Sandai

Thangalakshmi, a wealthy woman, arranges a marriage for her daughter Abhinaya with an NRI in her native village. A gang led by Paalpandi, who is later revealed to be Thangalakshmi's brother, keeps stalking Abhi and Thangalskhmi. A rogue called Kathhi, who does anything for money, is appointed as Abhi's bodyguard until her marriage to the NRI groom.

Paalpandi makes repeated unsuccessful attempts to convince Thangalakshmi to marry Abhi off to his son. In a strange turn of events, the stepfather and cousins of Thangalakshmi's husband Kamaraj (a former District Collector), who claim to have been innocently jailed on the charges of killing him, are released and kill the judge and public prosecutor responsible for their imprisonment. They also enter into Thangalakshmi's good books by manipulating her into believing that they are innocent and Paalpandi is the real killer, a fact which Thangalakshmi herself has been believing herself due to a misunderstanding.

In due course of events, during which Kathhi and Mani (Thangalakshmi's PA who also wants to secretly marry Abhi) comically try to thwart Abhi's marriage, the groom gets kidnapped by Kamaraj's relatives, who try to kill him to pin the blame on Paalpandi. Kathi intervenes, bashing them and their goons up and saving the groom, who then refuses to marry Abhi, honouring the words of his parents. Arriving at the venue along with his men, Paalpandi once gain tries to convince Thangalakshmi into marrying Abhi off to his son. Refusing to give in due to her sense of pride, Thangalakshmi forces Abhi and Kathhi to get marries and taunts Paalpandi by saying that she fulfilled her oath. At the same time, Paalpandi starts laughing and mockingly reveals that Kathhi is none other than his son, his real name being Kathiresan MBA.

Shocked, Abhi and Thangalakshmi try to foist charges of kidnapping and criminal intimidation on Kathiresan, who successfully manages to evade charges by showing the DSP the video recording of the events at the marriage hall. Abhi and Thangalakshmi try to run away to Bangkok but are waylaid by Kathiresan, who challenges Thangalakshmi to mafke Abhi accept him as her husband after staying in his house for seven days, while also promising that he would try to engage in physical contact with Abhi without her consent.

Initially getting off to a rocky start with her relatives on the maternal side, Abhi comes to understand Kathir's and the family's caring and loving nature. All attempts by Thangalakshmi to separate Abhi and Kathiresan fail, with towards the end, she too coming to understand her brother's innocence and the good nature of Kathiresan and her family.

In the climax, Kamaraj's relatives attempt to kill Thangalakshmi, and she manages to place a call to Kathiresan, who arrives at the right time and rescues her but gets stabbed by the villains in the process. After Paalpandi arrives at the spot and sees Thangalakshmi standing beside his son with a blood-stained knife, he still believes her, making her realise her folly. Kathiresan, who has not yet lost consciousness, bounces back and kills the villains after a thrilling fight. Thangalakshmi reunites with her family, and they all live happily ever after.

{{cast listing|

• Sundar C as Kathiresan alias Kaththi
• Nadhiya as Thangalakshmi
• Namitha as Seemakal Chinnakilli
• Ramya Raj as Abhinaya Kathiresan (voice dubbed by Savitha Reddy)
• Vivek in a dual role as Mani, Thangalakshmi's secretary and Thangapandi, Mani's father and the village chieftain
• Napoleon as District Collector Kamaraj (Thangalakshmi's husband)
• Lalu Alex as Paalpandi, Kathiresan's father
• Mithun Tejasvi as Abhi's ex-fiance
• Kadhal Dhandapani as Kamaraj's stepfather
• Ravi Mariya as Kamaraj's cousin
• Rajkapoor as Kamaraj's cousin
• Meera Krishnan as Kathiresan's's mother
• Paravai Muniyamma as Kathirvel's grandmother
• Vichu Vishwanath as Kathiresan's cousin
• Jyothi Lakshmi as Mani's mother
• Delhi Kumar as Duraipandi, Paalpandi and Thangalakshmi's father
• Uma Padmanabhan as DSP
• Thalapathy Dinesh as fighter
• Bonda Mani as Mani's troupe member
• Bava Lakshmanan as Balu
• T. P. Gajendran
• Kili Ramachandran as Mani's troupe member
• Amirthalingam as a stage artist{{Cite web|url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/kollywood/comedy-actor-amirthalingam-interview-about-his-career|title="அந்த ஒரு சீன்ல நான் வர்றதுக்காக வடிவேலுண்ணே அவ்வளவு போராடினார்!"- நெகிழும் அமிர்தலிங்கம்|date=14 February 2022|website=Vikatan}}
• Suja Varunee as item number in "Pokkirina"

}}

During launch, the film was titled Porukki; as the title was criticised as derogatory, Sakthi Chidambaram retitled it to Adhirudhulla, after the usage of the term as a catchphrase in Sivaji: The Boss (2007).{{Cite web |date=5 September 2007 |title=Change of title for 'Poruki' |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/05092007-4.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070908013927/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/05092007-4.shtml |archive-date=8 September 2007 |access-date=23 January 2025 |website=Cinesouth}} However he later felt it had become clichéd due to its popularity and subsequent overuse, so he opted for Mahamagam, in reference to the festival Mahamaham which features in the story,{{Cite web |date=19 September 2007 |title=New title for 'Porukki' |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/19092007-6.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009094652/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/19092007-6.shtml |archive-date=9 October 2007 |access-date=23 January 2025 |website=Cinesouth}} but later finalised Sandai.{{Cite web |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=18 July 2008 |title=Name game |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/07/18/stories/2008071851230400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724163823/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/07/18/stories/2008071851230400.htm |archive-date=24 July 2008 |access-date=14 November 2024 |website=The Hindu}} The film was launched on 3 August 2007 at AVM Studios.{{cite web |date=3 August 2007 |title=Pooja for Sundar C's film 'Porukki' |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/03082007-4.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816175736/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/03082007-4.shtml |archive-date=16 August 2007 |access-date=25 February 2025 |website=Cinesouth}} Filming was held at locations including Pollachi, Karaikudi, Switzerland and London.{{Cite web |last=Mannath |first=Malini |date=3 October 2007 |title=Porukki |url=http://chennaionline.com/film/Onlocation/oct07/10porukki.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011004008/http://chennaionline.com/film/Onlocation/oct07/10porukki.asp |archive-date=11 October 2007 |access-date=10 August 2024 |website=Chennai Online}}

Music is composed by Dhina and released via T-Series.{{Cite web |date=1 January 2009 |title=Sanda |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/sanda/nmVWuHPU3qQ_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905093836/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/sanda/nmVWuHPU3qQ_ |archive-date=5 September 2022 |access-date=5 September 2022 |website=JioSaavn}} It includes a remix of the song "Vaadi En Kappa Kelange", composed by Ilaiyaraaja for Alaigal Oivathillai (1981), which marked the singing debut of Sundar C.{{Cite news |date=9 October 2019 |title=Lights Camera Playback: 12 times filmmakers tried their hands at playback singing |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/photos/slideshows/2019/oct/09/lights-camera-playback-12-times-filmmakers-tried-their-hands-at-playback-singing-666.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231020064717/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/photos/slideshows/2019/oct/09/lights-camera-playback-12-times-filmmakers-tried-their-hands-at-playback-singing-666--10.html |archive-date=20 October 2023 |access-date=26 December 2024 |work=Cinema Express |pages=10}} The dappankuthu song "Pokkirina" invokes the names of contemporary Tamil stars and their films, namely Vijay and Pokkiri (2007), Ajith Kumar and Villain (2002); Dhanush and Polladhavan (2007).{{Cite web |date=24 September 2007 |title=Simbu sings in Sundar C's film |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/24092007-3.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20101031031303/http://cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/24092007-3.shtml |archive-date=31 October 2010 |access-date=23 January 2025 |website=Cinesouth}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| headline = Track listing

| total_length = 26:11

| title1 = Pokkirina

| extra1 = Silambarasan

| lyrics1 = Na. Muthukumar

| length1 = 4:50

| title2 = October Madathil

| extra2 = Shaan, Rita

| lyrics2 = Ravi Mariya

| length2 = 5:49

| title3 = Vaadi En

| extra3 = Sundar C, Grace Karunas

| lyrics3 = Gangai Amaran

| length3 = 5:26

| title4 = Aathadi

| extra4 = T. Rajendar, Dev Prakash

| lyrics4 = Na. Muthukumar

| length4 = 4:37

| title5 = Maduraikara

| extra5 = Udit Narayan, Anuradha Sriram

| lyrics5 = Sakthi Chidambaram

| length5 = 5:29

}}

Sandai was released on 21 March 2008, Good Friday alongside Kannum Kannum, Inba and Singakutty.{{Cite web |date=20 March 2008 |title=Big easter weekend |url=http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14626716&cid=2363 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328080952/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14626716&cid=2363 |archive-date=28 March 2008 |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=Sify}} Pavithra Srinivasan of Rediff.com called the film "illogical" and stated that "Just suspend all logic and reason before settling for this age-old mother-in-law/son-in-law battle movies on the lines of Poova Thalaiya and Mappillai."{{Cite web |last=Srinivasan |first=Pavithra |date=24 March 2008 |title=Review: Sandai is illogical |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/sssandai/20080324.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008125639/https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/sssandai/20080324.htm |archive-date=8 October 2021 |access-date=8 October 2021 |website=Rediff.com}} Sify wrote "Here is regressive piece of kitsch, with over-the-top loud performances. The plot degenerates into a farce in the second half of this tedious film as it tumbles to an all?s-well-that- concludes-well end".{{Cite web |title=Sandai |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/sandai-review-tamil-pclw7lhhgfacd.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008124135/https://www.sify.com/movies/sandai-review-tamil-pclw7lhhgfacd.html |archive-date=8 October 2021 |access-date=8 October 2021 |website=Sify}} Naresh of The Indian Express wrote, "One star for Sundar C. and one star for Shakthi Chidambaram for his fast paced narration".{{Cite web |last=Naresh |date=2 April 2008 |title=SANDAI: For the masses |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/sandai-for-the-masses/291526/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905045536/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/sandai-for-the-masses/291526/ |archive-date=5 September 2022 |access-date=5 September 2022 |website=The Indian Express}} Cinesouth wrote, "This is a typical 'maappillai' type masala film story but director Shakti Chidambaram has given it an exciting flavour".{{Cite web |title=Sandai |url=http://cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/new/sandai.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119172638/http://www.cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/new/sandai.shtml |archive-date=19 January 2010 |access-date=12 January 2025 |website=Cinesouth}}

{{reflist}}

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Category:2000s Indian films

Category:2000s masala films

Category:2000s Tamil-language films

Category:2008 action comedy films

Category:2008 films

Category:Films directed by Sakthi Chidambaram

Category:Films scored by Dhina

Category:Films shot in London

Category:Films shot in Pollachi

Category:Films shot in Switzerland

Category:Indian action comedy films

Category:Tamil-language action comedy films

Category:Tamil-language Indian films