Vaanam

Thillai "Cable" Raja is a cable operator born and raised in a Chennai slum. He bemoans his poverty and wants to become rich by marrying his girlfriend Priya. Raja cons her into believing he is well-off and adopts a refined persona for her. He is accompanied by his best friend Seenu and guided by bhajan singer Ganesh. When Priya asks him to buy expensive tickets to a New Year's Eve gala, Raja is very short of money. After a failed attempt at chain snatching in which he crosses paths with the police, he heads to a hospital with theft on his mind.

Bharath Chakravarthy, an aspiring rock star from Bangalore, is irresponsible but well-meaning. His mother disapproves of his dream and wants him to become an army officer. When Bharath's band misses their flight to a concert because of him, he drives them to Chennai via road. He and his girlfriend Laasya are attacked by religious fanatics and are aided by strangers; this makes him reflect on life. When they arrive in Chennai, their vehicle collides with an auto rickshaw carrying a pregnant woman. Forgoing the concert, Bharath and Laasya rush her to the hospital.

Saroja is a sex worker at Rani Amma's brothel on the Tamil Nadu-Andhra border. When she discovers that her life is in danger while working there, she escapes to Chennai with her sister Karpooram in the hope of starting a business venture. Hounded by thugs and the police, they are led into a trap. In a fight, Karpooram is mortally wounded in a fight, and Saroja carries her to the hospital.

Rahimuddin Qureshi and his wife Zara lost their unborn twins in a Coimbatore riot. Zara becomes pregnant again a few months later, and Rahim goes to Chennai to find his younger brother, who had run away after the riot. Rahim is in repeated conflict with Shivaram, an anti-Muslim police officer who suspects him of terrorism. He is brutally assaulted by Shivaram and admitted to the hospital under close supervision.

Lakshmi is the daughter-in-law of a poor weaver in Thoothukudi. When the weaver cannot repay a loan from cruel moneylender Narasimman, Narasimman kidnaps Lakshmi's bright young son and refuses to release him until the debt is paid. Lakshmi arrives in Chennai with her father-in-law, hoping to sell one of her kidneys to obtain money. She undergoes the surgery and receives money, which is insufficient. Raja steals Lakshmi's money, and she and her father-in-law contemplate suicide.

Conscience-stricken, Raja confesses to Priya and returns the money with some of his own; Lakshmi forgives him. Rahim learns that terrorist leader Mansoor Khan and his gang are planning to kill the people in the hospital. He tries to escape, but when he sees Bharath wheeling in a pregnant woman, he is reminded of his wife and offers to help them. The terrorist strike begins, and several people are shot to death. Raja, Bharath, Rahim, and Saroja lead a small group of survivors to an empty room.

Raja and Bharath kill two terrorists, and Bharath takes several bullets in his shoulder to save Saroja. Rahim saves Shivaram from a shooter and encounters his brother, who is part of the terrorist gang. Rahim's brother shoots himself, and Khan reveals himself as a suicide bomber ready to explode. Raja sacrifices himself by pulling Khan and falling out a window; an explosion follows.

In the aftermath, Bharath, who lost one of his hands, is hailed as a national hero. Saroja and Karpooram begin a new life, hoping to find redemption. Lakshmi and her father-in-law pay off Narasimman and give her son a good education. Shivaram apologizes to Rahim and asks for forgiveness; Rahim accepts him as a brother. Raja is mourned by Priya and his community, and Ganesh and Seenu see him as a martyr.

{{Cast listing|

• Silambarasan as Thillai "Cable" Raja
• Bharath as Bharath Chakravarthy
• Prakash Raj as Rahimuddin Qureshi
• Santhanam as Tantanatan Seenu
• Ganesh as "Bhajana" Ganesh
• Anushka Shetty as Saroja
• Sonia Agarwal as Zara Rahim
• Saranya Ponvannan as Lakshmi
• Vega as Laasya
• Jasmin as Priya
• Radha Ravi as Police Inspector
• Jayaprakash as Mansoor Khan
• Ravi Raghavendra as the kidney surgeon
• Ravi Prakash as ACP Shivaram
• Pramila Rani as Raja's mother
• Master Sanjay as Pandi
• Nikki as Karpooram{{Cite tweet |number=474422808210976769 |user=nickyjaan |title=Working on movie Vanam was so much funnn. |author=nickyjaan |date=5 June 2014 |access-date=6 April 2024}}
• Dhandapani as Narasimman{{Cite AV media |title=Vaanam |type=motion picture |language=Ta |publisher=VTV Productions, Magic Box Pictures |year=2011 |place=India |time=20:35 |time-caption=Character introduced at}}
• Sandhya Janak as Bharath's mother{{Cite AV media |title=Vaanam |type=motion picture |language=Ta |publisher=VTV Productions, Magic Box Pictures |year=2011 |place=India |time=50:21 |time-caption=Character introduced at}}}}

Archival footage from Vedam:

• Brahmanandam as Bhairavan{{Cite AV media |title=Vaanam |type=motion picture |language=Ta |publisher=VTV Productions, Magic Box Pictures |year=2011 |place=India |time=59:31|time-caption=Character introduced at}}
• Prudhvi Raj as the sub-inspector{{Cite AV media |title=Vaanam |type=motion picture |language=Ta |publisher=VTV Productions, Magic Box Pictures |year=2011 |place=India |time=45:02 |time-caption=Character introduced at}}
• Vajja Venkata Giridhar as Gopi{{Cite AV media |title=Vaanam |type=motion picture |language=Ta |publisher=VTV Productions, Magic Box Pictures |year=2011 |place=India |time=10:28 |time-caption=Character introduced at}}

Producer R. B. Choudary bought the rights to Vedam to remake it in Tamil, and two stars were reportedly signed.{{Cite web |date=4 July 2010 |title=Vedem to be remade in Tamil |url=https://idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/news290.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520093408/https://idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/news290.html |archive-date=20 May 2024 |access-date=4 October 2010 |website=Idlebrain.com}} Silambarasan and producer VTV Ganesh had seen Vedam at the Casino Theatre in Chennai. They approached Krish Jagarlamudi, director of Vedam, to direct the remake in his Tamil debut. Silambarasan began shooting the film in early July, and was also expected to work on Podaa Podi.{{Cite news |date=11 July 2010 |title=I have started shooting for Vaanam: Simbu |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-11/news-interviews/28285462_1_poda-podi-simbu-telugu-film |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717071031/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-11/news-interviews/28285462_1_poda-podi-simbu-telugu-film |archive-date=17 July 2012 |access-date=16 September 2011 |work=The Times of India}} Silambarasan reportedly lost a project with N. Linguswamy and Dayanidhi Azhagiri, who were unhappy that he began to shoot this film without informing them (and further delaying their film).{{Cite news |date=21 July 2010 |title=Vijay is not replacing Simbu |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Vijay-is-not-replacing-Simbu/articleshow/6191928.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722031616/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-21/news-interviews/28318480_1_poda-podi-lingusamy-simbu |archive-date=22 July 2012 |access-date=30 November 2010 |work=The Times of India}} Krish slightly modified the original script, expanding the Muslim character and changing the musician character.

Anushka Shetty was reportedly hesitant to star in the film, and signed because Krish was the director.{{Cite web |last=Prakash |first=R S |date=16 July 2010 |title=Simbu's Obsessive co-star Disorder |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/south-masala/simbus-obsessive-co-star-disorder/articleshow/21830218.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/yWfRo |archive-date=5 December 2024 |access-date=4 October 2024 |website=Bangalore Mirror}} Shetty denied reports that she was hesitant and eventually confirmed that she would reprise her role from the original: "At no point did I refuse to be a part of this project".{{Cite news |date=30 September 2010 |title=I never refused Vaanam: Anushka |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/I-never-refused-Vaanam-Anushka/articleshow/6651771.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717133422/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-09-30/news-interviews/28239666_1_vaanam-anushka-actress |archive-date=17 July 2012 |access-date=16 September 2011 |work=The Times of India}} Manchu Manoj, expected to reprise his original character and play the rockstar role in Vaanam, opted out{{Cite web |last=S. |first=Venkadesan |date=6 July 2012 |title=Manchu Manoj finally debuts in Kollywood |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2012/Jul/06/manchu-manoj-finally-debuts-in-kollywood-384136.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007091626/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2012/Jul/06/manchu-manoj-finally-debuts-in-kollywood-384136.html |archive-date=7 October 2024 |access-date=4 October 2024 |website=The New Indian Express}} and was replaced by Bharath.{{Cite web |date=16 May 2012 |title=Bharath plays a rock star in 'Vaanam' |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2010/Sep/30/bharath-plays-a-rock-star-in-vaanam-191364.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007010925/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2010/Sep/30/bharath-plays-a-rock-star-in-vaanam-191364.html |archive-date=7 October 2024 |access-date=4 October 2024 |website=The New Indian Express}}{{Cite news |date=18 July 2010 |title=Bharath joins Vaanam! |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-18/news-interviews/28281659_1_bharath-vaanam-podaa-podi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715024315/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-18/news-interviews/28281659_1_bharath-vaanam-podaa-podi |archive-date=15 July 2012 |access-date=30 November 2010 |work=The Times of India}}

Sneha Ullal was initially signed to make her Tamil debut with this film and play Silambarasan's love interest.{{Cite web |date=26 July 2010 |title=Kollywood calling Sneha Ullal |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/movie-details/news-interviews/kollywood-calling-sneha-ullal/articleshow/6214418.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007010748/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/movie-details/news-interviews/kollywood-calling-sneha-ullal/articleshow/6214418.cms |archive-date=7 October 2024 |access-date=4 October 2010 |website=The Times of India}} Vega Tamotia was signed to play a rock musician played originally by Lekha Washington,{{Cite news |date=18 January 2011 |title=I'm taking my time: Vega |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Im-taking-my-time-Vega/articleshow/7304009.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721093459/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-18/news-interviews/28369627_1_vega-vaanam-bharath |archive-date=21 July 2012 |access-date=16 September 2011 |work=The Times of India}} and producer Ganesh had a cameo role.{{Cite web |date=26 July 2010 |title=VTV Ganesh, the producer who also acts |url=http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/interviews/article186984.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108042202/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/interviews/article186984.ece |archive-date=8 January 2014 |access-date=30 November 2010 |website=The New Indian Express}}{{Cite news |date=22 July 2010 |title=Ganesh is back! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Ganesh-is-back/articleshow/6196629.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120706235743/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-22/news-interviews/28307849_1_vaanam-vtv-prakash-raj |archive-date=6 July 2012 |access-date=30 November 2010 |work=The Times of India}} In September 2010, Sonia Agarwal was signed for a pivotal role, returning to acting after four years and replacing Siya Gautham as Zara (the wife of Prakash Raj's character); Agarwal was initially scheduled to appear in the original version but withdrew due to personal problems.{{Cite web |date=14 September 2010 |title=Sonia makes a comeback in Vaanam |url=http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14956803 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917090343/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14956803 |archive-date=17 September 2010 |access-date=30 November 2010 |website=Sify}} She said that she would have more scenes than the original, and one "extra song".{{Cite news |date=16 September 2010 |title=I'm very nervous: Sonia |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-09-16/news-interviews/28246926_1_tamil-film-vaanam-actress |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717063122/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-09-16/news-interviews/28246926_1_tamil-film-vaanam-actress |archive-date=17 July 2012 |access-date=30 November 2010 |work=The Times of India}} Manoj Bajpayee was initially considered to reprise his role in Vedam, but Prakash Raj was signed.{{Cite web |date=20 September 2010 |title=Sonia Agarwal returns with Simbu film |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2010/Sep/20/sonia-agarwal-returns-with-simbu-film-188538.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007010750/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2010/Sep/20/sonia-agarwal-returns-with-simbu-film-188538.html |archive-date=7 October 2024 |access-date=4 October 2024 |website=The New Indian Express}} Telugu actor Ravi Prakash reprised his role in the original version for his Tamil film debut.{{Cite news |date=8 October 2010 |title=Ravi Prakash tests his luck with Vaanam |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-08/news-interviews/28272079_1_prakash-raj-telugu-film-actor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707111322/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-08/news-interviews/28272079_1_prakash-raj-telugu-film-actor |archive-date=7 July 2012 |access-date=1 May 2011 |work=The Times of India}} In early 2011, Ullal, who had filmed significant portions, was replaced by Delhi-based model Jasmin Bhasin.{{Cite web |title=Jasmine replaces Sneha in Vaanam |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/jasmine-replaces-sneha-in-vaanam-news-tamil-lczkSbagegg.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228024309/http://www.sify.com/movies/jasmine-replaces-sneha-in-vaanam-news-tamil-lczkSbagegg.html |archive-date=28 February 2011 |access-date=1 May 2011 |website=Sify}} Bhasin, who completed her filming in 15 days and dubbed for herself, had auditioned for the rock-musician role of Vega Tamotia.{{Cite news |date=25 April 2011 |title=Jasmin replaces Sneha Ullal in Vaanam |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-25/news-interviews/29469023_1_audition-vaanam-sneha-ullal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707013646/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-25/news-interviews/29469023_1_audition-vaanam-sneha-ullal |archive-date=7 July 2012 |access-date=1 May 2011 |work=The Times of India}} Scenes filmed with Jagan were removed and filmed with Santhanam after Jagan had a falling-out with Silambarasan.{{Cite web |date=14 December 2010 |title=Simbu drops Jagan |url=http://www.bollygraph.com/movies/simbu-drops-jagan/1247/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320151215/http://www.bollygraph.com/movies/simbu-drops-jagan/1247/ |archive-date=20 March 2012 |access-date=18 August 2011 |website=Bollygraph.com |publisher=}} Anushka Shetty's makeup artist, Nikki, played a transgender person in the film reprising his role from the original. Krish, who had a cameo appearance in Vedam as a saamiyar, reprised his role in the remake.{{Cite web |date=6 May 2011 |title=Krish gets standing ovation! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/krish-gets-standing-ovation/articleshow/8168733.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007010750/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/krish-gets-standing-ovation/articleshow/8168733.cms |archive-date=7 October 2024 |access-date=19 September 2024 |website=The Times of India}}

Due to the film's multi-narrative format of several short stories which combine in the climax,{{Cite news |date=18 April 2011 |title=Vaanam – a treat for the eyes |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Vaanam--a-treat-for-the-eyes/articleshow/8016173.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710000918/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-18/news-interviews/29443249_1_film-vaanam-screens |archive-date=10 July 2012 |access-date=16 September 2011 |work=The Times of India}} it drew similarities to Amores perros (2000), Aayutha Ezhuthu (2004), Crash (2004) and Babel (2006). Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu noted that Vaanam{{'s}} ensemble cast has a similar appeal to that of Babel.

{{Main|Vaanam (soundtrack)}}

Although Krish worked with composer M. M. Keeravani for the score and soundtrack of the original film, Yuvan Shankar Raja wrote Vaanam{{'s}} original songs and score.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/allu-arjun-anushka-shetty-manoj-and-krish-celebrate-a-decade-of-vedam/article31754619.ece/amp/|title=Allu Arjun, Anushka Shetty, Manoj and Krish celebrate a decade of Telugu film ‘Vedam’|first=|last=|date=5 June 2020|work=The Hindu|access-date=10 October 2024}} The song "Evan Di Unna Pethan" was released as a single to promote the film.{{Cite web |date=3 October 2010 |title=Yuvan's Vaanam single track |url=http://sify.com/movies/yuvans-vaanam-single-track-news-tamil-kkgu7chbhcj.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007062915/http://sify.com/movies/yuvans-vaanam-single-track-news-tamil-kkgu7chbhcj.html |archive-date=7 October 2010 |access-date=30 November 2010 |website=Sify}} The track was initially planned to be released in London, but after several complications and delays{{Cite news |date=19 October 2010 |title=Vaanam's audio launch postponed! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Vaanams-audio-launch-postponed/articleshow/6769097.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723233320/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-19/news-interviews/28256962_1_vaanam-producer-ganesh-visa |archive-date=23 July 2012 |access-date=16 September 2011 |work=The Times of India}} it was released on 1 December 2010 at the Chennai Citi Centre.{{Cite web |date=1 December 2010 |title=Yuvan's single track for Vaanam |url=http://sify.com/movies/yuvan-s-single-track-for-vaanam-news-tamil-kl2kUcjdeej.html?scategory=tamil |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811185047/http://www.sify.com/movies/yuvan-s-single-track-for-vaanam-news-tamil-kl2kUcjdeej.html?scategory=tamil |archive-date=11 August 2011 |access-date=8 December 2010 |website=Sify}}

Vedam{{'s}} soundtrack has eight tracks; the Vaanam soundtrack has five, including the earlier-released single. It was released on 30 March 2011 at the Residency Towers Chennai.{{Cite news |date=1 April 2011 |title=A star-studded music launch of 'Vaanam' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/filmi-parties/regional/A-star-studded-music-launch-of-Vaanam/articleshow/7762687.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708114630/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-23/regional/29177288_1_vaanam-yuvan-shankar-raja-music |archive-date=8 July 2012 |access-date=1 May 2011 |work=The Times of India}}

Vaanam was initially scheduled for release on 11 February 2011 to coincide with the Valentine's Day weekend.{{Cite web |date=29 December 2010 |title=Anushka's Vaanam Release on Feb 14th2011 |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150380822525193&id=210302285192&set=a.452351745192&locale=fa_IR |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007010834/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D10150380822525193%26id%3D210302285192%26set%3Da.452351745192%26locale%3Dfa_IR |archive-date=7 October 2024 |access-date=4 October 2010 |website=Anushka Shetty |via=Facebook.com}} Its release was postponed, and the film was released on 29 April 2011.{{Cite web |date=20 April 2011 |title=Vaanam to release on April 29 |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2011/apr/20/vaanam-to-release-on-april-29-245976.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702214537/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2011/apr/20/vaanam-to-release-on-april-29-245976.html |archive-date=2 July 2020 |access-date=1 July 2020 |website=The New Indian Express}}{{Cite web |date=2011-04-29 |title=Friday Fury- April 29 |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/friday-fury-april-29-news-tamil-le3ntFijbid.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430230451/http://www.sify.com/movies/friday-fury-april-29-news-tamil-le3ntFijbid.html |archive-date=30 April 2011 |access-date=1 May 2011 |website=Sify}}

With little publicity, Vaanam earned {{Indian Rupee}}72 lakh in Chennai over its first weekend.{{Cite web |title=Chennai Box Office – April 29 to May 1, 2011 |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=14968998&cid=13525926 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507103746/http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=14968998&cid=13525926 |archive-date=7 May 2011 |access-date=16 September 2011 |website=Sify}}

Rediff's Pavithra Srinivasan rated the film three out of five and called it "engaging", adding that "if you ignore the minor lapses, you've got a reasonably engaging story, and a moving climax".{{Cite web |title=Review: Vaanam is engaging |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-movie-review-vaanam/20110429.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170322083038/http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-movie-review-vaanam/20110429.htm |archive-date=22 March 2017 |access-date=1 May 2011 |website=Rediff.com}} A Sify.com reviewer considered the film "very good", saying that "this short story genre [...] manages to work well for the new age audience. Almost all the stories are deftly told, with the mandatory twist in the climax which keeps you riveted". The reviewer praised the director and his team as they "push the cinematic envelope and bring savvy freshness to Tamil cinema".{{Cite web |title=Vaanam – Review |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/vaanam-review-review-tamil-14968580.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130052925/http://www.sify.com/movies/vaanam-review-review-tamil-14968580.html |archive-date=30 January 2014 |access-date=18 August 2011 |website=Sify}} Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu said, "Pithy, poignant, funny and serious as the situation warrants, dialogue (Gnanagiri) is a highpoint of Vaanam. Climax is another. Krish seems to have cut and pasted a few scenes from the Telugu original – they give a dubbed-film feel to Vaanam. Coming after the stupendous hit, VTV, Vaanam should be another significant film in STR's career".{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=2011-05-01 |title=Stars stomp the sky – Vaanam |url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2011/05/01/stories/2011050150050200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503142054/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2011/05/01/stories/2011050150050200.htm |archive-date=3 May 2011 |access-date=18 August 2011 |work=The Hindu |quote=Krish seems to have cut and pasted a few scenes from the Telugu original – they give a dubbed-film feel to Vaanam.}}

According to a review in The New Indian Express, "Relaying a warm message of compassion and hope, Vaanam, with its different take, is worth a watch".{{Cite web |date=16 May 2012 |title=Vaanam |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2011/May/02/vaanam-249751.html |access-date=18 September 2024 |website=The New Indian Express}} Baradwaj Rangan wrote that his "glass-half-full side wants to deliver a smallish pat on Vaanam{{'s}} back and label it [...] a 'praiseworthy attempt', especially within mainstream parameters", while the "glass-half-empty side" was "still shaking angry fists at what could have and should have been a milestone ... Half the story strands are simply not interesting enough".{{Cite web |last=Baradwaj Rangan |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=8 May 2011 |title=Bullet-point Report: Vaanam « Blogical Conclusion |url=http://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/bullet-point-report-vaanam/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909130823/http://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/bullet-point-report-vaanam/ |archive-date=9 September 2011 |access-date=16 September 2011 |publisher=Baradwajrangan.wordpress.com}}

Silambarasan received the ITFA Best Actor Award for his performance in Vaanam,{{Cite web |title=International Tamil Film Awards – 2012 |url=http://itfa.com.sg/facts.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715093946/http://itfa.com.sg/facts.html |archive-date=15 July 2012 |access-date=8 November 2012 |publisher=Itfa.com.sg}} and Santhanam received the Chennai Times Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role.{{Cite web |title=Santhanam won the Best Actor in a Comic Role award for 'Vaanam' |url=http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/awards/times-film-awards/Best-actor-in-a-comic-role--Santhanam/articleshow/14318661.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702142117/http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/awards/times-film-awards/Best-actor-in-a-comic-role--Santhanam/articleshow/14318661.cms |archive-date=2 July 2012 |access-date=8 November 2012 |website=The Times of India}}

In July 2011, Bharath said that he received little attention for his appearance in Vaanam and was overlooked during its promotion. Although he received favourable publicity for Pattiyal (2006), Vaanam emphasised "only one face": its lead, Silambarasan. Silambarasan denied any involvement in the film's promotional strategy, but hinted that its success was largely dependent on his stardom.{{Cite news |date=31 July 2011 |title=Bharath takes on Simbu |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/bharath-takes-on-simbu/articleshow/9430845.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004100512/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/bharath-takes-on-simbu/articleshow/9430845.cms |archive-date=2024-10-04 |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=The Times of India}}

"Evan Di Unna Pethan" was cited for Silambarasan's allegedly-provocative lyrics. A women's-rights organisation in Chennai criticised the song's lyrics and released a statement to Silambarasan that the lyrics were "chauvinistic" and "demean women";{{Cite web |date=17 February 2022 |title=Chennai High Court Quashes Beep Song Case Against Tamil Actor Silambarasan |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/chennai-high-court-quashes-beep-song-case-against-tamil-actor-silambarasan-4783079.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007010753/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/chennai-high-court-quashes-beep-song-case-against-tamil-actor-silambarasan-4783079.html |archive-date=7 October 2024 |access-date=4 October 2024 |website=News18}} "music needs to appeal to larger sections than to the 'thrill-seeking' youth who are often misguided into 'cheap thrills' because of such songs", and the organisation demanded censorship.{{Cite web |last=Rajagopal |first=Srinidhi |date=14 March 2011 |title=Simbu, controversy's child? |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/chennai/simbu-controversy%E2%80%99s-child-989 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517164001/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/chennai/simbu-controversy%E2%80%99s-child-989 |archive-date=17 May 2011 |access-date=15 February 2012 |website=Deccan Chronicle}} Several prominent film-industry figures supported Silambarasan, saying that more-objectionable scenes had appeared in past films and there were "bigger issues in society"; censorship was not "the ideal way out in [a] democracy".

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Category:2010s Indian films

Category:2010s Tamil-language films

Category:2011 action drama films

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Category:Films about police brutality

Category:Films about prostitution in India

Category:Films about terrorism in India

Category:Films directed by Krish Jagarlamudi

Category:Films scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja

Category:Hyperlink films

Category:Indian action drama films

Category:Indian nonlinear narrative films

Category:Tamil remakes of Telugu films

Category:Tamil-language Indian films