54321
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| name = 54321
| image = 54321 film poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Film poster
| director = Ragavendra Prasad
| producer = G. V. Kannan
| writer = Ragavendra Prasad
| starring = {{ubl|Shabeer Kallarakkal|Aarvin|Pavithra}}
| music = Joshua Sridhar
| cinematography = Banu Murugan
| editing = M.R. Rejeesh
| studio = MainStream Productions
| released = {{Film date|2016|08|26|df=y}}
| runtime = 120 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget =
| gross =
}}
54321 is a 2016 Indian Tamil language psychological thriller film written and directed by Ragavendra Prasad in his directorial debut.{{cite web|last1=Subramanian|first1=Anupama|title=Karthik Subbaraj's assistant turns independent|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150522/entertainment-kollywood/article/karthik-subbaraj%E2%80%99s-assistant-turns-independent|website=Deccan Chronicle|date=23 May 2015|access-date=29 April 2016|archive-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923213148/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/150522/entertainment-kollywood/article/karthik-subbaraj%E2%80%99s-assistant-turns-independent|url-status=live}} The film features Shabeer Kallarakkal, Aarvin and Pavithra in lead roles, with Rohini, Jayakumar, and Ravi Raghavendra playing supporting roles.
Plot
The story revolves around five interconnected lives, all tied together by life circumstances within a single house.
A burglar (Jayakumar) breaks into a residential property. While attempting to steal money and jewelry from the homeowners' safe, he unexpectedly stumbles upon a dangerous hostage situation already unfolding inside the house. When the homeowner, Vinoth (Aarvin G.R.), returns home, another intruder named Vikram (Shabeer Kallarakkal) knocks him unconscious. Vinoth later wakes up to find himself chained to the stairs. Vikram, the intruder, reveals his identity to Vinoth and confronts him coldly.
Through a series of sequential flashbacks, it is revealed that Vikram harbors intense hatred towards Vinoth dating back to their childhood. As former classmates and childhood rivals, Vikram developed an inferiority complex and a psychotic obsession with competing against Vinoth. Vikram's path eventually led to him committing matricide and being institutionalized. Now as an adult, Vikram seeks revenge against Vinoth out of jealous rage.
Returning to the present, it is disclosed that Anjali (Pavithra Gowda), Vinoth's wife and now Vikram's hostage, is bound to a chair with duct tape covering her mouth. Vikram threatens to harm Anjali unless Vinoth agrees to kill a child hidden somewhere in the house. Vikram is determined to prove that Vinoth is morally bankrupt like himself by forcing him to commit this act.
Despite Vinoth's pleas to spare his wife, Vikram mutilates Anjali by chopping off two of her fingers when Vinoth refuses to comply. Vikram also reveals that he is holding his own father (Ravi Raghavendra) hostage and threatens to kill him unless Vinoth obeys. Unable to bear harm to the hostages, Vinoth reluctantly moves towards the child.
In a tragic twist, Vikram reveals that the child he demanded Vinoth kill was actually his own son, disguised as a girl. Anjali knew the child's true identity but was unable to communicate it due to the tape over her mouth.
Ultimately, the burglar hiding in the house intervenes, leading to chaos. Vinoth's father also joins the fray, culminating in a final confrontation where Vinoth kills Vikram by stabbing him in the neck. As Vikram dies, he defiantly declares that he will inform his deceased mother that Vinoth is just as morally corrupt as he is. Unbeknownst to Vikram, Vinoth's son remains alive. With Vikram dead, authorities arrive at the scene, and Vinoth is reunited with his wife, finally safe.
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Aarvin G.R. as Vinoth
- Shabeer Kallarakkal as Vikram
- Pavithra Gowda as Anjali
- Jayakumar as Thief
- Ravi Raghavendra as Vikram's father
- Rohini as Teacher
- Lakshmi as Vikram's mother
- Ravi Venkatraman as Jailer
- Pasanga Sivakumar as Jail Superintendent
- G. V. Kannan as Psychiatrist
- Aamir as 10-year-old Vikram
- Komagan as 10-year-old Vikram
- Yashwanth as Ashwin
- Antony as Sub-Jailer
- Lawrence as Thief's friend
- Suchithra Anandan as Thief's wife
- Moogambigai Ravi as Moneylender
- A. Manjunath as Kung Fu Master
- Anjali Devi as Anjali's mother
- S. Kannan as Priest
- Vijeesh as Vinoth's mother
- Viruchagakanth as Park Lover
- Saravanan as Jail Constable
- Rafiq as Psychiatric Hospital Patient
- Mathuranayagam as Jail Warden
- Theni M. Sankar as Chick Seller
- Neelen as Psychiatric Hospital Warden
- Nagaraj as Psychiatric Hospital Warden
}}
Production
Director Ragavendra Prasad relates that the concept came to him while working with Karthik Subbaraj in Pizza, and was inspired by the 2006 American-Mexican-French drama Babel. The title 54321 developed from the plot revolving around 5 people, their 4 lifestyles, the 3 murders within the plot-line, the 2-hour film length, and the 1 revenge within the tale.{{cite web|last1=Subramanian|first1=Anupama|title=54321 has a multiple narrative format|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150716/entertainment-kollywood/article/54321-has-multiple-narrative-format|website=Deccan Chronicle|date=16 July 2015|access-date=29 April 2016|archive-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923213827/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/150716/entertainment-kollywood/article/54321-has-multiple-narrative-format|url-status=live}} During July 2015, the filming was reported as then being in progress.{{cite web|last1=Karthik|first1=Janani|title='54321' is a two-hour psychological thriller|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/54321-is-a-two-hour-psychological-thriller/articleshow/48158684.cms|website=Times of India|date=22 July 2015|access-date=29 April 2016|archive-date=29 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829163603/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/54321-is-a-two-hour-psychological-thriller/articleshow/48158684.cms|url-status=live}} Joshua Sridhar composed the film's music.{{cite web|author=Express feature|title=Writing Codes of a Suspense Flick|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Writing-Codes-of-a-Suspense-Flick/2015/05/23/article2828040.ece|website=New Indian Express|date=22 May 2015|access-date=29 April 2016|archive-date=11 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511025535/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Writing-Codes-of-a-Suspense-Flick/2015/05/23/article2828040.ece|url-status=dead}}
Music
{{Infobox album
| name = 54321
| type = soundtrack
| artist = Joshua Sridhar
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| label = Trend Music
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The music was composed by Joshua Sridhar.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/54321-movie-audio--trailer-launch-tamil-videos-60033.html|title='54321' Movie Audio & Trailer Launch|website=IndiaGlitz|access-date=2016-08-22|archive-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918144414/https://www.indiaglitz.com/54321-movie-audio--trailer-launch-tamil-videos-60033.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/event-photos-pictures-stills/54321-movie-audio-trailer-launch/54321-movie-audio-stills-photos-pictures.html#.V7uN02U2slI|title=54321 Movie Audio &Trailer Launch, Event Gallery, 54321 Movie Audio &Trailer Launch|website=Behindwoods|date=June 2015|access-date=2016-08-22|archive-date=5 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105090235/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/event-photos-pictures-stills/54321-movie-audio-trailer-launch/54321-movie-audio-stills-photos-pictures.html#.V7uN02U2slI|url-status=live}}
Reception
The film's released trailer received mixed response, which pleased the director.{{cite news|last1=Raghavan|first1=Nikhil|title=Etcetera – The numbers game|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/etcetera/article7289268.ece|access-date=6 May 2016|work=The Hindu|date=6 June 2015|archive-date=4 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104041810/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/etcetera/article7289268.ece|url-status=live}}
M. Suganth of The Times of India opined that "And the film, too, never truly addresses the moral question at the heart of its plot — what makes one evil and is there difference between one evil act and another".{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/54321/movie-review/53883237.cms|title=54321 Movie Review {2.5/5}: Critic Review by The Times of India|author=M. Suganth|date=26 August 2016|work=The Times of India}} Malini Mannath of The New Indian Express wrote that "54321 is opportunity lost!"{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2016/aug/28/a-lost-chance-to-make-it-a-riveting-thriller-1513597.html|title=54321 review: A lost chance to make it a riveting thriller|date=28 August 2016|work=The New Indian Express|author=Malini Mannath|access-date=9 August 2022|archive-date=9 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809192952/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2016/aug/28/A-lost-chance-to-make-it-a-riveting-thriller-1513597.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/54321-review-promising-plot-scarred-by-slothful-script/story-eTtvUFfQAUQTFooaRbTP2O.html | title=54321 review: Promising plot scarred by slothful script | date=26 August 2016 | access-date=9 August 2022 | archive-date=9 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809192952/https://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/54321-review-promising-plot-scarred-by-slothful-script/story-eTtvUFfQAUQTFooaRbTP2O.html | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/54321-revenge-thriller-misses-chance-blast-doesnt-end-zero-48897 | title=54321: A revenge thriller that misses the chance to blast off, but doesn't end in zero | date=26 August 2016 | access-date=9 August 2022 | archive-date=9 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809192955/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/54321-revenge-thriller-misses-chance-blast-doesnt-end-zero-48897 | url-status=live }}
References
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