Saamaniyan
{{Short description|2024 Indian Tamil-language film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Saamaniyan poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = R. Rahesh
| producer = Mathiyalagan V
| starring = {{ubl|Ramarajan|Radha Ravi|M. S. Bhaskar}}
| cinematography = Arulchelvan
| editing = Ram Gopi
| music = Ilaiyaraaja
| studio = Etcetera Entertainment
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2024|5|23}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
Saamaniyan ({{translation|Common man}}) is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language vigilante film directed by R. Rahesh and produced by Etcetera Entertainment. The film stars Ramarajan, Radha Ravi and M. S. Bhaskar. It began production in late 2022 and ended in early 2023. The film was released in theatres on 23 May 2024.
Plot
{{More plot|date=December 2024}}
Sankara Narayanan and his friend Mookaiah from a village in Mellur side of Madurai district come as guests to their friend Fazil Bhai's house in Chennai. The next day, Sankara Narayanan, who goes to a bank in Thiagarayar, threatens with a bomb and a pistol and takes control. He takes the bank employees and customers hostage.
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Ramarajan as Sankara Narayanan
- Radha Ravi as Fazil Bhai
- M. S. Bhaskar as Mookaiah
- K. S. Ravikumar as Murugavel
- Bose Venkat as Bank Manager Adhithyan
- Mime Gopi as Pazhani
- Saravana Subbiah as Punniyavan
- Naksha Saran as Dhivya
- Leo Sivakumar as Alagar
- Vinodhini Vaidyanathan as Gayathri
- Deepa Shankar as Lakshmi
- Smruthi Venkat as Aparna
- Abarnathi as Manisha
- Aranthangi Nisha as Kanaga
- Saravana Sakthi as Ponmudi
- Gajaraj as Police Inspector
- Mullai
- Arul Mani
- Kothandam
- Supergood Subramani
Production
Saamaniyan marks the acting comeback of Ramarajan after 12 years and it is his 45th film as an actor. Ramarajan sported a bearded look for the first time in his acting career. Filming began in late 2022,{{Cite news |date=20 September 2022 |title=Ramarajan plays a villager in his comeback movie Saamaniyan |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ramarajan-plays-a-villager-in-his-comeback-movie-saamaniyan/articleshow/94335135.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921141217/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ramarajan-plays-a-villager-in-his-comeback-movie-saamaniyan/articleshow/94335135.cms |archive-date=21 September 2022 |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=The Times of India}}{{Cite web |date=21 September 2022 |title=Ramarajan on Saamaniyan's interval block; says 'It will be a first-of-its-kind interval in Tamil cinema' |url=https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/south/ramarajan-on-saamaniyans-interval-block-says-it-will-be-a-first-of-its-kind-interval-in-tamil-cinema-tamil-news-entertainment-news-article-94349143 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427085831/https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/south/ramarajan-on-saamaniyans-interval-block-says-it-will-be-a-first-of-its-kind-interval-in-tamil-cinema-tamil-news-entertainment-news-article-94349143 |archive-date=27 April 2024 |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=Zoom TV |language=en}} and wrapped in January 2023.{{Cite Instagram |postid=CnbEdNhS-Fl |user=etceteraenter |title=It's a wrap for #saamaniyan! Glimpse of last day of the shoot. What an experience and really excited to bring this movie to the cinemas near you super soon. |author-link=Etcetera Entertainment |date=15 January 2023 |access-date=27 April 2024 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/etceteraenter/3016023975022813541_3016023969670643664 |archive-date=27 April 2024 |url-status=live}}
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is composed by Ilaiyaraaja, reuniting with Ramarajan after 23 years.{{Cite web |date=10 November 2022 |title=Ilayaraaja and Ramarajan to reunite after 23 years for Saamaniyan |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/Nov/10/ilayaraaja-and-ramarajan-to-reunite-after-23-years-for-saamaniyan-36495.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203134513/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/nov/10/ilayaraaja-and-ramarajan-to-reunite-after-23-years-for-saamaniyan-36495.html |archive-date=3 December 2022 |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=Cinema Express}}{{Cite web |date=29 March 2024 |title=Saamaniyan |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/saamaniyan/p8uJeu4XqUA_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523075921/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/saamaniyan/p8uJeu4XqUA_ |archive-date=23 May 2024 |access-date=23 May 2024 |website=JioSaavn}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Thatti Vaa
| length1 =
| lyrics1 =
| extra1 = Ilaiyaraaja
| title2 = Oli Veesum
| length2 =
| lyrics2 =
| extra2 = Karthik
| title3 = Kannana Kanne
| length3 =
| lyrics3 =
| extra3 = Sharreth
}}
Release
Saamaniyan was released in theatres on 23 May 2024.{{Cite web |date=23 April 2024 |title=Ramarajan's 'Saamaniyan' gets a release date |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ramarajans-saamaniyan-gets-a-release-date/article68097533.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423125323/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ramarajans-saamaniyan-gets-a-release-date/article68097533.ece |archive-date=23 April 2024 |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=The Hindu}} In 2023, Viyan Aarman, the owner of Art Addict, filed a petition seeking a ban on the release of the film under the name Saamaniyan, saying he registered the title in 2012 and was continually renewing it since; however, the Madras High Court dismissed his plea.{{Cite web |title=M.Viyan Aarman vs Etecetra Entertainment on 10 October, 2023 |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/81206201/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427085718/https://indiankanoon.org/doc/81206201/ |archive-date=27 April 2024 |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=Indiankanoon.org}}{{Cite web |date=23 February 2023 |title=ராமராஜனின் 'சாமானியன்' படத்தை வெளியிட தடை கோரிய மனு தள்ளுபடி |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/948996-a-plea-seeking-a-ban-on-the-release-of-actor-ramarajan-s-film-samaniyan-was-dismissed.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228042003/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/948996-a-plea-seeking-a-ban-on-the-release-of-actor-ramarajan-s-film-samaniyan-was-dismissed.html |archive-date=28 February 2023 |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}
Reception
Manigandan KR of Times Now rated three out of five star and noted that "Saamaniyan is a reasonably good drama that succeeds in its mission of making some significant points."{{Cite web |date=2024-05-23 |title=Saamaniyan Review: Ramarajan Makes A Commendable Comeback With This Informative Entertainer |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/reviews/tamil/saamaniyan-review-ramarajan-makes-a-commendable-comeback-with-this-informative-entertainer-review-110342320 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522195832/https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/reviews/tamil/saamaniyan-review-ramarajan-makes-a-commendable-comeback-with-this-informative-entertainer-review-110342320 |archive-date=22 May 2024 |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=Times Now |language=en}} Sreejith Mullappilly of Cinema Express rated two out of five star and stated that "In the end, Saamaniyan is a film with a promising premise that drowns under the weight of its own plot and heavy-handed messaging."{{Cite web |last=Mullappilly |first=Sreejith |date=2024-05-23 |title=Saamaniyan Movie Review: Excessive plot and exposition drown out the potential |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2024/May/23/saamaniyan-movie-review-excessive-plot-and-exposition-drown-out-the-potential |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523183305/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2024/May/23/saamaniyan-movie-review-excessive-plot-and-exposition-drown-out-the-potential |archive-date=23 May 2024 |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}} Ananda Vikatan gave the film a mixed review.{{Cite web |date=24 May 2024 |title=Saamaniyan Review: ராமராஜனின் ஆக்ஷன் அவதாரம்; மரிக்கொழுந்தாக மணந்ததா இளையராஜா - ராமராஜன் காம்போ? |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/kollywood/saamaniyan-movie-review-how-is-actor-ramarajans-comeback-vehicle |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524125025/https://cinema.vikatan.com/kollywood/saamaniyan-movie-review-how-is-actor-ramarajans-comeback-vehicle |archive-date=24 May 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=Ananda Vikatan |language=Ta}}
References
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