>Kugan1997 at 11:36, 19 June 2021

2021-06-19T11:36:24Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Kaalai
| image = Kaalai Simbu poster.jpg
| director = [[Tharun Gopi]]
| writer = Tharun Gopi
| screenplay = Tharun Gopi
| story = Tharun Gopi
| starring = [[Silambarasan Rajendar|Silambarasan]]<br />[[Vedhika Kumar|Vedhika]]
| producer = [[S. S. Chakravarthy]]
| cinematography = [[R. D. Rajasekhar]]
| editing = [[Anthony (film editor)|Anthony]]
| music = [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]]
| studio = Nic Arts / S. S. Chakravarthy
| distributor = Nic Arts / S. S. Chakravarthy
| released = {{Film date|2008|01|14|df=y}}
| runtime = 126 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
'''''Kaalai''''' ({{lang-ta|காளை}}; {{lang-en|Bull}}) is a 2008 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[action film]] directed by [[Tharun Gopi]]. The lead roles are played by [[Silambarasan Rajendar|Silambarasan]] and [[Vedhika Kumar|Vedhika]]. Supporting roles are played by [[Lal (actor)|Lal]], [[Sangeetha Krish|Sangeetha]], [[Seema (actress)|Seema]], [[Santhanam (actor)|Santhanam]], and [[Sulile Kumar]]. The film's score and soundtrack were composed by [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]]. The film opened to mixed reviews and was a [[Box-office bomb|box office flop]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Behind woods |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-slide-shows/movie-1/top-ten-movies-1/tamil-cinema-topten-movie-kaalai.html |title=Behindwoods BO|publisher=Behindwoods |date=2008-07-24 |accessdate=2012-08-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/holnus/009200906200333.htm |title=The Hindu News Update Service |publisher=Hindu.com |date=2009-06-20 |accessdate=2012-08-05}}</ref> The Hindi version was renamed ''Jwalamukhi (Man With Fire)''.

==Plot==
Jeeva ([[Silambarasan]]) shares his name with two other people: one villain ([[Sulile Kumar]]) and one police officer who becomes a villain ([[Lal (actor)|Lal]]). The confusion arising from this is a significant part of the plot.

At the age of nine, Jeeva’s grandmother Karuppayi Aatha ([[Seema (actress)|Seema]]) slays five men because they scorned her father’s advice and illegally distilled alcohol in the village. After her return from prison, the villagers both fear and revere her, and consider her the head of the village.

Police officer Jeeva ([[Lal (actor)|Lal]]) comes to the village ruled by Karuppayi Aatha to try to find illicit activity. When he cannot find anything, he is thrashed by the villagers. He returns to take vengeance, and in the course of the hostilities burns Karuppayi Aatha alive.

Jeeva the criminal is meanwhile wooing policeman Jeeva’s daughter Brindha ([[Vedhika]]). But Brindha loves Jeeva, Karuppayi's grandson, and he wants to take revenge on his namesake for the death of his grandmother. He abducts Vedhika as a hostage to lure her father to his death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/jan/16kaalai.htm|title=Kaalai: A wasted effort|last=Hari|first=TSV|date=January 16, 2008|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref>

==Cast==
{{colbegin}}
*[[Silambarasan Rajendar|Silambarasan]] as Jeeva
*[[Vedhika]] as Brindha
*[[Lal (actor)|Lal]] as Jeevanandham IPS
*[[Sulile Kumar]] as Jeeva
*[[Sangeetha Krish|Sangeetha]] as Lakshmi
*[[Seema (actress)|Seema]] as Karuppayi Aatha
*[[Santhanam (actor)|Santhanam]]
*Sabarna as Brindha's friend
*[[Shanmugarajan]]
*[[Dhandapani]]
*[[Meera Chopra|Nila]] as "Guththa Lakkadi"
*Rinson Simon as a background dancer in the song "Kutti Pisaase" (uncredited)
*[[Mahat Raghavendra]] as Jeeva's friend (uncredited)
*[[Ramdoss]] as Tea shop fight participant (uncredited)
{{colend}}

==Production==

===Casting===
In pre-production work, [[Tarun Gopi]] originally offered the lead role to [[R. Madhavan|Madhavan]], then to [[Prabhas]]. Neither was able to take up the role, so Silambarasan was recruited instead. The original choice for the lead female role was [[Trisha (actress)|Trisha]], who was replaced by Vedhika. [[Prakashraj]] was originally selected for the role of the police officer Jeeva, but he was replaced by Lal.<ref name="behindwoods1">{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news/apr-07-02/12-04-07-kaala.html|title=Only eight days of shoot and Kaala team is back in town|last=Behindwoods News Bureau|first=|date=April 12, 2007|website=Behindwoods|publisher=|accessdate=2012-08-05}}</ref>

===Filming===
Most of the film was shot in the villages around [[Theni]]. Australia was originally planned to be the location for filming songs, but due to visa problems these scenes were shifted to Malaysia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news/dec-07-04/27-12-07-kaalai.html|title=Kaalai going places!|last=Behindwoods News Bureau|first=|date=December 27, 2007|website=Behindwoods|publisher=|accessdate=2012-08-05}}</ref> A fast beat song sequence was shot at the [[Golden Beach, Chennai]] with Simbu and Vedhika.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news/may-07-01/05-05-07-kaalai.html|title=Simbu, Vedika and the soaring temperature|last=Behindwoods News Bureau|first=|date=May 5, 2007|website=Behindwoods|publisher=|accessdate=2012-08-05}}</ref> For much of the filming the heroine was not finalized, so large sections of the movie were shot without the female lead. The shoots appeared disorganized, with few actors recruited ahead of time.<ref name="behindwoods1"/> Silambarasan did some editing work with [[Anthony (film editor)|Anthony]], who is said to have been impressed by his work and presented him with 25,000 rands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/feb-08-01/04-02-08-kaalai.html|title=Silambarasan gets paid by the editor!|last=Behindwoods News Bureau|first=|date=|website=Behindwoods|publisher=|accessdate=2012-08-05}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Kaalai
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 2007
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length =
| label = [[Sony Music India|Sony Music]]<br>[[Think Music India|Think Music]]
| producer =
| prev_title = [[Velli Thirai]]
| prev_year = 2007
| next_title = [[Ullasamga Utsahamga]]
| next_year = 2008
}}

The soundtrack consists of six songs composed by [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]]. Actress [[Mamta Mohandas]] sang the song Kaala Kaala.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/mamta-croons-for-kaalai-news-tamil-kkfu95dfjce.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427152943/http://www.sify.com/movies/mamta-croons-for-kaalai-news-tamil-kkfu95dfjce.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-04-27 |title=Mamta croons for Kaalai|publisher=Sify |date=2007-09-14 |accessdate=2012-08-05}}</ref> The soundtrack had a soft launch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news/dec-07-04/31-12-07-kaalai.html|title=A sneak peek into Kaalai music|last=Behindwoods News Bureau|first=|date=December 31, 2007|website=Behindwoods|publisher=|accessdate=2012-08-05}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="width:50%;"
|-
! Song title !! Singers !! Length !! Lyrics
|-
|"Kaala Kaala"|| [[Benny Dayal]], [[Mamta Mohandas]] || 05.45 || [[Silambarasan]]
|-
|"Vandhuttaanda Kaalai"|| Benny Dayal, [[Rahul Nambiar]], [[Silambarasan]] || 03:36 || [[Tharun Gopi]]
|-
|"Kutti Pisase"|| [[Silambarasan]], [[Suchitra]] || 05:36 || [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]]
|-
|"Guththa Lakkadi"|| [[Lucky Ali]], [[Sunidhi Chauhan]] || 06:03 || Vaali
|-
|"Veeramulla"|| [[Manicka Vinayagam]], Sriram, Seerkazhi Chidambaram || 05:12 || Vaali
|-
|"Eppo Nee"|| [[Madhushree]] || 05:00 || Snehan
|-
|}

==Release==
The rights for satellite broadcast were sold to [[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]]. The film was given an "A" certificate by the [[Indian Censor Board]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/35848.html |title=Pongal movies and censor certificates |publisher=IndiaGlitz |date=2008-01-11 |accessdate=2012-08-05}}</ref> The film was released at the Pongal 2008 festival at the same time as ''[[Bheema]]'', ''[[Pidichirukku]]'', ''[[Pirivom Santhippom]]'', ''[[Pazhani (2008 film)|Pazhani]]'' and ''[[Vaazhthugal]]''.

===Critical reception===
Indiaglitz wrote: "The narrative is too loud and it lacks finesse. Silambarasan handles the 'omnipotent hero' character with confidence. [[Vedhika]] announces her arrival as the potential glam girl of 2008. This one with a beautiful and innocent face has just the right figure to take up glamour roles".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/review/9195.html |title=Kaalai Tamil Movie Review |publisher=IndiaGlitz |date=2008-01-15 |accessdate=2012-08-05}}</ref>

Nowrunning wrote: "Silambarasan's more than life image is unrealistic if not out of place. [[Vedhicka|Vedhika]] exudes glamour and performs well in duet songs".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/4044/tamil/kaalai/1479/review.htm |title=Kaalai Review - Tamil Movie Review by PVS |publisher=Nowrunning.com |date=2008-01-24 |accessdate=2012-08-05}}</ref>

Sify wrote: "When Silambarasan and director Tarun Gopi came together in Kaalai we expected a racy masala entertainer. Sadly it is a watered down version of earlier films and ends up as an over-the-top ham enterprise, Kaalai is like a bull in a china shop and makes you groan".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/kaalai-review-tamil-14593414.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330225130/http://www.sify.com/movies/kaalai-review-tamil-14593414.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-03-30 |title=Movie Review:Kaalai|publisher=Sify |date= |accessdate=2012-08-05}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

[[Category:2008 action films]]
[[Category:2000s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2008 films]]
[[Category:Indian films about revenge]]
[[Category:Films featuring an item number]]
[[Category:Films set in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Films shot in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Films shot in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian action films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Masala films]]
[[Category:Films scored by G. V. Prakash Kumar]]
[[Category:Films shot in Australia]]

Kaalai - Revision history

>Kugan1997 at 11:36, 19 June 2021