Marudhu

Marudhu is a 2016 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by M. Muthaiah. It features Vishal in the lead role. Production began in November 2015. It was released worldwide on 20 May 2016 with mixed reviews but ended up as a profitable venture at the box office.

Plot
Maruthu is a laborer from Thalaivankottai, working in the Rajapalayam vegetable market, who does not tolerate injustice and leads a happy life with his grandmother, Appathaa, and his close friend, Kokkarako. While working at the market, Maruthu sees some goons chasing his girlfriend Bhagyam and her father, where he beats up the goons and learns from Bhagyam's father that Bhagyam's mother Mariyamma was a brave woman who stood up to the atrocities committed by the municipal chairman Rolex Pandiyan on the local people. When Mariyamma decided to run against Pandiyan in the upcoming municipal election, Pandiyan and his men brutally hacked her to death. Bhagyam and her father are unable to prove in court that Pandiyan committed the murder. Appathaa, who witnessed Mariyamma's brutal murder gets upset that she did not stop it and has Maruthu married to Bhagyam to repent her earlier actions. Maruthu also promises to avenge Mariyamma's death, where a cat-and-mouse game ensues with Pandiyan using all means to stop Bhagyam and Appathaa from testifying against him, but to no avail. At the court, Appathaa testifies against Pandiyan, who is issued an arrest warrant against him. In retribution, Pandiyan kidnaps Appathaa and brutally tortures her to death. Enraged, Maruthu single-handedly fights Pandiyan and his gang, kills them all and performs Appathaa's funeral rites.

Cast

 * Vishal as Maruthu
 * Soori as Kokkarako
 * Sri Divya as Bhagyam
 * Kulappulli Leela as Maariamma (Appatha)
 * R. K. Suresh as Rolex Pandi (Main Antagonist)
 * Radha Ravi as Bailwan
 * Aadhira Pandilakshmi as Silambakallu Mariyamma
 * G. Marimuthu as Bhagyam's father
 * G. Gnanasambandam as Tahsildar
 * Namo Narayana as Pambarathaan
 * Aruldoss as Rolex Pandiyan's henchmen
 * Bharathi Kannan
 * Saravana Sakthi

Production
Vishal agreed terms to feature in an action film directed by Muthaiah and produced by Anbuchezhiyan during July 2015, with D. Imman and Velraj added to the team as music composer and cinematographer, respectively. Lakshmi Menon was considered to play the film's lead actress, but the role was eventually handed to Sri Divya. R. K. Suresh was picked to play an antagonist, while Radharavi was also added to the cast of the film, much surprisingly, after losing to Vishal in a much-publicized poll during the 2015 Nadigar Sangam elections.

The film began shooting in Rajapalayam in late November 2015, after a small launch ceremony.

Release
The satellite rights of the film were sold to Sun TV.

Soundtrack
The soundtrack of the film was composed by D. Imman.

Reception
The film received positive reviews from critics. Behindwoods called it "One more rural flick riding high on and violence".