# Paalai

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paalai
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{{No plot|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox film
| image          = Paalai poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = Senthamizhan
| producer       = T. Ravi
| starring       = Sunil Kumar<br />[Shammu](/source/Shammu)
| cinematography = [Abinandhan Ramanujam](/source/Abinandhan_Ramanujam)
| music          = [Ved Shankar](/source/Ved_Shankar)
| studio         = Semmai Productions
| released       = {{Film date|2011|11|25|df=y}}
| country        = India
| language       = Tamil
}}

'''''Paalai''''' ({{translation|Desert}})<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 April 2014 |title=It looks advantage DMK in Tirunelveli |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/loksabha2014/it-looks-advantage-dmk-in-tirunelveli/article5906068.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260331100621/https://www.thehindu.com/elections/loksabha2014/it-looks-advantage-dmk-in-tirunelveli/article5906068.ece |archive-date=31 March 2026 |access-date=31 March 2026 |work=[The Hindu](/source/The_Hindu) |language=en}}</ref> is a 2011 Indian [Tamil](/source/Tamil_language)-language [historical drama](/source/historical_drama) written and directed by Senthamizhan, who had previously assisted director [Ram](/source/Ram_(director)) in ''[Kattradhu Thamizh](/source/Kattradhu_Thamizh)''. Set in the [Sangam period](/source/Sangam_literature), the film stars debutant Sunil Kumar and [Shammu](/source/Shammu) in pivotal roles. It was released on 25 November 2011.

== Cast ==
*Sunil Kumar as Valan
*[Shammu](/source/Shammu) as Kaayampoo
*Prof. V. Natarajan
*Jayan
*Krishnagiri
*Julu

== Production ==
The film was shot extensively in the forests of [Thanjavur](/source/Thanjavur), [Mysore](/source/Mysore) and [Sathyamangalam](/source/Sathyamangalam). [Shammu](/source/Shammu) was the only professional actress to be cast in the film, which featured mostly newcomers, including Sunil, the lead actor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 May 2011 |title=Shammu in a pre-historic film |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/shammu-in-a-pre-historic-film-news-tamil-lffmrQhcffe.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508125103/http://www.sify.com/movies/shammu-in-a-pre-historic-film-news-tamil-lffmrQhcffe.html |archive-date=8 May 2011 |access-date=9 August 2022 |website=[Sify](/source/Sify)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=6 May 2011 |title=Shammu's journey to the past |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/others/news-interviews/Shammus-journey-to-the-past/articleshow/8176480.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228094223/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/others/news-interviews/Shammus-journey-to-the-past/articleshow/8176480.cms |archive-date=28 December 2024 |access-date=19 September 2019 |newspaper=[The Times of India](/source/The_Times_of_India)}}</ref> It became the actress's final signed film before she left the film industry to complete her education.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 August 2011 |title=Shammu bids adieu to Kollywood, flies back to U.S. |url=http://www.tamilkey.com/shammu-bids-adieu-to-kollywood-flies-back-to-u-s.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415110308/http://www.tamilkey.com/shammu-bids-adieu-to-kollywood-flies-back-to-u-s.html |archive-date=15 April 2014 |access-date=14 April 2014 |work=Tamilkey}}</ref> Members of the [Irula tribe](/source/Irula_people) also acted in the film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paalai is the first pre-historic film |url=http://www.vnmusicdreams.com/page.html?lang=&artid=1314 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415044952/http://www.vnmusicdreams.com/page.html?lang=&artid=1314 |archive-date=15 April 2014 |access-date=14 April 2014 |work=VN Music Dreams}}</ref> [Ved Shankar](/source/Ved_Shankar), in his debut, composed the music.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 July 2012 |title=Audio Beat: Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/audio-beat-naduvula-konjam-pakkatha-kaanom/article3666067.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250225134330/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/audio-beat-naduvula-konjam-pakkatha-kaanom/article3666067.ece |archive-date=25 February 2025 |access-date=31 March 2026 |work=[The Hindu](/source/The_Hindu) |language=en}}</ref>

== Release ==
''Paalai'' was released in theatres on 25 November 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 November 2011 |title=Friday Fury- November 25 |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/friday-fury-november-25-news-tamil-llzkU9hdgbj.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128030207/http://www.sify.com/movies/friday-fury-november-25-news-tamil-llzkU9hdgbj.html |archive-date=28 November 2011 |access-date=17 March 2026 |website=[Sify](/source/Sify) |language=en}}</ref> The film was privately screened in Norway on 18 December and was prepared for a general release in the country shortly after, with the makers claiming it would be the first Tamil film to be released in regular cinema halls across Norway.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 December 2011 |title=Paalai set for release in Norway |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news-interviews/Paalai-set-for-release-in-Norway/articleshow/11178489.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228093835/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news-interviews/Paalai-set-for-release-in-Norway/articleshow/11178489.cms |archive-date=28 December 2024 |access-date=14 April 2014 |website=[The Times of India](/source/The_Times_of_India)}}</ref> ''[Dinamani](/source/Dinamani)'' praised almost all aspects of the film, including the direction, cinematography, music and cast performances.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 December 2011 |title=விமர்சனம்: பாலை |url=http://www.dinamani.com/cinema/article635398.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728183550/http://www.dinamani.com/cinema/article635398.ece |archive-date=28 July 2014 |access-date=5 February 2016 |website=[Dinamani](/source/Dinamani) |language=ta}}</ref> ''[Ananda Vikatan](/source/Ananda_Vikatan)'' praised the film for authentically recreating the [Sangam period](/source/Sangam_literature) with minimal costs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 December 2011 |title=சினிமா விமர்சனம் : பாலை |url=https://www.vikatan.com/humour-and-satire/cinema/13319--2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260331101016/https://www.vikatan.com/humour-and-satire/cinema/13319--2 |archive-date=31 March 2026 |access-date=31 March 2026 |website=[Ananda Vikatan](/source/Ananda_Vikatan) |language=ta}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title}}

Category:2010s historical drama films
Category:2011 films
Category:2011 Indian films
Category:2011 Tamil-language films
Category:Films scored by Ved Shankar
Category:Films set in ancient India
Category:Films shot in Mysore
Category:Films shot in Tamil Nadu
Category:Indian historical drama films
Category:Tamil-language historical drama films
Category:Tamil-language Indian films

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Paalai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paalai) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paalai?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.