{{Short description|2008 film}} {{More plot|date=April 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox film | image = Vaitheeswaran movie.jpg | caption = Title card | director = R. K. Vidyadharan | writer = R. K. Vidyadharan | starring = R. Sarathkumar<br />Meghna Naidu<br />Pooja Gandhi | producer = Senthilkumar<br />Ganesh | music = Srikanth Deva | studio = Annamalai Creations | editing = A. Sheikh Mohammed | cinematography = S. Saravanan<br />M. V. Panneerselvam | distributor = Pyramid Saimira<ref name="censor">{{Cite web |date=9 March 2008 |title=''Vaitheeswaran'' gets 'U', releases on Mar 15 |url=http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14619078 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419222437/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14619078 |archive-date=19 April 2008 |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Sify}}</ref> | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2008|03|14}} | runtime = | country = India | language = Tamil | budget = <!--Must cite a reliable published source with a reputation for fact-checking. No blogs, no IMDb. no fan-sites.--> | gross = <!--Must cite a reliable published source with a reputation for fact-checking. No blogs, no IMDb. no fan-sites.--> }} '''''Vaitheeswaran''''' is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language supernatural action film written and directed by R. K. Vidyadharan in his debut.<ref name="censor" /> It stars R. Sarathkumar, Meghna Naidu and Pooja Gandhi, while Sayaji Shinde, Riyaz Khan, Vijayakumar, Santhanam, and Vinaya Prasad play supporting roles. The music was composed by Srikanth Deva, and the film was released on 14 March 2008.
== Plot == When a young boy Saravanan is killed by rowdy and aspiring politician Dhanasekaran, his distraught mother is ready to kill herself. She is stopped by Mani Shankar, who promises her that her son will be reincarnated and meet her in 30 years. The only condition is that the mother must remain inside Vaitheeswaran temple, praying to be reunited with her son. 30 years later, her wait catches the attention of the public, who are curious to see if Saravanan shows up. Dr. Bala, who has no belief in reincarnation, wishes to treat her, while Dhanasekharan, who is now a politician and eyeing the CM seat, knows that Saravanan's arrival could derail his plans. Armed with a computer-generated photo of how Saravanan would look like now, Dhanasekharan and Bala go looking for him, when Bala realises that he is indeed the reincarnation of Saravanan. What happens next forms the climax of the story.
== Cast == {{cast listing| * R. Sarathkumar as Saravanan / Dr. Bala * Meghna Naidu as Roopa * Pooja Gandhi as Sanjana * Sayaji Shinde as Dhanasekaran * Riyaz Khan as AC Shakthi * Vijayakumar as Mani Shankar * Santhanam as Madan * Vinaya Prasad as Saravanan's mother * Suja Varunee as Dr. Sharmila * Delhi Ganesh * Mayilsamy * Manobala as Dhanasekaran's henchman * Chitra Lakshmanan as Dhanasekaran's henchman * I. S. Rajesh as Kasi * Thyagu * Poovilangu Mohan * Ponnambalam * Mohan Raman * Mahanadi Shankar * Balu Anand * Vijay Krishnaraj * John Amirtharaj }}
== Production == The film began production in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 October 2007 |title=Sarath and Namitha together again |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sarath-and-namitha-together-again/articleshow/2422419.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250722004529/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sarath-and-namitha-together-again/articleshow/2422419.cms |archive-date=22 July 2025 |access-date=22 July 2025 |website=The Times of India}}</ref>
== Soundtrack == The soundtrack was composed by Srikanth Deva.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vaitheeswaran (2008) |url=https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/vaitheeswaran-songs-T0001279 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250428064101/https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/vaitheeswaran-songs-T0001279 |archive-date=28 April 2025 |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Raaga.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=VAITHEESWARAN - Srikanth Deva Tamil Audio Cd |url=https://www.audiocdworld.com/product/vaitheeswaran-srikanth-deva-tamil-audio-cd/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250722013315/https://www.audiocdworld.com/product/vaitheeswaran-srikanth-deva-tamil-audio-cd/ |archive-date=22 July 2025 |access-date=22 July 2025 |website=Audio CDs World |language=en}}</ref> Saraswathy Srinivas of ''Rediff'' wrote, "Vaitheeswaran album with just three tracks plus one repetition sticks to the adage 'small is beautiful'. Sreekanth Deva's music is pleasing to the ear".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Srinivas |first=Saraswathy |date=29 February 2008 |title=Music review: Vaitheeswaran |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssv/20080229.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250722011325/https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssv/20080229.htm |archive-date=22 July 2025 |access-date=22 July 2025 |website=Rediff.com |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" |- ! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics |- | "Engirundho Varuva" || Mano || Vidhyadharan |- | "Kangaley Thoongathey" || Vijay Yesudas || Theraviam |- | "Kangalum Thoongathey" || S. P. Balasubrahmanyam || rowspan=2|Thamarai |- | "Mudhal Mudhal" || P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha |}
== Critical reception == ''Sify'' wrote, "The trouble with ''Vaitheeswaran'' is that it is predictable, story is stale and there are no twists in the tale".<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 March 2008 |title=Vaitheeswaran |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/vaitheeswaran-review-tamil-pclw6Ebhighdj.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322224446/http://www.sify.com/movies/vaitheeswaran-review-tamil-pclw6Ebhighdj.html |archive-date=22 March 2017 |website=Sify |access-date=17 February 2016 }}</ref> Pavithra Srinivasan of ''Rediff'' wrote, "Everything is connected'. That's the tagline of Annamalai Production's latest, Tamil film ''Vaitheeswaran'' starring action star Sarathkumar, and directed by R K Vidhayadharan. You only wish the team had managed to connect the screenplay, acting and plot all together!".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Srinivasan |first=Pavithra |date=14 March 2008 |title=An unconnected Vaitheeswaran |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/mar/14ssvai.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924030543/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/mar/14ssvai.htm |archive-date=24 September 2008 |access-date=17 February 2016 |website=Rediff.com}}</ref> Malathi Rangarajan of ''The Hindu'' wrote, "The theme by itself is fine. It's the treatment that gets suffocating after a point", concluding, "Beginning on an esoteric plane ''Vaitheeswaran'' soon crash-lands on a meandering terrain of myths, miracles and implausible occurrences".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=21 March 2008 |title=Speak less, please! -- Vaitheeswaran |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/03/21/stories/2008032160040200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524023522/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/03/21/stories/2008032160040200.htm |archive-date=2008-05-24 |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=The Hindu}}</ref><!-- IANS review: https://www.indiaforums.com/article/reborn-sarath-remains-the-same-in-vaitheeswaranreview_5036 -->
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
Category:2008 Indian films Category:2000s supernatural films Category:2008 Tamil-language films Category:2008 action films Category:2008 directorial debut films Category:2008 films Category:Films about reincarnation Category:Films scored by Srikanth Deva Category:Indian action films Category:Indian supernatural films Category:Supernatural action films Category:Tamil-language action films Category:Tamil-language Indian films