Pandhayam (2008 film)
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Pandhayam 2008 poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = S. A. Chandrasekhar
| writer = S. A. Chandrasekhar
| producer = Shoba Chandrasekhar
| starring = {{ubl|Nithin Sathya|Sindhu Tolani}}
| cinematography = Srinivas Devamsam
| editing = J. N. Harsha
| music = Vijay Antony
| distributor = Nemichand Jhabak
| studio = V. V. Creations
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2008|09|19}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
Pandhayam ({{Translation|Bet}}) is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar, starring Nithin Sathya and Sindhu Tolani while Prakash Raj and Radhika play supporting roles. Vijay did a guest role as himself. The music was composed by Vijay Antony with cinematography by Srinivas Devamsam and editing by J. N. Harsha. The film was released on 19 September 2008.{{Cite web |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=19 September 2008 |title=A direct hit? |url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2008/09/19/stories/2008091950030100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022205825/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2008/09/19/stories/2008091950030100.htm |archive-date=2008-10-22 |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=The Hindu}}
Plot
Masanam, a local thug and criminal who kills people, slowly rises up the ranks to be a minister. Shakthivel is a die-hard fan of actor Vijay and studies in college. He falls in love with Masanam's sister Thulasi and challenges him (he has a reason for that), and a cat-and-mouse game ensues. What follows is a series of incidents between the two that leads to a melodramatic climax.
Cast
{{cast listing|
- Nithin Sathya as Sakthivel
- Sindhu Tolani as Thulasi
- Prakash Raj as Masanam
- Radhika Sarathkumar as Masanam's wife
- Ganeshkar as Ganesh
- Vadivel Ganesh as Vadivel Ganesh
- Rajini Murugan as Mani
- Lavanya as Lavanya
- Dhamu
- Scissor Manohar
- Y. G. Mahendran as Dr. Pitchaimuthu
- Vimal as Murugesan (uncredited)
- Rajini Nivetha as Murugesan's mother
- Bala Singh
}}
Special appearances :
{{cast listing|
- Vijay as himself
- Perarasu as himself
- Raj Kapoor as himself
- Meghna Naidu (special appearance in the song "Lusimbara")
- O Podu Rani as Chinna Maami (special appearance in the song "Chinna Maamiye")
- Ashok Raja (special appearance in the song "Chinna Maamiye")
- S. A. Chandrasekhar (special appearance in the song "Chinna Maamiye")
- Sampath Ram as Police Inspector (uncredited)
}}
Production
The film was originally planned with Raghava Lawrence and Mallika Kapoor who were later replaced by Nithin Sathya and Sindhu Tolani.{{cite web |date=23 May 2008 |title=Change of heroine in 'Pandhayam' |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/23052008-3.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527200748/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/23052008-3.shtml |archive-date=27 May 2008 |access-date=5 September 2024 |website=Cinesouth}}
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by Vijay Antony.{{cite web |title=Panthayam (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |url=https://gaana.com/album/panthayam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522103044/https://gaana.com/album/panthayam |archive-date=22 May 2024 |access-date=22 May 2024 |work=Gaana}} It features remixes of the songs "Surangani" and "Chinna Maamiye".{{Cite news |last=Vamanan |author-link=Vamanan |date=6 February 2018 |title=His Surangani ferried Baila tunes from Lankan shores |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/his-surangani-ferried-baila-tunes-from-lankan-shores/articleshow/62795609.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180210071340/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/his-surangani-ferried-baila-tunes-from-lankan-shores/articleshow/62795609.cms |archive-date=10 February 2018 |access-date=10 February 2018 |work=The Times of India}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics | ||
| "Ammane" | Bellie Raj, Nidhesh Gopalan, Vinaitha | G. A. Robert |
| "Chinna Maamiye" | Christopher, MK Balaji, Shoba Chandrasekhar, Vinaya | Ceylon Manohar, Eknaath |
| "Kadhal Theeviravathi" | Vinaya, Jaidev | Priyan |
| "Lusimbara" | Ramya NSK, Vijay Antony, Christopher | Annamalai |
| "Surangani" | MK Balaji, Maya, Megha | Ceylon Manohar |
Critical reception
Rediff.com wrote, "Watch Pandhayam if you've challenged your friends about sitting through a ridiculous movie. Even then, you might end up losing."{{Cite web |last=Srinivasan |first=Pavithra |date=19 September 2008 |title=Pandhayam is ridiculous |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/sep/19ssp.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106145035/https://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/sep/19ssp.htm |archive-date=6 November 2021 |access-date=29 November 2021 |website=Rediff.com}} IANS wrote, "The movie looks like one that suffered a double Rip Van Winkle slumber since the 70s sans the vintage quality of that era".{{Cite web |date=20 September 2008 |title='Pandhayam' – a bad movie bet (Tamil Film Review) |url=https://www.indiaforums.com/article/pandhayam-a-bad-movie-bet-tamil-film-review_8366 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211152330/https://www.indiaforums.com/article/pandhayam-a-bad-movie-bet-tamil-film-review_8366 |archive-date=11 December 2023 |access-date=29 April 2024 |publisher=IANS |language=en |via=India Forums}} The Hindu wrote "Looks like the experienced director is losing grip! Helming a film whose theme toes the beaten track of revenge, writer-director S.A. Chandrasekaran makes a hotchpotch of it. Every creator has a saturation point. SAC is no exception as this V.V. Creations’ product shows".{{cite web|work=The Hindu|title=Swarming with stereotypes -- Pandhayam|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/09/26/stories/2008092650280200.htm|date=26 September 2008|access-date=22 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929013757/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/09/26/stories/2008092650280200.htm|archive-date=29 September 2008}}
References
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