Yaanai

Yaanai (transl. Elephant) is a 2022 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by Hari and produced by Vedikkaranpatti S. Sakthivel under the banner of Drumsticks Productions. The film stars Arun Vijay and Priya Bhavani Shankar with Ramachandra Raju, Samuthirakani, Rajesh, Radhika Sarathkumar, Aishwariyaa Bhaskaran, Ammu Abhirami, Yogi Babu and Pugazh and others in supporting roles. G.V. Prakash Kumar composed the soundtrack and the background score, while Gopinath and Anthony handled the cinematography and editing.

It is the second collaboration of Arun Vijay and Priya Bhavani Shankar after Mafia: Chapter 1 and Vijay's first collaboration with Hari. It was shot extensively across Tamil Nadu including Ramanathapuram, Rameshwaram, Thoothukudi, Palani and the final schedule was wrapped up in Karaikudi.

Yaanai was released on 1 July 2022 to positive reviews from critics and became a commercial success at the box office.

P.R.Veerapandiyan, alias PRV, is an influential person in the Ramanathapuram district and runs multiple business ventures spanning Rameswaram. PRV has four sons: Ramachandran, Sivachandran, Jayachandran and Ravichandran "Ravi". Ramachandran, Sivachandran and Jayachandran are PRV's deceased wife's sons, while Ravi is from PRV's second wife, Muthaaram. Ravi loves his brothers dearly, but they covertly disregard him as their half-brother. Ramachandran manages the main business with Sivachandran and Jayachandran, while Ravi manages their low-income properties and his buses.

Samuthiram, who is PRV's former friend from Rameswaram, blames his family for the death of his younger son Pandi and is out to avenge him with Pandi's twin brother, Lingam, who is currently in prison for killing DSP Thiyagarajan. In a flashback, 7 years ago, Pandi killed Ravi's friend by throwing him off the Ramanathapuram-Rameswaram Pamban bridge. Ravi, the victim's classmate, made legal proceedings, which got Pandi arrested. Samuthiram personally met with PRV and asked for a truce between them and the dead guy's family. While PRV agreed, his three elder sons refused since the dead guy was from their caste. In a meeting between the victim's family and Samudhram's family, chaos erupts, and Pandi tries to shoot Ravi. Out of options, Thiyagarajan killed Pandi. The next day, Lingam killed Thiyagarajan by dragging him into the sea to avenge Pandi's death, but he got caught and punished with 7 years imprisonment. Ravi also falls in love with Jebamalar, who eventually reciprocates his feelings. Lingam soon gets released from prison, and Ravi realises that Lingam is out for his family's blood, so he secretly tries to protect his family.

Ravi soon stumbles upon his half-niece and Ramachandran's daughter Selvi, alias Paappa's relationship with a Muslim boy named Raheem. Ravi accepts their relationship and tries to prevent Paappa from making hasty decisions, but Paappa elopes with Raheem with the help of Jebamalar. Ravi's caste-fanatic brothers blame him for his inaction despite knowing of Paappa's affair, where they oust him and Muthaaram from their house, and PRV dies from the resulting distress. During his funeral, Ravi's half-brothers forbade Ravi from seeing his father for one last time, but they allowed Lingam and Samuthiram. This incident enraged Muthaaram, and she ridicules Ravi's half-brothers. Ramachandran orders Paappa's death to protect his honour after losing his respect and status.

Ravi decides to take the matter into his own hands and tries to locate Pappa. After intense efforts, Ravi finds Paappa in Nagore, but Raheem is missing. Ravi brings her back to their house, where Ramachandran attempts to kill her, but Ravi stops Ramachandran and warns him. Ravi's brothers decide to team up with Lingam to kill Ravi's household. Ravi tracks down Raheem, who Lingam kidnapped, and reunites Raheem with his parents. At night, Lingam's men barge into Ravi's house while he is not home. Although Paappa and Muthaaram try to stop them from breaking into the house, Lingam and his men manage to enter and start attacking them.

Ravi arrives in time to protect his family from Lingam's attack. Ramachandran gets backstabbed by some of his men, having been bribed by Lingam (who tries to double-cross the brothers), but Ramachandran manages to survive the attack. Muthaaram and Paappa get brutally injured and get admitted to the hospital. Ravi enters their house and tearfully reveals that he has chosen to sever the ties with the family. A guilty Ramachandran reconciles with Ravi, but Lingam kidnaps Jayachandran's child. Ravi begs Lingam to leave her alone, but Lingam doesn't budge.