Theeviram
{{Short description|2020 Indian Tamil-language drama thriller film directed by Michael Muthu}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Theeviram
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| director = Michael Muthu
| writer = Michael Muthu
| screenplay =
| story =
| based_on =
| producer = Anil Jain
Sameer Bharat Jain
| starring = {{plainlist|
- Gokul Anand
- Amzath Khan
- Arjun Chidambaram
- Sharath Ravi
}}
| narrator =
| cinematography = Jagadeesh Sundaramurthy
| editing = Athiappan Siva
| music = Kalacharan
| studio = Super Talkies
Refex Entertainment
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2020|11|26}}
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Theeviram ({{translation|Severity}}) is a 2020 Indian Tamil-language drama thriller film directed by Michael Muthu on his directorial debut starring Gokul Anand, Amzath Khan, Arjun Chidambaram and Sharath Ravi.{{Cite web |title=Theeviram |url=https://www.primevideo.com/region/eu/detail/Theeviram/0O98LW6R22THDAV8G07PQOUO7X |access-date=2024-11-26 |publisher=Amazon Prime Video}} The film's main theme revolves around terrorism, depicting the radicalisation of young boys into becoming suicide bombers.{{Cite news |date=2017-11-22 |title=Gautham Menon turns NIA cop for Theeviram |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/gautham-menon-turns-nia-cop-for-theeviram/articleshow/61739774.cms |access-date=2024-11-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} The film was set in the backdrop of Chennai.
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Gokul Anand as Abbas
- Amzath Khan as Masood
- Arjun Chidambaram as Ismail
- Brahadeeshwar Chandilya as Zack
- Prashanth Oliver as Jaleel
- Sharath Ravi as Yakub
- Darshana Rajendran as Alia
- Namita Anand as Alisha
- Deepa Nambiar as Abbas' mother
- Namita Krishnamurthy as Nilufer
- Gautham Vasudev Menon as DCP Vikraman (special appearance)
- Velu as Abdul Hameed
}}
Production
In January 2017, the film project was announced by veteran theater actor Michael Muthu as his maiden directorial full-fledged feature film venture, and he revealed that it would be a bilingual film titled The Way Things Are in English and Theeviram in Tamil.{{Cite web |last=Rajendran |first=Gopinath |date=2017-05-13 |title=Michael Muthu now a part of 2.o |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/tamil/2017/May/12/michael-muthu-now-a-part-of-2o-1604164.html |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}} Muthu had previously made an attempt to make his directorial debut in 2002, but the project, which was titled The Girl, failed to materialize, and the project was subsequently shelved.{{Cite web |last=Ravi |first=Nandita |date=2017-05-19 |title=Mike Muthu steps off stage |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/theater/2017/may/19/mike-muthu-steps-off-stage-1624.html |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Indulgexpress |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2017-01-16 |title=Theatre thespian Michael Muthu to debut as film director soon |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Theatre-thespian-Michael-Muthu-to-debut-as-film-director-soon/articleshow/53191985.cms |access-date=2024-11-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
Muthu revealed that the story he narrated was specifically meant to be for a theatrical play, but he later changed his mind to convert his script into a full-length feature film after realizing that the theme around the three stories had vast potential to be presented in a more meaningful way through film mode. Initially, Muthu proposed plans to shoot the film entirely as an English-language film. Sameer Bharat Ram, who was on board to produce the film under his production banner, Local Talkies, convinced Muthu to shoot the film in Tamil as well. The filmmakers conducted rehearsals and auditions for a duration of 30 days to find suitable cast members prior to the commencement of the principal photography of the film. Muthu rehearshed with the cast for 30 days before shooting to reduce extra takes, saving money and allowing the production to shoot at "breakeck speed" with a goal of four scenes per day.{{Cite news |last=Nath |first=Parshathy J. |date=2017-05-08 |title=I like writing about tortured souls: Mike Muthu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/theatre/mike-muthu-on-his-fascination-with-cinema-dark-souls-and-his-unending-love-for-stage/article18409234.ece/amp/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} Filmmaker Gautham Vasudev Menon was roped in to play a National Investigation Agency officer.
Soundtrack
{{Infobox album
| name = Theeviram
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = Kalacharan
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 2020
| recorded = 2020
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Feature film soundtrack
| length =
| language = Tamil
| label = MRT Music
| producer =
| prev_title = Mamakiki
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc =
}}
The soundtrack is composed by Kalacharan with lyrics were written by Shrenik Viswanathan.
{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Nee Meendum Vaa (Promo Song)
| extra1 = Sid Sriram
| length1 = 4:44
| title2 = Dhooram{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Dhooram (From "Theeviram") |url=https://music.apple.com/us/song/dhooram-from-theeviram/1662576075 |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=Apple Music}}
| extra2 = Sindhuri Vishal, Aarifullah Shah Khalifye Rifayi
| length2 =
| total_length =
}}
References
{{Reflist}}