Virumaandi

Virumaandi is a 2004 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written, co-edited, produced, and directed by Kamal Haasan, who also performed in the title role. The cast also includes Pasupathy, Napoleon, Abhirami, Rohini, Shanmugarajan and Nassar in pivotal roles. The film's score and soundtrack were composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film won critical acclaim and was a commercial success at the box office. It also marked Abhirami's last film before her marriage and Rohini’s comeback film after an 8-year hiatus from acting.

The film revolves around the interview of two prison inmates, firstly, Kothala Thevar's (Pasupathy) life sentence, and secondly, Virumaandi (Kamal Haasan), who is sentenced to be hanged. The criminals express how they feel about the direction that their lives have taken and how they have ended up where they are. The film's narrative is based on the Rashomon effect.

Plot
In Chennai, Angela Kathamuthu, a civil rights activist, and her cameraman in Madras Central Prison interview prisoners serving life imprisonment and awaiting the death sentence, for her PhD thesis in law, against the death penalty. In her first day inside the prison, she interviews multiple death penalty convicts and records their perspectives about the death penalty. When she is about to leave, she is covertly told about the immoral practices of Deputy-Jailer Peykkaman and his drug peddeling racket by death penalty convict Narayanan. As she enters the prison for the second day, there is a sit-in protest, demanding the reason for the sudden death of Narayanan due to cardiac arrest. Angela meets Kothala Thevar, who is serving a double life sentence for assisting in the murder of 24 people in Theni district. He tells his version of the story that led to his conviction.

According to Kothala, the root cause of the problem is Virumaandi Thevar, a happy-go-lucky rogue. Two years ago, Virumaandi has a large part of the land in Chinna Kolarupatti, their village, and has high underground water levels, which is eyed by every other farmer. Virumaandi lost his mother when he was 10. He was taken to Chennai and later to Singapore by his father. Even after his father died, Virumandi still lived there, but at the age of 28, he was convicted for a small crime, whipped and sent back to India. He comes back to live with his paternal grandmother in Chinna Kolarupatti and practice agriculture. His support to his distant relative Kothala in his clash against Nallama Nayakkar brings about a bonding between the two, as Nayakkar killed Kothala's father Thavasi Thevar in a melee caused during a peace meeting between Virumandi and Kothala's father. Annalakshmi, Kothala's niece, falls in love with Virumaandi. Kothala, with an eye on the fertile land owned by Virumaandi, does not object to the romance. Meanwhile, Virumandi's grandmother dies, and at the funeral, then the local Inspector of Police Peykkaman, in lieu of Nayakkar, offers a huge sum for Virumandi's land. Virumandi rejects the bid, insults both Kothala and Nayakkar, and warns everyone from buying his land.

Within a week, an assassination attempt is made on Virumaandi. He is injured and secretly brought to the police station by Annalakshmi, and eventually he is saved. Virumandi realizes his love for Annalakshmi and rejoins with Kothala. Annalakshmi secretly gives Virumandi the evidence that Kothala is the one who tried to kill him. Virumandi attacks Kothala and his gang, but Kothala again blames the murder attempt on Nayakkar, and Virumandi goes to file a complaint on Nayakkar. A Panchayat is called to solve this issue, and in the meeting of eight villages, Virumaandi's gang is verbally humiliated. Virumaandi goes to Nayakkar's village to take revenge at night, and Kothala's gang is forced to save him, where 24 lives are taken. Virumaandi saves all of them by his false testification so that he can marry Annalakshmi, but Kothala seemingly refused the marriage. According to Kothala, Annalakshmi was abducted by Virumaandi and brutally raped. She later escapes from him, comes home, tells what happened, and commits suicide by hanging herself. A clash between Virumaandi and Kothala takes place in which six henchmen are killed. Virumaandi then escapes and kills Nayakkar but is later caught by the police. In the 26 people murder case, Virumaandi testifies against Kothala's gang, getting them all 15-year sentences, while Virumaandi gets a five-year sentence for raping Annalakshmi and then the death penalty for the six people murder case. Here, Kothala stops and says that God has given justice, but Virumaandi is still angry.

Angela tries to make Virumaandi talk, but Virumaandi verbally assaults her. Finally, Angela says that she is doing a PhD against the death penalty as her father, who toiled to raise her, and got her married to a man named James, was forced to kill James to save her from marital abuse. Her father was hanged in the same prison years ago, and then she chose law as a career. After much resentment and objection, Virumaandi agrees to turn to tell his version to Angela. Virumaandi, 28 was sent back to home from Singapore for taking responsibility for his cousin's actions. His only close relation was his grandmother, who practices natural farming without artificial fertilizers and avoids deep bore wells. Kothala had a silent eye on the fertile land owned by Virumaandi as it had the only rich underground water availability. He treats Virumaandi as his nephew. Virumaandi falls in love with Annalakshmi after he tames her stubborn bull at a jallikattu event. That night, his grandmother dies, and he rejects all offers for his land at the ensuing funeral. 7 days later, an attempt is made on Virumaandi's life during the village festival. Annalakshmi finds him and admits him to the hospital. Gradually, she falls in love with him. She teaches him the importance of apology and forgiveness. The clash at the peace Panchayat insults Kothala's gang, and their need for revenge infuriates Annalakshmi, who asks Virumaandi to apologize to the elders whom he insulted. He goes to apologize single-handedly at night to Nayakkar's village, but Kothala and his men, thinking he has gone to take revenge, come in groups and hack down innocents to death, despite his pleas. Kothala uses his clout to get out of the murder charge, but Virumaandi, who was not involved in the bloodbath, is disturbed because he had to lie in court to save Kothala and his kin. As part of the penance, he transfers all his land for the affected villagers. Annalakshmi asks him to marry her and leave the village. He marries her at the village temple, goes away at night with her, and stays with his aunt, whose son he helped. They consummate their marriage that night.

Kothala's men come the next day, when Virumaandi was away, and abduct Annalakshmi, forcibly taking her home. Kothala and his gang remove her thaali, and forcibly get her married again, to Kothala's nephew Kottaisamy. This is to ensure that Annalakshmi's share in property does not go to Virumaandi. Kottaisamy is then asked by Kothala to consummate his marriage immediately, by raping Annalakshmi. Unable to tolerate, Annalakshmi avoids Kottaisamy and hangs herself. Upon hearing the news, a distraught Virumaandi enters Kothala's house to kill the gang. He takes revenge by hacking Kothala's four men, including Kottaisamy, to death but finds Kothala holding his own son upside down on a staircase. Virumaandi places his weapon down, and Kothala escapes. Nayakkar shelters Virumaandi and sends him off to Chennai. Kothala and his men corner Nayakkar to hand over Virumaandi. A melee ensues in which Nayakkar is killed. Virumaandi turns up in court, where he finds that all evidence is framed against him. He is convicted of having raped and killed Annalakshmi and later on being the main reason for killing Kothala's four relatives, and also the main accused for the murder of 26 lives in Nayakkar's village. He is sentenced to the first six years in jail, followed by death by hanging. He turns approver in the latter case, causing the jailing of Kothala and his men.

While leaving the jail, Angela's cameraman discreetly films a conversation between Peykkaman and other jail wardens and convicts to bump off Chief Jailer Jayanth I.P.S. This is because all of them traffic drugs into the prison, and this is now under investigation by Jayanth. Peykkaman also reveals that Virumaandi never killed anyone except Kottaisamy and a henchman of Kothala, but his explicit charge sheet got him a death sentence. A revolt among the jail staff leads to a jailbreak, as Jayanth gets stabbed and Virumaandi saves the evidence and Angela from Peykkaman and his henchmen. Jayanth insists Virumaandi to wear a police uniform and safely get Angela out of the jail. When Virumaandi and Angela are about to leave the jail, Kothala stabs Virumaandi, proving that Virumaandi was true all the time. Virumaandi then barehandedly almost kills Kothala, but Angela insists not to kill him. Kothala ends up being killed in the melee, while Virumaandi and Angela escape. The riot is stopped, and Angela presents the evidence in court. Angela applies for Virumaandi's clemency to the President of India, stating that the six-year prison sentence is enough as he did not commit any other offense other than the action of instant emotion, and to release him immediately. Virumaandi, on TV, pleas for a quick judgement, either to reach Annalakshmi by hanging to death or to live life as a silent man, seeking retribution.

Production
The film was launched on 18 April 2003 under the title Sandiyar at Madurai. K. Krishnasamy, the leader of Pudhiya Tamizhagam, a caste-based political organisation in Tamil Nadu protested against the title Sandiyar, citing that it might create problems. Kamal Haasan subsequently met then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, and the film was later retitled Virumaandi. Shrutika was initially chosen as the lead actress, but ultimately did not continue.

For the scenes involving Jallikattu, real-life bulls were brought in and were recorded live and also Nuendo machine was kept at the shooting venue. Due to political controversy, Kamal had to shift the shoot from Madurai to Chennai. Prabhakar, art director recreated the set of Madurai villages in Chennai.

Cinematographer Keshav Prakash, who was trained in India and the United States, was an assistant to Ravi K. Chandran in Marudhanayagam project. Both Kamal Haasan and Keshav Prakash tried to make the film in high definition mode but had to abandon the project due to some technical snags.

Music
The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.

Release
The film was certified "A" (adults only) by the censor board for excessive violence. In 2015, Virumaandi was screened at the Habitat Film Festival. It was released on Amazon Prime Video on 14 January 2021.

Critical response
Critics praised the screenplay and performances of the cast, but criticised the excessive violence. Sify called it "vital, sardonic and disturbing brave attempt at good cinema with a provocative message. It is an eloquent argument against capital punishment without excusing the killer for his crimes." Shobha Warrier of Rediff.com wrote, "Virumaandi is definitely a Kamal film but this one belongs to Kamal the director, not Kamal the actor." Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote "Virumaandi"s case it [..] is backed by a strong story, astute screenplay, stirring dialogue and deft direction". Malini Mannath of Chennai Online wrote, "the film yet again reveals Kamal Haasan’s undying passion for cinema, his desire and boldness to experiment, irrespective of commercial viability." G. Ulaganathan of Deccan Herald wrote, "It is a disturbing but brave attempt with a provocative message--It is an eloquent argument against capital punishment", but criticised the excessive violence. Visual Dasan of Kalki praised Haasan for screenplay and direction while also praising Prabhakar's work for recreating real prison set, Ilaiyaraaja for using songs and background score effectively in sync with the story and that their contributions lent helping hand to Haasan. Cinesouth wrote "Once again, Kamal has taken up the mantle of a director, actor and producer for the film ‘Virumandi’. The film is not exactly another experimentation, but it has ignored some aspects of commercial cinema to tell us a powerful and strong story on the screen."

Box office
The film released on 456 screens worldwide and first in Tamil cinema with crossing 400 screens. The film got the best opening among Pongal releases grossing ₹6 crores in first weekend worldwide.

Accolades
At the eighth Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival, held in South Korea, Virumaandi won the International Award for Best Asian Film.

Legacy
Director Vetrimaaran cited Virumaandi as one of the inspiration for the screenplay for his national award-winning 2011 film Aadukalam. Director Lokesh Kanagaraj cited the film as a source of inspiration for his 2019 film Kaithi.