Silambattam (film)

Silambattam (transl. Stick fighting) is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language masala film written and directed by cinematographer-turned-director S. Saravanan, making his directorial debut. The film stars Silambarasan in a dual role as a father and son while Prabhu, Sneha and Sana Khan play lead roles with Kishore as the antagonist. Santhanam, Nedumudi Venu and Ponvannan play supporting roles. Yuvan Shankar Raja composed the background score and soundtrack. In the film, Vichu, a young priest, is raised by his grandfather. When an unruly incident occurs in the temple premises, he is forced to reveal his true identity and a secret from his past. The film was released on 18 December 2008.

Vichu is a quiet village priest brought up by his maternal grandfather. Owing to specific reasons, the caring elder has purposefully toned down the young boy's emotional quotient and has taught him a peculiar art of living. As a result, Vichu is soft-spoken, passive, and is groomed to tolerate all sorts of malicious misdemeanors aimed at him. Vichu assists his grandfather in carrying out religious rituals as well as being the temple's caretaker. His only consolation comes in the company of his sweetheart Jaanu. Jaanu's childish jokes and teasing remarks make up for all the precious and youthful moments that Vichu has missed in his growing years. One day, Jaanu decides to seduce Vichu by tying a sacred thread on his hand which was intended to make him more brave with the help of his friend Kusu Vidum Saama. Due to this, he gets aroused after seeing Jaanu's navel and kisses it, causing her to squeal.

Though Vichu abides by his elder's advice, an incident on the temple premises reveals his real persona. One day, Vichu witnesses a big band of ruffians bashing a seemingly meek individual. Vichu joins the tussle and saves the victim. As the man takes a hard look at his saviour face, he is stunned. He then meets Muthuvel, who is in jail for committing a murder and narrates what happened. Muthuvel decides to meet Vichu. When he is released from jail, he sets out to meet Vichu. While he is going towards Vichu, he is stabbed by a thug, which Vichu and his grandfather witness. The thug's leader pushes Vichu's grandfather and goes to kill Muthuvel, but Vichu stops him. When he looks at Vichu he finds out that he was the one saved the victim that day. A fight occurs between Vichu and the thugs, where Vichu manages to defeat them and save Muthuvel. Vichu's grandfather sees this and gets shocked. Vichu admits Muthuvel in a hospital, where he hears his flashback from his grandfather.

There is a huge clash between the two village groups headed by Muthuvel and Veeraiyan. The reason is that Veeraiyan claims back all of the land that he donated to the landless and poor villagers, whereas Muthuvel and his brother Tamizharasan oppose his order. In the violent power-struggle, many people die. Veeraiyan stabs himself and says that Tamizh stabbed him to death. The police comes in search of Tamizh, but he is missing in the house (he is with Gayathri on that night on a freight train). Tamizh is produced before court, and as he was missing on that night, he is doubted and granted punishment. Gayathri intervenes and says that she spent that night along with Tamizh on that train. She says that they behaved as a husband and wife would in each other's company. The statement is proven, and Tamizh is released. Only Veeraiyan's last son Duraisingam and Muthuvel are spared in the tragedy. The burning intensity of the mishap stays alive in Durai's heart, and Muthuvel is another witness to the past. Durai enters Muthuvel's house and kills everyone, including Tamizh. A group of rowdies enter and kill the rest. Muthuvel, the dying Tamizh, and their men manage to kill them. It is revealed that Gayathri escapes to her father's home and later dies giving birth to Vichu as she believes that Vichu is Tamizh's rebirth. Vichu's grandfather did not want Vichu do become like Tamizh, and he should be seen by Muthuvel and his men. After finding out the past, Vichu decides to avenge Tamizh's death.

Vichu, along with Saama, Jaanu, and her parents, disguised as rich people, foil Durai's plan of making a beer factory in the land. Durai then goes to a train with a girl, Pottas Sivagami, and spends time with her. Saama sees this and calls the police, telling them that there is a bomb in the train, which everyone believes. When Durai's men come to tell him that there is a bomb in the train, Sivagami hears a deep sound and runs outside with Durai, and they are apprehended by the public. Then, Durai analyses Vichu's trick. The villagers become angry at Durai, and his wife leaves him. Angered, Durai kills Muthuvel by placing a bomb in a tractor and kidnaps Vichu. He brings him to the same place where Veeraiyan died and hits him with his hands tied. Tamizh's men arrives there and tell Durai to untie and then beat Vichu. After Durai's henchmen untie Vichu, he hits Durai and his henchmen and defeats them. Vichu uses the villagers and Tamizh's men to kill Durai by throwing coconuts all over his body and thereby avenging Tamizh's and his family's death.

After completing his revenge, Vichu goes back to his grandfather's home. He later marries Jaanu, and they become parents to a boy who is angry like his father.

Silambattam is the directorial debut of S. Saravanan, previously a cinematographer.^[1] The film was launched on 7 December 2007. Silambattam was 25th film for Lakshmi Movie Makers.^[2] Sana Khan was introduced as one of the heroines of the project.^[3] For a particular sequence, Silambarasan donned the costume of Billa.^[4] Silambarasan was dancing for a song sequence at Pollachi when he sprained his ankle leading to the cancellation of the shooting. He was immediately rushed to a local hospital where he was administered treatment and was advised for the next couple of days.^[5]

The music of Silambattam was scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja. The soundtrack was released on 21 March 2008. Already before the audio launch, three preview songs of the film were released online, "Nallamdhana", "Silambattam" and "Where is the Party".^[6] "Vechikkava" is a remix of the same-titled song from the 1984 film Nallavanukku Nallavan.^[7]

After the release, the songs gained much popularity especially among youth, with "Where is the Party" in particular, topping the charts for several weeks.^[8][9] The song and also the album featured in Top 10 lists, too.^[10]

Originally scheduled to release on Diwali,^[11] it was postponed to 12 December 2008.^[12]

Sify wrote, "Silambattam is a typical mass masala entertainer. It is another 'Formulaic' film revolving around a larger than life hero, who romances, does comedy".^[13] Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote: "What begins as a fairly suspenseful narrative dwindles into a run-of-the-mill line post-interval. Tales of vendetta have been churned out ever so many times".^[14] Pavithra Srinivasan of Rediff.com wrote, "With its humbugging story and bash-fest theme, Silambattam appears to have everything lined up for a B and C Centre win. But if you're a discerning viewer, stay away".^[15]

The film won three awards at the Isaiaruvi Tamil Music Awards 2008 in three categories: Sensational Youth Album, Crazy Song of the Year ("Where Is The Party") and Best Remix Song of the Year ("Vechikkava").^[16] Kanal Kannan won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Stunt Coordinator.^[17]

• Silambattam at IMDb 
• Silambattam at Rotten Tomatoes