{{short description|2021 film directed by T Kittu}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox film | image = Methagu poster.jpg | caption = Release poster | director = T Kittu | writer = Methagu Thiraikkalam Muthu Cheliyan & Thirukumaran | starring = Kutti Manni<br />Eeshwar Baasha<br />Aanandan<br />Vijay<br />Lizzie Antony | cinematography = Riyaz | editing = CM Elangovan | music = Pradeep Kumar | studio = Methagu Thiraikkalam Thanjai C.Kumar & Denmark Sumesh Kumar | distributor = BS Value OTT | released = {{Film date|df=y|2021|06|25}} | country = India | language = Tamil | budget = {{INR}}60 lakh }}
'''''Methagu''''' ({{translation|His Excellency}}) is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language political thriller film based on the life of Velupillai Prabhakaran. The release of the film was postponed several times due to legal issues, but finally had the digital release through OTT platform 'BS Value' on 25 June 2021 with positive response.<ref name="review">{{Cite web |date=1 July 2021 |title=மேதகு - சினிமா விமர்சனம் |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/methagu-cinema-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723100041/https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/methagu-cinema-review |archive-date=23 July 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=Ananda Vikatan |language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=லெனின் |first=எஸ்.எஸ். |date=2 July 2021 |title=ஓடிடி உலகம்: திரும்பிப் பார்க்கவைத்த 2 படங்கள் |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/688473-ott-world-2.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723123237/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/688473-ott-world-2.html |archive-date=23 July 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}</ref><ref name="lenin">{{Cite web |date=25 June 2021 |title=Methagu: தமிழீழ விடுதலை போராளி பிரபாகரனின் 'மேதகு' திரைப்படம் வெளியீடு! |url=https://tamil.news18.com/news/entertainment/cinema-velupillai-prabhakaran-methagu-release-on-bs-value-ott-platform-scs-ana-489419.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801225500/https://tamil.news18.com/news/entertainment/cinema-velupillai-prabhakaran-methagu-release-on-bs-value-ott-platform-scs-ana-489419.html |archive-date=1 August 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=News 18 |language=ta}}</ref><ref name="br">{{Cite web |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=8 July 2021 |title=Methagu Is An Important Biopic About Prabhakaran But It Doesn't Create The Impact It Should |url=https://archive.today/20220913063717/https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/tamil-review/methagu-movie-review-tamil-bs-value-important-biopic-about-prabhakaran-that-doesnt-create-the-impact-it-should-kutti-mani-eshwar-basha-lizzie-anthony/ |access-date=13 September 2022 |website=Film Companion}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
The film is based on the early years of Velupillai Prabhakaran and the events in the life of Prabhakaran and his vision.<ref name="Samay">{{Cite web |last=A |first=Ashik |date=26 June 2021 |title=ஈழத்தின் போராட்டத்தை உலகுக்கு உரக்கச் சொல்லும் படம்: மேதகு குறித்து திரையுலக பிரபலங்கள்! |url=https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/tamil-cinema-celebrities-tweet-about-methagu-movie/articleshow/83869164.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802034209/https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/tamil-cinema-celebrities-tweet-about-methagu-movie/articleshow/83869164.cms |archive-date=2 August 2021 |access-date=2 August 2021 |website=Samayam |language=Tamil}}</ref>
== Plot == ''Methagu'' is a Tamil biographical film that explores the early life of Velupillai Prabhakaran, set against the backdrop of growing ethnic tensions in Sri Lanka. The film begins by portraying the systemic discrimination faced by the Tamil population, particularly through government policies that prioritize the Sinhala language and marginalize Tamil identity. Peaceful protests led by Tamil leaders are shown to be repeatedly ignored or violently suppressed by authorities. As a young boy, Prabhakaran witnesses riots, arrests, and brutal attacks on innocent civilians, leaving a deep emotional impact on him. These early experiences plant the seeds of anger and resistance, as he begins to question why his community continues to suffer despite choosing non-violence.
As Prabhakaran grows into his teenage years, the situation worsens, and the film intensifies its focus on the failures of peaceful political movements. Students and activists are harassed, detained, and even killed, creating an atmosphere of fear and frustration among Tamil youth. A major turning point occurs when a Tamil cultural gathering is violently attacked, leading to tragic loss of life and reinforcing the sense that justice cannot be achieved through peaceful means. Prabhakaran becomes increasingly disillusioned and starts connecting with other like-minded individuals who share his anger and desire for change. During this phase, the film carefully shows his transformation—from a quiet observer of injustice to someone who begins actively thinking about resistance and retaliation.
In the final part of the film, Prabhakaran takes decisive steps toward organized resistance, marking the beginning of his journey into militancy. He starts forming small groups, planning actions, and preparing to fight back against what he sees as oppression. The movie does not fully explore his later life or leadership but instead focuses on this crucial turning point where his ideology solidifies. By the end, he is no longer just a witness to injustice but someone ready to challenge it through armed struggle. ''Methagu'' ultimately presents itself as an origin story, aiming to explain how repeated violence, failed diplomacy, and personal experiences shaped Prabhakaran into a revolutionary figure, setting the stage for the path he would go on to follow<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alfred Jeevaranjan |first=Jason |date=2021-11-03 |title=Methagu: A Review Of The Movie On Velupillai Prabhakaran |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/methagu-a-review-of-the-movie-on-velupillai-prabhakaran/ |access-date=2026-04-15 |website=Colombo Telegraph |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Cast == * Kutti Manni as Velupillai Prabhakaran * Eeshwar Baasha * Vijay * Aanandan *Vinoth Sagar *Rajasekar *Lizzie Antony as Sirimavo Bandaranaike<ref name="lizzie">{{Cite web |date=28 June 2021 |title='மேதகு' தந்த மகிழ்ச்சி |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/687072-medhagu-movie.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720173417/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/687072-medhagu-movie.html |archive-date=20 July 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}</ref> *Rajavel Perumal as a street theatre artist *Velupillai – Raja *Mayor Duraiyappa – Aranganathan
== Production == Methagu part-1 and 2 movies were plotted, created and produced by Methagu Thiraikkalam LLP which was managed by Thanjai C.Kumar and Denmark Sumesh Kumar with the help of well known Tamil poet Mr.Thirukumaran from Ireland and Mr. Muthu Cheliyan. T.Kittu's screenplay based on Velupillai Prabhakaran's early life was bankrolled by World Tamils for Tamil Eelazha Thiraikkalam was made in a limited budget of {{INRConvert|60|l|year=2020}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kathirvelan |first=N |date=8 July 2021 |title=காவல்துறையை ஏமாற்றித்தான் படம் எடுத்தோம்! |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/methagu-movie-director-kittu-interview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724090343/https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/methagu-movie-director-kittu-interview |archive-date=24 July 2021 |access-date=24 July 2021 |website=Ananda Vikatan |language=ta}}</ref> Actor Kutti Manni was signed to play Prabhakaran, while Lizzie Antony played Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.<ref name="lizzie" /> Praveen Kumar and Ilanko were signed as composer and editor respectively, with Riyaz cranking the camera.
== Release == The film was expected to release on 26 November 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was postponed and finally it was released on 25 June 2021, through OTT platform 'BS Value'. The trailer to the film was released on 20 October, revealing it as a bio-pic of slain leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and his supporters worldwide trended a Tamil hashtag #Methagu on Twitter.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jayakumar |first=G.Babu |date=21 October 2020 |title=LTTE supporters trend 'Methagu' hashtag on Twitter, praise Prabhakaran |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/211020/ltte-supporters-trend-methagu-hashtag-on-twitter-praise-prabhakaran.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703191855/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/211020/ltte-supporters-trend-methagu-hashtag-on-twitter-praise-prabhakaran.html |archive-date=3 July 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> Film personalities Sathyaraj, Vetrimaaran, G. V. Prakash Kumar, Naveen and M. Sasikumar supported the film through their Twitter social media handle.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 June 2021 |title=பிரபாகரன் பயோபிக் : ஓடிடியில் வெளியான 'மேதகு' - வாழ்த்திய தமிழ் திரையுலகினர் |url=https://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/newsview/110513/44-died-in-Maharashtra-by-heavy-rainfall-and-landslide.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723123237/https://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/newsview/110513/44-died-in-Maharashtra-by-heavy-rainfall-and-landslide.html |archive-date=23 July 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=Puthiya Thalaimurai |language=ta}}</ref><ref name="Samay" />
== Reception == A critic from ''Ananda Vikatan'' praised the film as a commendable effort, because it portrayed the transparent life of a freedom fighter, even though the film lacks the necessary budget.<ref name="review" /> Film critic Baradwaj Rangan wrote that with all its faults, this is an important biopic about a very crucial figure not only in Sri Lankan politics, but also in Tamil Nadu politics.<ref name="br" /> S.S.Lenin from ''Hindu Tamil Thisai'' wrote that even though the film lacks the budget, it portrayed the pain and life of Tamil Eelam people impactfully.<ref name="lenin" /> Nasikethan of ''Dinamani'' wrote that the film has been enjoyed by people because, it portrayed truth.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nasikethan |date=1 July 2021 |title=துணிச்சலுடன் வெளிவந்துள்ள மாவீரனின் தன் வரலாறு - மேதகு; தொடக்கம்தான், முடிவல்ல |url=https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/movie-reviews/2021/jun/29/methagu-review-prabhakaran-3650806.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806183326/https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/movie-reviews/2021/jun/29/methagu-review-prabhakaran-3650806.html |archive-date=6 August 2021 |access-date=6 August 2021 |website=Dinamani}}</ref>
== Sequel == ''Methagu 2'' was released on 19 August 2022 on the OTT platform tamilsott.com.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 August 2022 |title=ஆகஸ்ட் 19 இல் வெளியாகும் மேதகு 2 |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/tamil/tamil-nadu/entertainment/movie/methagu-2-has-been-planned-to-be-out-on-aug-19/tamil-nadu20220814220955700700132 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913062132/https://www.etvbharat.com/tamil/tamil-nadu/entertainment/movie/methagu-2-has-been-planned-to-be-out-on-aug-19/tamil-nadu20220814220955700700132 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |access-date=16 August 2022 |website=ETV |language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Methagu 2 Movie Review: 'மேதகு 2' திரைப்படத்தின் திரை விமர்சனம் |url=https://www.tamillive.news/2022/08/methagu2moviereviewintamil.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913062131/https://www.tamillive.news/2022/08/methagu2moviereviewintamil.html |archive-date=13 September 2022 |access-date=16 August 2022 |website=tamillive.news |language=ta}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title|14923112}}
Category:2021 biographical films Category:2021 Tamil-language films Category:2021 films Category:2021 thriller films Category:Biographical films about revolutionaries Category:Cultural depictions of Sri Lankan people Category:Films postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic Category:Indian political thriller films Category:Indian biographical films Category:Films about the Sri Lankan civil war