MarkKapoor at 02:35, 3 March 2026

2026-03-03T02:35:34Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Kadaseela Biriyani poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Nishanth Kalidindi
| screenplay = Nishanth Kalidindi Vivekanand Kalaivanan
| story = Nishanth Kalidindi
| producer = [[S. Sashikanth]] [[Chakravarthy Ramachandra]] Nishanth Kalidindi
| starring = Vasanth Selvam Dinesh Mani Vijay Ram [[Hakim Shahjahan]]
| narrator = [[Vijay Sethupathi]]
| cinematography = Azeem Mohammad Hestin Jose Joseph
| editing = Ignatious Aswin
| music = Vinoth Thanigasalam Neil Sebastian Judah Paul
| studio = [[YNOT Studios]]
| distributor = [[YNOTX]]
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2021|11|19}}
| runtime = 113 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Kadaseela Biriyani''''' ({{Translation|[[Biryani]] in the end}}) is a 2021 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[black comedy]] film directed and co-written by Nishanth Kalidindi.<ref name="TheHindu">{{Cite news |last=Srivatsan |first=S |date=19 November 2021 |title='Kadaseela Biriyani' movie review: A first-rate cinema experience. You wish it had a little more pulp |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/kadaseela-biriyani-movie-review/article37574823.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123073901/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/kadaseela-biriyani-movie-review/article37574823.ece |archive-date=23 November 2021 |access-date=25 November 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The directorial debut of Nishanth Kalidindi, it was shot in 2016 and completed in 2018,<ref name="debut">{{Cite news |last=Darshan |first=Navein |date=24 November 2021 |title=Baahubali showed more violence than we did: Kadaseela Biriyani director Nishanth Kalidindi |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2021/nov/24/baahubali-showed-more-violence-than-we-did-kadaseela-biriyani-directornishanth-kalidindi-2387278.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213044622/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2021/nov/24/baahubali-showed-more-violence-than-we-did-kadaseela-biriyani-directornishanth-kalidindi-2387278.html |archive-date=13 December 2021 |access-date=13 December 2021 |work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> but was released theatrically over three years later on 19 November 2021.<ref name="TheHindu" /> The film stars Vasanth Selvam, Dinesh Mani and Vijay Ram and met with positive reviews.<ref name="Dat">{{Cite news |last=Darshan |first=Navein |date=19 November 2021 |title='Kadaseela Biriyani' Review: A dark, yet hilarious film |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2021/nov/20/kadaseela-biriyani-review-a-dark-yet-hilarious-film-2385732.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125110727/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2021/nov/20/kadaseela-biriyani-review-a-dark-yet-hilarious-film-2385732.html |archive-date=25 November 2021 |access-date=25 November 2021 |work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref name="sif">{{Cite web |date=19 November 2021 |title=Kadaseela Biriyani review: An amusing thriller |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/kadaseela-biriyanireview-an-amusing-thriller-review-tamil-vltdUEghijjci.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120113700/https://www.sify.com/movies/kadaseela-biriyanireview-an-amusing-thriller-review-tamil-vltdUEghijjci.html |archive-date=20 November 2021 |access-date=25 November 2021 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref><ref name="toi">{{Cite news |last=Suganth |first=M |date=19 November 2021 |title=Movie Reviews – Tamil – Kadaseela Biriyani |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/kadaseela-biriyani/movie-review/87776762.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124205741/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/kadaseela-biriyani/movie-review/87776762.cms |archive-date=24 November 2021 |access-date=25 November 2021 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Set in [[Kottayam district|Kottayam]], [[Kerala]], the film also contains [[Malayalam]] dialogues.<ref name="TheHindu" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=കഡസീലെ ബിരിയാണി |url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/movie-review/vasanth-selvam-vijay-ram-hakkim-shah-starrer-kadaseela-biriyani-review-rating-in-malayalam/moviereview/88339820.cms |website=[[Samayam]] |language=ml}}</ref> Three brothers break into the rubber estate to avenge their father's death, but fate has cruel plans as they are welcomed by the landlord's psychopath son.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 November 2021 |title=The intriguing trailer of Kadaseela Biriyani is here! |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/videos/2021/nov/03/the-intriguing-trailer-of-kadaseela-biriyani-is-here-27634.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125111913/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/videos/2021/nov/03/the-intriguing-trailer-of-kadaseela-biriyani-is-here-27634.html |archive-date=25 November 2021 |access-date=25 November 2021 |work=[[Cinema Express]]}}</ref>

== Plot ==
The narrator, [[Vijay Sethupathi]], recounts the tale of Chikku Pandi (Vijay Ram), who as a young child is removed from the rest of his family by his father, who wishes to protect him from their violent criminal ways and instead raise him to lead a simple peaceful life. Chikku concentrates on his studies, hoping to meet his father's ambition of becoming a doctor. However when Chikku turns 16, his father is murdered by the owner of a large rubber plantation, Sathyan (Vishaal Ram). Chikku reunites with his older brothers Periya Pandi (Vasanth Selvam) and Ila Pandi (Dinesh Mani), who pressure him into a plan to avenge their father's death by killing Sathyan. The three brothers travel to Sathyan's rubber plantation in [[Kanjirappally]], Kerala. Expecting to have to kill several of Sathyan's workers to gain access, they instead find the plantation deserted. At Sathyan's house they see that Sathyan's son Johan Kariya (Hakkim Shah), a notorious [[psychopath]], has unexpectedly returned home, causing the plantation workers to flee in fear. The brothers overhear an argument between Johan and his father, during which Johan taunts his father by revealing that he had killed his father's mistress and burnt their son alive. Johan mocks his father's grief.

Ila Pandi wants to abort the mission but Periya Pandi insists they proceed with the plan to avenge their father's death. They sneak into the house, tie up Sathyan and move him into the nearby forest. Ila Pandi, who is acting as lookout, is discovered by Johan who questions him. Periya Pandi comes to his aid, claiming to Johan that they had stumbled upon the house while looking for their brother. Johan is sceptical, but Chikku distracts him by smashing a picture in the house, allowing all three brothers to flee into the forest. After killing Sathyan, they hitch a ride from a passing lorry driven by a fellow Tamilian, Gabriel, who is transporting coffins. On the back of the lorry, the three brothers toast their success, with Chikku planning to buy a [[biryani]] to celebrate. One of the coffins opens, and Gabriel's son Andrew, who had been sleeping in it, sits up. In shock, Ila and Periya fall off the lorry to their eventual deaths.

When the police reach the scene they take Gabriel, Andrew and Chikku into custody. Rather than taking them to the police station, the police (who are both on the payroll of and terrified of Johan), head toward's Johan's house, Johan having discovered his father's body. Gabriel, Andrew and Chikku flee into the dense forest, which is too impenetrable for the police to find them. What follows is a cat and mouse game as the police, together with Johan and his henchmen, surround the forest to prevent their escape. Johan, who wants to burn down the forest to smoke them out, expresses frustration that Chikku is too much of a weakling to provide a satisfactorily challenging prey.

Andrew seemingly manages to escape the forest, but is soon caught and returned to Johan, who burns him alive while forcing Gabriel, who had come to give himself up, to watch. Chikku, cowering in fear, is taunted by Johan who shouts into the forest that there is no escape. Realising he has no option but to fight back, Chikku leaves the forest, managing to kill two of Johan's henchmen before confronting Johan himself. Seemingly pleased with Chikku's new-found courage, Johan laughs and offers to tell him a joke. Before he can do so he is run over and killed by a lorry (driven by [[Vijay Sethupathi]] in a cameo appearance). The driver briefly laments that this is the 36th time he has hit someone, before shrugging it off and offering Chikku a lift. The film ends with Chikku in [[Puducherry (city)|Pondicherry]], ordering a biriyani in a local restaurant, as the narrator hopes that he will be able to return to living a simple life.

== Cast ==
''Source''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/malayalam/interview-happy-to-see-the-audience-accepting-my-characters-the-way-i-intended-says-hakim-shahjahan/|title=Interview: Happy to see the audience accepting my characters the way I intended, says Hakim Shahjahan|first=Arjun|last=Ramachandran|date=9 October 2024}}</ref>
{{Cast listing|
* Vasanth Selvam as Periya Pandi<ref name="toi" />
* Dinesh Mani as Ila Pandi<ref name="toi" />
* Vijay Ram as Chikku Pandi<ref name="toi" />
* Vishaal Ram as Sathyan<ref name="toi" />
* [[Hakim Shahjahan]] as Johan Kariya aka Panni Kusu Roast<ref name="toi" />
* Sabha Srinivaasan as Gabriel
* Augustine R Kevin as Andrew
* [[Vijay Sethupathi]] as a lorry driver (cameo)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bobby Sing |title=Kadaseela Biriyani review: Vasanth Selvam, Hakkim Shah, Dinesh Mani and Vijay Ram are spectacular in this gory but very well made revenge thriller |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/kadaseela-biriyani-review-vasanth-selvam-hakkim-shah-dinesh-mani-and-vijay-ram-are-spectacular-in-this-gory-but-very-well-made-revenge-thriller |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213091514/https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/kadaseela-biriyani-review-vasanth-selvam-hakkim-shah-dinesh-mani-and-vijay-ram-are-spectacular-in-this-gory-but-very-well-made-revenge-thriller |archive-date=13 February 2022 |access-date=20 September 2023 |website=The Free Press Journal}}</ref>
}}

== Soundtrack ==
The original background score of the film was composed by Vinoth Thanigasalam and the songs are composed by Neil Sebastian and Judah Paul. The songs album featured seven tracks with lyrics written by Umadevi, Suhail Koya, Tenzin Rangdol, Payal John and Solar Sai.{{cn|date=December 2021}}

{{track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| headline = Track listing
| title1 = Aarariro
| lyrics1 = Umadevi
| extra1 = Suraj Jagan
| music1 = Judah Paul
| length1 = 5:07
| title2 = Aarariro
| note2 = Acoustic
| lyrics2 = Umadevi
| extra2 = Alphons Joseph
| music2 = Judah Paul
| length2 = 4:04
| title3 = Lovely
| note3 = Malayalam
| lyrics3 = Suhail Koya
| extra3 = Jassie Gift
| music3 = Neil Sebastian, Immanuel Roberts
| length3 = 3:04
| title4 = Manjaadi
| note4 = Malayalam
| lyrics4 = Suhail Koya
| extra4 = Arun Ghosh
| music4 = Neil Sebastian
| length4 = 3:31
| title5 = Baby
| note5 = English
| lyrics5 = Tenzin Randol
| extra5 = Tenzin Randol
| music5 = Neil Sebastian, Immanuel Roberts
| length5 = 3:00
| title6 = Giorno Di Pioggia
| lyrics6 = Payal John
| extra6 = Payal John
| music6 = Neil Sebastian
| length6 = 2:38
| title7 = Kadavuley
| lyrics7 = Uma Devi, Solar Sai
| extra7 = Solar Sai
| music7 = Neil Sebastian
| length7 = 3:39
| title8 = Kadaseela Biriyani Theme
| music8 = Judah Paul
| length8 = 1:35
| length14 = 4:27
| title14 = The Animal and the wall
| music13 = Vinoth Thanigasalam
| title12 = Saithan's God
| length13 = 3:34
| title13 = The Sac goes away
| music12 = Vinoth Thanigasalam
| length12 = 2:54
| length10 = 2:39
| music11 = Vinoth Thanigasalam
| length11 = 2:26
| title11 = The Chase
| length9 = 2:51
| music10 = Vinoth Thanigasalam
| title10 = The Pandis
| music9 = Vinoth Thanigasalam
| title9 = The Plan
| music14 = Vinoth Thanigasalam, Neil Sebastian
}}

== Reception ==
Srivatsan S. of ''[[The Hindu]]'' stated that, "even though the film won't give you a wholesome feeling, the commitment from a debutant filmmaker is visible and I’m willing to give all my money".<ref name="TheHindu" /> Haricharan Pudipeddi of ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' wrote that "the film is one of the most bizarre films to come out of Tamil cinema in recent years, unabashedly raw indie film and is largely brilliant and naive in parts". He also added that, the film manages to stay largely engaging and is worth being called one of the best films of the year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pudipeddi |first=Haricharan |date=19 November 2021 |title=Kadaseela Biriyani movie review: Brilliantly shot, bizarre indie thriller with a heart |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/kadaseela-biriyani-movie-review-brilliantly-shot-bizarre-indie-thriller-with-a-heart-101637303200845.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124130305/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/kadaseela-biriyani-movie-review-brilliantly-shot-bizarre-indie-thriller-with-a-heart-101637303200845.html |archive-date=24 November 2021 |access-date=25 November 2021 |work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>

Navein Darshan of ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' praised the director, saying that "the film is dark, yet hilarious, despite being filled with newcomers, but pleasantly surprises by delivering a finished product, signaling the arrival of a daring filmmaker".<ref name="Dat" /> ''[[Sify]]'' called the film an amusing thriller as it deserves a watch for its unique presentation, style, and original plot.<ref name="sif" /> ''[[Dinamalar]]'' rated the film with 2.5/5 stars, stating that, even though the film tests their patience in the first half, it turns into an engrossing product in the second half with several scenes deserving applause.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 November 2021 |title=கடைசீல பிரியாணி - விமர்சனம் |trans-title=Kadaseela Biriyani – Review |url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com/movie-review/3056/Kadaseela-biriyani/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125111625/https://cinema.dinamalar.com/movie-review/3056/Kadaseela-biriyani/ |archive-date=25 November 2021 |access-date=25 November 2021 |work=[[Dinamalar]] |language=ta}}</ref> M Suganth of ''[[The Times of India]]'' rated the film with 3.5/5 stating that, "the thriller film is full of cinematic vigour and keeps us hooked from start to finish and unfolds like a dark comic experience, filled with colourful characters". He concluded that "the filmmaker announces his arrival loud and clear and we can't wait to see where he goes from here".<ref name="toi" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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

{{YNOT Studios}}

[[Category:2020s comedy thriller films]]
[[Category:2021 Indian films]]
[[Category:2021 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2021 black comedy films]]
[[Category:2021 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2021 films]]
[[Category:Films produced by S. Sashikanth]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kottayam]]
[[Category:Indian black comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian comedy thriller films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language black comedy films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language comedy thriller films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:YNOT Studios films]]

Kadaseela Biriyani - Revision history

MarkKapoor at 02:35, 3 March 2026