Garudan (2024 film)

Garudan is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written and directed by R. S. Durai Senthilkumar, from a root story by Vetrimaaran. It is jointly produced by Vetrimaaran's Grass Root Film Company and K. Kumar's Lark Studios. The film stars Soori, M. Sasikumar and Unni Mukundan in the lead roles. Roshini Haripriyan, Sshivada, Revathi Sharma, Samuthirakani, Vadivukkarasi, R. V. Udayakumar and Mime Gopi appear in supporting roles. It follows Sokkan, a trusted confidante of two childhood friends, Aadhi and Karuna, whose loyalty is changed by a dynamic between betrayal and survival.

The film was officially announced untitled in September 2023, and is Soori's second film as the lead actor, after Viduthalai Part 1. Principal photography commenced the same month and wrapped in January 2024. The title was announced later that month. The film has music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, cinematography handled by Arthur A. Wilson, and editing by Pradeep E. Ragav.

Garudan was released worldwide on 31 May 2024 in theatres to positive reviews from critics, who praised the lead cast's performance (especially Soori, Sasikumar and Unni Mukundan), Yuvan's background score, and Senthilkumar's screenplay and direction.

Plot
Karunakaran "Karuna" and Aditya "Aadhi" have been close friends since their childhood in Kombai, Theni. They share very close ties and never give up on each other under any circumstances. During their childhood, Karuna was saved by an orphan named Sokkan from danger, for which, Karuna took in Sokkan, in gratitude. Sokkan became a true, faithful, and fierce loyalist to Karuna. The three of them grew up in the care of Karuna's grandmother, Sellayee. Although Karuna was a zamin heir, currently, he is living in poverty with a meager income from his brick kiln, while Adi owns a few lorries. Both remain powerful in Kombai while presiding and managing as trustees of the Kombai Amman temple.

Meanwhile, the Registration Department Minister, Thangapandi, plans to usurp unclaimed land worth ₹330 crores near Chennai. He learns that the land belongs to the Kombai Amman temple while the original deed is in a jewelry box in the same temple. Upon the head of the temple's trustee committee, Sellayee's death, Nagaraj, a relative of Thangapandi, plans to become the temple committee head at the instruction of Thangapandi. However, Sokkan becomes the temple committee head with the support of Aadhi and Karuna. The key to the temple treasury comes to Aadhi; Nagaraj, to somehow redeem the bond, provokes Karuna's wife, Angayarkanni, and his brother-in-law, Vairavel, by kindling their greed for money. To aid Nagaraj in the minister's plan, Inspector Muthuvel is also forced to join upon Thangapandi's coercion.

Vairavel, who is already angry with Aadhi for forcing him to marry Parveen, whom he had cheated on, stirs up trouble amongst the 3 friends. When Aadhi discovers fake jewels in the jewelry box of the temple and Karuna's involvement in it, he hands him over to the police, thinking to bail him out using his property, but is stopped by Nagaraj and Vairavel, who bring the actual jewelry. The conflict deepens as Karuna feels betrayed. During the temple festival, they plan to attack the jewelry box-carrying van during transport from the bank to the temple, but are thwarted by Aadhi. At the festival, a fight unfolds between Aadhi and Nagaraj's henchmen; Karuna also pretends to fight the thieves. As Sokkan gets possessed by the divine, he chops off Vairavel's hand and saves Aadhi.

Realizing that the deed cannot be stolen as long as Aadhi is alive, Karuna takes Sokkan to Kodaikanal, leaves him there, and returns along with Nagaraj and his henchmen to kill Aadhi. Aadhi's wife, Katyayini, advises her husband to hand over the bond so that a part of that 20 crores can be used for Komban's development works. Aadhi accepts and when he goes to give it, Karuna and Vairavel brutally kill Aadhi. Sokkan follows Karuna from Kodaikanal only to get called to Aadhi's house for lunch. When he comes back, he finds Aadhi's dead body. However, Sokkan does not betray Karuna in the police investigation knowing fully well that he was responsible for Aadhi's heinous murder, due to his loyalty towards him. Karuna informs Sokkan that he killed Aadhi only in self-defense. Karuna escapes the punishment as Katyaini tries but fails to find a witness. Aadhi's son, Samaran, to avenge his father's death, tries to kill Karuna but is stopped by Sokkan, who rather protects him from Karuna, but the accompanying Vinnarasi gets caught with Karuna.

To protect Samaran, Sokkan takes him to another town which Nagaraj spots, and tries to kill Samaran. But Sokkan intervenes and kills Nagaraj and surrenders to the police station himself. When Karuna comes and inquires, Sokkan confesses that he killed both Nagaraj and Vairavel. At the police station lockup, Karuna's former business partner informs that Karuna killed Sellayee as well as she resisted Karuna from substituting the temple jewels with the fake ones. However, he had recorded his conversation with Karuna and him adding the poison to her toddy. He later showed the videos to Aadhi, who went to question Karuna, resulting in his death. On his way to be produced before the magistrate, Sokkan escapes and goes to Karuna's brick kiln to seek justice. Realizing that Sokkan knows the truth, Karuna brutally attacks Sokkan.

Meanwhile, Katyayini and Samaran come in search of Vinnarasi to the brick kiln, but get beaten brutally by Karuna. Sokkan discovers Vinnarasi in the kiln's chamber, prepared to be cremated alive, and is compelled to fight back. He saves Vinnarasi, Katyaini, and Samaran, by ultimately killing Karuna. Muthuvel gives all this information to his superior officer as a detailed report along with his resignation. The police officer secretly tells Thangapandi that if Sokkan is convicted, he along with all the associates up to him will be punished for the murders and the temple land theft. With no other choice, Sokkan is released without any charges, reuniting with Vinnarasi. In the end credits, it is shown that Thangapandi had been fatally injured in a road accident.

Production
After the success of Viduthalai Part 1 in 2023, it was reported that Soori would begin his second project as a lead actor, after completing filming pending portions for Viduthalai Part 2. The project would be directed by R. S. Durai Senthilkumar and written by Vetrimaaran. It would reportedly be funded by K. Kumar's Lark Studios, who had been associating with Soori for a long time. The company made a public announcement on 11 September, confirming the project, which was tentatively titled Karudan. A muhurat puja was held the same day at Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu with the film's cast and crew. The film's official title, Garudan, was revealed on 19 January 2024.

M. Sasikumar, Unni Mukundan, Revathi Sharma, Sshivada, and Roshini Haripriyan would play prominent roles. Roshini would make her film debut with this film. All of their inclusions were confirmed during their presence at the muhurat puja. Music composer Yuvan Shankar Raja, editor Pradeep E. Ragav and cinematographer Arthur A. Wilson were chosen for the technical crew.

Principal photography began in September 2023, and wrapped in early January 2024. Although the film's story was marketed as Vetrimaaran's story, Senthilkumar stated during the promotions that the story actually came from Soori himself.

Music
The music and background score is composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, in his maiden collaboration with Soori (in a lead role) and Senthilkumar. The first single, "Panjavarna Kiliye", released on 10 February 2024. The complete soundtrack was released on 21 May 2024.

Release
Garudan was released worldwide on 31 May 2024 in theatres.

Home media
Amazon Prime acquired the digital rights to Garudan in Tamil and it began streaming on the platform on 3 July 2024.

Critical response
Garudan received positive reviews from critics, who praised the lead cast's performance (especially Soori, Sasikumar, Mukundan), Yuvan's background score and Senthilkumar's screenplay and direction.

Abhinav Subramanian of The Times of India rated 3.5/5 stars and noted that "Garuden will appeal to those who like an emotional rural action flick." Writing for OTTPlay, Anusha Sundar rated the film 3/5 with praise for Soori's performance noting "Garudan is a solid film that perfectly suits Soori as a follow-up, after playing the lead in Viduthalai." In his review for The Hindu, Gopinath Rajendran praised the film writing,"With a neatly woven script that has enough brawn to overcome its minor shortcomings, director RS Durai Senthilkumar makes a splendid comeback with this raw and intense rural drama." In his review for The Indian Express, Kirubakhar Purushottaman praised the writing of Vetrimaaran, Senthilkumar's direction and Soori's performance. Writing for Cinema Express, Sudhir Srinivasan remarked, "Soori, like he did in Viduthalai Part 1, fills up the character with so much innocence, and this means that when he does fight back, when he even utters a word of protest, it feels heroic, for this isn’t a man enjoying his heroism."