Vaaimai

{{Infobox film

| image = Vaaimai.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = A. Senthil Kumar

| producer = S. Mani
S. Thamizhini

| writer = A. Senthil Kumar

| starring = Shanthanu Bhagyaraj
Ramki
Goundamani
Thiagarajan
Muktha
Manoj Bharathiraja
Urvashi
Prithvi Pandiarajan
Poornima Bhagyaraj

| narrator = Vijay Sethupathi

| music = Augath

| cinematography = Rasamathi

| editing = Anthony

| studio = Min Max Movies

| released = {{Film date|2016|09|08|df=yes}}

| runtime =

| country = India

| language = Tamil

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Vaaimai ({{translation|The Truth}}) is a 2016 Indian Tamil-language legal drama film written and directed by A. Senthil Kumar.{{Cite news |date=7 December 2012 |title=Shanthnu gears for 'Vaaimai' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Shanthnu-gears-for-Vaaimai/articleshow/17517215.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411035355/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-07/news-interviews/35670327_1_ammavin-kaipesi-gears-lady-luck |archive-date=11 April 2013 |access-date=25 August 2013 |work=The Times of India}} Inspired by the script of Reginald Rose's Twelve Angry Men (1954), the film stars Shanthanu Bhagyaraj and Muktha Bhanu amongst an ensemble cast.{{Cite news |date=1 April 2013 |title=Vaaimai second schedule underway |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Vaaimai-second-schedule-underway/articleshow/19319771.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419034924/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-01/news-interviews/38188770_1_goundamani-shanthnu-bhagyaraj-vaaimai |archive-date=19 April 2013 |access-date=25 August 2013 |work=The Times of India}} Goundamani, Thyagarajan, Ramki, Urvashi, Manoj K. Bharathi, Prithvi Pandiarajan and Poornima Bhagyaraj are also part of the cast. Though production begun in 2013, the film was released, following a production delay, on 8 September 2016.

Plot

A woman stands accused of helping her son assassinate a politician. She needs to defend herself against accusations that she was an accomplice to the plot.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

Shanthanu Bhagyaraj as Sidharthan
Thiagarajan as Dheenadayalan
Muktha Bhanu as Jhanavi
Goundamani as Dr. Benny Quick
Ramki as Thirumaaran IPS
Poornima Bhagyaraj as Devakiammal
Urvashi as Narayani
Manoj Bharathiraja as Manibharathi
Prithvi Pandiarajan as Velan
Namo Narayana as Namo Narayanan
Venkat Subha as Gopikrishna
Rose Venkatesan as Rose IAS
Ankitha Mohapatra as Chinmayi
K. Bhagyaraj in a cameo appearance
Vijay Sethupathi as Narrator

}}

Production

Senthil Kumar chose to make his debut with Vaaimai after his other project, Thirudan featuring Vijay Antony, ran into production troubles during 2012. The film began production in February 2013, with Goundamani making a comeback to acting.{{Cite news |date=9 February 2013 |title=Goundamani is back! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/goundamani-is-back/articleshow/18413439.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20241221041242/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/goundamani-is-back/articleshow/18413439.cms |archive-date=21 December 2024 |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=The Times of India |language=en}} It was subsequently shot in places like Delhi, Rishikesh, Haridwar and Kollimalai, but took almost two years to complete, which the director attributed to the inclusion of an animated song sequence.{{Cite web |last=Subhakeerthana |first=S |date=8 September 2016 |title=A believer in content-oriented films |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/A-believer-in-content-oriented-films/2016/09/08/article3615592.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909124238/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/A-believer-in-content-oriented-films/2016/09/08/article3615592.ece |archive-date=9 September 2016 |access-date=12 October 2018 |website=The New Indian Express}} Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, when questioned about the film's similarities to Twelve Angry Men, replied, "To my knowledge, we will not be mentioning the film in the credits, as there have been many jury-based films made, and Vaaimai could be inspired by any of them".{{Cite web |last=Srinivasan |first=Sudhir |date=9 September 2016 |title=Dad will not choose my films any more: Shanthnu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Dad-will-not-choose-my-films-any-more-Shanthnu/article14630709.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922031623/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Dad-will-not-choose-my-films-any-more-Shanthnu/article14630709.ece |archive-date=22 September 2021 |access-date=12 October 2018 |website=The Hindu}} Vijay Sethupathi serves as narrator.{{Cite web |date=14 November 2016 |title=A Vijay Sethupathi Cameo In Vishnu Vishal's Kathanagayan |url=https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/news/vijay-sethupathi-does-a-cameo-in-vishnu-vishals-kathanagayan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007095035/https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/news/vijay-sethupathi-does-a-cameo-in-vishnu-vishals-kathanagayan/ |archive-date=7 October 2024 |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=Silverscreen India |language=en-US}}

Soundtrack

Debutant Auggath composed the music of Vaaimai.{{Cite web |last=Karthik |author-link=Karthik Srinivasan |date=19 July 2014 |title=Vaaimai (Music review), Tamil – Auggath |url=https://milliblog.com/2014/07/19/vaaimai-music-review-tamil-auggath/ |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=Milliblog |language=en-US |archive-date=11 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111165357/https://milliblog.com/2014/07/19/vaaimai-music-review-tamil-auggath/ |url-status=live }} The audio launch was held on 5 May 2015.{{Cite web |date=6 May 2015 |title=Vaaimai Audio Launch Report |url=https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/features/vaaimai-audio-launch-report/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529001050/https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/features/vaaimai-audio-launch-report/ |archive-date=29 May 2024 |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=Silverscreen India |language=en-US}}

{{track listing

| headline = Track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| total_length = 22.13

| title1 = Vaimaye Vellum

| extra1 = Vijay Prakash

| length1 = 4.32

| title2 = Kanpadum Un Mugham

| extra2 = Alka Yagnik

| length2 = 3.45

| title3 = Matta

| extra3 = Blaaze, Vijay Prakash

| length3 = 5.18

| title4 = Boomiye Saamiye

| extra4 = Sadhana Sargam

| length4 = 3.18

| title5 = Hey Nadu

| extra5 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

| length5 = 5.10

}}

Release and reception

The film was released on 8 September 2016. Vishal Menon from The Hindu called it "a forgettable re-interpretation of an all-time classic" and gave the film a very negative review.{{Cite web |last=Menon |first=Vishal |date=10 September 2016 |title=Vaaimai: Court unquote |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/Vaaimai-Court-unquote/article14640078.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412220033/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/Vaaimai-Court-unquote/article14640078.ece |archive-date=12 April 2021 |access-date=12 October 2018 |website=The Hindu}} A critic from Sify wrote "It's very difficult to tolerate when someone adapt a classic film like Twelve Angry Men with a plodding screenplay, over the top dialogues and dramatic performances! Well, if you are a fan of Twelve Angry Men, better never ever try to watch Vaaimai!".{{Cite web |title=Vaaimai review: Watch at your own risk! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/vaaimai-review-watch-at-your-own-risk-review-tamil-qjiuAgdeidbih.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909182726/http://www.sify.com/movies/vaaimai-review-watch-at-your-own-risk-review-tamil-qjiuAgdeidbih.html |archive-date=9 September 2016 |access-date=12 October 2018 |website=Sify}} A reviewer from The Times of India noted that the film is "unconvincing, with writing that makes no sense and execution that is laughable".{{Cite news |date=9 September 2016 |title=Vaaimai Movie Review |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Vaaimai/movie-review/54219648.cms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914071647/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Vaaimai/movie-review/54219648.cms |archive-date=14 September 2016 |access-date=12 October 2018 |work=The Times of India}}