Vallavan
| Vallavan | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Silambarasan |
| Written by | Silambarasan Balakumaran (dialogues) |
| Produced by | P. L. Thenappan |
| Starring | Silambarasan Nayanthara Reema Sen Sandhya Santhanam |
| Cinematography | Priyan R. D. Rajasekhar |
| Edited by | Anthony |
| Music by | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
Production company | Sri Raj Lakshmi Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 185 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Vallavan (transl. Expert), alternatively spelled as Valaavaan,[1] is a 2006 Indian Tamil-language romance film written and directed by Silambarasan, starring himself in the lead role alongside Nayanthara and Reema Sen whilst Sandhya, Santhanam, Premji and Sathyan play supporting roles. The dialogues are written by Balakumaran, and the film was produced by P. L. Thenappan. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja.
Vallavan released on 21 October 2006. It received mixed reviews and became a decent hit at the box office.
Plot
[edit]Vallavan is a happy-go-lucky college student who is friends with Suji, Soori and Subbu. While they are at temple, Vallavan sees Swapna and immediately falls in love with her. Vallavan encounters Swapna again in college and she is revealed to be a teacher who is three years elder than him. He decides to woo her by turning into Pallan, an ugly duckling with buck teeth and thick glasses. Pallan makes Swapna fall in love with him for his heart. He then reveals his disguise in a party and introduces her to his friends. In the party they try to convince her indirectly to accept a younger man but she doesn't budge. After that Vallavan drops her at her home.He then seduces and they have sex. The next day he assures her that he will marry her saying they didn't have sex but made love.When Swapna learns that Pallan is younger than her (from one of Vallavan's rivals in the college) and also a student, she dumps him and decides to marry another man.
As Vallavan walks in the streets wondering how things got so messy, he recalls his school life. When he was in higher secondary school, Vallavan met the hysteric and toxic Geetha, who ensures that Vallavan is mad about her. Learning of her true nature, he ends things with her. She is not ready to let him go so easily, and he teaches her a lesson.
Cast
[edit]- Silambarasan as Vallavan a.k.a. Pallan, a college student
- Nayanthara as Swapna, a teacher and Vallavan's love interest
- Reema Sen as Geethakumari "Geetha", Vallavan's ex-girlfriend
- Sandhya as Suji, Vallavan's best friend
- Santhanam as Soori, Suji's brother and Vallavan's friend
- Sathyan as Subbu, Vallavan's friend
- Premji as Swapna's friend
- S. V. Shekhar as Suji and Soori's father
- Janaki Sabesh as Suji and Soori's mother
- Shankar as Vallavan's school friend (flashback)
- Karthik Sabesh as Vallavan's school friend (flashback)
- Thara Srinivasan as Premji's wife
- Venu Arvind
- Deepa Venkat
- Kottachi
- Sembuli Jagan
- Guhan Shanmugam
- Rajendranath
- Balakumaran as Psychiatrist (cameo appearance)
- T. Rajendar as dancer in song "Yammadi Aathadi" (special appearance)
- Kanal Kannan as a spectator watching Vallavan's fight from his car (cameo appearance)
- Mahat Raghavendra as Vallavan's friend and miscellaneous (uncredited role)
- Jagan as Vallavan's friend (uncredited role)
Music
[edit]| Vallavan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 1 June 2006 | |||
| Recorded | 2005–2006 | |||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
| Length | 41:45 22:40 (2nd release) | |||
| Label | Ayngaran Music An Ak Audio Hit Musics | |||
| Producer | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |||
| Yuvan Shankar Raja chronology | ||||
| ||||
The music was scored by noted musician and Silambarasan's friend, Yuvan Shankar Raja, coming together again after churning out the successful album of Manmadhan (2004). The soundtrack was released on 1 June 2006 and features nine tracks, including seven songs and two instrumental pieces. As it was the case in Manmadhan, a second Soundtrack was released afterwards with bit songs that feature in the film but not on the first soundtrack along with pieces from the film score. The lyrics were penned by Vaali, Thamarai, film director Perarasu and Silambarasan himself. Karunakaran wrote the lyrics of the bit song "Kadhal Vandhale", released in the second edition.
Yuvan Shankar Raja won accolades for his soundtrack, whereas especially the songs "Loosu Penne" and "Yammaadi Aathaadi" were both popular.[2][3] His film score, too, was lauded, called as the film's highlight and "backbone of the film", while he himself was hailed as the film's "real hero".[4] The song "Kadhal Vanthirichu" was remixed from the film Kalyanaraman (1979), composed by Yuvan's father Ilaiyaraaja.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Vallava Ennai" | Thamarai | Sunidhi Chauhan | 6:29 |
| 2. | "Hooray Hooray Hip" | Vaali | Sunitha Sarathy, Nakul, Ranjith, Karthik | 5:44 |
| 3. | "Kadhal Vanthirichu" | Vaali | Silambarasan, Premji Amaren | 4:25 |
| 4. | "Loosu Penne" | Silambarasan | Silambarasan, Blaaze | 6:52 |
| 5. | "Yammaadi Aathadi" | Perarasu | T. Rajendar, Silambarasan, Suchitra, Mahathi | 5:30 |
| 6. | "Podu Attam Podu" | Vaali | Vijay Yesudas | 5:38 |
| 7. | "He Knows What To Do (Vallavan Theme)" | Tanvi Shah (humming) | 2:00 | |
| 8. | "Success of Love" | Instrumental | 1:05 | |
| 9. | "Loosu Penne (Club Mix)" | Silambarasan | Silambarasan, Premji Amaren | 4:02 |
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Yammaadi Aathaadi (2nd Version)" | T. Rajendar, Silambarasan, Suchitra, Mahathi | 5:24 |
| 11. | "Hip Hip Hurrey (2nd Version)" | Sunitha Sarathy, Nakul, Ranjith, Karthik | 5:38 |
| 12. | "Theme Music (1)" | Instrumental | 1:38 |
| 13. | "Theme Music (2)" | Instrumental | 0:47 |
| 14. | "Loose Penne (Music)" | Instrumental | 0:50 |
| 15. | "Kadhal Vandhale" (Lyrics written by Karunakaran) | Yuvan Shankar Raja | 2:26 |
| 16. | "Folk Bit" | Instrumental | 0:35 |
| 17. | "Victory of Love" | Silambarasan | 0:56 |
| 18. | "Valla Valla Vallavan" | Blaaze | 1:10 |
| 19. | "Kadhal Vandhale (Music)" | Instrumental | 1:31 |
| 20. | "Ilamai Idho + Pothuvaga (Remix)" | Silambarasan | 1:45 |
| Total length: | 22:40 | ||
Release
[edit]The film was released on 21 October, during Diwali Festival time, alongside Varalaru, Vattaram, Thalaimagan and Dharmapuri.[5]
Critical reception
[edit]The Times of India wrote: "Reema Sen's performance as a psychotic maniac created chills in the hearts of the audience. Watching the sudden transformation of a happy school going Reema Sen into a lunatic out for vengeance was eerily brilliant! Her portrayal of a sadistic lover was very convincing and the actress did justice to the role".[6] The Hindu wrote: "Vallavan's basic sketch is simpler than Manmadhan, though the maker has lent it his trademark frills".[7] Sify gave 2.5/5 stars to Vallavan and said: "If you are looking for some wholesome entertainment, then Vallavan is worth your time and money".[8] Behindwoods.com commented: "On a positive note, the glamorous quotient of two heroines along with music and the youth element can play to Vallavan's advantage".[9] Lajjavathi of Kalki felt the film is too long and ends abruptly, and the climax is not well told and by trimming here and there Simbu made the charm in first half lose in second half.[10] Cinesouth wrote "Simbu has shown his prowess in his acting, creativity and technology awareness. If only he could reduce his tendency towards vulgarity, he will really make a name for himself as a multi-faceted artiste".[11]
Box office
[edit]Vallavan was a hit at the box office. The film also featured, prior to release, in "most awaited" lists from entertainment sites. The film got a grand release during Diwali 2006 along with other films, such as Ajith's Varalaru, Jiiva's E, Arya's Vattaram, and Sarath Kumar's Thalaimagan. Due to the pre-release hype it created, Vallavan received a grand opening.[citation needed]
Controversies
[edit]The poster featuring Silambarasan biting Nayanthara's lips was objected by women's organisations.[12]
While filming for Vallavan, Nayanthara was romantically linked with Silambarasan. She initially denied the reports. In November 2006, however, she confirmed that she and Silambarasan had broken up, going on to add that she would not work with him again. However, they later went on to appear in Idhu Namma Aalu (2016).[13] During the making, Reema Sen threatened legal action against Silambarasan after he made changes to the scope of her role in the film.[14] She later stated she regretted her claim and was proud to have won critical acclaim for the character.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "Valaavaan - He Knows What To Do". British Board of Film Classification.
- ^ "'Vallavan' beats 'Vettayadu' in Tamil audio race". indiainfo.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ "Vallavan has more reason to rock". IndiaGlitz.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ "Vallavan — Forbidden love". IndiaGlitz.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2005. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ "Diwali release – 2006". Chennai Online. 21 October 2006. Archived from the original on 15 November 2006. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "10 Kollywood actresses who played a negative role". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ Friday Review Chennai / Film Review : Age does matter – Vallavan. The Hindu (3 November 2006).
- ^ Movie Review : Vallavan. Sify.com.
- ^ Vallavan Review: A long way to go for director Simbu Archived 6 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Behindwoods.com.
- ^ லஜ்ஜாவதி (26 November 2006). "வல்லவன்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 54. Retrieved 9 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Vallavan". Cinesouth. Archived from the original on 15 November 2006. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Simbu, Sania and Glamour". Indiaglitz. 26 May 2005. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Pandiraj ropes in Nayanthara for STR's project". Sify. Archived from the original on 13 September 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Tamil movies : Reema Sen's warning of legal action on Simbu". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ "Reema regrets attack on Simbu". 28 November 2006. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.