Yaman (film)

Cast

Production

In December 2015, Jeeva Shankar announced that his next film would feature Vijay Antony and the pair would collaborate after working together in Naan (2012). Jeeva Shankar had initially discussed the script with other actors including Vijay Sethupathi, who had requested the director to finish the script in two months, but Jeeva Shankar took eight months and Vijay Sethupathi became busy with other projects. Vijay Antony's availability meant that Jeeva Shankar chose to cast him in the lead role. He revealed that the film would be a political thriller film set in Chennai and Vijay Antony would portray the character who brings "the message of death". Miya George was signed on as the film's lead actress during January 2016, while Lyca Productions announced that they would produce the film. Vijay Antony put on weight for the film and began working on the project during the same month, with the producers revealing that the film would be shot within eighty days. Thiagarajan joined the film's cast during May 2016 and revealed that he would portray the lead antagonist, appearing as a "political mastermind". Several scenes were shot in Chennai, while a prison set was erected in Pondicherry for the shoot. Moreover, a song was shot in Mumbai during July 2016 featuring Vijay Antony and Miya. The team later moved on to film sequences in Georgia during July 2016.

Soundtrack

The film's score and soundtrack is composed by Vijay Antony. The song "Yem Mela Kai Vachaa Gaali" was released as a single during September 2016, during the Tamil Nadu Premier League match of Kovai vs Chepauk held in Tirunelveli. The album was released on 4 February 2017 by Lyca Music.

Release

The film had a worldwide theatrical release on 24 February 2017, with a dubbed Telugu version with the same name having a simultaneous release. Sify.com gave the film a positive review, stating "to conclude, Yaman is a film with many layers, and one with solid drama at its core, which makes it such an engaging watch" and that "it is that rare kind of film which transports you bang in the middle of its action". In their review of the film, The Hindu concluded "strong performances and detailing save the day for Vijay Antony’s Yaman, adding "the film’s release timing is apt in the country’s politically active scenario". A critic from The Times of India wrote "overall, a little more pace, doing away a duet song which appears in the second half which makes audience yawn and slight tone down of heroism would have worked wonders", while the Indian Express called it "a watchable political drama, which has come out at the right time in the light of the ongoing political crisis in Tamil Nadu". Likewise, The Deccan Chronicle's review mentioned "the film works only in parts", and similarly, The New Indian Express stated "despite the glitches, and with more positives than negatives, Yaman is a fairly interesting watch".