fleshed-out motivations or menace, rendering confrontations predictable and the heroism contrived, as the constable's transformation into a one-man defies logistical realism in police protocol and human endurance. echoed concerns over minor flaws amplifying into major drags, including rushed pacing that prioritizes spectacle over coherent escalation, though it lauded the core premise's potential for exploring institutional frustrations without veering into unsubstantiated anti-authority sentiment. Pro-entertainment perspectives highlighted the film's unpretentious thrills as a deliberate embrace of mass-appeal genre elements, arguing that logical nitpicks overlook its intent as escapist cop rather than procedural realism. Yet, data from review aggregates underscores a consensus on plot predictability: antagonists' schemes unravel without , such as unaddressed vulnerabilities in their operations that a lone officer exploits implausibly, favoring emotional over evidentiary buildup. This imbalance reveals directorial inexperience in sustaining tension, as promising ideas—like weapon-specific combat—are shoehorned into songs, diluting tactical depth. Overall, while avoiding overt biases against by affirming the constable's integrity, Laththi falters in causal fidelity, prioritizing heroic fantasy over the empirical constraints of its uniformed .

Audience and Industry Response

Audience reception to Laththi was generally positive among general viewers and families, who praised its high-octane action sequences and Vishal's portrayal of a resilient fighting gangsters while protecting his son. Social media platforms like saw widespread support, with netizens highlighting the film's engaging cop drama elements and Vishal's dedication, positioning it as a successful comeback after his earlier challenges. Empirical metrics from user platforms corroborated this grassroots enthusiasm, with aggregating a 6.4/10 rating from roughly 3,000 votes, where commendations centered on the thriller's pulse-pounding confrontations and mass entertainment appeal rather than intricate plotting. audiences particularly appreciated the paternal themes intertwined with the vengeance-driven narrative, contributing to favorable word-of-mouth turnout during its December 2022 release. Within the industry, peers recognized Vishal's physical transformation and commitment as standout features, reinforcing his return to action-hero form in a favoring visceral thrills over . However, some commentary pointed to the formulaic nature of cop-versus-gangster tropes, suggesting audience loyalty to Vishal outweighed concerns over repetitive storytelling conventions.

Legacy and Impact

Awards and Recognitions

Laththi received limited recognition in Tamil awards circuits following its 2022 release. The film's stunt choreography by earned a nomination in the Best Action Choreographer category at the for 2022 films, though the award went to for . The film did not secure nominations or wins at prominent ceremonies such as the or for 2022 productions. Similarly, composer Yuvan Shankar Raja's score and lead actor Vishnu Vishal's performance garnered no accolades in music or acting categories across major Tamil awards.

Cultural and Social Influence

Laththi reinforces the archetype of individual police heroism in , depicting its protagonist as endowed with exceptional physical prowess to combat criminal elements and restore order, eschewing deeper systemic analysis of institutional shortcomings. This narrative aligns with broader trends in the where figures embody personal valor and moral rectification, potentially offsetting portrayals that amplify institutional distrust by highlighting a dedicated officer's resilience against odds. The film's emphasis on the hero's with , coupled with ultimate triumph through solitary action, underscores causal agency rooted in personal duty over bureaucratic reform. By centering a low-ranking —typically sidelined in favor of high-ranking officers—the film spotlights the vulnerabilities of frontline personnel, such as inadequate support from superiors, while elevating their role to heroic stature. Lead actor Vishal framed the project as a deliberate homage to constables, diverging from the genre's convention of protagonists wielding authority from elevated positions, which may encourage nuanced representations of rank-and-file officers in subsequent action narratives. The laththi, central to the title and plot, symbolizes defensive in the film's context, wielded by the to protect against threats, contrasting its historical association with offensive dispersal in protests—a tactic inherited from colonial practices and often invoked in critiques of police excess. While no large-scale campaigns directly linked the movie to reinterpreting lathi symbolism emerged post-release, audience reactions praised its grounded depiction of police tools amid everyday duties, potentially fostering discourse on legitimate versus abusive force without endorsing unchecked brutality. The portrayal has drawn mixed commentary, with some observers noting its partial glorification of force application, balanced against the officer's reluctance in custodial scenarios.

Retrospective Assessments

In the years following its December 22, 2022 release, Laththi has elicited limited retrospective commentary, with critics and observers largely adhering to the initial mixed evaluations rather than offering substantial reevaluations. Early assessments highlighted the film's strengths in visceral action choreography and Vishal's committed portrayal of a beleaguered , but faulted its shift to formulaic heroism in the second half, resulting in a predictable that undermined its of grounded . This perspective persists without notable shifts, as no major critical retrospectives have emerged to challenge or elevate the film's status amid Tamil cinema's evolving action landscape. Audience sentiment, as tracked on platforms like , has remained steady at a 6.4/10 rating from over 2,900 users as of 2025, indicating enduring appeal as a straightforward action thriller for fans of the genre but lacking the reevaluation that might confer or influential standing. The absence of deeper on its themes—such as individual defiance against systemic —suggests Laththi has not prompted broader reflections on police portrayals or in Indian media, unlike more dissected contemporaries. Its technical elements, including Yuvan Shankar Raja's score and stunt design, continue to draw isolated praise in fan discussions, yet without evidence of lasting analytical influence.

References

  1. https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Laththi?id=7DFE5FD69FB13318MV&hl=en_US
  2. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15341044/
  3. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/laththi/movie-review/96418800.cms
  4. https://letterboxd.com/film/laththi-charge/
  5. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15341044/fullcredits/
  6. https://www.fandango.com/laththi-2022-230567/cast-and-crew
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc1syANigiQ
  8. https://www.greatandhra.com/movies/reviews/laththi-review-begins-well-but-falters-126096
  9. https://eastmojo.com/news/2023/07/28/laththi-review-an-engaging-action-thriller-with-flaws/
  10. https://www.gulte.com/moviereviews/219377/laththi-movie-review
  11. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/laththi
  12. https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/laththi-movie-review-vishals-action-drama-is-riveting-with-minor-flaws-2312164-2022-12-22
  13. https://www.ottplay.com/review/laththi-movie-review-vishal-impresses-in-this-high-octane-actioner-which-needs-better-screenplay-and-characters/eb304313fc643
  14. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15341044/reviews/
  15. https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2022/Dec/25/laththimovie-review-interesting-ideas-get-lathi-charged-in-this-actioner-2531688.html
  16. https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/laththi-movie-review-vishal-sunaina-yuvan/article66292468.ece
  17. https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/actor-vishal-on-playing-a-constable-in-laththi-and-his-obsession-with-action-films/article66284399.ece
  18. https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/when-laththi-actor-vishal-was-asked-why-heroes-only-play-high-ranking-police-officers-8339431/
  19. https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/laththi/cast-crew.html
  20. https://newstodaynet.com/2021/10/18/vishals-film-titled-laththi/
  21. https://www.greatandhra.com/movies/news/vishals-32nd-film-titled-laatti-116581
  22. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vishal-to-play-a-cop-again-in-laththi/articleshow/87083163.cms
  23. https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2022/Dec/20/laththi-will-be-our-tribute-to-all-constables-vishal-2529734.html
  24. https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2022/laththi-day-1-box-office-collection-a-regular-commercial-masala-film-from-vishal-that-collects-well-344751.html
  25. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vishal-wraps-up-second-schedule-of-laththi/articleshow/88253606.cms
  26. https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2022/Dec/19/vishal-laththi-will-be-our-tribute-to-all-constables-37896.html
  27. https://www.suryaa.com/cinema-29045-vishal-shoots-for-24-hours-straight-to-complete-second-schedule-of-laththi.html
  28. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vishals-laththi-hyderabad-schedule-wrapped-up/articleshow/91023923.cms
  29. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZSAAYvXwqA
  30. https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/cinema/2022/Jan/12/vishals-laththi-to-feature-an-action-sequence-with-300-fighters-38421.html
  31. https://www.ottplay.com/news/vishal-begins-prepping-for-an-intense-fight-sequence-for-laththi-releases-a-bts-video-featuring-peter-hein/21c4bf120f25
  32. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/laththi-shoot-site-when-vishal-used-a-laththi-to-tackle-the-goons/articleshow/92850966.cms
  33. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/climax-portion-of-vishals-laththi-shot-with-high-precautions/articleshow/90263777.cms
  34. https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/laththi/laththi-review.html
  35. https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/vishal-hurts-leg-during-shoot-for-tamil-film-laththi-101656909983231.html
  36. https://www.tamil2lyrics.com/lyrics/oonjal-manam-song-lyrics/
  37. https://www.tamil2lyrics.com/lyrics/thotta-load-aage-waiting-song-lyrics/
  38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG90FXsLM3g
  39. https://www.jiosaavn.com/lyrics/oonjal-manam-from-laththi-lyrics/CgshYCMFfFE
  40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSu7cwcrp5E
  41. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/entertainment/music/tamil/laththi-song-veerathukkor-niramundu-lyrical/videoshow/96396183.cms
  42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7uDmFMKEIM
  43. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/laththi-yuvan-shankar-raja-collaborates-with-vishal-for-the-12th-time/articleshow/90643751.cms
  44. https://music.apple.com/in/album/laththi-original-background-score/1670472881
  45. https://open.spotify.com/album/6GQRMZ6WK4df3kyw9N6Ivf
  46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spiX-OwzD2w
  47. https://daijiworld.com/index.php/news/newsDisplay?newsID=944358
  48. https://music.apple.com/ae/album/laththi-original-background-score/1670472881
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  50. https://www.moviecrow.com/News/31486/laththi-plot-censor-runtime-vishal
  51. https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/laththi-movie-114780
  52. https://filminformation.com/featured/laththi-dubbed-review-30-december-2022/
  53. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX_N_7CiWdz0hbOf4A60JjQEEPE5H9xto
  54. https://www.instagram.com/vishalfans360/
  55. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUpbVPo2Fw4
  56. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vishal-to-donate-a-part-of-the-laththi-box-office-collection-to-farmers/articleshow/96282192.cms
  57. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vishals-laththi-story-revealed/articleshow/90707261.cms
  58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBvwFf4u0TA
  59. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/laththi-teaser-to-be-out-on-july-24-watch-the-promo-here/articleshow/93000223.cms
  60. https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/Dec/09/heres-when-laththi-trailer-will-be-out-37560.html
  61. https://www.facebook.com/VishalFilmFactory/videos/laththi-promo-08-tamil-blockbuster-hit/497048029185035/
  62. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDzzHWSnh24
  63. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/entertainment/regional/telugu/laththi-official-telugu-trailer/videoshow/96178060.cms
  64. https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/laththi/ott.html
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  72. https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2022/Dec/22/laththi-movie-reviewinteresting-ideas-get-lathi-charged-in-this-actioner-38007.html
  73. https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2022/laththi-twitter-review-general-audience-and-families-shower-huge-support-to-vishal-s-comeback-movie-344690.html
  74. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/laththi-twitter-review-vishal-receives-praises-from-netizens-for-his-dedication/articleshow/96418143.cms
  75. https://www.filmibeat.com/top-listing/ananda-vikatan-cinema-awards-2023-nominees-and-complete-winners-lists-2-1227.html
  76. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15341044/awards/
  77. https://researchers.mq.edu.au/files/459284791/Publisher_version.pdf
  78. https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/1450198.html
  79. https://www.quora.com/What-is-your-review-of-the-2022-Tamil-movie-Laththi-starring-Vishal
  80. https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/vishal-krishnas-laththi-is-excessively-gruesome-but-a-top-notch-action-film-11906841.html
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