Laabam

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Use Indian English|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Laabam

| image = Laabam.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = S. P. Jananathan

| producer = P. Arumuga Kumar
Vijay Sethupathi

| writer = S. P. Jananathan

| starring = Vijay Sethupathi
Jagapathi Babu
Shruti Haasan
Dhansika

| music = D. Imman

| cinematography = Ramji

| editing = N. Ganesh Kumar
S. P. Ahmed

| studio = Vijay Sethupathhi Productions
7Cs Entertainment Pvt Ltd

| distributor =

| released = {{Film date|df=y|2021|09|09}}

| country = India

| language = Tamil

}}

Laabam ({{translation|Profit}}) is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language action drama film{{Cite web |title=Laabam |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/laabam-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtmtexmjuwmq |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908205342/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/laabam-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc01mzm0nzm |archive-date=8 September 2021 |access-date=9 September 2021 |website=British Board of Film Classification |quote=LAABAM is a Tamil language action drama in which a farmer leads a revolution against a powerful industrialist responsible for destabilising the local agricultural market.}} written and directed by S. P. Jananathan. It stars Vijay Sethupathi and Jagapathi Babu, with Shruti Haasan, Dhansika, and Kalaiyarasan in pivotal roles.{{Cite web |date=22 April 2019 |title=Vijay Sethupathi and Shruti Haasan film titled 'Laabam' |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/vijay-sethupathi-and-shruti-haasan-film-titled-laabam-100500 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425102453/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/vijay-sethupathi-and-shruti-haasan-film-titled-laabam-100500 |archive-date=25 April 2019 |access-date=25 April 2019 |website=The News Minute}} Ramji was hired as a cinematographer, while D. Imman is the music composer. Principal photography for Laabam commenced on 22 April 2019. The film was released theatrically on 9 September 2021. It received mixed to negative reviews from critics and audiences and became a box-office bomb.{{Cite web |date=26 August 2021 |title='Laabam' to get a solo release on September 9 |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/laabam-to-get-a-solo-release-on-september-9-news-tamil-vi0fyHffcceec.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826160547/https://www.sify.com/movies/laabam-to-get-a-solo-release-on-september-9-news-tamil-vi0fyHffcceec.html |archive-date=26 August 2021 |access-date=29 August 2021 |website=Sify}} This would be Jananathan's final film as a director and a posthumous release.{{Cite web |date=14 March 2021 |title=National Award winning director SP Jananathan passes away in Chennai |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/national-award-winning-director-sp-jananathan-passes-away-chennai-145199 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314061010/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/national-award-winning-director-sp-jananathan-passes-away-chennai-145199 |archive-date=14 March 2021 |access-date=14 March 2021 |website=The News Minute}}

Plot

{{More plot|date=November 2022}}

Pakkiri returns to his native place after an exile and straight away takes on the village head Vanagamudi. With the support of the locals, he becomes the president of the village and decides to give agriculture a new touch with his techniques. The rest of the story is about how Pakkiri manages the local goons with the help of Clara and comes out victorious.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

}}

Production

The film is directed by S. P. Jananathan, who made a brief comeback into direction since working for Purampokku Engira Podhuvudamai, which released in 2015. Principal photography for Laabam commenced on 22 April 2019.{{Cite news |date=22 April 2019 |title=Vijay Sethupathi and Shruti Haasan come together for Laabam |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vijay-sethupathi-and-shruti-haasan-come-together-for-laabam/articleshow/68986481.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515025312/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vijay-sethupathi-and-shruti-haasan-come-together-for-laabam/articleshow/68986481.cms |archive-date=15 May 2019 |access-date=19 September 2019 |work=The Times of India}} Vijay Sethupathi was cast as in a male lead role to play a social activist.{{Cite news |last=Cr |first=Sharanya |title=Vijay Sethupathi turns social activist for Laabam |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vijay-sethupathi-turns-social-activist-for-laabam/articleshow/68992073.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518084133/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vijay-sethupathi-turns-social-activist-for-laabam/articleshow/68992073.cms |archive-date=18 May 2019 |access-date=25 April 2019 |work=The Times of India}} Krithi Shetty was initially considered for the role of Clara, before Shruti Haasan was confirmed to play the role.

Jananathan died on 14 March 2021 during the post-production stage, thus making Laabam his final film as a director.

Soundtrack

{{Infobox album

| name = Laabam

| type = Soundtrack

| longtype = to Laabam

| artist = D. Imman

| cover =

| alt =

| caption = Cover art

| released = 25 September 2021{{Cite news |title=Laabam Audio Launch |url=https://www.hungama.com/album/laabam/62721693/ |access-date=25 September 2021 |publisher=Hungama}}

| recorded = 2021

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Film soundtrack

| length = 33:30

| language = Tamil

| label = Lahari Music and T-Series

| producer = D. Imman

| prev_title = Teddy

| prev_year = 2021

| next_title = Udanpirappe

| next_year = 2021

}}

The music was composed by D. Imman, collaborating with Vijay Sethupathi for the fourth time (after Rummy, Rekka and Karuppan) and Jananathan for the first and only time. The audio rights were acquired by Lahari Music and T-Series.{{Citation |title=Laabam Songs: Laabam MP3 Tamil Songs by D.Imman Online Free on Gaana.com |url=https://gaana.com/album/laabam |access-date=2021-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024133650/https://gaana.com/album/laabam |archive-date=24 October 2021 |url-status=live |language=en}}

=Track list=

{{track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| all_lyrics = Yugabharathi

| total_length = 33:30

| title1 = Yaazha Yaazha

| extra1 = Shruti Haasan

| length1 = 03:54

| title2 = Yaamili Yaamiliya

| extra2 = Divya Kumar

| length2 = 04:22

| title3 = Clara My Name Is Clara

| extra3 = Sunidhi Chauhan, Kpy Naveen

| length3 = 04:25

| title4 = Seruvom Seruvom

| extra4 = CLEO VII, Srinisha Jayaseelan

| length4 = 03:31

| title5 = Uzhaippom Thozha

| extra5 = Sreenidhi, Narayanan Ravishankar

| length5 = 05:51

| title6 = Daylight Robbery (Theme Music)

| note6 = instrumental

| extra6 = D.Imman

| length6 = 03:07

| title7 = Yaazha Yaazha (Karaoke)

| note7 = instrumental

| extra7 = D.Imman

| length7 = 03:54

| title8 = Clara My Name Is Clara (Karaoke)

| note8 = instrumental

| extra8 = D.Imman

| length8 = 04:25

}}

Critical reception

The Times of India wrote, "The film's narrative is quite fractured. Rather than moving from one incident to the other, here, it moves from one issue to the other at a rapid pace giving us a false sense of momentum."{{Cite news |title=Laabam Movie Review: Laabam has good intentions but messy storytelling |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/laabam/movie-review/86061307.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024135152/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/laabam/movie-review/86061307.cms |archive-date=24 October 2021 |access-date=2021-10-25 |work=The Times of India}} The Hindu called it "more a visual representation of a protagonist in a television programme [..] than a film".{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=Srinivasa |date=2021-09-09 |title='Laabam' movie review: Vijay Sethupathi is the 'Master' now, delivering a social studies lecture |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/laabam-movie-review-vijay-sethupathi-is-the-master-now-delivering-a-social-studies-lecture/article36379199.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024133653/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/laabam-movie-review-vijay-sethupathi-is-the-master-now-delivering-a-social-studies-lecture/article36379199.ece |archive-date=24 October 2021 |access-date=2021-10-25 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

Home media

The film is available on online streaming platform Netflix.{{Cite web |date=7 December 2020 |title=Netflix Bags Vijay Sethupathi's Laabam |url=https://www.moviecrow.com/News/27313/netflix-bags-vijay-sethupathis-laabam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921052620/https://www.moviecrow.com/News/27313/netflix-bags-vijay-sethupathis-laabam |archive-date=21 September 2023 |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=Moviecrow.com}}

References

{{Reflist}}