Thenavattu (transl. "Courage") is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by V. V. Kathir, starring Jiiva and Poonam Bajwa, with Ganja Karuppu, Ravi Kale, Shafi, Saikumar, and Rajan P. Dev in supporting roles. The music of the film was composed by Srikanth Deva. The film was released on 21 November 2008 and received highly negative reviews from critics. It was a commercial failure in metros but performed well at B and C-centers, or lower class theatres.
Plot.
Kailasam, a somber bigwig, performs the last rites of someone dear to him, while Kottai appears swinging a scythe. In a flashback from a few months ago in Ramnad, Kottai's mother cuts down logs while boasting about her son; a god that deserves to see the world. Kottai then journeys to Chennai in company with Vellaiayan, a dimwit friend. The two end up at a massive house of Kailasam, a local terror.
Kottai and Vellaiayan think that Kailasam only cuts up trees from their blacksmithing skills, but Kottai discovers that he was hired by Kailasam to make sickles to kill people. Kottai then feeds crying children milk and helping men with epileptic seizures. Later, he falls in love with kind-hearted music teacher Gayathri.
Santhosh, Kailasam's son who regularly rapes women, is helplessly watched by a cop called Suryaprakash. Kottai continues making arrivals until he sees Santhosh touching Gayathri inappropriately. Kottai then beats Santhosh to death, unbeknownst to him that he is Kailasam's son, when he learns about this, he attempts to get revenge on Kottai, but he and the minister is killed by him along with Suryaprakash. Kottai later returns back to his home.
Production.
V. V. Kathir, a former assistant director of Seeman and Surya Prakash, narrated the script to R. B. Choudary, who liked it. The lead role was offered to actor Jiiva who agreed to do the film. A photo session was completed in Pallavaram Hills. Jiiva's older brother, Jithan Ramesh, had earlier starred in producer Anthony's "Puli Varudhu" (2007).
Bhavana was originally slated to play the female lead but she left the film due to unknown reasons. Poonam Bajwa (who was also shooting for "Seval" (2008) simultaneously) was then signed, thus making her debut in Tamil cinema. Saranya Ponvannan was then cast to play the mother of Jiiva's character.
Art director Roobesh created a huge set at YMCA resembling Koothaandavar Temple. "Thenavattu" was the first Tamil film which displayed respect and dignity towards the transgender section of the society.
Soundtrack.
The soundtrack was composed by Srikanth Deva in his second collaboration with Jiiva after "E" (2006).
Reception.
"Thenavattu" released to critical failure". Behindwoods" wrote: ""Thenavattu" is for people who just adore illogical masala flicks". Rediff called it "silly and ridiculous" and also added "the culprit here clearly is V. V. Kathir's half-baked script that manages to destroy Jiiva's credibility. This flick is all "aruvaal" and no brains". Indiaglitz wrote: "Director Kathir shied away from experimenting with his latest venture and took the familiar path of commercial entertainer following the footsteps of his guru". Magimairajan of "Kalki" praised the acting of Jiiva and also praised the director for portraying transgenders in dignified manner but panned Srikanth Deva's music, Anal Arasu's stunt choreography and Ganja Karuppu's humour and felt the director who concentrated on racy dialogues should have done the same for screenplay. "Cinesouth" wrote "Director Kadir has courageously used a far fetched story line and made a film out of it".
References.
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