''Naanayam'' (lit. ''coin'' or ''integrity'') is a 2010 Indian
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
**Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia
* Tamil language, nativ ...
-language
heist thriller film
Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...
written and directed by
Shakti Soundar Rajan
Shakti Soundar Rajan is an Indian film director who predominantly works in Tamil cinema.
Career
Rajan worked as an assistant director to Venkat Prabhu. His debut movie was '' Naanayam,'' released in 2010. In 2014, he directed '' Naaigal Jaak ...
in his directorial debut. Produced by
Atharsh Capital Film Works, the film stars
Prasanna as the protagonist;
Sibiraj
Sibi Sathyaraj (also credited as Sibiraj) is an Indian actor working in the Tamil film industry. He is the son of actor Sathyaraj.
Early life and education
Sibi did his schooling in Sherwood Hall Senior Secondary School and Don Bosco Matricula ...
as the antagonist; singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam (4 June 1946 – 25 September 2020), also referred to as SPB or SP Balu or Balu, was an Indian playback singer, television presenter, actor, music composer, dubbing artist, and film producer. He is wi ...
;
Ramya Raj
Ramya Raj, alias Ragini, is a Malaysian actress, who has appeared in Tamil films.
Career
She is probably best known for her performances in ''Sandai''. Ramya is related to actress Khushbu, by her elder sister being Kushboo's sister-in-law. T ...
, who has appeared in the films ''
Sandai
''Sandai'' () is a 2008 Tamil-language action comedy film directed by Sakthi Chidambaram. The film stars Sundar C, Nadhiya, Namitha and Ramya Raj, while Vivek, Lalu Alex, and Mithun Tejasvi, among others, play supporting roles. The music was c ...
'' and ''
Thee
The word ''thou'' is a second-person singular pronoun in English. It is now largely archaic, having been replaced in most contexts by the word ''you'', although it remains in use in parts of Northern England and in Scots (). ''Thou'' is the ...
''; and debutante Yasmin. The film, which has songs by ''
Subramaniapuram
''Subramaniapuram'' is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language period action film produced, written, and directed by Sasikumar. The low-budget film received critical acclaim for its original script, expert direction, screenplay, editing, fresh music, accu ...
'' fame composer
James Vasanthan
James Vasanthan is an Indian Television (Tamil) host, a film music composer, and a filmmaker and a motivational speaker. For more than two decades, he has worked as an anchor in popular Tamil satellite television channels like Sun TV and Vijay ...
and score by
Thaman
Ghantasala Sai Srinivas Thaman (born 16 November 1983), known professionally as Thaman S, earlier as S S Thaman, is an Indian music composer, professional drummer, and playback singer who predominantly works in Telugu films and Tamil films. Th ...
, was released on 14 January 2010.
Plot
The plot opens with the introduction of Ravi (
Prasanna), an electronics engineer who introduces himself as a youthful guy who aspires to become a businessman. He meets Viswanath (
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam (4 June 1946 – 25 September 2020), also referred to as SPB or SP Balu or Balu, was an Indian playback singer, television presenter, actor, music composer, dubbing artist, and film producer. He is wi ...
), the CEO of Trust Bank, in a golf course when he fights to grab a bag belonging to Viswanath from a stranger. Ravi saves Viswanath and chases the stranger. He is unable to catch the man but gets a glimpse of his face. Viswanath thanks Ravi, offers him a job in his bank, and also assures to provide a loan of Rs. 2 crores to start his own business. The bank promotes its new branch as the "world's safest bank" with the security locker designed by Ravi. Ravi works in Trust Bank for five years, but his loan approval gets rejected so many times despite Viswanath's attempts to get it approved.
Ravi meets a girl named Nandhini (
Ramya Raj
Ramya Raj, alias Ragini, is a Malaysian actress, who has appeared in Tamil films.
Career
She is probably best known for her performances in ''Sandai''. Ramya is related to actress Khushbu, by her elder sister being Kushboo's sister-in-law. T ...
), a divorced news reporter, in a golf club and they become friends. Slowly, love blossoms between them. However, Ravi, once during his date with Nandhini, is attacked by Nandhini's ex-husband Raghu. He counterattacks him and goes home. At home, Ravi meets Fareed (
Sibiraj
Sibi Sathyaraj (also credited as Sibiraj) is an Indian actor working in the Tamil film industry. He is the son of actor Sathyaraj.
Early life and education
Sibi did his schooling in Sherwood Hall Senior Secondary School and Don Bosco Matricula ...
), who tells that Ravi killed Raghu and that there are evidences to prove. Fareed also kidnaps Nandhini. Ravi is confident that he did not kill Raghu, but he has to obey the words of helping them rob the bank to save himself and Nandhini.
Fareed says that he is an ex-employee of Trust Bank and was fired by Viswanath for fund mismanagement. So, Fareed wants to take revenge on Viswanath by robbing Trust Bank, which will negatively impact its trustworthiness, and he wants Ravi to help him as he is the one behind the safety system design. Ravi and Fareed plan to rob the bank, which has infrared lasers and a four-leveled lock system vault. Meanwhile, Ravi records the conversations going on between them and hands it over to his assistant Devaki to save himself. Ravi demands Rs. 2 Crore, the photographic evidences of the murder from the robbers before the theft. Fareed initially gives it but takes it back and gives Ravi a bag similar to it.
Ravi discloses all the security systems to enter the vault, and Fareed and his men enter the vault. However, Ravi did not inform them about a secret exit in the vault, and he makes a plan to get Fareed and his men trapped. Ravi suddenly escapes through the secret exit, locks others inside the vault, and rushes to meet Viswanath, where he also sees Nandhini with him. Ravi gets shocked seeing Nandhini along with Viswanath and gets to know the truth. The robbery is actually a plan of Viswanath, who did it in order to grab the bag, which has evidences of his illegal affair with Nandhini, who is actually named Eswari. The stranger took pictures of Viswanath and Eswari and blackmails Viswanath for money. The stranger also safely places the evidence in Trust Bank's locker. To steal the evidence, Viswanath planned a robbery with Fareed, Eswari's brother. The man who Ravi was told to be killed by him was actually a new employee in Fareed's gang. Viswanath apologizes to Ravi for the trouble created by him and commits suicide. Fareed and Eswari are arrested, and all of Fareed's gang members die inside the vault due to lack of oxygen.
Ravi destroys all the evidence of the illegal affair of Viswanath and finds Rs. 2 Crore in the back side of his car, which actually was demanded by him from Fareed, and which he uses to start his new business.
Cast
*
Prasanna as Ravi
*
Sibiraj
Sibi Sathyaraj (also credited as Sibiraj) is an Indian actor working in the Tamil film industry. He is the son of actor Sathyaraj.
Early life and education
Sibi did his schooling in Sherwood Hall Senior Secondary School and Don Bosco Matricula ...
as Fareed
*
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam (4 June 1946 – 25 September 2020), also referred to as SPB or SP Balu or Balu, was an Indian playback singer, television presenter, actor, music composer, dubbing artist, and film producer. He is wi ...
as Viswanath
*
Ramya Raj
Ramya Raj, alias Ragini, is a Malaysian actress, who has appeared in Tamil films.
Career
She is probably best known for her performances in ''Sandai''. Ramya is related to actress Khushbu, by her elder sister being Kushboo's sister-in-law. T ...
as Eswari / Nandhini
* Yasmin as Devaki
*
Jasper
Jasper, an aggregate of microgranular quartz and/or cryptocrystalline chalcedony and other mineral phases,Kostov, R. I. 2010. Review on the mineralogical systematics of jasper and related rocks. – Archaeometry Workshop, 7, 3, 209-213PDF/ref> ...
as Henchman
Production
In November 2008, the film began its pre-production with
Prasanna being signed on to play the lead role, whilst before the end of the year,
Sibiraj
Sibi Sathyaraj (also credited as Sibiraj) is an Indian actor working in the Tamil film industry. He is the son of actor Sathyaraj.
Early life and education
Sibi did his schooling in Sherwood Hall Senior Secondary School and Don Bosco Matricula ...
and
Ramya Raj
Ramya Raj, alias Ragini, is a Malaysian actress, who has appeared in Tamil films.
Career
She is probably best known for her performances in ''Sandai''. Ramya is related to actress Khushbu, by her elder sister being Kushboo's sister-in-law. T ...
also signed on to be a part of Charan's project. The film progressed quietly through 2008 under the working title of ''Kavasam'', with the subject being described as a "crime thriller". The music for the film released in November 2009, whilst the film released the following January coinciding with the Tamil festival of
Thai Pongal
Pongal (, ), also referred to as Tai Pongal (), is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated by Tamils in India and Sri Lanka. .
Soundtrack
Film score (BGM) was composed by
Thaman
Ghantasala Sai Srinivas Thaman (born 16 November 1983), known professionally as Thaman S, earlier as S S Thaman, is an Indian music composer, professional drummer, and playback singer who predominantly works in Telugu films and Tamil films. Th ...
of ''
Eeram
''Eeram'' () is a 2009 Indian Tamil-language supernatural crime thriller film written and directed by Arivazhagan in his directorial debut and produced by S. Shankar. The film stars Aadhi, Nandha, Sindhu Menon, and Saranya Mohan, while Srinath, ...
'' and ''
Mundhinam Paartheney
''Mundhinam Paartheney'' is a 2010 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film written and directed by debutant director Magizh Thirumeni, starring newcomers Sanjay, Ekta Ghosla, Lizna, Pooja and Sai Prashanth in lead roles. The film, produced by ...
'' fame. The songs were composed by
James Vasanthan
James Vasanthan is an Indian Television (Tamil) host, a film music composer, and a filmmaker and a motivational speaker. For more than two decades, he has worked as an anchor in popular Tamil satellite television channels like Sun TV and Vijay ...
of ''
Subramaniapuram
''Subramaniapuram'' is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language period action film produced, written, and directed by Sasikumar. The low-budget film received critical acclaim for its original script, expert direction, screenplay, editing, fresh music, accu ...
'' and ''
Pasanga
''Pasanga'' () is an Indian Tamil language, Tamil-language children's film directed by Pandiraj. It stars debutant child actors like Kishore DS, Sree Raam and Thamizh (actor), Pandian, along with newcomer Vimal and Vega Tamotia in supporting rol ...
'' fame, who for the first time scores music for a thriller film. Actor
Silambarasan
Silambarasan Thesingu Rajendar, nicknamed as Simbu or his initials S. T. R., is an Indian actor, filmmaker and musician in Tamil cinema. He began his acting career by playing roles as a child artist in films directed by his father T. Rajendar, b ...
and music composer
Devi Sri Prasad
Devi Sri Prasad (; born 2 August 1979) is an Indian film composer, lyricist, singer-songwriter and performer. Popularly known by his initials DSP, he is best known for his work in Telugu-language films, and has also worked in a few Tamil films ...
sung together for one song, apart from the likes of
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam (4 June 1946 – 25 September 2020), also referred to as SPB or SP Balu or Balu, was an Indian playback singer, television presenter, actor, music composer, dubbing artist, and film producer. He is wi ...
,
K. S. Chithra
Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra (born 27 July 1963), always credited as K. S. Chithra or Chithra, is an Indian playback singer and Carnatic musician. In a career spanning over four decades, she has recorded over 25,000 songs in various In ...
and
Sunitha Sarathy
Sunitha Sarathy is an Indian vocalist and performer in both Indian contemporary and Western classical music genres. She is also a gospel singer who performs in various church choirs. After having won the "Virgin Voice Choice" contest – a joi ...
.
Release
Box office
The film opened in most centres across
Chennai
Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...
,
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of India ...
to a mixed opening. The filmgrossed Rs. 7,99,274 in the opening weekend in Chennai
Reviews
Upon release, the film generally received mixed reviews. In reference to the performances,
Rediff
Rediff.com (stylized as ''rediff.com'') is an Indian news, information, entertainment and shopping web portal. It was founded in 1996. It is headquartered in Mumbai, with offices in Bangalore, New Delhi and New York City.
, it had more than 300 e ...
claimed that
Prasanna is "sweet, savvy, intense and desperate as the situation demands" and that his diction "too is superb". It went on to claim that
Sibiraj
Sibi Sathyaraj (also credited as Sibiraj) is an Indian actor working in the Tamil film industry. He is the son of actor Sathyaraj.
Early life and education
Sibi did his schooling in Sherwood Hall Senior Secondary School and Don Bosco Matricula ...
, who makes more of an impact, despite that "he apes his esteemed father often, especially in tone of voice and modulation" but "he seems to have had a blast doing it".
Ramya Raj
Ramya Raj, alias Ragini, is a Malaysian actress, who has appeared in Tamil films.
Career
She is probably best known for her performances in ''Sandai''. Ramya is related to actress Khushbu, by her elder sister being Kushboo's sister-in-law. T ...
has "more than one role to play, and does justice to it" whilst
SPB plays his role with "élan". In reference to the script, Behindwoods criticized it by labelling that "the script employs countless twists and turns, although only a few of them really work – before which the damage of ruining it is already done", whilst also mentioning that "Naanayam also feels like it is inspired from a vaguely familiar Hollywood movie."
References
External links
* {{IMDb title, 2778412
2010 crime thriller films
2010 films
Indian heist films
Films about organised crime in India
2010s Tamil-language films
2010 directorial debut films
Films scored by James Vasanthan
2010s heist films