Valiyavan

Plot

The film opens with Vinod (Jai) sipping his milkshake and walking in the subway. Then, suddenly a young woman called Subiksha (Andrea Jeremiah) blocks his path and proposes to him and disappears. He takes it as a joke and goes away. But during the following week, he starts to wonder about her and questions himself whether she told the truth. So, he starts to wait in the subway every day. But she doesn't come. But on the other hand, she visits his workplace in and his friend's room, where he stays. But both the times he doesn't make it in time to meet her. Finally when he meets her, she tells him that they have already met at a party where their mutual friend asks her to drop him at his place as he is very drunk. But Vinod doesn't remember this incident. When he replies to her proposal, she rejects him stating that she just messed with him for his behavior on the night she dropped him at home. But he continues to pursue her. Subiksha puts a condition that if he fought with Ashwin Ranjith, a boxing champion, she would return his love. He agrees to fight him not only to win her love but also cause of an incident that happened because of Ashwin which has caused him to stay away from his father. How he trains himself and fights with Ashwin forms the rest of the story.

Cast

Production

In February 2014, AR Murugadoss announced that he was set to produce a venture to be directed by M. Saravanan which would feature Jai in a leading role; with the trio collaborating again after the success of Engaeyum Eppothum (2013). However, the film was later announced to be produced by SK Studios instead. Andrea Jeremiah was selected to play the film's lead actress and filming began in April 2014.

Soundtrack

The film's score and soundtrack were composed by D. Imman. The album consists of 8 tracks, featuring lyrics penned by Na. Muthukumar and Viveka. It was released on 9 January 2015 in Chennai. The soundtrack received positive reviews with Behindwoods noting that "album is purely situational and may work well with the visuals".

Critical reception

Baradwaj Rangan, writing for The Hindu, stated, "(the) first half (of the film) is practically empty — we have to wait for the second half for things to get going. So a certain amount of pointlessness in the early portions is par for the course. What’s shocking in M. Saravanan’s Valiyavan is how excruciating this pointlessness is. You may end up feeling physical pain", going on to call it "an easy contender for the year’s worst screenplay". The Times of India gave 2 stars out of 5 and wrote, "With one of the most preposterous scripts in recent times, M Saravanan...disappoints in Valiyavan". Rediff gave the same rating and wrote, "Valiyavan fails to impress, it is unworthy of the director who gave us the brilliant Engaeyum Eppothum". Sify wrote, "Valiyavan is a mixed bag. The first half is terrible with no story, and it is the last 30 minutes which has some meat in it. (The) script and presentation is a big letdown".

Behindwoods.com rated the film 2.25 out of 5 and stated, "An usual commercial flick, with an action packed Jai and a very attractive Andrea". Gautaman Bhaskaran of The Hindustan Times rated 1.5 out of 5 and wrote, "Romance and revenge, but little energy to push them".

Home media

The satellite rights of the film were sold to Raj TV.