Veyil (transl. Sunshine) is a 2006 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by Vasanthabalan. The film stars Bharath, Pasupathy, Bhavana, Priyanka and Sriya Reddy. The music was composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar with cinematography by R. Madhi and editing by Mathan Gunadeva.
| Veyyil | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Vasanthabalan |
| Written by | Vasanthabalan |
| Produced by | S. Shankar |
| Starring | Bharath Pasupathy Bhavana Priyanka Sriya Reddy |
| Cinematography | R. Madhi |
| Edited by | Mathan Gunadeva |
| Music by | G. V. Prakash Kumar |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
The film released on 17 December 2006 and was a commercial success. The first third of Veyil is very loosely based upon the 1988 Italian classic Cinema Paradiso. It is the first Tamil film screened at Cannes as part of the 2007 Cannes Film Festival under the 'Tous les Cinemas du Monde' section.[1]
Plot
editSivanandi Thevar is a butcher who works hard to bring up his four children (two boys and two girls) and have a happy family. Sivanandi's sons are Murugesan and Kathir, and Murugesan dotes on his younger brother Kathir. Murugesan's weakness is films (especially those of MGR) that are screened in a local theatre. One day, life changes for Murugesan when his father catches him watching a film in theatre and smoking a cigarette. Murugesan is severely punished and runs away from home, stealing his family's money and jewels.
Along the way, Murugesan gets sidetracked from his intended destination of Chennai by an MGR movie poster. He is shown watching several MGR shows, buying a change of clothes, and eating a hearty meal with his ill-gotten money. After spending the night at local temple, he wakes up to find his money and other possessions stolen. Murugesan is then taken under the wings of a theatre projectionist in a nearby town. Slowly, the theatre becomes his home.
As adults, Murugesan and Kathir fall in love with Thangam and Meenakshi respectively. Thangam is a beautiful girl who lives opposite the theatre, and Meenakshi is an innocent girl. Kathir starts an advertising agency but faces opposition from Bose and Annachi, the local gangster.
Murugesan's love ends in Thangam's suicide because her father and his relatives beat up and hang Murugesan as they are trying to kill him due to their dislike of him. At that moment, Thangam shows up with a knife and threatens to kill herself if they do not release Murugesan; as they do not release him, she cuts her throat and dies. Murugesan is heartbroken and is released at that moment after Thangam's death. He begins to drink heavily. Sometime later, the theatre is demolished, the owner citing loss of business.
Murugesan decides to return home after 20 years. The rest of the film is all about Murugesan's mental turmoil as he is caught between the deep love showered by his younger brother Kathir, his guilt of not being a responsible son or elder brother, and his remorse to his parents. Then there is Paandi, Murugesan's childhood sweetheart.
Bose, fearing that Kathir will be a challenge to his advertising company, ruins Kathir's agency with the help of Annachi. Kathir retaliates by trying to kill Bose but gets stopped by Murugesan. One day, jewels go missing in Murugesan's family's house. Murugesan's father suspects Murugesan as the thief and insults the latter in front of everyone, when their daughter arrives and tells her father that she took them. After an emotional conversation with his father, Murugesan decides to return.
Kathir learns of this and goes to the bus station to bring Murugesan back. But there, Bose's and Annachi's men stab Kathir. In retaliation, Murugesan beats a few thugs. Kathir is rushed to a hospital and is in critical condition. That night, Murugesan decides to avenge his brother's injury. Murugesan goes to Annachi's place, engages in a duel with him, and becomes unconscious. Bose arrives there with his men and tells him that his brother is dead. Believing this, Murugesan kills Bose and the latter's men. However, Murugesan is stabbed by Bose and dies, while Kathir becomes stable and recovers in the hospital. The next day, all mourn Murugesan's death, and his father is filled with remorse for not having trusted his son when he was alive.
Cast
edit- Bharath as Kathir
- Pasupathy as Murugesan
- Bhavana as Meenakshi
- Priyanka Nair as Thangam
- Sriya Reddy as Paandiyamma
- Ravi Mariya as Bose
- G. M. Kumar as Sivanandi Thevar
- Chaams as Meenakshi's brother
- T. K. Kala
- Bombay Gnanam
- Periya Karuppu Thevar
- Kadhal Sukumar
- Kottachi
- R. S. G. Chelladurai
Production
editVeyil is the first Tamil film to be shot in Virudhunagar.[2] Director and writer Vasanthabalan said that after he wrote the story, S. Shankar was impressed and asked him to expand it into a screenplay.[3] Sandhya was supposed to play the female lead but was replaced by Bhavana.[4] Vasanthabalan cast Sriya Reddy after being impressed with her performance in the 2004 Malayalam film Black.[5]
Soundtrack
editThe soundtrack was composed by debutant G. V. Prakash Kumar, the nephew of A. R. Rahman.[6][7] The soundtrack became hugely popular and received a positive review from Shyam Balasubramanian of Rediff.com.[8]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Veyilodu Vilaiyadi" | Na. Muthukumar | Tippu, Jassie Gift, Kailash Kher, V. V. Prasanna | |
| 2. | "Kaadhal Neruppin" | Na. Muthukumar | Karthik, Chinmayi, Nidheesh Gopalan | |
| 3. | "Urugudhe Maragudhe" | Na. Muthukumar | Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal | |
| 4. | "Sethavadam" | Ekadasi | Manikka Vinayagam | |
| 5. | "Iraivanai Unargira" | Na. Muthukumar | Prashanthini | |
| 6. | "Ooran Thotathhilae" | Na. Muthukumar | Jassie Gift, Tippu | |
| 7. | "Aruva Minuminuga" | Karisal Karunanidhi | Karisal Karunanidhi, Kottaisami, Madurai Chandran, Jayapal, Azhaguthai, Thillai Panneer | |
| 8. | "Kaatraaga Kadhal" | Na. Muthukumar | Rahul Nambiar |
Critical reception
editShwetha Bhaskar of Rediff.com wrote, "Director Vasantha Balan has deftly handled the script, making it his own. By maintaining an energetic pace throughout, he ensures the story doesn't become monotonous or conventional, despite the somewhat predictable plot. His characters are distinctly human with myriad personality flaws, so that the audience can identify with them".[9] Sify wrote, "Once again Shankar has introduced Vasantha Balan a director who understands the nuances of making a realistic film with well-etched out characters and strong screenplay."[10] Lajjavathi of Kalki praised the performances of star cast, Prakash Kumar's music, Madhi's cinematography while also praising for conveying emotions through visuals by lessening dialogues and concluded saying the cinema which used to portray only winners in life has first time portrayed a life of a loser, even that sadness feels good.[11]
Festivals
editAccolades
edit- National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil – 2006
- Elemec's 3rd Amrita Film Awards — Won Best Other Language Film[13]
- Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Film – S. Shankar
- Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Director – Vasanthabalan
- Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film – 2006[14]
References
edit- ^ a b "'Veyil' to shine in Cannes!". Sify. Archived from the original on 6 April 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Rao, Subha J (5 December 2018). "'I Can Write A Light-Hearted Film In Two Days, But I'm Not Sure I Want To': Vasanthabalan". Silverscreen India. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Will 'Veyil' stick to the success list of Shankar?". Behindwoods. 14 July 2006. Archived from the original on 15 July 2006. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "15 years of Vasanthabalan's Veyil: Interesting facts about the film". The Times of India. 11 December 2021. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Menon, Neelima (21 October 2014). "In the Picture: The Sriya Reddy Interview". Silverscreen India. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Veyil (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. 17 December 2006. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Lakshmi, K. (28 January 2008). "A passion for music". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 January 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ Balasubramanian, Shyam (18 September 2006). "Impressive debut from Rahman's nephew". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Bhaskar, Shwetha (11 December 2006). "Watch Veyil for its energy". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Veyil". Sify. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ லஜ்ஜாவதி (24 December 2006). "தோல்வியின் வெற்றி! | வெயில் - விமர்சனம்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 17. Archived from the original on 11 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Competition Films PIFF 2007". PIFF. Archived from the original on 14 March 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2007.
- ^ "Elemec's 3rd Amrita Film Awards – NOMINEES". Amrita TV. 28 September 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2007.
- ^ "Tamil Nadu State Film Awards 2006". Webindia123. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
External links
edit- Veyil at IMDb
- Veyil at Rotten Tomatoes
