Thalaimagan (transl.Eldest Son) is a 2006 Indian Tamil-language action film directed by R. Sarathkumar, starring himself alongside Nayanthara, Vadivelu and Vijayakumar. The film marked Sarathkumar's directorial debut, and is his 100th film as actor.[1] It was released on 21 October 2006.[2]

Thalaimagan
Poster
Directed byR. Sarathkumar
Written byRajkannan (dialogues)
Screenplay byCheran
Story byKaveri Vendhan
Produced byRadhika Sarathkumar
StarringR. Sarathkumar
Nayanthara
CinematographyKrish Kymal
Edited byV. T. Vijayan
Music bySongs:
Srikanth Deva
Paul J.
Score:
Sabesh–Murali
Production
company
Radaan Mediaworks
Release date
  • 21 October 2006 (2006-10-21)
Running time
153 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

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The story is set around the bulwark of honest and public good institution of everest. A journalistic anachronism at a time when media houses have become mouthpieces for corporate houses. It is helmed by the fearless Ayya. It has among its ranks an intrepid scribe Dheeran. He is no journeyman journalist. He is writer as well as a doer. When the power of the pen looks like slackening, he uses the hands that push the pen, so to say. And then there is harried colleague Erimalai, who is often just a step away from trouble. Meghala is an enterprising intern who drives Dheeran to distraction.

Dheeran runs into the evil axis of politico and police web as represented by the corrupt Minister Shanmuga Vadivelu and a venal cop Alankaram. Dheeran, through his mixed ways, frustrates all the duo's evil plans. But a new water bottling plant of an MNC becomes a major confrontation issue. Dheeran goes hammer and tongs against the project, as it would be harmful to villagers. Dheeran painstakingly exposes all the chinks in the project. Shanmugasundaram has to come with a violent reprisal and he sure does and thinks he has done away with Dheeran.

Did he? But Dheeran comes back from dead as a new man with renewed force. In the two years, Shanmugha Sundaram and Alankaram had come a long way. But Dheeran, slowly but stealthily, exposes them with a cunning of a mountain fox. He exposes all their bad deeds with clinching evidence. How? Well, it all leads to an action-packed climax.

Cast

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Production

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In 2005, R. Sarathkumar announced his 100th film as an actor, titled Thalaimagan. The film was launched on 15 September 2005 with R. D. Balaji, an advertisement filmmaker making his feature directorial debut and Cheran writing the screenplay.[3][4][5] However, in a sudden turn of events, Balaji left the film after the shoot became delayed. Sarathkumar replaced Balaji as director, thus making his directorial debut.[6][7] Khushbu and K. S. Ravikumar made cameo appearances in a song as themselves.[8][7] Krish Kymal who earlier worked in advertisement films made his debut as cinematographer with this film. The climax was shot at sugar mill in Porur during the first schedule which "was the most difficult part to shoot" as it involved "close to 850 artistes" and was completed within eight days.[9][10] The filming was also held at Kochi, Chikmagalur, Madurai and Dindigul.[10]

Soundtrack

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Two songs were composed by Srikanth Deva, and four by Paul J.[11]

Song Singers Composer Lyrics
"Penakaaran" Kailash Kher, Yogeswaran Manikkam, Veeramani Paul J. Vairamuthu
"Deen Thena" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chinmayi
"Uppumoottai" Grace Karunas, Karunas Vaali
"Velli Kinnathil" Sangeetha Sajith, Andrea Jeremiah Vairamuthu
"Nooru Nooru" I R. Sarathkumar, Priyadarshini Srikanth Deva Mounan
"Nooru Nooru" II Tippu, Priyadarshini

Release and reception

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The film was released on 21 October 2006, during Diwali, and opened alongside Varalaru, Vattaram, Vallavan and Dharmapuri.[12]

Indiaglitz wrote, "Sarath the director has worked hard in giving voice to a burning issue. Though slightly preachy in its tone, its relevance cannot be missed".[13] Venkatachari Jagannathan of Rediff.com rated the film two stars out of five, saying, "On the whole, Thalaimagan is like reading a morning paper in the evening".[14] Sify wrote, "Thalaimagan is an utterly hackneyed archaic formula film. It is one man taking on a corrupt system controlled by a powerful politician and his associate, a she-devil of a cop!".[15] Lajjavathi of Kalki wrote director Sarathkumar cannot do enough to satisfy actor Sarathkumar fans and concluded wishing him better luck next time.[16] Cinesouth wrote "The basic story line is strong but the plan of the screenplay is haphazard. The pervading boredom of many scenes makes one wonder if Cheran is indeed the writer of this screenplay".[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Sarat Kumar's 100th film". Rediff.com. 14 September 2005. Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Thalaimagan (2006)". Screen 4 Screen. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Sarathkumar's 100th film inaugration tomorrow". Behindwoods.com. 14 September 2005. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Thalaimagan launch today". Behindwoods.com. 15 September 2005. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Thalaimagan". Sify. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  6. ^ Warrier, Shobha (11 October 2006). "First Look: Sarath Kumar turns 100!". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  7. ^ a b நந்தினி (22 October 2006). "நடிப்பு என் சாய்ஸ்!" [Acting is my choice!]. Kalki (in Tamil). p. 63. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ "Kushboo and K S Ravikumar in Thalaimagan". Behindwoods.com. 21 September 2006. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  9. ^ Rangaraj, R (9 September 2006). "Thalaimagan". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 1 November 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Thalaimagan". Cinesouth. 11 October 2006. Archived from the original on 3 December 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Thalaimagan (2006)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  12. ^ Mannath, Malini (21 October 2006). "Diwali release – 2006". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 15 November 2006. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Thalaimagan Review". IndiaGlitz.com. 24 October 2006. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  14. ^ Jagannathan, Venkatachari (23 October 2006). "Thalaimagan tells a stale story". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Thalaimagan". Sify. Archived from the original on 8 December 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  16. ^ லஜ்ஜாவதி (19 November 2006). "தலைமகன்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 31. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  17. ^ "Thalaimagan". Cinesouth. Archived from the original on 15 November 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
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