Vallavan
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Vallavan
| image = Vallavan poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Silambarasan
| writer = Silambarasan
Balakumaran (dialogues)
| starring = Silambarasan
Nayanthara
Reema Sen
Sandhya
Santhanam
| producer = P. L. Thenappan
| music = Yuvan Shankar Raja
| cinematography = Priyan
R. D. Rajasekhar
| editing = Anthony
| studio = Sri Raj Lakshmi Films
| released = {{Film date|2006|10|21|df=y}}
| runtime = 185 minutes
| language = Tamil
| country = India
| gross =
}}
Vallavan ({{translation}} Expert), alternatively spelled as Valaavaan,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/valaavaan-he-knows-what-to-do-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zntm0odi|title=Valaavaan - He Knows What To Do|website=British Board of Film Classification}}{{Efn|The third and fifth As in "Valaavaan" are not pronounced.}} is a 2006 Indian Tamil-language masala film written and directed by Silambarasan, starring himself in the lead role alongside Nayanthara and Reema Sen whilst Sandhya, Santhanam, Premji and Sathyan play supporting roles. The dialogues are written by Balakumaran, and the film was produced by P. L. Thenappan. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja.
Vallavan released on 21 October 2006. It received mixed reviews and became a decent hit at the box office. The songs became chartbusters.
Plot
Vallavan is a happy-go-lucky college student who is friends with Suji, Soori and Subbu. While they are at temple, Vallavan sees Swapna and immediately falls in love with her. Vallavan encounters Swapna again in college and she is revealed to be a teacher who is three years elder than him. He decides to woo her by turning into Pallan, an ugly duckling with buck teeth and thick glasses. Pallan makes Swapna fall in love with him for his heart. He then reveals his disguise in a party and introduces her to his friends. In the party they try to convince her indirectly to accept a younger man but she doesn't budge. After that Vallavan drops her at her home. Both feel romances and make love. He assures marrying her. When Swapna learns that Pallan is younger than her (from one of Vallavan's rivals in the college) and also a student, she dumps him and decides to marry another man.
As Vallavan walks in the streets wondering how things got so messy, he recalls his school life. When he was in higher secondary school, Vallavan met the hysteric and toxic Geetha, who ensures that Vallavan is mad about her. Learning of her true nature, he ends things with her. She is not ready to let him go so easily, and he teaches her a lesson.
Cast
{{cast listing|
- Silambarasan as Vallavan a.k.a. Pallan, a college student
- Nayanthara (voice: Savitha) as Swapna, a teacher and Vallavan's love interest
- Reema Sen as Geethakumari "Geetha", Vallavan's ex-girlfriend
- Sandhya as Suji, Vallavan's best friend
- Santhanam as Soori, Suji's brother and Vallavan's friend
- Sathyan as Subbu, Vallavan's friend
- Premji as Swapna's friend
- S. V. Shekhar as Suji and Soori's father
- Janaki Sabesh as Suji and Soori's mother
- Shankar as Vallavan's school friend (flashback)
- Karthik Sabesh as Vallavan's school friend (flashback)
- Thara Srinivasan as Premji's wife
- Venu Arvind
- Deepa Venkat
- Kottachi
- Sembuli Jagan
- Guhan Shanmugam
- Rajendranath
- Balakumaran as Psychiatrist (cameo appearance)
- T. Rajendar as dancer in song "Yammadi Aathadi" (special appearance)
- Kanal Kannan as a spectator watching Vallavan's fight from his car (cameo appearance)
- Mahat Raghavendra as Vallavan's friend and miscellaneous (uncredited role)
- Jagan as Vallavan's friend (uncredited role)
}}
Music
The music was scored by noted musician and Silambarasan's friend, Yuvan Shankar Raja, coming together again after churning out the successful album of Manmadhan (2004). The soundtrack was released on 1 June 2006 and features nine tracks, including seven songs and two instrumental pieces. As it was the case in Manmadhan, a second soundtrack was released afterwards with bit songs that feature in the film but not on the first soundtrack along with pieces from the film score. The lyrics were penned by Vaali, Thamarai, film director Perarasu and Silambarasan himself. Karunakaran wrote the lyrics of the bit song "Kadhal Vandhale", released in the second edition.
Yuvan Shankar Raja won accolades for his soundtrack, whereas especially the songs "Loosu Penne" and "Yammaadi Aathaadi" were both popular.{{cite web |title='Vallavan' beats 'Vettayadu' in Tamil audio race |url=http://movies.indiainfo.com/southern-spice/tamil/vallavan-120706.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309120518/http://movies.indiainfo.com:80/southern-spice/tamil/vallavan-120706.html |archive-date=9 March 2007 |access-date=18 July 2009 |website=Indiainfo.com |publisher=}} The song "Kadhal Vanthirichu" was remixed from the film Kalyanaraman (1979), composed by Yuvan's father Ilaiyaraaja.
{{track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Vallava Ennai
| extra1 = Sunidhi Chauhan
| lyrics1 = Thamarai
| length1 = 6:29
| title2 = Hooray Hooray Hip
| extra2 = Sunitha Sarathy, Nakul, Ranjith, Karthik
| lyrics2 = Vaali
| length2 = 5:44
| title3 = Kadhal Vanthirichu
| extra3 = Silambarasan, Premji Amaren
| lyrics3 = Vaali
| length3 = 4:25
| title4 = Loosu Penne
| extra4 = Silambarasan, Blaaze
| lyrics4 = Silambarasan
| length4 = 6:52
| title5 = Yammaadi Aathadi
| extra5 = T. Rajendar, Silambarasan, Suchitra, Mahathi
| lyrics5 = Perarasu
| length5 = 5:30
| title6 = Podu Attam Podu
| extra6 = Vijay Yesudas
| lyrics6 = Vaali
| length6 = 5:38
| title7 = He Knows What To Do (Vallavan Theme)
| extra7 = Tanvi Shah (humming)
| lyrics7 =
| length7 = 2:00
| title8 = Success of Love
| extra8 = Instrumental
| lyrics8 =
| length8 = 1:05
| title9 = Loosu Penne (Club Mix)
| extra9 = Silambarasan, Premji Amaren
| lyrics9 = Silambarasan
| length9 = 4:02
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Bonus tracks (Second release)
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 22:40
| title10 = Yammaadi Aathaadi (2nd Version)
| extra10 = T. Rajendar, Silambarasan, Suchitra, Mahathi
| length10 = 5:24
| title11 = Hip Hip Hurrey (2nd Version)
| extra11 = Sunitha Sarathy, Nakul, Ranjith, Karthik
| length11 = 5:38
| title12 = Theme Music (1)
| extra12 = Instrumental
| length12 = 1:38
| title13 = Theme Music (2)
| extra13 = Instrumental
| length13 = 0:47
| title14 = Loose Penne (Music)
| extra14 = Instrumental
| length14 = 0:50
| title15 = Kadhal Vandhale
| note15 = Lyrics written by Karunakaran
| extra15 = Yuvan Shankar Raja
| length15 = 2:26
| title16 = Folk Bit
| extra16 = Instrumental
| length16 = 0:35
| title17 = Victory of Love
| extra17 = Silambarasan
| length17 = 0:56
| title18 = Valla Valla Vallavan
| extra18 = Blaaze
| length18 = 1:10
| title19 = Kadhal Vandhale (Music)
| extra19 = Instrumental
| length19 = 1:31
| title20 = Ilamai Idho + Pothuvaga (Remix)
| extra20 = Silambarasan
| length20 = 1:45
}}
Release
The film was released on 21 October, during Diwali Festival time, alongside Varalaru, Vattaram, Thalaimagan and Dharmapuri.{{cite web|work=Chennai Online|access-date=9 April 2024|url=http://www.chennaionline.com/film/News/2006/10diwalirelease.asp|title=Diwali release – 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115043248/http://www.chennaionline.com/film/News/2006/10diwalirelease.asp|archive-date=15 November 2006|date=21 October 2006}}
= Critical reception =
The Hindu wrote: "Vallavan's basic sketch is simpler than Manmadhan, though the maker has lent it his trademark frills".[https://web.archive.org/web/20070502042226/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/11/03/stories/2006110300090200.htm Friday Review Chennai / Film Review : Age does matter – Vallavan]. The Hindu (3 November 2006). Sify gave 2.5/5 and said: "If you are looking for some wholesome entertainment, then Vallavan is worth your time and money".[https://web.archive.org/web/20130704155845/http://www.sify.com/movies/vallavan-review-tamil-14317167.html Movie Review : Vallavan]. Sify.com. Lajjavathi of Kalki felt the film is too long and ends abruptly, and the climax is not well told and by trimming here and there Simbu made the charm in first half lose in second half.{{Cite magazine |last=லஜ்ஜாவதி |date=26 November 2006 |title=வல்லவன் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2006-11-26/page/54/mode/2up |access-date=9 April 2024 |magazine=Kalki |page=54 |language=ta |via=Internet Archive}} Cinesouth wrote "Simbu has shown his prowess in his acting, creativity and technology awareness. If only he could reduce his tendency towards vulgarity, he will really make a name for himself as a multi-faceted artiste".{{cite web|url=http://www.cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/new/vallavan.shtml|title=Vallavan|website=Cinesouth|access-date=10 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115015111/http://www.cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/new/vallavan.shtml|archive-date=15 November 2006}}
= Controversies =
The poster featuring Silambarasan biting Nayanthara's lips was objected by women's organisations.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/simbu-sania-and-glamour--news-14889|title=Simbu, Sania and Glamour|work=Indiaglitz|date=26 May 2005|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231203124915/https://www.indiaglitz.com/simbu-sania-and-glamour--news-14889|archive-date=3 December 2023|access-date=3 December 2023}}
While filming for Vallavan, Nayanthara was romantically linked with Silambarasan. She initially denied the reports. In November 2006, however, she confirmed that she and Silambarasan had broken up, going on to add that she would not work with him again. However, they later went on to appear in Idhu Namma Aalu (2016).{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/pandiraj-ropes-in-nayanthara-for-str-project-news-tamil-nltoaVdjjihsi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913084838/http://www.sify.com/movies/pandiraj-ropes-in-nayanthara-for-str-project-news-tamil-nltoaVdjjihsi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-09-13|publisher=Sify|access-date=3 December 2023|title=Pandiraj ropes in Nayanthara for STR's project}} During the making, Reema Sen threatened legal action against Silambarasan after he made changes to the scope of her role in the film.{{Cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news/may-06-04/25-05-06-simbu.html|title=Tamil movies : Reema Sen's warning of legal action on Simbu|access-date=29 August 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065744/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news/may-06-04/25-05-06-simbu.html|url-status=live}} She later stated she regretted her claim and was proud to have won critical acclaim for the character.{{Cite web|url = https://www.indiaglitz.com/reema-regrets-attack-on-simbu-tamil-news-27265.html|title = Reema regrets attack on Simbu|date = 28 November 2006|access-date = 17 March 2023|archive-date = 5 April 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230405081030/https://www.indiaglitz.com/reema-regrets-attack-on-simbu-tamil-news-27265.html|url-status = live}}
Notes
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References
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