''Dhandayuthapani'' is a 2007 Indian

Tamil language Tamil (; ' , ) is a Dravidian language natively spoken by the Tamil people of South Asia. Tamil is an official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the sovereign nations of Sri Lanka and Singapore, and the Indian territory of Pudu ...

action film Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...

directed by

Saravana Sakthi Saravana Sakthi is an Indian actor and director who works in Tamil-language films. He has acted in more than twenty-five films. Career Saravana Sakthi began his career as an assistant director under R.Aakash before working on the directorial ...

. The film stars newcomers S. Suresh Raja and Shivani Sri, with

Manoj K. Jayan Manoj Kadampoothramadom Jayan also known as Manoj K.Jayan is an Indian actor of Malayalam and Tamil films. He has also done a few Telugu and Kannada films and has also acted in a Bollywood film. Manoj has won three Kerala State Film Award for Se ...

, Bobby, Soori,

Kadhal Sukumar Kadhal Sukumar is an Indian actor and director who has appeared in Tamil language films. After working as a comedian in films for a decade, notably in Balaji Sakthivel's romantic film ''Kaadhal'' (2004). Career Sukumar, the son of a farmer from ...

Ranjitha Ranjitha (born Sri Valli) is an Indian actress. She has acted in a number of Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada films. Career In 1991, Ranjita, did her first Telugu film, under the screen name Madhu Bala ''Kadapa Reddemma''. It was written by ...

, Viji Ketti,

Balu Anand Balu Anand (1954 – 3 June 2016) was an Indian actor and director who worked in Tamil-language films (Kollywood). He appeared in over 100 films as an actor and directed several films, such as ''Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri'', ''Annanagar Mudhal T ...

, and

Mahanadhi Shankar Mahanadi Shankar is an Indian stage, film and television actor, who has appeared in Tamil language films and serials as supporting actor and negative roles. He has appeared in films including ''Mahanadi'' (1994), ''Baashha'' (1995), ''Ratchagan ...

playing supporting roles. The film, produced by C. N. Rajadurai, had musical score by Sunil and E. L. Indhrajith. The film released on 27 April 2007.

Plot

Dhandayuthapani (S. Suresh Raja) is a carefree and jobless graduate who lives with his widowed mother and siblings in

Madurai Madurai ( , also , ) is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District. As of the 2011 census, it was the third largest Urban agglomeration in ...

. One day, he falls in love at first sight with the college student Thenmozhi ( Shivani Sri) in a temple. Dhandayuthapani then bumps into Thenmozhi in different situations, and they slowly fall in love with each other, but the lovers do not exchange a single word in all their interactions. Meanwhile, Thamizharasu (

) and Yaanai Kumar (Bobby), two rival gangsters, are fighting over the lands belonging to the government. Later, Yaanai Kumar's henchmen plan to murder Thamizharasu. but before, they spy, Thenmozhi taking a bath in her house. Dhandayuthapani, who notices it, starts to chase them and beats them up in front of Thamizharasu. Impressed by Dhandayuthapani's braveness, Thamizharasu offers him to join his gang, but Dhandayuthapani refuses. The cunning Thamizharasu then sends his henchmen, and they brutally attack Dhandayuthapani and lie to him that they are Yaanai Kumar's henchman. Left half-tonsured, naked, and wounded, Dhandayuthapani manages to survive the assault. His family and his friends, who fear for his life, advise him to leave the town. However, the incident leads to a drastic change in Dhandayuthapani's behaviour, and a vengeful Dhandayuthapani joins Thamizharasu's gang. Dhandayuthapani slowly becomes Thamizharasu's best henchman, and he shows his loyalty by killing Yaanai Kumar. Dhandayuthapani, who knew from the beginning that Thamizharasu was the culprit, kills him as well. The film ends with Thenmozhi marrying another man and a rowdy killing Dhandayuthapani.

Cast

*S. Suresh Raja as Dhandayuthapani * Shivani Sri as Thenmozhi *

as Thamizharasu *Bobby as Yaanai Kumar * Soori as Dhandayuthapani's friend *

as Dhandayuthapani's friend *

as Sandhya *Viji Ketti as Dhandayuthapani's mother *

as Judge *

Mahanadi Shankar Mahanadi Shankar is an Indian stage, film and television actor, who has appeared in Tamil language films and serials as supporting actor and negative roles. He has appeared in films including ''Mahanadi'' (1994), ''Baashha'' (1995), ''Ratchagan ...

as Thamizharasu's henchman *

Besant Ravi Besant Ravi (born R. Ravi Kumar; 1 June 1970) is an Indian actor and stunt choreographer. He has played antagonistic supporting roles in Tamil, Hindi and several other Indian language films. Early life Besant Ravi, who was born and brought up ...

as Yaanai Kumar's henchman *

Sampath Ram Sampath Ram is an Indian actor who works primarily in Tamil-language films. He is known for his villainous roles. Career Ram started his acting career with the television series '' Ethanai Manithargal'' that aired on Doordarshan as a thug. He ...

as Yaanai Kumar's henchman *

as Vengai Pandi *Nisha in a special appearance

Production

, an erstwhile assistant of

S. A. Chandrasekhar S. A. Chandrasekar (born 2 July 1945) is an Indian film director, producer, writer, and actor who primarily works within Kollywood. He made his directorial debut with ''Aval Oru Pachai Kuzhanthai'' (1978), He got his breakthrough with ''Sattam ...

, made his directorial debut with ''Dhandayuthapani'' under the banner of CNR Films. C. N. Rajadurai who is a doctor by profession had emerged as a producer in this film. S. Suresh Raja was cast to play the title role while Kerala-based

Vidhya Mohan Vidhya Vinu Mohan is an Indian actress in Malayalam and Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tami ...

, credited as Shivani Sri, was chosen to play the heroine. The fight scenes had been choreographed by

Jaguar Thangam Thanga Pazham (born 6 June 1954 ), known by his screen name Jaguar Thangam, is a famous stunt choreographer in the Indian film industry who works in almost all regional languages in India primarily in Tamil Cinema. He began ''Silambam'' when h ...

, Ruthrun took in charge of cinematography, the music was composed by Sunil and E. L. Indhrajith and the editing was by B. S. Vasu and Saleem. The film was primarily shot in

Nagercoil Nagercoil, also spelt as Nagarkovil ("Temple of the Nāgas", or Nagaraja-Temple), is a city and the administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu state, India. Situated close to the tip of the Indian peninsula, it lies on an ...

and

Soundtrack

The film score and the soundtrack were composed by

film composer A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental, or choral pieces called cues, which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to ...

s Sunil and E. L. Indhrajith. The soundtrack features four tracks with lyrics written by Yosi, Tamilamuthan and Saravana Sakthi.

Reception

A reviewer wrote, "The only thing which is laudable in this movie is the bold attempt made by debutants" and added, "Heroine Shivani has performed well in a limited scope. Music by Sunil Indirajith is laudable". Malini Mannath said, "Suresh Raja may be a far cry from the typical hero-mould. But he performs his scenes with understanding, and like a seasoned actor. Shivani fits in as the coy Thenmozhi" and called it "a promising work from a debutant director".

References

{{reflist 2007 films 2000s Tamil-language films Films set in Madurai Films shot in Madurai Films about organised crime in India Indian gangster films Indian crime action films Indian crime drama films 2007 directorial debut films 2000s crime action films 2007 crime drama films