{{Short description|2016 Tamil drama film by Vasantha Mani}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}} {{Infobox film | name = Vetrivel | image = Vetrivel poster.jpg | caption = Poster | director = Vasantha Mani | producer = R. Ravindran | writer = Vasantha Mani | starring = Sasikumar<br>Prabhu<br>Miya<br>Nikhila Vimal | music = D. Imman | cinematography = S. R. Kathir | editing = A. L. Ramesh | studio = Trident Arts | distributor = Lyca Productions | released = {{Film date|df=y|2016|04|22}} | country = India | language = Tamil }}
'''''Vetrivel''''' is a 2016 Tamil-language drama film written and directed by Vasantha Mani. The film stars Sasikumar, Prabhu, Miya and Nikhila Vimal (in her Tamil debut), while Viji Chandrasekhar, Ananth Nag and Varsha Bollamma portray supporting roles. The film, featuring music by D. Imman and cinematography by S. R. Kathir, released on 22 April 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-27 |title=Vetrivel Tamil Movie Review -Chennaivision |url=http://chennaivision.com/tamil-movies/vetrivel-tamil-movie-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818180633/http://chennaivision.com/tamil-movies/vetrivel-tamil-movie-review/ |archive-date=18 August 2016 |access-date=2016-07-14 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="jyothsna">{{Cite web |last=Jyothsna |date=16 September 2015 |title=After wrapping Thara Thappattai, Sasikumar began his next with Vasantha Mani |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/after-wrapping-thara-thappattai-sasikumar-will-begin-his-next-with-vasantha-mani.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222062237/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/after-wrapping-thara-thappattai-sasikumar-will-begin-his-next-with-vasantha-mani.html |archive-date=22 December 2015 |access-date=11 December 2015 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Suganth |first=M. |title=Sasikumar to have two heroines in Vetrivel |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Sasikumar-to-have-two-heroines-in-Vetrivel/articleshow/49033790.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034923/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Sasikumar-to-have-two-heroines-in-Vetrivel/articleshow/49033790.cms |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=11 December 2015 |work=The Times of India}}</ref> The film received mostly positive reviews from critics.
==Plot== In 1987, PM Rajiv Gandhi announces the recreation of local self-administration bodies in India and the plans for elections. "Maniyakkarar" Rajamanickam (Prabhu) is a rich landlord in a village in Tanjore. His pregnant stepsister Kayavarnam (Viji Chandrasekhar) approaches him with a request that he should not contest the upcoming election for village chief, as her husband wants to contest. Rajamanickam relents without thoughts, and Kayavarnam goes happy. Meanwhile, leaders of eight villages gather with Rajamanickam and convince him to contest, as the village chief post will be contested by many people with wrong intentions if Rajamanickam does not contest. Rajamanickam agrees with the villagers and asks his brother-in-law to withdraw. His brother-in-law vehemently refuses, and the election heavily contested. Rajamanickam wins with a high vote difference, and his brother-in-law hangs himself. Kayavaram portrays the suicide as heart attack and promises revenge on Rajamanickam, effectively severing their relationship.
In 2010, Vetrivel (Sasikumar) is an organic fertilizer vendor who lives in a nearby village with his father Navaneetham (Ilavarasu), mother Saradha (Renuka) and brother Saravanan (Ananth Nag). Saravanan falls in love with his classmate Subha (Varsha Bollamma), Rajamanickam's only daughter. Meanwhile, Vetrivel develops a liking for an agriculture researcher Janani (Miya).
Vetrivel urges his father to approach Rajamanickam with a marriage proposal between Saravanan and Subha, for which Rajamanickam opposes, citing caste differences. Vetrivel and Saravanan plan to kidnap Subha during a temple festival but the plan fails as they accidentally kidnap another girl Latha (Nikhila Vimal) by mistake. Latha is engaged to Kayavarnam's son Arul (Rajesh Gopalan), and her wedding is supposed to take place in a week. Vetrivel realizes his mistake and rushes back to the village to drop off Latha, but her father commits suicide before her arrival, thinking that she eloped with someone. She understands that it was Kayavarnam who behaved very rude towards Latha’s father, which made him end his life.
Vetrivel marries Latha as she is helpless now. His parents accept Latha, understanding her situation. Janani, although disappointed, understands Vetrivel’s situation and accepts his decision. Meanwhile, Rajamanickam plans to get his daughter Subha married to his relative, but Vetrivel interferes and cancels the wedding talks. Finally, Rajamanickam decides to get Subha married to Arul with the hope of ending his long dispute with Kayavarnam. The wedding is arranged, and Rajamanickam drops off Subha in Kayavarnam’s house fearing Vetrival’s intervention again. But Rajamanickam finds out that Kayavarnam has plans to ditch Subha after wedding as a means of revenge on Rajamanickam.
Rajamanickam understands his mistake, meets Vetrivel's parents, and agrees for Subha's wedding with Saravanan. On his way back, Rajamanickam is kidnapped by Kayavarnam. Meanwhile, Arul informs Subha that he does not want to marry her without her consent. Arul asks Subha to inform Saravanan about her whereabouts so that Saravanan can come and rescue her. Subha informs Saravanan, and he arrives at the place but gets shocked to see Arul’s henchmen there. It is revealed that it was a plan by Kayavarnam and Arul to kill Saravanan. Vetrivel arrives there, where he beats everyone and saves Saravanan and Rajamanickam. Finally, Subha is married to Saravanan.
==Cast== {{cast listing| *Sasikumar as Vetrivel *Prabhu as Rajamanickam, Subha's father & Kayavarnam's elder-brother *Miya as Janani, Vetrivel's ex-lover *Nikhila Vimal as Latha, Vetrivel's wife *Viji Chandrasekhar as Kayavarnam *Ananth Nag as Saravanan, Vetrivel's brother *Varsha Bollamma as Subha, Saravanan's lover *Thambi Ramaiah as Otthaasai *Ilavarasu as Navaneetham, Vetrivel's and Saravanan's father *Renuka as Sharadha, Vetrivel’s and Saravanan's mother *Praveena as Devana, Rajamanickam's wife and Subha's mother *Rajesh Gopalan as Arul *Samuthirakani in a cameo appearance *Vijay Vasanth as Chandran (Cameo appearance) *Bharani as Paandi (Cameo appearance) }}
==Production== Newcomer director Vasantha Mani revealed that he was working on the script of a film featuring Jai, Sasikumar and Samuthirakani during December 2014. By May 2015, he revealed that Jai did not sign the project and they were looking for a new actor to portray the role written for him instead.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Subramaniapuram Team reunite again — Subramaniapuram — Jai — Sasi Kumar — Samuthirakani — Vasantha Mani- Jilla Director Nesan - Cinemalead.com - |url=http://www.cinemalead.com/news-id-subramaniapuram-jai-29-12-146996.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222133513/http://www.cinemalead.com/news-id-subramaniapuram-jai-29-12-146996.htm |archive-date=22 December 2015 |access-date=11 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Karthik |first=Janani |title=Sasikumar picks yet another rustic film |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Sasikumar-picks-yet-another-rustic-film/articleshow/47202482.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512020648/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Sasikumar-picks-yet-another-rustic-film/articleshow/47202482.cms |archive-date=12 May 2015 |access-date=11 December 2015 |work=The Times of India}}</ref> In early September 2015, after finishing work on Bala's ''Tharai Thappattai'' (2016), Sasikumar confirmed he would work on the project titled ''Vetrivel'' and an official launch was held.<ref name="jyothsna" /> The film began production during September 2015 at Tanjore and completed a monthlong schedule, which ended early as a result of the 2015 Nadigar Sangam elections.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jyothsna |date=17 October 2015 |title=Updates about Sasikumar starrer Vetrivel |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/updates-about-sasikumar-starrer-vetrivel.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222062518/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/updates-about-sasikumar-starrer-vetrivel.html |archive-date=22 December 2015 |access-date=11 December 2015 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref> Miya revealed that she was working on the film during December 2015, and noted that she would portray the character of Malayali girl in the film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Athira M. |date=11 December 2015 |title=Miya George on her journey in tinsel town |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/miya-george-on-her-journey-in-tinsel-town/article7976540.ece?secpage=true&secname=entertainment |work=The Hindu}}</ref>
==Release== The film opened to positive reviews in April 2016, with Sify.com stating it is "a decent commercial entertainer with a neat message from Sasikumar, which is watchable for the authentic performance of the actors".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Review : Vetrivel Review: Watchable |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/vetrivel-review-watchable-review-tamil-qewqT3fbaggej.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422155100/http://www.sify.com/movies/vetrivel-review-watchable-review-tamil-qewqT3fbaggej.html |archive-date=22 April 2016 |access-date=12 October 2017 |website=Sify}}</ref> Likewise, Behindwoods.com noted that "Though the movie does well to package a drama with a well plotted screenplay, neatly polished with newness, probably the main enemy for Vetrivel is that the average theatergoer these days wants his day out at theatre to be a bash".<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 April 2016 |title=Vetrivel (aka) Vetri Vel review |url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/vetrivel/vetrivel-review.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013013527/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/vetrivel/vetrivel-review.html |archive-date=13 October 2017 |access-date=12 October 2017 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref> Baradwaj Rangan from The Hindu noted it has "been a while since a purely formulaic film was made with respect for the art as well as the audience", praising the production.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |date=23 April 2016 |title=Vetrivel: It takes a village... |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/vetrivel-it-takes-a-village/article8510230.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013233857/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/vetrivel-it-takes-a-village/article8510230.ece |archive-date=13 October 2017 |access-date=12 October 2017 |work=The Hindu |via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
==Soundtrack== The soundtrack was composed by D. Imman.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vetrivel songs Download from Raaga.com - Raaga.com - A World Of Music |url=http://play.raaga.com/tamil/album/Vetrivel-songs-T0004398 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115131320/http://play.raaga.com/tamil/album/Vetrivel-songs-T0004398 |archive-date=15 November 2016 |access-date=12 October 2017 |website=raaga.com}}</ref> {{Infobox album | name = Vetrivel | type = Soundtrack | artist = D. Imman | cover = | alt = | released = 2016 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Feature film soundtrack | length = | language = Tamil | label = | producer = | prev_title = Pokkiri Raja | prev_year = 2016 | next_title = Marudhu | next_year = 2016 }}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" ! No. !! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics |- | 1 || "Adiye Unna" || Sathya Prakash, Vandana Srinivasan || Yugabharathi |- | 2 || "Aattam Pottu" || Saisharan || rowspan=2|Mohan Rajan |- | 3 || "Athuva" || Aalap Raju |- | 4 || "Naatu Saalaiyile" || Anitha Venkat, Jayamoorthi, Kovilpatti Amali, V.M. Mahalingam || rowspan=2|Yugabharathi |- | 5 || "Onnapola" || Shreya Ghoshal |- |}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|5655954}} {{Lyca Productions}}
Category:2016 films Category:2016 Tamil-language films Category:Indian action drama films Category:Films scored by D. Imman Category:2016 directorial debut films Category:2016 action drama films