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Vaaimai
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| Vaaimai | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | A. Senthil Kumar |
| Written by | A. Senthil Kumar |
| Produced by | S. Mani S. Thamizhini |
| Starring | Shanthanu Bhagyaraj Ramki Goundamani Thiagarajan Muktha Manoj Bharathiraja Urvashi Prithvi Pandiarajan Poornima Bhagyaraj |
| Narrated by | Vijay Sethupathi |
| Cinematography | Rasamathi |
| Edited by | Anthony |
| Music by | Augath |
Production company | Min Max Movies |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Vaaimai (transl. The Truth) is a 2016 Indian Tamil-language legal drama film written and directed by A. Senthil Kumar.[1] Inspired by the script of Reginald Rose's Twelve Angry Men (1954), the film stars Shanthanu Bhagyaraj and Muktha Bhanu amongst an ensemble cast.[2] Goundamani, Thyagarajan, Ramki, Urvashi, Manoj K. Bharathi, Prithvi Pandiarajan and Poornima Bhagyaraj are also part of the cast. Though production begun in 2013, the film was released, following a production delay, on 8 September 2016.
Plot
[edit]This article's plot summary needs to be improved. (December 2024) |
A woman stands accused of helping her son assassinate a politician. She needs to defend herself against accusations that she was an accomplice to the plot.
Cast
[edit]- Shanthanu Bhagyaraj as Sidharthan
- Thiagarajan as Dheenadayalan
- Muktha Bhanu as Jhanavi
- Goundamani as Dr. Benny Quick
- Ramki as Thirumaaran IPS
- Poornima Bhagyaraj as Devakiammal
- Urvashi as Narayani
- Manoj Bharathiraja as Manibharathi
- Prithvi Pandiarajan as Velan
- Namo Narayana as Namo Narayanan
- Venkat Subha as Gopikrishna
- Rose Venkatesan as Rose IAS
- Ankitha Mohapatra as Chinmayi
- K. Bhagyaraj in a cameo appearance
- Vijay Sethupathi as Narrator
Production
[edit]Senthil Kumar chose to make his debut with Vaaimai after his other project, Thirudan featuring Vijay Antony, ran into production troubles during 2012.[3] The film began production in February 2013, with Goundamani making a comeback to acting.[4] It was subsequently shot in places like Delhi, Rishikesh, Haridwar and Kollimalai, but took almost two years to complete, which the director attributed to the inclusion of an animated song sequence.[3] Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, when questioned about the film's similarities to Twelve Angry Men, replied, "To my knowledge, we will not be mentioning the film in the credits, as there have been many jury-based films made, and Vaaimai could be inspired by any of them".[5] Vijay Sethupathi serves as narrator.[6]
Soundtrack
[edit]Debutant Auggath composed the music of Vaaimai.[7] The audio launch was held on 5 May 2015.[8]
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Vaimaye Vellum" | Vijay Prakash | 4.32 |
| 2. | "Kanpadum Un Mugham" | Alka Yagnik | 3.45 |
| 3. | "Matta" | Blaaze, Vijay Prakash | 5.18 |
| 4. | "Boomiye Saamiye" | Sadhana Sargam | 3.18 |
| 5. | "Hey Nadu" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 5.10 |
| Total length: | 22.13 | ||
Release and reception
[edit]The film was released on 8 September 2016.[3] Vishal Menon from The Hindu called it "a forgettable re-interpretation of an all-time classic" and gave the film a very negative review.[9] A critic from Sify wrote "It's very difficult to tolerate when someone adapt a classic film like Twelve Angry Men with a plodding screenplay, over the top dialogues and dramatic performances! Well, if you are a fan of Twelve Angry Men, better never ever try to watch Vaaimai!".[10] A reviewer from The Times of India noted that the film is "unconvincing, with writing that makes no sense and execution that is laughable".[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Shanthnu gears for 'Vaaimai'". The Times of India. 7 December 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- ^ "Vaaimai second schedule underway". The Times of India. 1 April 2013. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- ^ a b c Subhakeerthana, S (8 September 2016). "A believer in content-oriented films". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 9 September 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Goundamani is back!". The Times of India. 9 February 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
- ^ Srinivasan, Sudhir (9 September 2016). "Dad will not choose my films any more: Shanthnu". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ "A Vijay Sethupathi Cameo In Vishnu Vishal's Kathanagayan". Silverscreen India. 14 November 2016. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
- ^ Karthik (19 July 2014). "Vaaimai (Music review), Tamil – Auggath". Milliblog. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
- ^ "Vaaimai Audio Launch Report". Silverscreen India. 6 May 2015. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
- ^ Menon, Vishal (10 September 2016). "Vaaimai: Court unquote". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Vaaimai review: Watch at your own risk!". Sify. Archived from the original on 9 September 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Vaaimai Movie Review". The Times of India. 9 September 2016. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
External links
[edit]- Vaaimai at IMDb
- Vaaimai at Rotten Tomatoes
Vaaimai
View on GrokipediaSynopsis
Plot Summary
Vaaimai centers on Devaki Ammal, a mother accused of assisting her son Velan in assassinating a prominent Gandhian political leader, resulting in both facing death sentences.[6][7] The presiding judge, seeking a more deliberative process, revives India's dormant jury system after its abolition in 1973, empaneling 12 jurors from varied societal backgrounds to determine her culpability independently of the judge's prior ruling.[8][9] The jurors convene in a confined room for deliberations, where initial votes overwhelmingly favor conviction, influenced by presumptions of maternal complicity and the son's established guilt.[7] As discussions unfold, one juror challenges the group to re-examine forensic evidence, witness statements, and alibi details, prompting revelations of investigative oversights and potential frame-ups tied to political motives.[10] Tensions escalate amid personal biases, class differences, and heated arguments, gradually shifting perspectives through logical scrutiny of facts over assumptions. The plot culminates in exhaustive overnight deliberations, culminating in a final ballot that hinges on reconciling empirical inconsistencies with prevailing narratives of guilt.[7][11]Cast and Characters
Principal Roles
Shanthnu Bhagyaraj portrays Sidharthan, a philosopher on the jury whose persistent questioning of the evidence and initial guilty consensus propels the group's re-examination of the case, fostering deeper debate among the members.[12][13] Poornima Bhagyaraj plays the accused mother, standing trial for allegedly aiding her son in a political assassination, with her personal circumstances and testimony serving as the focal point that tests the jurors' interpretations of motive and culpability.[14][15] Goundamani enacts Dr. Benny Quick, a cardiologist juror whose skeptical interjections and humorous asides provide comic relief while challenging procedural assumptions, thereby highlighting interpersonal tensions within the deliberation room.[16][17] Ramki depicts Thirumaaran, an IPS officer and encounter specialist on the jury, whose background in law enforcement introduces pragmatic arguments on crime and punishment that contrast with more idealistic viewpoints, influencing shifts in the group's dynamics.[18][12] Muktha Bhanu stars as Jhanavi, a pilot juror whose analytical perspective on facts contributes to unraveling inconsistencies in witness accounts, aiding the progression toward a more evidence-based consensus.[12]Supporting Roles
Manoj K. Bharathi plays Manibharathi, a juror whose interactions during deliberations underscore ideological clashes within the group, contributing to the tension between collective bias and dissenting analysis.[13][19] Goundamani portrays Benny, injecting levity into the proceedings while embodying a peripheral viewpoint that reflects everyday societal skepticism.[13] Other supporting jurors, such as Thyagarajan as Dheenadayalan and Prithvi Pandiarajan as Velan, represent varied class and regional influences that amplify group dynamics, often prioritizing conformity over evidence-based scrutiny until challenged.[18] Ramki's role as Thirumaaran IPS adds an authoritative layer to the ensemble, highlighting institutional perspectives in the debate.[18] Urvashi and Poornima Bhagyaraj further diversify the jury's composition, portraying female jurors whose inputs reveal gender-specific biases in the decision-making process.[13] Reviews indicate the supporting cast provided solid ensemble support, with actors like Thyagarajan, Ramki, and Manoj K. Bharathi delivering competent portrayals despite criticisms of underdeveloped characterizations that occasionally undermined the realism of interpersonal conflicts.[20][7] These roles collectively illustrate the film's intent to mirror real-world jury pressures, where diverse backgrounds foster initial herd mentality before individual reasoning prevails.[6]Production
Development and Inspiration
Vaaimai originated as the directorial and screenwriting debut of A. Senthil Kumar, who crafted the project to explore judicial reform through a confined dramatic structure. The script explicitly adapts the premise of Reginald Rose's 1954 teleplay Twelve Angry Men, transposing its tense jury-room deliberations into an Indian legal context to examine systemic flaws and potential remedies.[21][15][6] Central to the conception was a critique of India's post-independence judicial evolution, particularly the 1973 abolition of jury trials under the Code of Criminal Procedure, prompted by revelations of juror susceptibility to influence as seen in the 1959–1964 K. M. Nanavati murder trial. Senthil Kumar incorporated a fictionalized assassination of a Gandhian leader—echoing elements of the 1991 Rajiv Gandhi case and the conviction of conspirator A. G. Perarivalan—to underscore arguments for reinstating juries as a bulwark against corruption and elite bias in judge-centric proceedings.[22][15][23] The development emphasized content-driven storytelling over commercial tropes, with Senthil Kumar positioning the film as an advocacy piece for jury revival, citing its deliberative process as inherently more resistant to individual prejudice than sole judicial discretion.[21][23]Pre-Production and Casting
The film was produced by S. Mani and S. Thamizhini under their banner, with pre-production activities commencing around 2013 when veteran actor Goundamani committed to an important role, marking a notable return for the comedian after selective appearances.[24] Initial teasers were released in early 2015, signaling active preparation ahead of principal photography.[25] Casting for the lead role went to Shanthnu Bhagyaraj, selected as Siddharthan, a decision influenced by his established presence in Tamil cinema and familial ties to director-actor K. Bhagyaraj, his father, whose industry connections facilitated the ensemble-driven project.[26] The production assembled a diverse supporting cast to depict the jury dynamics central to the narrative, including Goundamani as Benny Quick for veteran comedic gravitas, Thyagarajan as Dheenadayalan, Ramki as Thirumaaran IPS, Urvashi, Manoj K. Bharathi as Manibharathi, Prithvi Pandiarajan, and Poornima Bhagyaraj, emphasizing experienced performers to embody varied character archetypes.[27][28] Muktha Bhanu (credited as Muktha George) was chosen as the female lead Jhanavi, complementing the courtroom-focused ensemble.[28] This selection process prioritized actors capable of portraying nuanced juror perspectives, drawing on established Tamil film talents without reported major hurdles in assembly.[29]Filming and Technical Details
Approximately 70% of Vaaimai was filmed within a simulated courtroom set, necessitating extensive pre-shooting efforts to ensure realistic interiors that supported the film's dialogue-driven legal confrontations.[30] Principal photography commenced in 2013 under director A. Senthil Kumar, with major portions captured in concentrated studio schedules to maintain continuity in the confined, tension-building environments.[31] [32] The extended timeline, spanning nearly two years, reflected meticulous staging of interpersonal dynamics and evidentiary scrutiny, prioritizing authentic causal exchanges over stylized action.[32] Cinematographer Rasamathi employed controlled lighting and strategic camera positioning to underscore subtle shifts in juror deliberations, avoiding extraneous flourishes in favor of immersive close-quarters framing.[13] Editing techniques further amplified real-time progression, using measured cuts to sustain debate momentum without artificial acceleration.[13] These choices aligned with the script's inspiration from Reginald Rose's 12 Angry Men, adapting single-location intensity to Tamil cinematic norms through precise technical execution.[33]Soundtrack
Music Composition
The music and background score for Vaaimai were composed by Auggath, marking his debut as a music director in Tamil cinema.[34][35] Released in 2014 ahead of the film's 2016 premiere, the soundtrack comprises five tracks that blend modern and experimental elements, including pulsating rhythms, dark electronica, rap verses, heavy percussions, and bass lines.[35][36] Auggath's approach emphasizes inventive melodies and raw energy, as evidenced in tracks like "Matta," which prioritizes atmospheric experimentation over commercial appeal, and "Vaaimaiye Vellum," a patriotic opener with a signature riff and choral unity evoking revolutionary fervor.[34][35] These compositional choices support the film's legal drama by heightening emotional intensity without overshadowing the narrative's focus on deliberation and conflict.[35] The background score extends this style, integrating subtle dynamic cues to amplify tension in key sequences, aligning with the director's intent for a grounded, dialogue-centric portrayal of justice.[35]Track Listing and Themes
The soundtrack of Vaaimai, composed by debutant Auggath, consists of five tracks that blend patriotic, pathos-driven, and experimental elements to underscore the film's exploration of truth and justice without dominating the narrative.[35][34] Released on May 5, 2015, the album features lyrics primarily by Vairamuthu, emphasizing motifs of unity, maternal sacrifice, and philosophical reflection that parallel the legal drama's focus on doubt and revelation.[35]| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaaimaiye Vellum | Vijay Prakash | 4:32 | Patriotic anthem with chorus evoking unity and passionate delivery, featuring metaphor-rich lyrics and a signature riff that reinforces the film's core "vaaimai" (truth) motif.[35][34] |
| 2 | Kanpadum Un Mugam | Alka Yagnik | 3:46 | Pathos-laden lullaby-style track highlighting compassionate motherly love, supported by sober instrumentation like shehnai for emotional depth.[35][34] |
| 3 | Matta | Blaaze, Vijay Prakash | 5:18 | Experimental fusion of dark electronica, rap, and percussions with political wordplay, providing an inventive contrast to the album's more melodic pieces.[35][34] |
| 4 | Boomiyae Saamiyae | Sadhana Sargam | 3:19 | Poignant melody with stretched phrasing and limited orchestration, delivering sustained emotional pathos.[35][34] |
| 5 | Ae Nadu | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 5:10 | Energetic rock-infused track with philosophical lyrics and pitch-perfect vocals, serving as an uplifting philosophical highlight.[34][35] |
