Viduthalai Part 1

Viduthalai Part 1 (transl. Liberation Part 1) is a 2023 Indian Tamil-language period crime thriller film written and directed by Vetrimaaran, and produced by Elred Kumar under the banners of RS Infotainment. It is adapted from the short story "Thunaivan" (transl. Companion) written by B. Jeyamohan. The film stars Soori, Vijay Sethupathi, Bhavani Sre, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Rajiv Menon and Ilavarasu. It was presented by RS Infotainment.

Viduthalai Part 1
Theatrical release poster
Directed byVetrimaaran
Written by
Based on"Thunaivan"
by B. Jeyamohan
Produced byElred Kumar
Starring
CinematographyVelraj
Edited byR. Ramar
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
companies
Distributed byRed Giant Movies
Release date
  • 31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)[1]
Running time
150 minutes[2]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil
Budgetest. ₹40 crore[3]

Viduthalai: Part 1 was released worldwide theatrically on the 31st March, 2023. The film was a critical and commercial success, receiving praise for its characterisation, cast performances, plot, technical aspects, background music and cinematography. The sequel Viduthalai Part 2 is scheduled for a release in early 2024. [4]

Plot

In 1987, a train accident occurs in rural Tamil Nadu, leaving many people severely injured or dead. Emergency responders and government officials arrive at the scene, where the State and Union ministers are visibly disturbed by the loss of life. Investigations reveal that the extremist group, Makkal Padai (transl. People's Army), caused the incident to protest against the state government's decision to allow a mining company to take over their hilltop village for a project.

Due to this, the government announces "Operation Ghosthunt" to capture the group's leader "Vaathiyar" Perumal, a "ghost" whom nobody has ever seen. Kumaresan, a newly-recruited constable, is recruited for the operation. He undergoes police training and joins E Company as a new driver.

Kumaresan learns about the complicated alliances and conflicts between Makkal Padai and the government, and also discovers that following orders is essential, and that he cannot always help the locals, which conflicts with his helpful nature. He also discovers about the intricacies of bureaucracy and the difficulties of professional life, especially as a newly recruited officer. Kumaresan also falls in love with Tamilarasi "Pappa", the granddaughter of a woman he once rescued, and they begin to spend time together.

Due to a brutal incident orchestrated by E Company's Officer-in-charge (OC) Ragavendar, the government assigns DSP Sunil Menon as the head of the operation. The police decide to turn the residents of the hill village against Perumal. Sunil interrogates a villager and manages to sketch Perumal's face, causing Kumaresan to that to realise that the people he helped during his duty hours were actually Perumal and his men. He relays this information to Head Constable Chandran, unaware that Chandran is actually a part of "Makkal Padai" and Perumal's mole. Chandran secretly informs Perumal about Kumaresan.

Makkal Padai attempts to assassinate Sunil, but he manages to escape unscathed. Sunil orders some of his officers to disguise themselves as members of Makkal Padai, to earn the trust of the villagers. Kumaresan learns from Pappa that Perumal has actually been targeting police officers who are committing atrocities against innocents in the name of police interrogation. She also reveals that officers were involved in the death of her father, and her mother subsequently having a mental breakdown. Kumaresan realises the extent of police brutality against the villagers, and how he is contributing to it by working for the police.

On the day that construction begins in the hilltop village, Makkal Padai attacks the inauguration ceremony, shooting four officers dead. Enraged, Sunil orders the police to arrest any villagers who are suspected to be involved with Makkal Padai. The police drag the villagers away for interrogation, and Pappa's grandmother is killed during torture. Days later, Pappa herself is arrested and tortured naked along with other women and men from her village by E company, as the police believe that one of them is a close relative of a leader of Makkal Padai. Wracked with guilt, Kumaresan meets and tells Sunil about Perumal's hideout and is assigned along with 10 other officers to arrest him. After a massive shootout, Kumaresan manages to arrest Perumal, while Pappa draws police attention away to save others, and she is taken away. Perumal is interrogated in custody, while Kumaresan is unable to find Pappa in any cells.

In the mid-credits scene, Ragavendar suspends Kumaresan on the same night, for not filing an act-of-subordination memo and also declares he will take credit for Kumaresan's effort to arrest Perumal. A daring photographer breaks into the camp, photographs an imprisoned woman and records the brutal atrocities by the police department. After getting arrested, Perumal is interrogated and insulted by Sunil. Later, Perumal somehow manages to escape, and meets with Kumaresan in the forest. He tells some important information about the train attack to Kumaresan, and bids him and the police to find the truth behind the attack.

Cast

Production

Development

In July 2019, writer/director Vetrimaaran was reported to be collaborating with Soori for a future project.[9] In April 2020, due to the restrictions in air travel resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Vetrimaaran decided to make changes in the script and used the lockdown period for pre-production works.[10] Media reports later claimed that Vetrimaaran had adapted the short story "Thunaivan" written by B. Jeyamohan, with the film being titled the same.[11][12] However, the makers decided to title the film as Viduthalai,[13] which was officially confirmed on 21 April 2021 with the first look being released.[14][15] Originally intended to be a single film, it was later split into two parts.[16]

Casting

Soori worked with Vetrimaaran from the inception of the project, and Viduthalai Part 1 became his first film in a leading role. He said Vijay Sethupathi earlier advised him to explore all kinds of roles and not restrict himself to the comical roles he was primarily known for.[17] In January 2021, Sethupathi joined the cast, marking his first collaboration with Vetrimaaran.[18][19] His character is based on Kaliyaperumal Vaathiyaar, a member of the Tamil Desiyam Group who operated in the 1980s.[20][21]

Bharathiraja was reported to be joining the film, which would have been his first collaboration with Vetrimaaran, although he was replaced by Kishore during the filming of the first schedule.[22] Ilaiyaraaja was brought on to compose music for the film, marking his first collaboration with Vetrimaaran.[23] In January 2021, Bhavani Sre, sister of composer G. V. Prakash Kumar, was announced to be playing the female lead, in her third feature film after Ka Pae Ranasingam and Paava Kadhaigal.[24][25] In April 2021, Gautham Vasudev Menon was reported to play the role of a police officer.[26]

Filming

The filmmakers moved to Sathyamangalam forest to prepare to shoot major sequences featuring Soori during December 2020,[27][28] and filming eventually began on 4 January 2021.[29] Bharathiraja resigned from the film citing the weather conditions, which led Vetrimaaran to replace him with Kishore.[30][31] The shooting of the film took place in Sathyamangalam for three months, and the filmmakers moved to Chengalpattu in April 2021, in which the filmmakers erected a police camp set, and shot there for 20 days.[20] The filmmakers later planned to shoot the last leg of the film at Sathyamangalam after the COVID-19 lockdown there ended.[32] Principal photography wrapped by 31 December 2022.[33] Several portions of the film were shot on an iPhone, to lower production costs.[34]

Music
Viduthalai Part 1
Soundtrack album by
Ilaiyaraaja
Released8 March 2023
Recorded2022–2023
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length13:51
LanguageTamil
LabelSony Music South
External audio
audio icon Viduthalai Part 1 – Jukebox on YouTube
Singles from Vidhuthalai Part 1
  1. "Onnoda Nadandhaa"
    Released: 8 February 2023

The film's soundtrack is composed by Ilaiyaraaja in his maiden collaboration with Vetrimaaran. Ilaiyaraaja composed the song of the film in his newly launched music studio in Kodambakkam, after his falling-out with Prasad Studios, where he recorded songs for nearly four decades.[35] Music composition of the film began in February 2021.[36] The music rights were purchased by Sony Music India. The first single titled "Onnoda Nadandhaa" released on 8 February 2023.

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Onnoda Nadandhaa"SukaDhanush, Ananya Bhat5:11
2."Kaattumalli"IlaiyaraajaIlaiyaraaja, Ananya Bhat5:07
3."Arutperunjodhi"Vallalar, ThangamIlaiyaraaja3:33
Total length:13:51

Release

The distribution rights for Tamil Nadu were acquired by Red Giant Movies. The overseas distribution rights for UK and Europe were acquired by Ahimsa Entertainment.[37] The film released theatrically on 31 March.[1]

Home media

The streaming rights of the film were acquired by ZEE5, and the satellite rights by Kalaignar TV.[38] It began streaming on ZEE5 from 28 April 2023.[39] A Telugu dubbed version was released on 15 April by Geetha Arts.[40]

Reception

Box office

Viduthalai: Part 1 grossed ₹3.5 crore on its release day, and ₹28 crore worldwide in four days.[41][42]

Critical response
Critics praised the performances of Soori (left) and Vijay Sethupathi.

Viduthalai: Part 1 received critical acclaim from critics with praise for its characterisation, cast performances, plot, technical aspects, background music and cinematography.[43]

Logesh Balachandran of The Times of India scored the film 4 out of 5 and wrote "Viduthalai Part 1 maintains a consistent pace and keeps viewers engaged with moments of high tension. It stays true to Vetri Maaran's style and artistry, making audiences eager for the sequel."[44] P Sangeetha of OTTplay scored the film 4 out of 5 and wrote "Viduthalai scores on all corners, be it the plot, narration, background score, acting performances, cinematography and not to forget, the filmmaking. A brilliant film from the Vetri Maaran stable!"[45] Latha Srinivasan of India Today scored the film 3.5 out of 5 and wrote "Viduthalai (Freedom) is a film that is a must-watch because it offers a new cinematic perspective of Vetrimaaran and especially because Soori is outstanding."[46]

Haricharan Pudipeddi of Hindustan Times wrote "The film, which is definitely not for the faint-hearted, is an elaborate, detailed exploration of abuse of power."[47] Gopinath Rajendran of The Hindu wrote "Viduthalai Part 1 ends at a crucial juncture and the ending makes it evident that exponentially more incidents are bound to happen in the sequel; Vetri Maaran leaves us on the edge of our seats."[48] Kirubhakar Purushothaman of The Indian Express scored the film 3.5 out of 5 and wrote "Vetrimaaran is back with another film about police brutality that is heart-wrenching and might be a hard watch if you prefer your safety zone."[49]

Bharathy Singaravel of The News Minute scored the film 3.5 out of 5 and wrote "Soori is masterful in Vetrimaaran's gritty political spectacle."[50] IndiaGlitz scored the film 3.5 out of 5 and wrote "Go for this vintage Vetrimaaran film with a powerful performance from Soori."[51] Maalai Malar scored the film 3.75 out of 5 stars and wrote Vetri Maaran has beautifully designed each character according to the script and captivated the audience.[52] Hindu Tamil Thisai wrote that "Casting in Vetri Maaran films always works magic on screen. That way the magic has happened in this film too."[53]

Sequel

The sequel Viduthalai Part 2 is scheduled for a release in early 2024.[54]

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