{{short description|2017 film by A. L. Vijay}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}} {{Infobox film | name = Vanamagan | image = Vanamagan poster.JPG | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Vijay | writer = Vijay | producer = A. L. Azhagappan | starring = {{plainlist| * Ravi Mohan * Sayyeshaa }} | music = Harris Jayaraj | cinematography = Tirru | editing = Anthony | studio = Think Big Studio | distributor = Kona Film Corporation | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2017|06|23}} | runtime = 141 minutes | country = India | language = Tamil | budget = <!--Must be attributed to a reliable published source with an established reputation for fact-checking. No blogs, no IMDb.--> | gross = }}
'''''Vanamagan''''' ({{translation|Son of the Forest}}) is a 2017 Indian Tamil-language action adventure film written and directed by Vijay. The film stars Ravi Mohan and Sayyeshaa, with Prakash Raj, Thambi Ramaiah, and Varun in supporting roles. The music was composed by Harris Jayaraj.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 June 2017 |title=Sayyeshaa upbeat about Vanamagan |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/180617/sayyeshaa-upbeat-about-vanamagan.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619113116/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/180617/sayyeshaa-upbeat-about-vanamagan.html |archive-date=19 June 2017 |access-date=20 June 2017 |work=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> with cinematography by Tirru and editing by Anthony. The venture began production in September 2016, and the film was released on 23 June 2017.
== Plot == {{long plot|date=January 2021}} <!--per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries should be between 400 and 700 words--> Kavya, an orphan who inherited her late parents’ company, Kavya Industries, lives under the guardianship of her father’s trusted associate, Rajasekhar. Though he manages the company on her behalf, Rajasekhar harbors ulterior motives and covets her wealth. When Kavya’s New Year trip to Bora Bora is canceled due to passport issues, Rajasekhar suggests that she and her friends visit the Andaman Islands instead—a decision that sets off a chain of life-changing events.
During their reckless escapades in the Andamans, Kavya and her friends accidentally hit a tribal man with their car while fleeing the police. No local hospital agrees to treat him, so Kavya takes him to Chennai, disguising him as a local named “K. Vaasi.” After he recovers, Vaasi’s primitive behavior shocks everyone, and Kavya, along with her cook Pandian, attempts to teach him human manners.
On Kavya’s birthday, tensions arise between her and Vicky, her boyfriend and Rajasekhar's son. When Vicky tries to assault her during an argument, Vaasi intervenes and violently attacks him. Though Vaasi later regains his composure, the incident enrages Rajasekhar, who calls the police. Vaasi is captured and taken away, while Vicky is left paralyzed with a neck fracture.
Ordered to eliminate the “dangerous” Vaasi, the police takes him into the forest. Kavya and Pandian arrive just as Vaasi breaks free, killing the corrupt officers. Pursued by the authorities, the trio flees into the jungle, where they encounter forest officer Shanmugam, who reveals that Vaasi’s real name is Jara and that he is part of a native tribe resisting corporate encroachment.
Jara reunites with his people and soon saves a young girl (Shanmugam’s daughter) from a tiger attack. Despite his heroism, the tribe faces eviction by a foreign corporation connected to Rajasekhar’s industrial project. When the tribe refuses to relocate, police forces, under pressure from the German investors, launch a violent assault. Jara defends his people in a bloody battle, but he is ultimately captured and beaten unconscious.
The story flashes back, revealing that the tribal massacre occurred before Kavya’s initial encounter with Jara. During that chaos, Jara escaped into the wilderness, where Kavya’s car later struck him. Meanwhile, Rajasekhar returns from abroad and pressures authorities to capture Kavya, who has fled with Jara and Pandian.
At the forest operations center, commando Suryaprakash initiates Project Zero, a plan to encircle and eliminate the fugitives using surveillance drones and armed forces. The group is tracked through spy cameras but survives an ambush when a tiger suddenly attacks and kills several commandos, allowing them to escape.
The next morning, Rajasekhar confronts Kavya, accusing her of betraying him. She defends Jara, insisting that his people are victims of corporate greed. Rajasekhar reveals that she unwittingly authorized the land grab herself by signing an asset (at the beginning of the film). He abducts Kavya but is confronted by Jara, whom he runs over and shoots. Despite his injuries, Jara rises again and defeats the police and Rajasekhar.
When Kavya pleads for peace, Jara stops short of killing Rajasekhar. Kavya renounces her inheritance, declaring she wants nothing more to do with Kavya Industries. Realizing the futility of his greed, Rajasekhar spares them and departs.
==Cast== {{cast listing| * Ravi Mohan as Jara (K. Vaasi) * Sayyeshaa as Kavya, Jara's lover * Prakash Raj as Rajashekar * Thambi Ramaiah as Puli Pandian * Varun as Vignesh (Vicky) * Arjunan as Arjun * Vela Ramamoorthy as Jara's father * Thalaivasal Vijay as Kavya's uncle * Ramya Subramanian as Ramya * Shanmugarajan as Shanmugam * R. S. Shivaji as Airways Ticket Seller * Sanjay Bharathi as Assistant Director * Sam Paul as Michael Raj * N. L. Srinivasan as Suryaprakash * Milton Raju as Tama * Ravi Venkatraman }}
==Production== After the success of ''Madarasapattinam'', A. L. Vijay planned to cast Suriya in the lead role. Suriya liked the script, but the role did not materialise due to budget constraints.<ref>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/suriya-turned-down-vanamagan/articleshow/58494285.cms Suriya: Suriya turned down 'Vanamagan'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331004358/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/suriya-turned-down-vanamagan/articleshow/58494285.cms |date=31 March 2018 }}. Timesofindia.indiatimes.com (3 May 2017). Retrieved on 2018-08-17.</ref><ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2017/apr/23/i-havent-watched-the-tarzan-films-1596945--1.html ‘I haven't watched the Tarzan films’] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330211544/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2017/apr/23/i-havent-watched-the-tarzan-films-1596945--1.html |date=30 March 2018 }}. The New Indian Express. Retrieved on 17 August 2018.</ref> Later in November 2015, it was reported that A. L. Vijay would direct a film starring Ravi Mohan in the lead role. The actor confirmed that the duo would begin work on the project in the middle of 2016, following the completion of his other films.<ref name="thehindu">{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=Sudhir |date=24 December 2015 |title=Jayam Ravi opens up on film career after Thani Oruvan — The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/after-thani-oruvan/article8025392.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125093110/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/after-thani-oruvan/article8025392.ece |archive-date=25 January 2022 |access-date=8 September 2016 |work=The Hindu |publisher=thehindu.com}}</ref> The film was reported to be about a man who escapes from the lost kingdom of Kumari Kandam.<ref name="indiaglitz">{{Cite web |date=2 November 2015 |title=Jayam Ravi Vijay new period film about Lemuria continent — Tamil Movie News — IndiaGlitz.com |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/jayam-ravi-vijay-new-period-film-about-lemuria-continent-tamil-news-146012.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209182116/http://www.indiaglitz.com/jayam-ravi-vijay-new-period-film-about-lemuria-continent-tamil-news-146012.html |archive-date=9 February 2017 |access-date=8 September 2016 |website=IndiaGlitz}}</ref> In May 2016, Vijay confirmed that the project would begin later in the year and revealed that the film would be shot extensively in the Andaman Islands. Music composer Harris Jayaraj and cinematographer Tirru were also brought in for the project.<ref name="indiatimes">{{Cite web |title=Jayam Ravi, Vijay to shoot an action-romance in Andaman — Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Jayam-Ravi-Vijay-to-shoot-an-action-romance-in-Andaman/articleshow/52400865.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528144229/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Jayam-Ravi-Vijay-to-shoot-an-action-romance-in-Andaman/articleshow/52400865.cms |archive-date=28 May 2016 |access-date=8 September 2016 |website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref name="indiatimes2">{{Cite web |title=Jayam Ravi- Vijay project to begin on September 5 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Jayam-Ravi-Vijay-project-to-begin-on-September-5/articleshow/54005677.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909101818/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Jayam-Ravi-Vijay-project-to-begin-on-September-5/articleshow/54005677.cms |archive-date=9 September 2016 |access-date=8 September 2016 |website=The Times of India}}</ref>
The film was subsequently launched in September 2016 with production beginning thereafter in Chennai. Sayyeshaa was signed on to portray the leading female role in the film, marking her debut in Tamil films.<ref name="indiatimes3">{{Cite web |title=Sayyeshaa roped in for Jayam Ravi- AL Vijay film — Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Sayesha-roped-in-for-Jayam-Ravi-AL-Vijay-film/articleshow/54014138.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407194402/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Sayesha-roped-in-for-Jayam-Ravi-AL-Vijay-film/articleshow/54014138.cms |archive-date=7 April 2019 |access-date=8 September 2016 |website=The Times of India}}</ref> Sanjay Bharathi and Varun also signed on to work on the film, with the latter revealing that he would play the heroine's love interest and that Ravi would portray a tribal man who finds himself in the city.<ref name="behindwoods">{{Cite web |date=7 September 2016 |title=Varun on his next film with director Vijay and Jayam Ravi |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/varun-on-his-next-film-with-director-vijay-and-jayam-ravi.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308062849/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/varun-on-his-next-film-with-director-vijay-and-jayam-ravi.html |archive-date=8 March 2017 |access-date=8 September 2016 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref> The film teaser was officially released on 6 February 2017.<ref>[http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/jayam-ravis-next-with-al-vijay-titled-as-vanamagan.html Jayam Ravi's next with AL Vijay titled as Vanamagan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210230842/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/jayam-ravis-next-with-al-vijay-titled-as-vanamagan.html |date=10 December 2016 }}. Behindwoods.com (9 December 2016). Retrieved on 2018-08-17.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170207112816/http://boxofficereporter.com/kollywood/vanamagan-teaser-released-491 Watch: Vanamagan Teaser Released]. Boxofficereporter.com (6 February 2017). Retrieved on 17 August 2018.</ref>
===Release=== Initially, the film had its release date fixed on 19 May 2017. Due to the announcement of the film industry strike on 30 May 2017, the producer has postponed the theatrical release to 23 June 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 May 2017 |title=Vanamagan release postponed due to Kollywood strike |url=https://www.top10cinema.com/article/42463/vanamagan-release-postponed-due-to-kollywood-strike |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821085015/https://www.top10cinema.com/article/42463/vanamagan-release-postponed-due-to-kollywood-strike |archive-date=21 August 2017 |access-date=13 May 2017 |work=Top 10 Cinema |language=en-US}}</ref> The satellite rights of the film were sold to Zee Tamil.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 January 2018 |title="VANAMAGAN" பொங்கல் தின சிறப்பு திரைப்படம் ஜனவரி 15, மாலை 4 மணிக்கு. |url=https://www.facebook.com/ZeeTamizh/videos/vanamagan/2270962879596155/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426042026/https://www.facebook.com/ZeeTamizh/videos/vanamagan/2270962879596155/ |archive-date=26 April 2019 |access-date=12 April 2019 |website=facebook.com/ZeeTamizh}}</ref> Baradwaj Rangan of Film Companion wrote "Vanamagan gradually becomes terribly serious, and a comic adventure turns into a tiresomely earnest drama ."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vanamagan Movie Review |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/vanamagan-movie-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111065523/https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/vanamagan-movie-review |archive-date=11 November 2023 |access-date=2 September 2023}}</ref>
==Soundtrack== {{Infobox album | name = Vanamagan | type = soundtrack | artist = Harris Jayaraj | cover = | alt = | released = {{start date|2017|04|21|df=y}} | recorded =2017 | venue = | studio = Studio H | genre = Feature film soundtrack | length = 26:55 | label = Sony Music | producer = Harris Jayaraj | prev_title = S3 | prev_year = 2017 | next_title = Spyder | next_year = 2017 }}
The film's original soundtrack is scored by Harris Jayaraj, his first collaboration with director A. L. Vijay and third film with actor Ravi after ''Dhaam Dhoom'' and ''Engeyum Kaadhal''. This is Jayaraj's 50th film as a composer. The complete album was released on 22 April 2017.
{{track listing | headline = Track-List | extra_column = Singer(s) | total_length = 26:55 | all_lyrics = Madhan Karky, except where noted | title2 = Damn Damn | extra2 = M. M. Manasi, Sherin Shahana | length2 = 3:57 | note2 = Lyrics by Vijay | title1 = Yemma Yea Azhagamma | extra1 = Bombay Jayashree, Haricharan | length1 = 5:27 | title3 = Silu Silu | extra3 = Vijay Yesudas | length3 = 5:19 | title4 = Morada Morada | extra4 = Benny Dayal and Krish | length4 = 4:10 | title5 = Pachchai Uduthiya Kaadu | extra5 = Abhay Jodhpurkar, Harini | length5 = 5:35 | title6 = Vanam (Theme) | note6 = Instrumental | extra6 = Maria Roe Vincent and Flute Kamalakar | length6 = 2:27 }}
== Reception ==
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|id=6735754}} {{A. L. Vijay}}
Category:2017 films Category:2017 action adventure films Category:2017 Tamil-language films Category:2017 Indian films Category:Films directed by A. L. Vijay Category:Films scored by Harris Jayaraj Category:Indian action adventure films Category:Films set in forests Category:Tarzan films Category:Films shot in Thailand Category:Films set in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Category:Tamil-language Indian films