Kaalai

Plot

Jeeva(Silambarasan) shares his name with two other people - one villain and one cop-turned-baddie and the situations arising out of it promise enough curiosity for a while as soon as the movie opens.

Jeeva’s grandmother – slays five men, mind you when she was only nine, since they flouted her father’s advices and distilled alcohol illegally in the village also involving in other shady activities. The villagers, for her noble act, consider her their head after her return from the prison and are peaceful under her reign. However, trouble crops up in the name of a police officer – Jeeva(Lal) – whose ego is hurt when challenged by the fellow policeman’s son that he can’t find anything illicit in Jeeva’s village, ruled by the godmother Karuppayi Aatha (Seema).

Jeeva tries - but to no avail - to nail somebody from the village for any charges and ends being thrashed up the villagers. Predictably, he returns with a vengeance and in the dirty war, burns Karuppayi Aatha alive. Enough reason for to seek retribution for his loss. Jeeva returns to Chennai, uses the tried and tested formula to woo Jeeva’s daughter Brindha, and after a couple of duets abducts her as a hostage on revenge of his grandmother.

Cast

Casting

Vedhika was selected as heroine. While Sangeetha and yesteryear actress Seema was selected to play supporting roles. Nila was selected to appear in item song. Prakashraj was originally selected as villain but he was replaced by Malayalam actor Lal.

Filming

The main and most of the film was shot in nearby villages of Theni Town. Australia was originally selected as a location for song shooting due to Visa problems, it was shifted to Malaysia. Heroine was not finalized as a result of which an entire schedule of the film was shot without the lady lead of the movie. A fast beat song sequence of this movie was shot at the VGP Golden Beach in Chennai with Simbu and Vedhika. Kaala team left for Pondy for shooting on 2 April amidst much fanfare. With just eight days of filming the stunt sequences alone, the entire unit is back in town.According to the team, the only actors booked for the movie is the lead pair, Simbu and Vedika. Insiders reveal that even Vedika was booked just one day before the team left for Pondy and none of the scenes shot so far has her presence. Simbhu did some editing work with Anthony, impressed by his work anthony said to have presented rs. 25,000 to him.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack consists of six songs composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar. Actress Mamta Mohandas has sung a song. Soundtrack had a soft launch.

Release

The satellite rights of the film were sold to Sun TV. The film was given an "A" certificate by the Indian Censor Board. The film was released in Pongal alongside Bheema, Pidichirukku, Pirivom Santhippom and Pazhani.

Critical reception

Indiaglitz wrote:"the narrative is too loud and it lacks finesse. Silambarasan handles the 'omnipotent hero' character with confidence. Vedhika announces her arrival as the potential glam girl of 2008. This one with a beautiful and innocent face has just the right figure to take up glamour roles.". Nowrunning wrote:"Silambarasan's more than life image is unrealistic if not out of place. Vedhicka exudes glamour and performs well in duet songs". Sify wrote:"When Silambarasan and director Tarun Gopi came together in Kaalai we expected a racy masala entertainer. Sadly it is a watered down version of earlier films and ends up as an over-the-top ham enterprise, Kaalai is like bull in china shop and makes you groan".