Thavasi

Thavasi is a 2001 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by K. R. Udayasankar starring Vijayakanth in dual lead roles as father and son, with Soundarya, Vadivelu, Jayasudha, Prathyusha, Nassar and Sriman playing other pivotal roles. The film was released on 14 November 2001, and received mixed reviews from critics but was a hit at the box office. The film was remade in Kannada as Mallikarjuna.

Plot
Thavasi is an influential do-gooder landlord in a small village, who commands respect from the village. Thavasi and his wife arrange for their son Boopathi's marriage with Priyadarshini. Sankarapandi, who raped and killed Thavasi's sister after marrying her, wants to marry his daughter (whom he had with his second wife) to Boopathi. Thavasi, since he doesn't want his son to marry his daughter, insults Sankarapandi. Sankarapandi instead of saving his prestige, engages her daughter with Maragathammal's son Thangarasu, who is present there. Boopathi's engagement is done with Priyadarshini, with both of them liking each other after many chance encounters. Thangarasu is accused of stealing temple owned jewels, and Thavasi judges him to be guilty. The next day, Thangarasu commits suicide. It is implied that Thangarasu is innocent and took his own life since he couldn't live with the blame. Later, a mute person is arrested as the person who stole the jewel. Hearing this Thangarasu's mother Maragathammal questions Thavasi's judgement, which was said to never be wrong. Thavasi decides to give away his own son Boopathi to Maragathammal, for his injustice to her son. Maragathammal despises Boopathi and treats him badly, though he tolerates it. Sankarapandi wants his daughter to marry Boopathi, who is now the son of Maragathammal, as engaged. Boopathi, unknown to Maragathammal, saves Thanagarasu's imbecile sister from Maragathammal's brother Kottai Perumal's sexual assaulting and also reforms Karmegam, who is the brother-in-law of Thangarasu, who constantly tortures his wife for due dowry. In a chance encounter before his marriage with Sankarapandi's daughter, he meets the mute thief and realises that he acted as a mute. He captures him and makes him confess that Sankarapandi was responsible for the theft of Temple's jewel and Thangarasu's murder, who made it look like suicide. In the end, Boopathi marries Priya and Priya gets pregnant with twins.

Production
The first filming schedule of Thavasi started in Chennai and continued in Pollachi and Udumalpet. Song sequences involving Vijayakanth and Soundarya were shot in Kerala and Kodaikanal. Kumbakonam Mahamaham tank was specially designed for the film as its grandest set. Around 10,000 extras participated in the holy dip. Around 30 artistes performed them while nine cameras whirred from all directions to roll. The introductory scene of Vijayakanth was captured with 12 cameras while his introductory song was shot at Thirubuvanam temple at Kumbakonam. The director revealed in 2023 that Seeman wrote the dialogues but went uncredited.

Soundtrack
Soundtrack was composed by Vidyasagar.

Reception
The film received mixed reviews but still became a box office hit.

Tulika of Rediff.com wrote, "Trouble is, everyone of them have gone through the selfsame motions so often in the past that they seem to sleepwalk through this film, doing their stuff by rote and with little conviction. The crisis is predictable, ditto the denouement. And the fights, songs and comedy tracks that bridge crisis and denouement fail to grip."

BizHat wrote, "Director Udayasankar has done justice in the screenplay and direction area (except for the climax). The last one reel is filled with masala and it is very cinematic."

Prabhu of Lollu Express wrote, "Although Thavasi has the same old story line the movie was enjoyable to watch. Vijaykanth's matured acting and Soundarya's Screen presence were simply superb. A couple of songs were really sweet to hear. Nasser came out with yet another Outstanding performance as he usually does. Vadivelu's comedy was really good. So the movie has various features that can be enjoyed by everyone and was not like other "ARVA KOLARU" movies. These kind of movies can be watched and enjoyed and the movie came at the right time. The movie for sure is a hit movie just because it gave us everything what people expect."

Visual Dasan of Kalki felt by choosing this film Vijayakanth only stabbed the ear of his fan bleeding and further added the aspects that makes audience to watch this film with much patience is Udhayashankar's screenplay with no loopholes, Vidyasagar's music, Vadivelu's humour, performances of Vijayakanth, Jayasudha, Soundarya and Ilavarasu.

Accolades
2001 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
 * Best Comedian – Vadivelu
 * Best Music Director – Vidyasagar (also for his music in Dhill and Poovellam Un Vasam)