Sivakasi (film)

Sivakasi (Vijay) is man with a golden heart, who works in a mechanic shed with his friends. The next day Hema (Asin) and her father (Devan) visit a shop nearby Sivakasi's mechanic shed. There a guy tries to misbehave with Hema. She is enraged and beats him up in the middle of the street. Sivaksi reaches there and says that it was also Hema's fault for dressing in skimpy clothes. Her father and brother are on the spot but does nothing because her father also agrees with Sivakasi. However, eager to get back to Sivakasi, she lies to him saying that she has a twin sister named Homa who studied abroad and the person whom he saved was in fact, her sister Homa. Later, Sivakasi goes to a wedding where Hema's father and Hema are present and declares his love in public. Hema does not react and but comes to Sivakasi's shop the next day and asks why he said that to his sister Homa, who, in shock, consumed poison and attempted suicide. In fear, Sivakasi and friends approach a lawyer for anticipatory bail who happens to be the lawyer of Hema's family, who tells them that Hema does not have any sister. Sivakasi, learning the truth, angrily goes to the gym where Hema was training, en route Deva's background score playing I am not Sivakasi I am his brother now. It's amazing blazing how I got there. Another brother you don't know that! Get ready steady coming in right now! ; where he claims he is Vaikasi, Sivakasi's twin brother and threatens Hema to bring Homa right at that moment. That is when Hema declares her love to Sivakasi.

One day, Hema's brothers visit Sivakasi's house and realise that it is too uncomfortable for the rich Hema. Sivakasi enrages, thinking that they belittled him, and chase them out of his house. Hema, after hearing about this incident, goes to Sivakasi and scolds him for his rude behaviour. Moreover, she also says that he won't be able to understand the care, affection and concern of parents and siblings in a family as Sivakasi is an orphan. Unable to hear all this, Sivakasi breaks out his past. His name was Muthappa and had to leave his home at the age of eight due to some fall out with his father (Rajesh) framed by his elder brother Udayappa (Prakash Raj). He undertook the name Sivakasi because whenever a woman called him as 'Muthappa', he was reminded of his mother and when a man called him by the name, he was reminded of his father. Hema tells him to come back with his family and then they can get married.

After many years, he decides to return to his hometown after being forced to by Hema. When he arrives at his hometown, he finds out about the sinister doings of this brother Udhayappa to his mother (Geetha) and his sister (Lakshana). Udhayappan is now an (M.L.A) due to the influence from his wife's (Saranya Ponvannan) mother, Moolimungari (Telengana Sakuntala). He goes to his house and sees his mother working as a servant in her own house according to Udhayappan's instructions. His mother tells him that she is waiting for the day when her younger son returns and is unable to recognise that Sivakasi is her son. He then enquires about his sister to which his mother responds that his sister's fate is worse than her own. Later on, he visits his sister in a nearby village. She lives there with her husband(Venkat Prabhu) and her child, selling herbal drinks as her job. Sivakasi is heartbroken to see their conditions and decides to change their life back to normal without having to reveal his identity as for now.

One of his loyal associates reveal to him that Udhayappan had indirectly caused the death of his father by saying that his mother had affairs. Sivakasi, knowing that his mother is a gem of a person, enrages and meets Udhayappan and beats him up and his men. Later, he lies that he is the husband of a girl that Udhayappan had supposedly raped. He exchanges 1 million rupees for a letter that she wrote before her suicide. However, he opens up the letter to find that it is blank and that Sivakasi tricked him.

The next day, Udhayppan tries to sell his ancestral property. However, Sivakasi breaks in saying that Udhayappan has a brother whom was long lost and that selling the property without his signature will be illegal. Hence, this leads to his lawyer preventing him from selling any other property. Next, Udhayappan arranges for a corpse with the features of Muthappa and makes the entire village believe that it is actually Muthappa. However, Sivakasi enters and foils his plans by inserting a note in the corpse that he wishes to donate all his share of the property. While Udhayappan challenges that the note is not his brother's handwriting, it happened to match exactly because it was in fact written and stealthily inserted by Sivakasi. As a result, Udhayappan was forced to accept that the corpse was not his brother.

Later on, Udhayppan signs his name for the elections but is surprised to see his sister, Vairam also participating in the election with Sivakasi and his 1 million rupees as her support. Sivakasi tries to get votes from the people, but they all refuse as they both are outsiders and that they would only vote for Udhayappan, a local man, even though he is bad. However, he manages to brainwash them and get their votes. Sivakasi brings people in disguised forms of famous film actors seeking votes for Vairam. To challenge that, Udhayappan brings actress Nayanthara to campaign for him, but Sivakasi uses the situation to his advantage and Nayanthara inadvertently gives a signal by which people interpret it as her support for Vairam. Udhayappan seeing her rising support due to Sivakasi, asks his men to enquire about him. At that time, Hema and Sivakasi's friends visit Udhayappan's house and enquire about Muthappa. Later, he strangles Hema into forcing all the truth about Muthappa. She has no choice and reveals to him.

Udhayappan goes to Sivakasi's house and says that he knows everything about him. However, it is revealed that Hema lied that Muthappa and Sivakasi are good friends. He threatens to kill his mother unless Sivakasi leaves the town. Enraged, Sivaksi burns Udhayppans palms. However, he sees his mother with a knife at her neck and is forced to leave by Vairam. Vairam and her husband decide to leave the town the next day morning. At night, Vairam sees her husband getting kidnapped by a gang and a man with burned palm. She realises that it has to be Udhayappan. However, it is revealed that Sivakasi faked the burned palm and that his associates kidnapped him in order to get votes.The next day, Vairam goes to Udhayppan and asks him about her husband. He gets confused and enrages, hitting her with his slipper. Hence, this leads to her gaining sympathy votes. Day after day, her influence increases while Udhayappans support decreases. Moolimungari visits the village where the villagers pour cow dung on her for making Udhyappan an MLA. She later goes to Udhayappans house and says that he can kill anyone in his path so that she can boast that her daughters husband is an MLA.

Udhayappan comes up with a plan: He will kill his wife and then frame it on Sivaksi, gaining sympathy votes, while also decreasing Vairam's support. However, Sivakasi hears over this through an open telephone. He rushes there and saves her. Then, Sivakasi takes Vairams husbands silver chain and places it onto another corpse before burning it. Everyone rushes there and seeing the chain, realise that the body is Vairam's husband. Sivakasi later reveals that he did so to gain many sympathy votes for her. Hence this blame falls on Udhayappan.

The people enrage and riot outside his house. Sivakasi calls him and tells him that Vairam's husband is alive and is stuck inside a haystack outside his house. Udhayappa realises that with him being alive, he can regain his votes. However, Sivaksi says that he can get him once he signs an agreement where all the ancestral properties goes to Vairam. Udhayappan signs it without any choice but reveals that it needs his brother Muthappa's signature in order to be legal. Sivakasi's men give him to Udhayappan. He later takes out the haystack to see that it is actually one of his men, realising he was tricked.

Vairam has been announced as the new MLA by the election council. Vairam and her mother have been restored to their original states. Vairam's husband and Udhayappan's wife are released by Sivakasi. Udhayappan hears that his brother Muthappa has arrived and that all of his properties went to his sister. Vairam and her mother await for the arrival of Muthappa and are shocked to see that he is none other than Sivaksi. Meanwhile, Udhayappan's wife goes to her mother and tells her about everything. She rages and goes to kill Udhayappan with her men. Udhayappan arrives at his house to see Sivakasi as his brother. Moolimungari arrives as Udhayappan is about to kill Muthappa. Her men beat Udhayappan up. Muthappa's mother convinces him to save his brother. He later fights them all and releases his brother. Udhayppan later realises his mistake and falls at the feet of his mother. Udhayappan reconciles with his wife. Muthappa later reveals that he did all of this so that his girlfriend would accept him. The movie ends with a happy note.

After the success of Thirupaachi, A. M. Rathnam called Perarasu to make a film with Vijay re-uniting with him for second time.[4][5] Sivakasi was Perarasu's second collaboration with Vijay after Thirupaachi and producer Rathnam's third film with Vijay after Kushi and Ghilli.

Mallika Sherawat was reported to be heroine[6] instead role went to Asin.[7][8] Sridevika was originally offered the role of Vijay's sister[9] but later went to Malayalam actress Lakshana.[10] Simran was initially approached for item number[11] after her rejection, Nayanthara agreed to replace Simran due to the persuasion of Vijay.[12] Geetha was selected to play as Vijay's mother.[13]

Art director G. K. created the sets of T. Nagar with the sum of Rs. 12.0 million,[13] one of the traditional Mylapore look complete with tall temple gopurams and Teppakulam and another of vintage Triplicane aura with mosques.[14] There were reports that Vijay would perform dual roles but later proved false.[15] 120,000 feet of rolls has been used to shoot the film.[16] The first schedule was completed in Chennai and the crew camped at Karaikudi for the second schedule, the third schedule was shot at Kushaldas Gardens with Vijay and Asin.[17]Rocky Rajesh was doing the Stunt Master's job for Vijay's film Sivakasi. As Dharani wanted Rocky Rajesh to work for his Telugu film, he requested the director of Sivakasi, Perarasu to release him. Hence the climactic fight sequences were composed and finished in a short time by Thalapathy Dinesh of Chandramuki fame.[18] Dubbing was held at Kalasa studios.[19]

Soundtrack was composed by Srikanth Deva was well received by the audience. But Srikanth Deva was only able to composed the songs as he was composing for his ongoing project, Aacharya. Hence, the background score was composed by his father, Deva. All Lyrics were penned by Perarasu.[20]

The satellite rights of the film were secured by Jaya TV. The film was given a "U" certificate by the Indian Censor Board.[21] [22]

Indiaglitz wrote: "Sivakasi is one among the long line of formulaic masala mass entertainers that Vijay is now known to dish out. In Perarusu, Vijay has got a director who understands the hero as well as his fans".[23] Behindwoods wrote: "The movie is worth seeing as it includes sentiment and entertainment. It is an action paired entertainer and worth considering".[24] Sify wrote: "This FORMULA had worked well for director Perarasu and Vijay in Tirupachi and now the team has re-worked it. This time, however, it will test your patience as it is not meant for the class audience or those seeking quality entertainment. Perarasu and Vijay believe only in catering to the mass audience who want their dose of unpretentious masala mix".[25]

Sivakasi was remade into Telugu as Vijayadasami in the year 2007 starring Kalyan Ram and Vedika in the lead roles and enjoyed the same success.[2]

A case had been filed against the movie by a law college student Praveen of Madurai stating that some of the scenes in the movie are ill-treating the lawyers. Case has been booked against Vijay and Asin who has performed that scenes in the movie as well as the director Perarasu and the producer A.M.Ratnam are also trapped in the case. In his petition he has given five scenes of the movie in which the lawyers have been portrayed in an abusing manner. The student has also said that scenes like in movies are intruding the student's willpower and self-confidence.[26]

• Sivakasi on IMDb