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Saamy Square
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Saamy Square
Theatrical release poster
Directed byHari
Written byHari
Produced byShibu Thameens
Starring
CinematographyVenkatesh Anguraj
Edited by
Music byDevi Sri Prasad
Production
company
Distributed byThameens Release
Release date
  • 21 September 2018 (2018-09-21)[1]
Running time
174 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Saamy Square (stylized as Saamy²) is a 2018 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film directed by Hari and produced by Shibu Thameens. The film, which is the sequel to Saamy, stars Vikram in a dual role, while Keerthy Suresh, Aishwarya Rajesh, Bobby Simha, Prabhu and Soori appear in supporting roles.[2] The music was composed by Devi Sri Prasad.

Saamy 2 was released on 21 September 2018 to mixed reviews from critics and become a box office failure.[3]

Plot

[edit]

In India, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Aarusaamy was transferred out of Tirunelveli after killing corrupt politician Perumal Pichai.[a] He lives happily with his pregnant wife Bhuvana in Palani. Bhuvana wants to become an IAS officer. However, when Perumal Pichai's men in Tirunelveli were talking about what had happened to him, they speculated that he might be in Colombo with his second wife and his three sons: Mahendra Pichai, the oldest; Devendra Pichai, the middle; and Raavana Pichai, the youngest. Raavana is crueller and more dangerous than his brothers. Saamy applied for a transfer to Tirunelveli to stop Raavana, which was approved.

28 years later, Ramasamy works for Viswanathan, the Union Home Minister, in New Delhi. He intends to pursue IAS as per the wishes of his maternal grandparents. Diya, Viswanathan's daughter, has just finished her studies and has returned from London after completing her studies. When Raavana asks Viswanathan for the pending commission amount to be paid for transferring the party fund secretly, he replies merely to ask the party directly and not him. Irritated, Raavana kidnaps Diya for immediate settlement of payment. Ram rescues her from Raavana's goons and drops her off at home. She is impressed by his diplomatic nature and falls in love with him. Soon after, Ram accidentally seizes a van containing black money transferred by Raavana on a commission basis. He hands the money to the President of India without revealing his identity, which frustrates Raavana. Diya constantly proposes to Ram, which he rejects initially but gives in later.

Ram succeeds in the UPSC exam and leaves for Mussoorie for one-year training. After his return, his grandparents are shocked to see that he has opted for IPS and that he has been posted as a probationary Assistant Commissioner of Police in Tirunelveli. When Ram asks the reason for their reaction, his grandfather tells the truth that, in fact, his father, Aarusaamy, has been a Deputy Commissioner in Tirunelveli. Ram's grandfather begins to explain what happened 28 years ago. When Saamy and Bhuvana were on their way to Tirunelveli, they were hacked to death by the Pichai brothers to avenge their father's death. Before dying, Saamy manages to open his dead wife's uterus and prematurely deliver his child (Ram). Bhuvana's parents take Ram and escape to Delhi, while a truck accident planned by Raavana kills the rest of their family.

Agitated by hearing about his tragic past, Ram decides to go to Tirunelveli and get justice for his parents' deaths. Ram's grandparents accept his decision, and he leaves for Tirunelveli and decides to take on the Pichai brothers. He initially warns Raavana and vows to bring the brothers before the law for killing his parents. Ram later razes Perumal's statue, which had been illegally placed at an intersection by Raavana and caused traffic problems. A cat-and-mouse game ensues between Ram and Raavana, with both of them trying to get rid of each other. In response to the president's orders, Saamy is transferred to Tirunelveli, and Raavana is surprised that they could not transfer him elsewhere. Meanwhile, Viswanathan initially disapproves of Ram and Diya's love but later accepts it.

Ram kills Devendra and Mahendra after an accident caused by them in Devendra's cracker factory to prevent Ram from seizing illegal extortion money from Raavana, which kills many innocent workers, as well as a pregnant woman. Raavana's goons start to kill the people of Tirunelveli in revenge. Viswanathan decides to resign from politics because of the embarrassment faced. However, Raavana's henchmen orchestrate a train accident which kills Viswanathan. Later, Raavana absconds to Colombo with his mother's advice. Ram finds out that Raavana is planning to go to Pakistan via Gujarat and Rajasthan, and he tracks him down. After a tiresome fight with desert bandits and Raavana, Ram subdues Raavana but decides to leave him to his fate in the middle of the Thar Desert with no man, town, village, or water source for several hundreds of kilometers.

As the credits roll, Ram lies to the media Raavana left for Sri Lanka over the fear of being killed. Raavana dies after 17 days in the desert. Soon, Ram and Diya marry. The movie ends with the message, "Saamy's adventure will continue".

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

In August 2016, during the audio launch of Iru Mugan, director Hari made an official announcement that he would unite with Vikram,[4][5] also echoed by the latter,[6] for a sequel to Saamy after 13 years[7] being bankrolled by Shibu Thameens.[8] The principal photography was expected to commence in late 2016[9] with Harris Jayaraj as music composer. During December 2016, Shibu Thameens confirmed that the plan for sequel was still on, putting an end to the rumours of the project being shelved,[10] as director Hari and his team were involved in script development and would tentatively commence the principal photography in April 2017.[11] In May 2017, it was officially announced that Devi Sri Prasad would be the composer, collaborating again with Vikram for the second time after Kanthasamy and Hari for the fifth time after Aaru, Venghai, Singam and Singam 2.[12] In August 2017, it was reported that lyricist Viveka had joined the composer and director for a music composition session at Puducherry.[13] Kanal Kannan and Silva were tasked with action choreography.[14][15] Priyan, Hari's regular cinematographer, was selected as well, but later Venkatesh Anguraj became the cinematographer after Priyan died due to a heart attack in November 2017. The art direction was done by P. Shanmugam and P.V. Balaji, replacing K. Kadhir, who had collaborated with Hari in his previous films.

Casting

[edit]

Apart from Vikram reprising his role, Keerthy Suresh was selected as the female lead.[16][17] Prabhu and comedian Soori were added to cast along with Bobby Simha.[18] Trisha was originally going to reprise her role as Bhuvana from the first film but opted out, citing "creative differences";[19] she was replaced by Aishwarya Rajesh.[20] Vivek refused to reprise his role from the original film as he felt his character was not well developed in this film.[21]

Filming

[edit]

Despite the commencement of pre-production, the shooting was supposed to be commenced during June or July 2017 as quoted by the film producer.[22] Various sources towards reported that the shoot would start towards the end of September 2017.[23][24] Finally, the principal photography commenced in Chennai from 30 September 2017 onwards.[25][26] The director also revealed that the film would be shot in Delhi, Mussoorie and Nepal after shooting considerable portions in Chennai.[27] In early October, the film's new title was revealed to be Saamy Square.[28] By July 2018, filming was mostly complete except for a song sequence.[29]

Release

[edit]

Saamy 2 was released on 21 September 2018.[30]

Home media

[edit]

The satellite and digital rights of the film were sold to Star Vijay and Disney+Hotstar.[31] The film was dubbed and released in Hindi by Pen India Limited and was directly telecasted on Zee Cinema.[32][33]

Soundtrack

[edit]
Saamy 2
Soundtrack album by
Released23 July 2018
GenreSoundtrack
Length21:53
LanguageTamil
LabelSony Music
ProducerDevi Sri Prasad
Devi Sri Prasad chronology
Bharat Ane Nenu
(2018)
Saamy 2
(2018)
Hello Guru Prema Kosame
(2018)
Singles from Saamy 2
  1. "Adhiroobaney"
    Released: 10 July 2018 (2018-07-10)
  2. "Molaga Podiye"
    Released: 18 July 2018 (2018-07-18)

The music was composed by Devi Sri Prasad, who replaces the predecessor's music composer Harris Jayaraj. This film marks the Tamil comeback of Prasad after a hiatus of three years, whose previous Tamil film was Puli (2015).

Sony Music acquired the rights of the soundtrack for the film. All lyrics were written by Viveka, except one song, which was penned by the composer himself.

The first single, "Adhiroobaney," was released on 10 July 2018. The second single, "Molagapodiye," soon followed and released on 18 July 2018. The full soundtrack album of the Tamil version was released on 23 July 2018.

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Adhiroobaney"VivekaM. M. Manasi4:32
2."Molagapodiye"VivekaSanjith Hegde, Rita Thyagarajan4:23
3."Darnakka"VivekaBenny Dayal, Anthony Daasan4:56
4."Hey Penney Onna Patha"Devi Sri PrasadVikram, Keerthy Suresh4:18
5."Amma Amma"VivekaKarthik3:45
Total length:21:53

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

Saamy 2 received negative reviews from critics with praise for Vikram's performance and action sequences, but criticized its plot, script, direction, music and humor.

M. Suganth of The Times of India gave 2/5 stars and wrote "The nods to the first film only makes the shortcomings much more obvious. But what is truly unforgivable is that it ruins our memories of the first film."[34] Priyanka Sundar of Hindustan Times gave 2/5 stars and wrote "Vikram’s new film is exactly the same as Saamy with the only difference being how director Hari has presented the lead character."[35]

Janani. K of India Today gave 2/5 stars and wrote "Saamy Square's premise had enough meat to qualify as a perfect commercial entertainer. But a sluggish first half and weak writing in parts make the film enjoyable only in certain places."[36] Indiaglitz gave 2/5 stars and wrote "Go for this ride if you are a fan of Vikram and are immune to déjà vu."[37]

Sowmya Rajendran of The News Minute wrote "The screenplay for 'Saamy Square' probably reads as an endless series of slaps."[38] Srinivasa Ramanujam of The Hindu wrote "A loud, over-the-top revenge drama that is not a patch on part one."[39]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Saamy Square (stylized as Saamy²) is a Indian Tamil-language action thriller directed by and produced by Shibu Thameens under his banner . The stars Vikram in dual roles as Ramasaamy and a flashback appearance as his father Aarusaamy, alongside and as the female leads, as the antagonist, and Soori in a supporting role. Serving as a to the 2003 Saamy, it follows the story of Aarusaamy's son, who grows up to become a and seeks revenge against the criminals responsible for his parents' murder. The screenplay, written by , emphasizes themes of and police heroism, with music composed by and cinematography handled by and Venkatesh Anguraj. Released on 21 September , the received mixed reviews for its high-octane action sequences and Vikram's performance but was criticized for its formulaic plot and excessive length.

Synopsis and cast

Plot

The film opens with a flashback depicting the of of Police Aarusaamy and his wife Bhuvana by the Pichai brothers—Raavana, Mahendra, and Devendra—as revenge for Aarusaamy having killed their father, the corrupt Perumal Pichai. While dying, Aarusaamy extracts a promise from Bhuvana to raise their unborn son as a dedicated to upholding . Twenty-eight years later, the son, Ramasaamy, has been raised in by his grandparents, who groom him to become an IAS officer; after topping the , he instead joins the police force following a personal revelation about his parents' brutal killing, which ignites his sense of duty and rage. As a rookie officer working initially as a front-office manager for a central minister, Ramasaamy investigates the of the , tracing it back to the enduring criminal empire of the Pichai family, now headed by Raavana Pichai, whose operations involve , , and political manipulation. This probe draws him into a web of and vendettas, transforming him—especially when donning the uniform—into a relentless enforcer echoing his father's unyielding style. Amid escalating confrontations, including high-octane chases, brutal hand-to-hand combats, and strategic takedowns of the brothers' henchmen, Ramasaamy pursues a budding romance with Diya, a strong-willed who supports him through the turmoil. The narrative builds to a climactic revenge arc, with Ramasaamy systematically eliminating the Pichai brothers: he outmaneuvers and kills and Devendra in intense action set pieces, before confronting Raavana in a desolate showdown. Ramasaamy strands Raavana without or resources, leading to the villain's death after 17 grueling days of exposure. In resolution, Ramasaamy fully embodies his father's legacy as a formidable cop, marries Diya, and the story closes with an implication of ongoing pursuits against injustice.

Cast

Vikram leads the ensemble in dual roles as Aarusaamy, a tough cop serving as a in the flashback sequences, and Ramasaamy, his son who starts as a reluctant officer before turning aggressive in his duties. portrays Diya Viswanathan, Ramasaamy's love interest and the supportive daughter of a high-ranking official who has recently returned from abroad after completing her studies. Aishwarya Rajesh plays Bhuvana, Aarusaamy's devoted wife and a maternal figure featured prominently in the flashback portions of the story. takes on the key antagonistic role of Raavana Pichai, a ruthless gang leader driven by a quest for family revenge against Aarusaamy. The supporting cast includes as G. Viswanathan, Diya's father and a union minister who influences key events. Soori appears as Sakthi, providing as a loyal to Ramasaamy. is cast as Devendra Pichai, a corrupt aligned with the antagonist's operations. Additional supporting performers feature as Sub-Inspector Thangavelu, alongside others such as O.A.K. Sunder as Mahendra Pichai and as 'Punctuality' Paramasivam. Vikram's portrayal of Aarusaamy draws on elements from his original role in the 2003 film , adapted for this sequel.
ActorRoleDescription
VikramDCP Aarusaamy / ACP RamasaamyDual roles: veteran tough cop and father in flashbacks; his initially reluctant but later aggressive son and protagonist cop.
Diya ViswanathanRamasaamy's love interest and supportive figure, daughter of union minister .
BhuvanaAarusaamy's wife, serving as a maternal presence in the flashback narrative.
Raavana PichaiPrimary antagonist, a ruthless gang leader motivated by familial vengeance.
Diya's father, a union minister with significant influence.
SooriSakthiComic relief offering levity and loyalty to the lead cop.
Devendra PichaiCorrupt politician and ally to the main antagonist.
SI ThangaveluSupporting police officer in key scenes.

Production

Development

In August 2016, during the audio launch event for the film , director officially announced his next project as a sequel to his 2003 action thriller , reuniting him with lead actor Vikram after over a decade. The film was initially titled Saamy 2, but in October 2017, the title was changed to Saamy Square (stylized as Saamy²), reflecting an escalation in the narrative's scale and intensity. Hari penned the script, which advances the story 28 years after the events of the original film, centering on the son of the Aarusaamy as he pursues themes of legacy and against lingering adversaries from his father's past. The narrative incorporates a for Vikram as both the father and son, emphasizing generational continuity in the fight against crime. Producer Shibu Thameens acquired the rights to the project through his banner , establishing an initial budget of approximately ₹60 crore to support the sequel's ambitious action-oriented scope. In a key creative shift, opted to replace the original film's composer with , aiming for a revitalized musical approach distinct from the predecessor. This decision was announced in May 2017, with Prasad delivering a featuring energetic tracks to complement the heightened action. Early planning included detailed conceptualization of the film's action sequences to ensure high-impact choreography. The project's timeline encountered delays primarily due to Vikram's commitments to other films, such as , pushing to October 2017.

Casting

Vikram was confirmed for a in Square early in the project's development in 2016, driven by the enduring success of the original 2003 film , with reports indicating extensive discussions between the actor and director on capturing the father-son dynamic central to the narrative. Keerthy Suresh was cast as the lead heroine Diya. was cast as Bhuvana. was cast as the antagonist Raavana Pichai. Rumors of Trisha Krishnan reprising her role from the original were debunked when she opted out in October 2017 due to creative differences with the script, paving the way for Aishwarya Rajesh's inclusion. Supporting cast members like Soori were added to provide comedic balance amid the action-heavy plot, while was brought in to portray an figure, with both joining the production after the initial leads were finalized.

Filming

for Saamy Square commenced in early 2017 in , with the production team planning extensive shoots across multiple locations in . The film was shot in various sites including , , , , , and , capturing urban chase sequences, historical backdrops, and rural settings essential to the thriller's narrative. Cinematography was initially handled by , a frequent collaborator with director Hari, who focused on dynamic visuals for the action sequences with high-contrast lighting to enhance the film's intensity. Following 's sudden death from a heart attack in November 2017, A. Venkatesh took over, ensuring continuity in the visual style while completing the remaining schedules. The principal shoot wrapped up by late June 2018, spanning approximately eight months, with the final song sequence filmed in featuring Vikram in a peppy number choreographed around the temple areas. Vikram, portraying dual roles as father and son, underwent rigorous physical preparation for the demanding action scenes, including high-octane chases and confrontations that required precise coordination. Production faced significant hurdles, notably an industry-wide in mid-2018 that halted when only 14 days of work remained, delaying the wrap. Additionally, the transition in cinematographers midway posed logistical challenges, but the team adapted swiftly to maintain the schedule. Other sequences, such as the urban-themed song "Pudhu Metro Rail," were captured on constructed sets in to simulate metropolitan environments. Post-production commenced immediately after , with editor emphasizing rapid cuts and seamless transitions to amplify the thriller's pacing and tension during action and dual-role reveals. The process concluded in time for the film's September 2018 release, integrating for enhanced stunt realism without major overruns.

Music

Soundtrack

The soundtrack of Saamy Square consists of five original songs composed by , with lyrics penned predominantly by . The was released on 23 July 2018 by Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd., ahead of the film's theatrical debut. Devi Sri Prasad crafted the tracks to blend mass-appeal elements suitable for a commercial Tamil action entertainer, incorporating rhythmic beats and melodic hooks tailored to the film's high-energy narrative. The songs were recorded at studios in Hyderabad, where , known for his work in Telugu and , fused contemporary electronic rhythms with folk-inspired melodies to resonate with Tamil audiences. This approach aimed to deliver a mix of peppy, romantic, and mass numbers, reflecting the director Hari's vision for an engaging auditory experience.
Track No.TitleSingersDurationDescription
1Adhiroobaney4:32A lively peppy track serving as the film's introductory romantic number, featuring engaging orchestral interludes.
2Molagapodiye, Rita4:23A melodic romantic highlighting playful chemistry between the leads.
3Darnaka, 4:15An upbeat mass action song with high-energy percussion, designed for action sequences.
4Pudhu Metro RailVikram, 4:18A fun, metro-themed celebratory track with catchy claps and vocals by the lead actors.
5Amma AmmaKarthik4:25An emotional evoking , focusing on familial bonds.
The received mixed reception from critics and audiences, praised for its commercial viability but critiqued for formulaic compositions lacking the originality of the original Saamy's soundtrack. Notably, "Pudhu Metro Rail" emerged as a chart-topping hit, gaining popularity through its infectious rhythm and the stars' vocals, while contributing to the film's promotional buzz.

Background score

The background score for Saamy Square was composed by , who crafted a thumping to elevate the film's action sequences and emotional depth, distinct from the vocal songs in the . His style emphasized percussion-heavy action cues and emotional string sections to underscore the revenge-driven narrative. The score includes the original theme, used sparingly. For the first look reveal, created a unique mass background score incorporating the , which received positive appreciation.

Release

Theatrical release

Saamy Square was released worldwide on 21 September 2018 by Thameens Release, with early screenings commencing on 20 September. The film was dubbed in Telugu and released under the title Saamy 2 to capitalize on the original's popularity in and . The marketing campaign began with a motion poster unveiled in May 2018, featuring Vikram in his dual roles as a cop and his son, which generated significant buzz among fans. This was followed by the first theatrical trailer on 3 June 2018, highlighting high-octane action sequences, and a second trailer on 10 September 2018, further emphasizing the revenge drama elements. Promotional posters prominently showcased Vikram's dual characterization to evoke nostalgia from the 2003 original. The audio launch event took place on 24 July 2018 in , attended by the cast including Vikram, , and , along with director and composer . The film received a U certification from the (CBFC) on 11 September 2018, allowing unrestricted viewing for all audiences. It opened across over 350 screens in , facing minimal competition from other major releases that weekend. International distribution was handled by AP International, ensuring wide availability in key overseas markets.

Home media

The satellite rights for Saamy Square were sold to , with the world television premiere airing in early 2019 during the Pongal season. The digital rights were acquired by , where the film made its streaming debut in October 2019. Video on demand (VOD) availability extended to platforms like Movies and , allowing digital rentals and purchases shortly after the theatrical run. The Telugu-dubbed version, titled Saamy 2, became available on alongside the original Tamil audio track. As of 2025, no major theatrical re-releases have occurred, though the film remains accessible on free ad-supported streaming services like Plex. Post-release, Saamy Square faced significant challenges, with the full film leaked online on its debut day, which affected early digital revenue streams.

Reception

Critical response

Saamy Square received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics upon its release, with an average rating hovering around 1.5 to 2 out of 5 across major publications. While Vikram's energetic as both the father and son characters was widely praised for its intensity and charisma, along with the film's high-octane action choreography, the consensus highlighted significant flaws in the , including an outdated and formulaic revenge plot that felt repetitive and overly loud in execution. M. Suganth of The Times of India awarded the film 2 out of 5 stars, describing it as a "watered-down version" of the 2003 original, with underdeveloped characters and a script that failed to innovate on familiar tropes. Similarly, the Behindwoods review board rated it 2.25 out of 5, commending the mass appeal but critiquing it as "louder but less slick" than predecessors, particularly in its pacing and emotional depth. The Hindu's Baradwaj Rangan labeled it a "cop out," noting that despite Vikram's solid performance, the film was "not a patch on the original" due to its unintentional humor, lengthy runtime, and lack of narrative finesse. The Indian Express gave it 0.5 out of 5, calling it a "colossal mess" that exposed director Hari's unwillingness to evolve his style, resulting in absurd scenarios and wasted potential in supporting roles like Bobby Simha's villain. Critics frequently pointed to Hari's direction as repetitive, relying on overused commercial elements without fresh insight, while female characters such as those played by and were seen as underdeveloped and relegated to peripheral functions. The soundtrack by received mixed feedback, with songs appreciated for their energy in isolation but criticized for disrupting the film's already uneven pace during integration. In contrast, audience reception was more favorable, with an user rating of 4.4 out of 10 from over 1,800 votes, where viewers often highlighted its value as unpretentious mass entertainment despite the critical shortcomings. The film drew no major award nominations, underscoring its limited artistic impact.

Box office performance

Saamy Square was produced on a budget of ₹60 , including production and prints costs. The film opened strongly in , collecting ₹5.5 on its first day, ₹16 over the opening weekend, and ₹64 in city alone. Worldwide, it grossed approximately ₹33 crore in its first week. In Tamil Nadu, the film's gross reached ₹27.1 over two weeks, while the overall worldwide gross settled around ₹50 . Regionally, it performed well initially in Telugu markets with an opening weekend gross of ₹3.5 in and , though collections declined thereafter to a total of ₹5.45 . In the United States, it earned $42,200 from limited screenings. Despite the robust opening, Saamy Square emerged as a failure, recovering only 80-85% of its budget due to a drop in collections after the initial days.

References

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