ZFMOtis800669 at 03:01, 3 March 2026

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{{Short description|2019 Indian film by V. J. Gopinath}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Jiivi
| native_name =
| image = Jiivi Poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = V. J. Gopinath
| producer = {{plainlist|
* M. Vellapandian
* Sudalaikan Vellapandian
* Subramanian Vellapandian
}}
| writer =
| screenplay = Babu Tamizh<br />V. J. Gopinath
| story = Babu Tamizh
| starring = {{plainlist|
* [[Vetri (actor)|Vetri]]
* Monica Chinnakotla
* [[Karunakaran (actor)|Karunakaran]]
* [[Rohini (actress)|Rohini]]
* [[Mime Gopi]]
* Ashwini Chandrashekar
}}
| music = K. S. Sundaramurthy
| cinematography = Praveen Kumar
| editing = [[Praveen K. L.]]
| studio = {{plainlist|
* Vetrivel Saravana Cinemas
* Big Print Production
}}
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2019|6|28}}
| runtime = 114 minutes
| country = India
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
}}

'''''Jiivi''''' ({{translation|Intelligent}}) is a 2019 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[thriller film]] directed by V. J. Gopinath and written by Babu Tamizh. Jointly produced by M. Vellapandian, Sudalaikan Vellapandian and Subramanian Vellapandian. The film stars [[Vetri (actor)|Vetri]] in the lead role, alongside an [[ensemble cast]] including [[Karunakaran (actor)|Karunakaran]], Monica Chinnakotla, [[Rohini (actress)|Rohini]], Ashwini Chandrashekar and [[Mime Gopi]]. The soundtrack album and background score was composed by K. S. Sundaramurthy, while art work, production controlling, executive production, line production were handled by Vairabalan, S. Nagarajan, Vivin S. R. and I. B. Karthikeyan, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BookMyShow |title=Jiivi Movie (2019) {{!}} Reviews, Cast & Release Date in Yanam |url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/yanam/movies/jiivi/ET00103138?fbrefresh=1 |access-date=2019-06-29 |website=BookMyShow |language=en}}</ref> The film released on 28 June 2019 and was a successful venture.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 June 2019 |title=Jiivi Review |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/jiivi-review-tamil-movie-22789 |access-date=19 September 2019 |website=IndiaGlitz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=S |first=Srivatsan |date=2 July 2019 |title=The concept of 'Thodarbiyal' appealed to me: Vetri on 'Jiivi' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/vetri-dicusses-working-in-jiivi-and-8-thottakal/article28261681.ece |access-date=3 August 2019 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> A sequel, ''[[Jiivi 2]]'', was released in 2022.

==Plot ==
Saravanan comes to Chennai from a small village in Madurai and works in a juice and tea stall where Mani is the "tea master". Though not formally educated, Saravanan is well-read. Saravanan's lover Anandhi jilts him citing his meagre existence, which pushes him into depression. He decides to rob his landlady, Sivagami though she treats him as a brother. He then uses the knowledge that he has picked up over the years to plan and execute the crime, and proceeds to frame a neighbor he does not like.

After robbing his landlady's jewels, the incidents which happened in Sivagami's life starts to happen in Saravanan's life. He realizes this and does not want his sister to face the difficulties in life that Sivagami did. So, he starts thinking about how to stop this phenomenon and make things right. Meanwhile Kathir, Sivagami's hot-headed brother starts suspecting Saravanan.

The astounding similarities in his and Kathir's life and thought processes propels Saravanan to investigate the latter's past. He comes to the conclusion that Kathir had also committed a theft in his young age, stealing from Saravanan's grandfather, in the process framing Murugan, a colleague that he dislikes. Murugan is publicly arrested and shamed, over the cries of his despairing mother. Shortly after, Sivagami's daughter, Kavitha, was born blind, and Sivagami's husband fell ill and was bedbound. Moreover, Kathir's friend Kumar, whom Kathir repeatedly compares with Mani, dies in a railway accident, leaving his family destitute.

Saravanan later receives a call from his sister, who tells him that she is pregnant with a daughter, and that an astrologer has warned her husband to be careful of his health. Meanwhile, Kavitha falls into despair as the jewels that Saravan had stolen had been intended to be her wedding jewels, and her wedding is halted. Saravanan panics, and decides to stop fate's triangle from affecting his family. He quarrels with Mani, who one day takes the stolen jewels and runs away. On the same day, Kavitha attempts suicide and Saravanan rushes her to a hospital.

Saravanan promises to marry Kavitha, despite Kathir's protests. Mani returns to see Saravanan, angry that the bag of jewels had been replaced with a bag full of clothing. Both men claim not to have been responsible for the switch and fight.

Ten months later, Saravanan is happily married to Kavitha and is a [[Auto rickshaw|share auto]] driver. His niece is born with her eyesight and his brother-in-law remains healthy. Saravanan picks up Mani as a fare and the pair reconcile. Saravanan's internal dialogue reveals that he knows that Mani did not steal the jewels. Mani's flashback reveals that the bag full of jewels was accidentally swapped with another passenger's baggage on the bus. He had blamed Saravanan out of embarrassment and shame.

A final plot twist reveals that the passenger who had picked up the bag of jewels was, in fact, Murugan's son. Traumatised by how his innocent father had been treated by the police, he decides not to return the jewels and instead keeps them for his young daughter. A photograph on the wall reveals that Murugan's mother had been blind.

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
* [[Vetri (actor)|Vetri]] as Saravanan
* [[Monica Chinnakotla]] as Anandhi
* [[Karunakaran (actor)|Karunakaran]] as Mani
* [[Rohini (actress)|Rohini]] as Lakshmi
* [[Rama (actress)|Rama]] as Sivagami
* Ashwini Chandrashekar as Kavitha
* [[Mime Gopi]] as Kathir
* [[Bosskey]] as Police Informer
* [[Anil Murali]] as Inspector Eshwar
* [[Thangadurai (actor)|Tiger Garden Thangadurai]] as Sathish
* Kothandam as Drunk Tenant
* Thirunavukkarasu
* Muthupandi
* Ramesh Thiagarajan
* S. Meera
}}

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Jiivi
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = K. S. Sundaramurthy
| cover =
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|df=yes|2019|6|14}}
| recorded = 2019
| genre =
| length =
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| label = [[U1 Records]]
| producer = KS Sundaramurthy
| prev_title = [[Airaa]]
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title = [[Pancharaaksharam]]
| next_year = 2019
}}

K. S. Sundaramurthy composed the songs and background score for the film. [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]] bought the audio rights of ''Jiivi'' under his banner, [[U1 Records]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-22 |title=The intense and the powerful trailer of Jiivi is out |url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/the-intense-and-the-powerful-trailer-of-jiivi-is-out.html |access-date=2019-06-29 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref> ''[[The Times of India]]'' gave a positive review for the album stating: "A job well done by Sundaramurthy!".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Music Review: Jiivi |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/music-review-jiivi/articleshow/69991149.cms |access-date=2019-06-29 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Anjariye: Latest News, Videos and Photos of Anjariye {{!}} Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Anjariye |access-date=2019-06-29 |website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Vidaigalai Thedi: Latest News, Videos and Photos of Vidaigalai Thedi {{!}} Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Vidaigalai-Thedi |access-date=2019-06-29 |website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Key To The Crime: Latest News, Videos and Photos of Key To The Crime {{!}} Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Key-To-The-Crime |access-date=2019-06-29 |website=The Times of India}}</ref>
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| title1 = Anjariye
| length1 = 4:04
| title2 = Vidaigalai Thedi
| length2 = 3:43
| title3 = Key To The Crime
| length3 = 2:34
| title4 =
| length4 =
| title5 =
| length5 =
| title6 =
| length6 =
| total_length = 10:21
| title7 =
| length7 =
| title8 =
| length8 =
| title9 =
| length9 =
| title10 =
| title11 =
| title12 =
| title13 =
| title14 =
| title15 =
| title16 =
| title17 =
| title18 =
| title19 =
| title20 =
| lyrics1 = Soundararajan
| lyrics2 = GKB
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| extra1 = [[Naresh Iyer]]
| length10 =
| length11 =
| length12 =
| length13 =
| length14 =
| length15 =
| length16 =
| length17 =
| length18 =
| length19 =
| length20 =
| extra2 = [[Anthony Daasan]]
}}

== Release ==
The film released on 28 June 2019, to mostly positive reviews. Aha acquired the streaming rights of the movie and premiered Jiivi on 25 June 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 June 2021 |title=Watch jiivi on Aha Video |url=https://www.aha.video/movie/jiivi-tamil |access-date=10 May 2023 |website=[[aha (streaming service)|Aha]]}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
''The Times of India'' gave 3.5/5 stating that "Technically, too, the film is as slick as its writing, turning it into one of the memorable thrillers of the year", The reviewer also added "Jiivi is definitely one of the interesting lead characters we have seen in Tamil cinema in the last few years".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jiivi Movie Review {3.5/5}: Critic Review of Jiivi by Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/jiivi/movie-review/69965383.cms |access-date=2019-06-29 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> ''The Hindu'' wrote "A surprisingly well-made thriller, whose individual parts are more terrific than its whole".<ref>{{Cite news |last=S |first=Srivatsan |date=2019-06-28 |title='Jiivi' review: Not entirely genius, but solid in parts |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/jiivi-movie-review/article28199950.ece |access-date=2019-06-29 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Behindwoods rated 3/5 stating "Neat writing and engaging screenplay makes 'Jiivi' a good thriller. Try not to miss."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-28 |title=Jiivi (aka) Jiivi Movie review |url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/jiivi/jiivi-review.html |access-date=2019-06-29 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref> Sify.com noted "Overall, ''Jiivi  ''joins the team of '' ''interesting mystery thrillers released this year".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Review : Jiivi review: Joins the team of interesting mystery (2019) |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/jiivi-review-joins-the-team-of-interesting-mystery-thrillers-released-this-year-review-tamil-tg1kiqcbfbjjb.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628025011/http://www.sify.com/movies/jiivi-review-joins-the-team-of-interesting-mystery-thrillers-released-this-year-review-tamil-tg1kiqcbfbjjb.html |archive-date=28 June 2019 |access-date=2019-06-29 |website=www.sify.com}}</ref> ''Indiaglitz gave'' 3/5 and wrote ''"''But what greets in the theatres is an intelligent little film that culminates to a largely satisfying climax''".''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jiivi review. Jiivi Tamil movie review, story, rating |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/jiivi-review-tamil-movie-22789 |access-date=2019-06-29 |website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref> ''Dinamalar'' rated 3.5/5.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ஜீவி - விமர்சனம் {3.5/5} : ஜீவி - வாழ்வியல் - Jiivi |url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com/movie-review/2847/Jiivi/ |access-date=2019-06-29 |website=[[Dinamalar]] |language=en}}</ref>[[Film Companion]] stated "It’s a marvellous idea, but this is a film you admire more for what it wants to be than what it is. The fabulous conceit needed equally fabulous filmmaking".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-01 |title=Jiivi Movie Review: This Existential Thriller May Not Be Good Cinema, But It's A Decent Watch |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/tamil-review/jiivi-movie-review-an-existential-thriller-which-isnt-good-cinema-but-its-a-decent-watch/ |access-date=2020-06-15 |website=Film Companion}}</ref>[[Cinema Express]] rated 3 out of 5 stars stating "A competent thriller aided by its strong and flawless writing".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-28 |title=Jiivi Movie Review: Commercial compromises weigh down this well-written thriller |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/tamil/2019/jun/28/jiivi-movie-review-vetri-karunakaran-12610.html |access-date=2020-06-15 |website=Cinema Express}}</ref>

== Sequel ==
A [[Jiivi 2|sequel to this film]] called ''[[Jiivi 2]]'' was released on 19 August 2022 directly on [[aha (streaming service)|aha Tamil]] OTT Platform with all the cast members reprising their roles from this film.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title|tt10556036}}

[[Category:2019 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2019 Indian films]]
[[Category:2019 films]]
[[Category:2019 thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian thriller films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Jiivi - Revision history

ZFMOtis800669 at 03:01, 3 March 2026