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Ulkuthu
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| Ulkuthu | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Caarthick Raju |
| Written by | Caarthick Raju |
| Produced by | G Vittal Kumar Subhashini Devi |
| Starring | Dinesh Nandita Swetha |
| Cinematography | P. K. Varma |
| Edited by | Praveen K. L. |
| Music by | Justin Prabhakaran |
Production company | PK Film Factory |
Release date |
|
Running time | 122 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Ulkuthu (transl. Inject) is a 2017 Tamil-language action comedy drama film directed by Caarthick Raju, featuring Dinesh and Nandita Swetha in the leading roles. The project was first announced in late 2014 and finished production in September 2016.
Plot
[edit]Saravanan's men chase a police inspector through the streets. The inspector falls down, and the men beat him. Saravanan arrives at the spot in a car, and he stabs the inspector after hitting his men, and his brother swears revenge. Meanwhile, Raja saves Sura Shankar after Shankar's friends chase him on the beach. Raja tells Shankar that he is an MBA graduate and becomes friends with him. He falls in love with Kadalarasi, Shankar's sister. Shankar works as a fishmonger at the local market. Shankar's friend comes with Shankar's leader to ask for Kadalarasi's hand in marriage, but Shankar tells his leader that Raja is his sister's groom.
After Shankar insults a man at the beach when he is with a girl from his locality, the man beats up Shankar. Because of this, Raja arrives and beats up the man. Shankar's leader appears and informs him that he beat up Saravanan's right-hand man, Kasi. Shankar reveals that Saravanan is the son of Kaakkamani, a ruthless loan shark and fisherman who commits murders. Saravanan and his gang chase and surround Raja at a market. Saravanan initially beats up Raja, but Raja retaliates and thrashes Saravanan, shaming him publicly. Kaakkamani hears the news of Saravanan's beating and plays kabaddi with his men to settle his anger. He grabs Kasi in a headlock and twists his neck, killing him. He calls Saravanan to play kabaddi and grasps him in a headlock, telling him that Raja should die. At a canoe racing competition, Raja lets Saravanan win. He believes that Raja purposely shamed Saravanan and plans to kill him. Sekar calls Raja to Kaakkamani's place. However, after playing a game of kabaddi, Raja lies to Kaakkamani and says he let Saravanan win for Kaakkamani's prestige. Kaakkamani forgives him, and Saravanan becomes friends with Raja.
After being instigated by Kasi's mother, Saravanan's men plan to kill Saravanan. Saravanan gets wounded but escapes the murder attempt by his men. Saravanan runs to the beach, and Raja takes Saravanan on a boat with Shankar to the sea. Raja suddenly stabs Saravanan and pushes him into the sea. Saravanan's men tell Raja that Saravanan is dead, and Raja pulls a drama and beats them. Kaakkamani is upset at Saravanan's murder. Raja unwraps the burial shroud and shows a stab wound near his left abdomen. He reveals that someone stabbed Saravanan. Kaakkamani trusts Raja and tells him to find Saravanan's murderer, oblivious that Raja stabbed Saravanan. After Kadalarasi sees Raja beating Kaakkamani's goon, Raja narrates his past to her.
Past: Raja was a flower vendor who lived with his sister and his brother-in-law, Shanmugam. Shanmugam worked as an auto driver, and his best friend was Sekar. Shanmugam was also working as a rowdy for Saravanan. After Saravanan slaps a debtor's wife at Saravanan's godown, Shanmugam slaps Saravanan. In retaliation, Saravanan hits Shanmugam with a pipe. Saravanan's men bring Raja's sister to the godown, and Saravanan stabs Shanmugam and slams Raja's sister against a wall, killing her. Shanmugam eventually dies. Raja is upset at their deaths. Sekar gets upset and tells Raja what happened. Raja lies and says that he studied business administration, befriended Shankar, and told Saravanan he was Shanmugam's brother-in-law before Saravanan died. He gained Kaakkamani's trust to carry out his revenge.
Present: Shankar discovers Raja's background. Saravanan's men find Shanmugam's auto and look inside his house to see a family photo of Raja, Shanmugam, and Raja's sister. Meanwhile, Sekar brings Raja to Kaakkamani's place and tells him that Kaakkamani will not be a problem for him. Kakkamani brings the brother of the police officer that Saravanan killed, and Kaakkamani plans to kill him. Saravanan's men arrive at Kaakkamani's place and reveal that he killed Saravanan before Saravanan's men did. But Raja reveals that Sekar was the one who planned the murder, and Sekar emotionally divulges that Shanmugam was his best friend for 25 years, and his rage built up to kill Saravanan. Raja and Kaakkamani fight, and Raja spares Kaakkamani, emotionally telling him that he does not want to become a rowdy by killing him. He informs the others that if they leave him, Kaakkamani will kill them. They beat and kill him as Raja walks away.
Cast
[edit]- Dinesh as Raja
- Nandita Swetha as Kadalarasi, Raja's love interest
- Bala Saravanan as Sura Shankar
- Sharath Lohitashwa as Kaakkamani
- Chaya Singh as Raja's sister
- John Vijay as Shanmugam, Raja's brother-in-law
- Sriman as Sekar, Shanmugam's friend and Kaakkamani's goon
- Dhilip Subbarayan as Saravanan, Kaakkamani's son
- Arjai as Kasi, Saravanan's right-hand man
- Chef Damodharan as Sura Shankar's leader
- Sendrayan as Kadappan
- Muthuraman as Debtor
- Munnar Ramesh as Kaakkamani's goon
- Adithya Kathir as Sura Shankar's friend
- S.Rajapandi as Gangster
- Blade Shankar
- M.V. Tamilselvi
Production
[edit]Following the huge success of Tamil film, Thirudan Police (2014), producer Selvakumar decided to bring together director Caarthick Raju and Dinesh for a further film together. The project was first announced in December 2014, and the shoot starts around August, 2015[1]
The film was predominantly shot around Muttom in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu and completed within 45 days.[2][3] The film completed production in November 2015, and it was revealed that Selvakumar would first wait for the release of his other venture with Dinesh, Oru Naal Koothu, to release, before drafting release plans for Ulkuthu.[4][5]
Music
[edit]There are a total of three songs in this movie, composed by Justin Prabhakaran.[6]
| Ulkuthu | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 2016 | |||
| Genre | Film soundtrack | |||
| Language | Tamil | |||
| Label | Lahari Music | |||
| Producer | Justin Prabhakaran | |||
| Justin Prabhakaran chronology | ||||
| ||||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Pesayum Esaya" | Vandana Srinivasan | ||
| 2. | "Kuru Kuru Kannal Enna" | Kattalai Jaya | Justin Prabhakaran, Latha Krishna | |
| 3. | "Eldra Naanga Thaan" | Anthony Daasan | Anthony Daasan |
References
[edit]- ^ "Caarthick Raju & Dinesh is back with 'Ulkuthu'". Sify. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014.
- ^ Avinash Pandian (9 September 2015). "Dinesh's Ulkuthu to release this year end or early 2016". Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
- ^ Nikhil Raghavan (19 November 2015). "What's unique about Ulkuthu?". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
- ^ "Ulkuthu will be a visual treat". nowrunning. 12 November 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
- ^ "Attakathi Dinesh getting ready to deliver the 'punches'". Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ "Ulkuthu songs - Movie TeT". Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
External links
[edit]Ulkuthu
View on GrokipediaSynopsis
Plot
The film is set in a small coastal fishing hamlet dominated by the ruthless loansharks Kaakamani (Sharath Lohitashwa) and his brother Saravanan (Dhilip Subbarayan), who enforce debt collection through brutal violence.[5][2] The story opens with Saravanan stabbing a police inspector in broad daylight after the inspector's brother fails to repay a loan, underscoring the antagonists' fearlessness and control over the town.[6] Into this environment arrives the protagonist, Raja (Dinesh), a young man who has left home following a dispute with his father.[2] Raja befriends the local fishmonger Sura Shankar (Bala Saravanan), who boasts about his toughness but provides Raja with shelter in his home, where Sura's sister Kadalarasi (Nandita Swetha) also lives.[6][7] A romance develops between Raja and Kadalarasi amid lighthearted moments, such as Raja's voracious appetite for fish and comedic family interactions.[6] Tensions escalate when Raja clashes with Saravanan's henchmen, beating one in a confrontation that draws the ire of Saravanan and Kaakamani, leading to repeated fights and personal threats against Raja and his new friends.[8][9] As the conflicts intensify, a flashback reveals Raja's true motivation: Saravanan had previously murdered Raja's brother-in-law Shanmugam and killed Raja's sister by slamming her against a wall during a violent debt-related altercation, fueling Raja's quest for vengeance.[5][10] In the climax, Raja infiltrates Kaakamani's inner circle by feigning alliance, ultimately stabbing Saravanan to death in a calculated manner witnessed by Sura Shankar.[7] He spares Kaakamani personally while achieving his vengeance, leading to chaos.[11] Raja then departs the town with Kadalarasi, achieving personal justice while breaking free from the violent cycle.[11][12]Themes
Ulkuthu centers on the theme of revenge and its far-reaching consequences, portraying a calculated vendetta that spirals into broader conflict within a close-knit community. The narrative illustrates how personal retribution, driven by past grievances, disrupts social order and invites retaliation, emphasizing the cyclical nature of violence in environments dominated by criminal elements.[9][6] Family loyalty and protection emerge as pivotal motifs, depicted through characters' unwavering commitment to safeguarding loved ones amid threats from external forces. This is exemplified in bonds that extend to romantic interests, highlighting how familial ties provide emotional resilience against exploitation and loss.[9] The film vividly captures coastal town life as a microcosm of rural hardship, focusing on the poverty faced by fishermen and laborers who toil in fish markets for meager wages—often just Rs 20 per fish and limited to three working days a week. Loansharking exacerbates this vulnerability, with moneylenders imposing exorbitant "kandhu vatti" interest rates that trap communities in debt cycles, underscoring systemic rural exploitation by antisocial power brokers.[13][6] Blending action, comedy, and drama, Ulkuthu contrasts intense violent confrontations with lighthearted friendships, using humor to humanize characters and alleviate tension in the revenge-driven plot. This genre fusion allows for unexpected laughs amid suspense, such as in communal games that symbolize local rivalries.[9][12] The story critiques unchecked power wielded by local gangsters, who rule through intimidation and disloyalty, portraying their dominance as fragile when challenged by determined outsiders. This commentary on corrupt authority structures reveals the instability of criminal hierarchies and the potential for disruption in oppressed rural settings.[6][9]Cast
Principal cast
Dinesh portrays Raja, the vengeful protagonist whose journey emphasizes a transformation from an outsider in a coastal town to a determined avenger seeking justice for his loved ones.[6] His casting drew on prior experience in action-comedy roles, notably his breakthrough performance in Attakathi (2012), where he played a lead character blending humor and intensity.[14] Nandita Swetha plays Kadalarasi, serving as Raja's love interest and the sister of his close ally, Sura Shankar, which infuses emotional depth into the film's exploration of family bonds.[15] Dhilip Subbarayan depicts Saravanan, the antagonist and son of Kaaka Mani, portrayed as a ruthless loanshark enforcing brutal control over the community.[9]Supporting cast
Bala Saravanan plays Sura Shankar, Raja's comic relief friend and a bumbling fishmonger who injects humor into the narrative by posing as a local big shot and navigating awkward situations with Raja.[9][16] His mumbled delivery and oblivious antics provide levity during tense confrontations, enhancing the film's blend of action and comedy.[12] Sharath Lohitashwa portrays Kaakamani, a senior loanshark and authoritative figure ruling the coastal town alongside his son, whose misplaced trust Raja exploits to advance the central conflict.[6] As the head of a ruthless debt-collection operation, his commanding presence underscores the story's themes of power and retribution. John Vijay appears as Shanmugam, a local thug contributing to the depiction of the town's volatile street dynamics through his aggressive supporting role.[17] Sriman takes on the role of Kaalai, adding layers to the interpersonal rivalries in the subplots as a minor antagonist.[18] Chaya Singh features in a brief family role as Raja's sister, offering glimpses into his personal backstory amid the chaos.[19] The ensemble of supporting characters, including these actors, bolsters world-building by illustrating the corrupt underbelly of the coastal community through group interactions among loansharks, thugs, and locals, which heighten the stakes of the revenge-driven plot.[20][21]Production
Development
Caarthick Raju's Ulkuthu represented his second feature film as director, following the success of his debut Thirudan Police in 2014, and drew inspiration from the gritty, character-driven narratives of rural Tamil action-dramas. The project was officially announced in December 2014, with Raju teaming up once again with lead actor Dinesh from their prior collaboration, aiming to craft a story rooted in coastal village life.[22][23] Produced by G. Vittal Kumar and G. Subhashini Devi under their banner, alongside J. Selvakumar of Kenanya Films, the film had a modest budget typical for independent Tamil productions of the era, though exact financing figures remain undisclosed in public records. Raju penned the script himself, weaving a revenge thriller framework with comedic interludes to balance intense gangster confrontations and lighter friendship dynamics, set against the backdrop of Nagercoil's fishing communities. This blend allowed for dual character arcs, including Dinesh's portrayal in contrasting get-ups during flashbacks.[24][25][9] The casting process prioritized actors suited to naturalistic, grounded performances, leading to Dinesh's selection for the protagonist Raja due to his established style in realistic rural roles from films like Attakathi. Supporting roles featured familiar faces like Bala Saravanan for comic relief, alongside opportunities for emerging talents such as Nandita Swetha in the female lead and Dhilip Subbarayan as the antagonist, marking notable early showcases for several in the ensemble.[12][25] Pre-production progressed swiftly after the 2014 announcement, with principal photography commencing around mid-year and wrapping by November 2015, ahead of an initially planned Pongal 2016 release that faced delays.[25][23]Filming
Principal photography for Ulkuthu took place predominantly in the coastal areas of Muttom and surrounding regions in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, selected to authentically depict the fishing village setting central to the film's narrative about the fishermen community and fish market milieu.[26][27] The production team exclusively shot in Muttam Village to capture the realistic lives and sufferings of fish vendors, emphasizing the area's natural beauty and community dynamics.[28] The shooting schedule spanned approximately 45 days and wrapped up in November 2015, allowing for an intensive focus on the action-oriented sequences that form the film's core.[29] Director Caarthick Raju prioritized blending high-energy action with comedic and familial elements, as seen in key scenes like a murder stabbing during a kabaddi match, choreographed by Dhilip Subbarayan and filmed using a steadycam for dynamic, immersive shots.[26] These sequences highlighted intense confrontations and fights, requiring precise execution to maintain the film's tone of humor amid violence.[27] Filming in the unpredictable coastal environment presented logistical challenges, including delays due to variable weather conditions that demanded patience from the crew while awaiting optimal shooting windows.[30] Local permissions and the remote location added to the difficulties, but the team drew inspiration from rare extensive shoots in the area since Bharathiraja's films, making the process memorable despite the hurdles. No major reshoots were reported, though the emphasis on authentic action choreography ensured seamless integration of stunts like the kabaddi sequence.[26]Music
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for Ulkuthu features three original songs composed by Justin Prabhakaran, reflecting a folk-inspired style that complements the film's coastal Tamil Nadu setting. Released on September 21, 2016, by Lahari Music, the album emphasizes rustic melodies and regional rhythms to enhance the narrative's themes of rural life and romance.[31] The songs are strategically placed within the film to propel key emotional and comedic sequences. "Pesayum Esaya," a playful duet, underscores the budding romance between protagonists Raja and Kadalarasi during their initial interactions, blending light-hearted lyrics with upbeat folk tunes. "Kuru Kuru Kannal Enna" advances the romantic subplot through its melodic exploration of attraction, featuring harmonious vocals that evoke the seaside ambiance. Meanwhile, "Eldra Naanga Thaan" injects humor into group scenes involving supporting characters, using energetic folk rhythms to highlight comedic rivalries and community dynamics.[32]| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pesayum Esaya | Vivek | Vandana Srinivasan | 4:25 |
| 2 | Kuru Kuru Kannal Enna | Kattalai Jaya | Justin Prabhakaran, Latha Krishna | 3:09 |
| 3 | Eldra Naanga Thaan | Anthony Daasan | Anthony Daasan | 3:05 |
