{{Short description|2014 Indian film by Jai Krishna}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}} {{Infobox film | name = Vanmam | image = Vanmam.jpg | alt = | caption = Film Poster | director = Jai Krishna | producer = Nemichand Jhabak<br />V. Hitesh Jhabak | story = Jai Krishna | screenplay = Jai Krishna | starring = Vijay Sethupathi<br />Kreshna<br />Sunaina | music = S. Thaman | cinematography = Bala Bharani | editing = Suresh Urs | studio = Jhabaks Films | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2014|11|21}} | runtime = 156 minutes | country = India | language = Tamil | budget = | gross = }} '''''Vanmam''''' ({{translation|Vengeance}}) is a 2014 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by Jai Krishna, a former assistant of Kamal Haasan.<ref name="indiatimes1">{{Cite news |last=V. Lakshmi |date=5 September 2013 |title=Vijay Sethupathi, Kreshna become friends |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Vijay-Sethupathi-Kreshna-become-friends/articleshow/22289899.cms?referral=PM |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117134415/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Vijay-Sethupathi-Kreshna-become-friends/articleshow/22289899.cms?referral=PM |archive-date=17 January 2018 |access-date=30 April 2014 |work=The Times of India}}</ref> It stars Vijay Sethupathi, Kreshna and Sunaina.<ref name="TNIE">{{Cite news |date=30 April 2014 |title=Vijay Sethupathi's "Vanmam" kicks off |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Vijay-Sethupathis-Vanmam-kicks-off/2014/04/30/article2196520.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502005405/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Vijay-Sethupathis-Vanmam-kicks-off/2014/04/30/article2196520.ece |archive-date=2 May 2014 |access-date=30 April 2014 |work=The New Indian Express}}</ref> The film has music scored by S. Thaman and cinematography by Balabharani.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 April 2014 |title=Vijay Sethupathi's film commences in Kanyakumari |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/106827.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511125558/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/106827.html |archive-date=11 May 2014 |access-date=30 April 2014 |website=IndiaGlitz}}</ref><ref name="thehindu1">{{Cite news |last=Naig, Udhav |date=16 April 2014 |title=Udhayanidhi ropes in Ahmed to direct his next |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/udhayanidhi-ropes-in-ahmed-to-direct-his-next/article5918875.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423225349/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/udhayanidhi-ropes-in-ahmed-to-direct-his-next/article5918875.ece |archive-date=23 April 2014 |access-date=30 April 2014 |work=The Hindu}}</ref> The film was highly panned by the critics for its poor screenplay.
== Plot == It is a rural tale about the life of two friends, played by Sethupathi and Kreshna.<ref name="indiatimes1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2014 |title=Vijay Sethupathi is a ruffian in "Vanmam" |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/vijay-sethupathi-is-a-ruffian-in-vanmam-tamil-news-106313 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141123133823/http://www.indiaglitz.com/vijay-sethupathi-is-a-ruffian-in-vanmam-tamil-news-106313 |archive-date=23 November 2014 |access-date=30 April 2014 |website=IndiaGlitz}}</ref>
==Cast== {{colbegin}} * Vijay Sethupathi as Radha * Kreshna as Chelladurai * Sunaina as Vadhana * Jayaprakash as Muthuvel * Madhusudhan Rao as Ratnam * Devaraj as Puli Pandi * Bose Venkat as Palraj * Uday Mahesh as Muthupandi * Anjali Rao as Hema * Sriranjani as Nila * Manisha Yadav as Selvi * Vinodhini Vaidyanathan as Palraj's wife * Radha as Radha's mother * Radhamani Ammal as Chelladurai's mother * "Subramaniapuram" Raja as Jai Prakash * Vazhakku En Muthuraman as Thangappan * Aroul D. Shankar as Inspector Sakthivel * "Avan Ivan" Ramraj as Lawyer * Albert Raj as Sappattai Velu * Praveen as Kutty * Subburaj * S. Iyappan * V. N. O. Padmanabhan * Raandilya as Mani<ref>{{Cite news |last=Raghavan |first=Nikhil |date=October 3, 2015 |title=Etectera: From small to big screen |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/snippets-about-tamil-cinema/article7720615.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622053107/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/snippets-about-tamil-cinema/article7720615.ece |archive-date=22 June 2021 |access-date=3 September 2020 |work=The Hindu}}</ref> {{colend}}
==Production== In August 2013, it was confirmed that Vijay Sethupathi would be doing a film with Kreshna titled ''Vanmam'' which means "vengeance".<ref>[http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/vijay-sethupathy-adds-one-more-to-his-list-vijay-sethupathy-vanhmam-30-08-13.html "The Vengeance of Vijay Sethupathy"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006022858/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/vijay-sethupathy-adds-one-more-to-his-list-vijay-sethupathy-vanhmam-30-08-13.html |date=6 October 2013 }}. ''Behindwoods''. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2014.</ref> Filming began in late April 2014 in Nagercoil.<ref name = TNIE/> and was shot in and around Kanyakumari district<ref name="indiatimes1" /> for about 37 days, during which 60% of the filming had been completed.<ref name="BW">[http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-14/vijay-sethupathis-vanmams-marudhanayagam-connection-and-more.html "Vanmam's Marudhanayagam connection and more .."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605052059/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-14/vijay-sethupathis-vanmams-marudhanayagam-connection-and-more.html |date=5 June 2014 }}. ''Behindwoods''. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.</ref> Vijay Sethupathi joined the cast from the second schedule onward.<ref>[http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-14/vijay-sethupathi-kreshna-starrer-vanmam-vengeance-started-from-yesterday.html "Vijay Sethupathi's Vengeance started from yesterday"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620194515/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-14/vijay-sethupathi-kreshna-starrer-vanmam-vengeance-started-from-yesterday.html |date=20 June 2014 }}. ''Behindwoods''. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.</ref> The final schedule began on 15 June 2014 and ended on 10 July 2014. The action sequences were canned during the final schedule of the film.<ref>[http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/vijay-sethupathi-and-kreshna-fights-at-the-vanmam-shooting-spot/vijay-sethupathi-and-kreshna-fights-at-the-vanmam-shooting-spot-event.html "VIJAY SETHUPATHI AND KRESHNA FIGHTS AT THE "VANMAM" SHOOTING SPOT VIDEO"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701060920/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/vijay-sethupathi-and-kreshna-fights-at-the-vanmam-shooting-spot/vijay-sethupathi-and-kreshna-fights-at-the-vanmam-shooting-spot-event.html |date=1 July 2014 }}. ''Behindwoods''. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.</ref> The shooting was wrapped up 3 days earlier on 7 July 2014.
==Music== {{Infobox album | name = Vanmam | type = Soundtrack | artist = S. Thaman | cover = | alt = | released = 2 September 2014 | recorded = 2013–2014 | venue = | studio = | genre = Feature film soundtrack | length = 18.27 | language = Tamil | label = Sony Music | producer = S. Thaman | prev_title = Aagadu | prev_year = 2014 | next_title = Tamizhuku En Ondrai Azhuthavum | next_year = 2014 }} S. Thaman composed the music for the film. The audio launch of the film was scheduled to take place on 28 August 2014,<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/Vanmam-audio-launch-on-August-28/articleshow/40581784.cms "'Vanmam' audio launch on August 28"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824012732/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/Vanmam-audio-launch-on-August-28/articleshow/40581784.cms |date=24 August 2014 }}. ''The Times of India''. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.</ref> but was postponed to 2 September 2014. The audio rights were purchased by Sony Music India.<ref>[http://tamil.way2movies.com//newssingle_tamil/Vanmam-audio-launch-on-Sep-2-4-308177.html "'Vanmam' audio launch on Sep 2"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905020141/http://tamil.way2movies.com//newssingle_tamil/Vanmam-audio-launch-on-Sep-2-4-308177.html |date=5 September 2014 }}. ''way2movies''. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.</ref>
The soundtrack received mixed reviews from critics. ''Behindwoods'' wrote, "''Vanmam'' - de-ja-vu of Thaman's earlier albums", and rated the album 1.75/5.<ref>[http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/vanmam/vanmam-songs-review.html "VANMAM SONGS REVIEW"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903222305/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/vanmam/vanmam-songs-review.html |date=3 September 2014 }}. ''Behindwoods''. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.</ref> ''Indiaglitz'' wrote, "Thaman's last release ''Meaghamann'' is a cool album with just 3 songs and a theme track. He has dished out a similar stuff in ''Vanmam''."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140908043141/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/musicreview/18786.html "Vanmam - One more short and sweet album from, Thaman"]. ''Indiaglitz''. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.</ref> Karthik of ''Milliblog'' wrote, "But for occasional inventiveness, this familiar, predictable output from Thaman is distressing."<ref>Karthik (2 September 2014). [http://itwofs.com/milliblog/2014/09/02/vanmam-music-review-tamil-thaman/ "Vanmam (Music review), Tamil – Thaman"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906161855/http://itwofs.com/milliblog/2014/09/02/vanmam-music-review-tamil-thaman/ |date=6 September 2014 }}. ''Milliblog''. Retrieved 5 September 2014.</ref> Siddarth Srinivas of ''Cinemalead'' gave 2 out of 5 and concluded, "Though the autotune tsunami bashes this album to an extent, Thaman has come up with decent songs in "Manamae" and "Aetti Enga Porae". The saturation point has been breached for the composer, and its high time he comes up with innovative music. Otherwise, he better stick to the Telugu industry where he is a celebrated figure!"<ref>Srinivas, Siddarth (2 September 2014). [http://www.cinemalead.com/musicreview-id-vanhmam-aka-vanmham-aka-vanmam-music-review-music-review357.htm "VANMHAM AKA VANMAM MUSIC REVIEW"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907165138/http://www.cinemalead.com/musicreview-id-vanhmam-aka-vanmham-aka-vanmam-music-review-music-review357.htm |date=7 September 2014 }}. ''Cinemalead''. Retrieved 5 September 2014.</ref>
===Track list=== {{track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | all_lyrics = Yugabharathi | total_length = 18:03 | title1 = Aetti Enga Porae | extra1 = M. M. Manasi, Nivas | lyrics1 = | length1 = 4:29 | title2 = Paadatta Paadatta | extra2 = Hariharasudhan, Velmurugan | lyrics2 = | length2 = 3:58 | title3 = Manamae Manamae | extra3 = Pooja Vaidyanath, Suchith Suresan | lyrics3 = | length3 = 5:19 | title4 = Raasa Raasa | extra4 = M. M. Monisha | length4 = 4:17 | lyrics4 = }}
==Critical reception== Baradwaj Rangan for ''The Hindu'' called ''Vanmam'' "just about the vilest thing I've sat through in recent times. The emotional beats are buried so deep they're hardly discernible, and what's on the surface is a generic mix of love and drama and sentiment and action. There's not a thing that's new".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |date=21 November 2014 |title=Vanmam: So indifferently made, it's shocking |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/vanmam-review-so-indifferently-made-its-shocking/article6621929.ece?secpage=true&secname=entertainment |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811225319/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/vanmam-review-so-indifferently-made-its-shocking/article6621929.ece?secpage=true&secname=entertainment |archive-date=11 August 2020 |access-date=24 November 2014 |work=The Hindu}}</ref> ''The Times of India'' gave the film 2.5 stars out of 5 and wrote, "The worrying bit about the film is that nothing feels really at stake. The director, who nicely captures milieu, hasn't done so when it comes to characters and plot. The result is that the film often seems like a morality drama turned into a rural masala".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Vanmham Movie Review {2/5}: Critic Review of Vanmham by Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Vanmham/movie-review/45233301.cms |work=The Times of India}}</ref> Sify wrote, "It is a story that has been told from time immemorial, and there is nothing fresh in presentation or treatment. And terrible screenplay aggravates the misery" going on to call it a "clichéd long and boring movie".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Movie Review : Vanmham |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/vanmham-review-tamil-15058645.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121230328/http://www.sify.com/movies/vanmham-review-tamil-15058645.html |archive-date=21 November 2014 |access-date=9 August 2022 |website=Sify}}</ref> Rediff wrote, "Director Jai Krishna's ''Vanmham'' is just another ordinary, highly predictable and melodramatic revenge drama that seriously tests your patience".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Review: Vanmham is an uninspiring revenge drama |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-vanmham-is-an-uninspiring-revenge-drama-south/20141121.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141124095950/http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-vanmham-is-an-uninspiring-revenge-drama-south/20141121.htm |archive-date=24 November 2014 |access-date=24 November 2014}}</ref>
In contrast, ''The New Indian Express'' wrote, "Weaving a fairly engaging tale and moving his narration with focus and assurance, the director establishes his credentials in his very first effort".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Big Treat for Fans of Sethupathi |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/reviews/2014/11/23/Big-Treat-for-Fans-of-Sethupathi/article2536742.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222182558/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/reviews/2014/11/23/Big-Treat-for-Fans-of-Sethupathi/article2536742.ece |archive-date=22 December 2014 |access-date=24 November 2014}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|4047150}}
Category:2014 films Category:2014 Tamil-language films Category:2014 Indian films Category:Films scored by Thaman S Category:2010s masala films Category:Indian action films Category:2014 directorial debut films Category:2014 action films Category:Tamil-language Indian films