Viduthalai Part 1

Viduthalai (titled onscreen as Viduthalai Part 1) is a 2023 Indian Tamil-language period crime thriller film directed and co-produced by Vetrimaaran, who co-wrote the screenplay with B. Jeyamohan, under Grass Root Film Company and RS Infotainment. It is the first of a two-part adaptation of the short story Thunaivan by Jeyamohan. Set in 1987, the film follows a constable, who is recruited to arrest the leader of a separatist group. The ensemble cast includes Soori, Vijay Sethupathi, Bhavani Sre, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Rajiv Menon, Ilavarasu, Balaji Sakthivel, Saravana Subbiah, Chetan, Munnar Ramesh, and Pavel Navageethan.

Viduthalai was originally announced as a single film in April 2021, with principal photography already having commenced in December 2020. However, it was later announced to be released in two-parts. It was predominantly shot in Chengalpattu, with the first part's portions wrapping by late-December 2022. The film has music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, cinematography handled by R. Velraj and editing by R. Ramar.

Viduthalai released on 31 March 2023 in theaters to positive reviews from critics and became a commercial success at the box office. A direct sequel titled Viduthalai Part 2 is scheduled for a release in 2024.

Plot
In 1987, a train derailment occurs in rural Tamil Nadu, leaving many people severely injured or dead. Following the rescue operation, the officials begin their investigation, and indicts the extremist group Makkal Padai, who, they say, caused the incident as a protest against the state government's decision to allow a mining company from taking over their hilltop village for a project. The government announces Operation Ghosthunt to capture the group's leader Vaathiyar Perumal, whose identity and whereabouts are unknown.

Meanwhile, Kumaresan is a newly-recruited constable who joins a police batch named E-Company as a new driver. Kumaresan learns about the complicated alliances and conflicts between Makkal Padai and the government, where he also discovers that following orders are essential and that he cannot always help the locals, which conflicts with his helpful nature. Kumaresan also discovers about the intricacies of bureaucracy and the difficulties of professional life, especially as a newly recruited officer. Kumaresan also falls in love with Tamilarasi "Pappa", the granddaughter of a woman whom Kumaresan once rescued to be admitted in hospital after a bear attack. Due to a brutal incident orchestrated by E-Company's Officer-in-charge (OC) Ragavendar, the government assigns DSP Sunil Menon as the head of the operation.

The police decide to turn the residents of the hill village against Perumal. Sunil interrogates a villager and manages to sketch Perumal's face, causing Kumaresan to realise that the people which he helped during his duty hours were actually Perumal and his men. He relays this information to Head Constable Chandran, unaware that Chandran is actually a part of Makkal Padai and Perumal's mole. Chandran secretly informs Perumal about Kumaresan. Makkal Padai attempts to assassinate Sunil, but he manages to escape unscathed. Sunil orders some of his officers to disguise themselves as members of Makkal Padai to earn the trust of the villagers. Kumaresan learns from Pappa that Perumal has actually been targeting officers who are committing atrocities against innocents in the name of police interrogation.

Pappa also reveals that the officers were involved in the death of her father, which led her mother to suffer a mental breakdown. Kumaresan realises about the extent of police brutality against the villagers. During the construction in the hilltop village, Makkal Padai attacks the inauguration ceremony, where they shoot four officers dead. Enraged, Sunil orders the police to arrest any villagers who are suspected to be involved with Makkal Padai. The police drag the villagers away for interrogation, where Pappa's grandmother is killed during torture. A few days later, Pappa is arrested and tortured along with other villagers from her village by E-Company as the police believe that one of them is Perumal's close relative.

Wracked with guilt, Kumaresan meets Sunil and tells him about Perumal's hideout, where he is assigned along with other officers to arrest Perumal. After a massive shootout, Kumaresan manages to arrest Perumal. Pappa draws the police attention to save others and is taken away. Perumal is interrogated in custody, while Kumaresan is unable to find Pappa. Ragavendar suspends Kumaresan for not filing an act-of-subordination memo and tells that he will take credit for Kumaresan's effort to arrest Perumal.

In the mid-credits scene, a photographer sneaks into the camp and records the brutal atrocities on women by the police department. Perumal is interrogated and insulted by Sunil. Later, Perumal manages to escape and meets with Kumaresan in the forest, where he reveals important information about the train attack. Perumal tells Kumaresan and the police to find the truth behind the attack.

Development
In July 2019, writer/director Vetrimaaran was reported to be collaborating with Soori for a future project. In April 2020, due to the restrictions in air travel resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Vetrimaaran decided to make changes in the script and used the lockdown period for pre-production works. Media reports later claimed that Vetrimaaran had adapted the short story "Thunaivan" written by B. Jeyamohan, with the film being titled the same. However, later reports stated the makers decided to title the film as Viduthalai. This was confirmed on 21 April 2021 with the first look being released. Originally intended to be a single film, it was later split into two parts. Cinematography was handled by R. Velraj, editing by R. Ramar, and action choreography by Peter Hein.

Casting
Soori worked with Vetrimaaran from the inception of the project, and Viduthalai Part 1 became his first film in a leading role. He said Vijay Sethupathi earlier advised him to explore all kinds of roles and not restrict himself to the comical roles he was primarily known for. In January 2021, Sethupathi joined the cast, marking his first collaboration with Vetrimaaran. His character is based on Kaliyaperumal Vaathiyaar, a member of the Tamil Desiyam Group who operated in the 1980s.

Bharathiraja was reported to be joining the film, which would have been his first collaboration with Vetrimaaran, although he was replaced by Kishore during the filming of the first schedule. Ilaiyaraaja was brought on to compose music for the film, marking his first collaboration with Vetrimaaran. In January 2021, Bhavani Sre, sister of composer G. V. Prakash Kumar, was announced to be playing the female lead, in her third feature film after Ka Pae Ranasingam and Paava Kadhaigal. In April 2021, Gautham Vasudev Menon was reported to play the role of a police officer.

Filming
The filmmakers moved to Sathyamangalam forest to prepare to shoot major sequences featuring Soori during December 2020. Bharathiraja resigned from the film citing the weather conditions, which led Vetrimaaran to replace him with Kishore. The shooting of the film took place in Sathyamangalam for three months, and the filmmakers moved to Chengalpattu in April 2021, in which the filmmakers erected a police camp set, and shot there for 20 days. The filmmakers later planned to shoot the last leg of the film at Sathyamangalam after the COVID-19 lockdown there ended. Principal photography wrapped by 31 December 2022. Several portions of the film were shot on an iPhone, to lower production costs.

Music
The film's soundtrack is composed by Ilaiyaraaja in his maiden collaboration with Vetrimaaran. Ilaiyaraaja composed the song of the film in his newly launched music studio in Kodambakkam, after his falling-out with Prasad Studios, where he recorded songs for nearly four decades. Music composition of the film began in February 2021. The music rights were purchased by Sony Music India. The first single titled "Onnoda Nadandhaa" released on 8 February 2023.

Release
The distribution rights for Tamil Nadu were acquired by Red Giant Movies. The overseas distribution rights for UK and Europe were acquired by Ahimsa Entertainment. The film released theatrically on 31 March 2023. It was later screened at the 54th International Film Festival of India.

Home media
The streaming rights of the film were acquired by ZEE5, while the satellite rights were acquired by Kalaignar TV. The film began streaming on ZEE5 from 28 April 2023.

Critical response
Viduthalai: Part 1 received positive reviews from critics.

Logesh Balachandran of The Times of India gave 4/5 stars and wrote "Viduthalai Part 1 maintains a consistent pace and keeps viewers engaged with moments of high tension. It stays true to Vetri Maaran's style and artistry, making audiences eager for the sequel." P. Sangeetha of OTTplay gave 4/5 and wrote "Viduthalai scores on all corners, be it the plot, narration, background score, acting performances, cinematography and not to forget, the filmmaking. A brilliant film from the Vetri Maaran stable!" Sarath Ramesh Kuniyl of The Week gave 4/5 stars and wrote "Viduthalai is a multi-layered film, held together by a gripping narrative."

Latha Srinivasan of India Today gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "Viduthalai (Freedom) is a film that is a must-watch because it offers a new cinematic perspective of Vetrimaaran and especially because Soori is outstanding." Kirubhakar Purushothaman of The Indian Express gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "Vetrimaaran is back with another film about police brutality that is heart-wrenching and might be a hard watch if you prefer your safety zone." Bharathy Singaravel of The News Minute gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "Soori is masterful in Vetrimaaran's gritty political spectacle."

Haricharan Pudipeddi of Hindustan Times wrote "Viduthalai: Part 1, which is definitely not for the faint-hearted, is an elaborate, detailed exploration of abuse of power." Gopinath Rajendran of The Hindu wrote "Viduthalai: Part 1 ends at a crucial juncture and the ending makes it evident that exponentially more incidents are bound to happen in the sequel; Vetri Maaran leaves us on the edge of our seats." Vishal Menon of Film Companion wrote "Viduthalai remains the rare instance in a Vetri Maaran movie where you do not have to take a disciplined, conscious effort to wash away the chilling imagery. It’s still a powerful film but it’s arguably the only time a film of his did not feel like a punch to your gut."

Box office
Viduthalai: Part 1 grossed ₹3.5 crore on its release day, and ₹28 crore worldwide in four days.

Sequel
The sequel Viduthalai Part 2 is scheduled for release in 2024.