Virumaandi

Infobox Film
name = Virumaandi


director = Kamal Haasan
starring = Kamal Haasan
Abhirami
Nasser
Pasupathy
Napolean
Rohini
Kanthimari
Pyramid Natarajan
producer = Chandra Haasan
released = 2004
runtime = 165 mins
cinematography = Keshav Prakash
language = Tamil
music = Ilayaraaja

"Virumaandi" (2004) is a Tamil action film directed by Kamal Haasan. Virumaandi revolves around two criminals being interviewed. They express how they feel about the direction their lives have taken and how they have ended up where they are. The film revolves around the controversy of the death penalty. The cast includes Haasan, Abhirami, Pasupathy, Napolean and Rohini in pivotal roles. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Ilayaraaja.

Plot

The film starts with Anjela Kathumuthu (Rohini) and her cameraman in Central Jail filming interviews of prisoners serving life imprisonment and awaiting the death sentence. She meets Kothala Thevar (Pasupathy) who is serving a life sentence. He tells his version of the story that led to his conviction. According to him the root cause of the problem is Virumaandi (Kamal Haasan) - the happy go lucky rogue. His support to Kothala Thevar in his clash against Nallama Naicker (Napoleon) brings about a bonding between the two. Annalakshmi (Abhirami), the niece of Thevar falls for Virumaandi. Thevar with an eye on the fertile land owned by Virumaandi does not object to the romance. According to Thevar, Annalakshmi was abducted by Viramaandi and raped. A clash between Viumaandi and Thevar takes places in which 24 innocent people are killed.

Now it’s the turn of Virumaandi to tell his version of the story. He tells his version of how he fell in love with Annalakshmi and her influence on him.He kisses her many times on her lips and has sex. He is told to learn to apologize and that forgiveness is a virtue. A clash at the Panchayat infuriates Annalakshmi and she asks Virumaandi to apologize to the elders whom he insulted. He goes to apologize but Thevar and his men thinking he has gone to take revenge come in groups and hack down innocents to death. Thevar uses his clout to get out of the murder charge but Virumaandi who was involved in the bloodbath is disturbed because he had to lie to save Thevar and his kin. As part of the penance he wills his land for the villagers and Annalakshmi asks him to marry her and leave the village. He marries her at the village temple and goes away in the night with the girl and stays with a relative. Thevar's men come and abduct Annalakshmi and forcibly marry her to Thevar's nephew. This is to ensure that Annalakshmi's property does not go to Virumaandi. Annalakshmi commits suicide. Virumaandi takes revenge by hacking to death Thevar's family. Thevar escapes. Nallama Naicker gives refuge to Virumaandi and sends him off to Chennai. Thevar and his men ask Nallama Naicker to hand over Virumaandi. A battle ensues in which Nallama Naicker is killed. The case goes to court. Virumaandi turns up in court. He finds all evidence is against him. He is convicted of having raped Annalakshmi and killing her and later on killing 26 men of Thevar who inquired into the rape. Anjela Kattumuthu's cameraman discreetly shoots the deputy jailor conspiring with warders and convicts to bump off the chief jailor (Nasser). A revolt among the jail staff leads to a jail break, the jailor being stabbed and Virumaandi saving the vital evidence and Anjela from the deputy jailor and his henchmen forms the climax. The film ends on a note that death sentence should be abolished.

Cast

Awards

The film has won the following awards since its release:

2004 Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (South Korea)
* Won - - - International Award for Best Asian Film - Virumaandi - Kamal Haasan

Miscellanea

*The film was a big blockbuster upon release.