Tamizh Selvan

{{more plot|date=June 2022}}

Tamizh Selvan IAS starts as an assistant collector in Chennai. He is insulted by the corrupt collector because of his helpful and honest nature and skin colour, but he does not give a budge and within a span becomes the chief collector in the city. He marries a research scholar Fathima and is assisted by Manuneethi Chozhan. A rebellious group leader initially opposes Tamizh Selvan since he had helped the police arrest one of their members. The group protests against their unfair and undue treatment in politician Vedimuthu's illegal quarry but since he hears their problems and solves it he is heralded as a hero by masses. This irks Vedimuthu and other politicians who do not want Tamizh Selvan to prosper. How Tamizh Selvan resists the politicians' attempts to damage his reputation forms the crux of the story.

{{Cast listing|

• Vijayakanth as Tamizh Selvan IAS
• Roja as Fathima
• Manivannan as Vedimuthu
• Vadivelu as Manuneethi Sozhan
• Santhana Bharathi
• Malaysia Vasudevan
• Periyar Dasan
• Thalaivaasal Vijay as the rebellious group leader
• Mohan Raman as the corrupt collector
• Baby Hemalatha
• Madhan Bob (uncredited)

}}

== Production ==

R. Selvaraj wrote a story titled Vaakkapatta Bhoomi ({{Translation|The promised land}}), with the intention of making it a film produced by himself, and Bharathiraja was assigned to direct, but the project did not materialise. Later, M. Ramanathan of Raaj Films International heard that Selvaraj had the call-sheets of Bharathiraja and Vijayakanth ready, and offered to produce any film with both involved. Bharathiraja and Vijayakanth agreed, and the film was Tamizh Selvan.{{Cite web |last=செல்வராஜ் |first=ஆர். |author-link=R. Selvaraj (screenwriter) |date=31 May 2017 |title=கடல் தொடாத நதி – 16 – ரஷ்யா மளிகைக் கடை! |trans-title=The river that never touches the sea – 16 – Russia Grocery Store! |url=https://www.vikatan.com/literature/arts/131587-cinema-history-of-annakili-rselvaraj |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230309141213/https://www.vikatan.com/literature/arts/131587-cinema-history-of-annakili-rselvaraj |archive-date=9 March 2023 |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=Ananda Vikatan |language=ta}}

The first shot Bharathiraja directed was Vijayakanth smiling which he shot at Shivanasamudra Falls, Karnataka.{{Cite magazine |date=8 January 2006 |title=விஜயகாந்த் பற்றி வி.ஐ.பி! |trans-title=VIP about Vijayakanth! |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2006-01-08/page/78/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240229144103/https://archive.org/details/kalki2006-01-08/page/78/mode/2up |archive-date=29 February 2024 |access-date=29 February 2024 |magazine=Kalki |page=79 |language=ta |via=Internet Archive}} During a filming a schedule at Kollegal, politician Vatal Nagaraj objected to the clapperboard used being in Tamil, but left after being intimidated by Vijayakanth. To avoid further trouble, Bharathiraja offered to remove the name Tamizh Selvan from the clapperboard, but Vijayakanth threatened to quit the film if that happened.{{Cite web |last=Balan |first=SG |date=30 September 2023 |title=ஒத்தையாக நின்று வாட்டாள் நாகராஜை ஓட விட்ட விஜயகாந்த்! சம்பவம் நடந்தது ஏன்? எப்போது? |trans-title=Vijayakanth, who stood firm and let Vatal Nagaraj run away! Why did the incident happen? When? |url=https://tamil.asianetnews.com/tamilnadu/when-did-vijayakanth-sent-back-vatal-nagaraj-what-happened-in-tamilselvan-movie-shooting-sgb-s1sbou |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130205721/https://tamil.asianetnews.com/tamilnadu/when-did-vijayakanth-sent-back-vatal-nagaraj-what-happened-in-tamilselvan-movie-shooting-sgb-s1sbou |archive-date=30 November 2023 |access-date=6 March 2024 |website=Asianet News |language=ta}} Another scene was shot at the T. Nagar Social Club, Chennai.{{Cite news |last=Raman |first=Mohan |author-link=Mohan Raman |date=25 August 2020 |title=#MadrasThroughTheMovies: Films that captured the 'sport'y Madras |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/madrasthroughthemovies-films-that-captured-the-sporty-madras/articleshow/77729580.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306041759/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/madrasthroughthemovies-films-that-captured-the-sporty-madras/articleshow/77729580.cms |archive-date=6 March 2024 |access-date=6 March 2024 |work=The Times of India}}

The music was composed by Deva.{{Cite web |date=August 2014 |title=Tamizh Selvan |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/tamizh-selvan/OfpIiTUGLKw_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531151656/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/tamizh-selvan/OfpIiTUGLKw_ |archive-date=31 May 2023 |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=JioSaavn}}{{Cite web |title=Tamizh Selvan / Vennila |url=https://avdigital.in/products/tamizh-selvan-vennila |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528013022/https://avdigital.in/products/tamizh-selvan-vennila |archive-date=28 May 2022 |access-date=8 March 2023 |website=AVDigital}}

R. P. R. of Kalki praised Vijayakanth's performance, Bharathiraja's direction and Deva's background score.{{Cite magazine |last=ஆர். பி. ஆர். |date=18 August 1996 |title=தமிழ்ச்செல்வன் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1996-08-18/page/n17/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230224091349/https://archive.org/details/kalki1996-08-18/page/n17/mode/2up |archive-date=24 February 2023 |access-date=24 February 2023 |magazine=Kalki |page=16 |via=Internet Archive}} K. N. Vijiyan of New Straits Times wrote "Bharathirajaa takes the story along smoothly and maintains our interest until the end. But a few scenes were disjointed and I have a feeling this had something to do with our censors".{{Cite news |last=Vijiyan |first=K. N. |date=12 August 1996 |title=A cry against corruption |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nmcWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XhUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1486%2C696391 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309050353/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nmcWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XhUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1486%2C696391 |archive-date=9 March 2023 |access-date=9 March 2023 |work=New Straits Times |pages=53 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cbignore}} D. S. Ramanujam of The Hindu wrote, "The role of bureaucrats in correcting and exposing corrupt and wayward politicians in power is the theme veteran director Bharathiraaja has handled with his known flourish". He added, "Rathnakumar's story base has already found exposure in earlier movies of this genre. But his dialogue is interestingly amusing particularly in areas".{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=D. S. |date=16 August 1996 |title=En Aasai Thangachi/Tamizhselvan/Krishna/Poovarasan |url=http://www.webpage.com/hindu/960817/03/1633a.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961220091023/http://www.webpage.com/hindu/960817/03/1633a.html |archive-date=20 December 1996 |access-date=13 July 2023 |work=The Hindu |pages=33}}

{{reflist}}

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{{Bharathiraja}}

Category:1990s Indian films

Category:1990s political drama films

Category:1990s Tamil-language films

Category:1996 films

Category:Films about corruption in India

Category:Films directed by Bharathiraja

Category:Films set in Chennai

Category:Films scored by Deva (composer)

Category:Films shot in Chennai

Category:Films shot in Karnataka

Category:Films with screenplays by Bharathiraja

Category:Indian political drama films

Category:Tamil-language Indian films

Category:Tamil-language political drama films