Thamizh Padam (transl. Tamil Film) is a 2010 Indian Tamil-language parody film written and directed by C. S. Amudhan in his directorial debut. The film stars Shiva and Disha Pandey. The film is the first full-length spoof in Tamil cinema. It parodies contemporary commercial films and actors in Tamil cinema, mocking the stereotypical scenes.[2][3]
The film was distributed by Dhayanidhi Alagiri under the banner Cloud Nine Movies. The music was composed by Kannan with cinematography by Nirav Shah and editing by T. S. Suresh. The film released on 29 January 2010 to critical acclaim and became a commercial success at the box office. The film was later remade in Telugu as Sudigadu starring Allari Naresh. A sequel called Thamizh Padam 2 was confirmed and released in July 2018.
Plot
In the Indian village of Cinemapatti, male infanticide is predominant, and all male babies are required to be killed immediately after birth. One such baby is headed for such a fate, until he "speaks" to his caretaker-grandmother (Paravai Muniyamma) and asks to be sent to Chennai on a goods train, where he plans to grow into a hero. The old woman complies, and takes the baby, named Shiva, to Chennai and raises him herself, living in the city's poorer section.
On growing into manhood, Shiva (Shiva) gains a reputation by giving a massive entry by beating up extortionists by throwing them in the air and saving a rape victim; soon he is glorified as a "mass hero".[a] He manages to defeat gangster Devaraj with a clever exchange of puns and a costumed associate. He spends his time hanging out, drinking, and playing carrom with his gang of friends, composed of Nakul (M. S. Bhaskar), Bharath (Vennira Aadai Moorthy) and Siddharth (Manobala).
Shiva runs into a headstrong girl named Priya (Disha Pandey), whom he falls in love with. After learning of her hatred for men, he realizes that she has dedicated her life to classical dance, so he learns Bharatanatyam over the course of a night and performs an exaggerated dance sequence for her. She reciprocates his feelings, and the two start a relationship. Shiva is then challenged by Priya's rich and powerful father Kodeeswaran, who refuses to give his daughter to a poor man. Shiva swears to become a billionaire, and promptly does so, during the course of a song.
Kodeeswaran accepts Shiva as a suitor and fixes his engagement to Priya. During the ceremony, Shiva hears a passing comment that he does not know his own father. Offended, he travels to Cinemapatti, accompanied by Bharath, to learn his roots. After encountering a host of Tamil-cinema stereotypes of several decades ago, he succeeds in uniting with his family when a woman (revealed to be Shiva's father's concubine) leads him to his father, mother and sister. He finds them when they sing their "family song" (the Michael Learns to Rock number "Someday").[5]
However, unknown to anyone, Shiva has been targeting and killing several criminals in secret: he kills female gangster Swarna by making her slip over a banana peel; makes another big-time crook laugh to death; tortures a drug dealer to commit suicide by continuous failed attempts on his life; and kills his final victim with the odor of his sock. The police discover that he is the killer, and it is revealed that Shiva is actually an undercover officer and was killing the criminals under direct orders from not only the Commissioner, but also from the President of the United States.
The ganglord who commandeered the slain criminals, a mysterious person simply called "D", organises the kidnapping of Priya by telling Pandian (Sathish) and his henchmen to kidnap her and has Shiva beaten up. Shiva recovers, saves Priya by fighting off thugs using exaggerated stunts, and comes face to face with "D", revealed to be his grandmother. She explains that she did this to increase the fame of her grandson, and a heartbroken Shiva is forced to arrest her.
At the trial, Shiva accidentally kills an assassin who targets his grandmother and is put on trial himself. He is saved, however, when a man who helped him in Cinemapatti earlier testifies that Shiva was a victim of circumstance. Both Shiva and "D" are pardoned, and Shiva who has been promoted to DGP, unites happily with Priya, his family and friends.
S. Sashikanth, who was looking for scripts for his debut production for his production banner YNOT Studios got in touch with C. S. Amudhan, who was willing to make his directorial debut, submitted three pitches in different genres for his consideration, out of which Sashikanth chosen the script of spoofs and went ahead with it.[6][7]
Release
In order to receive the film a wide release, Sashikanth opted to sell the film to Dayanidhi Alagiri who distributed and released the film under his company Cloud Nine Movies.[7]
Reception
Upon release, the film received critical acclaim en route to becoming one of the box office successes of the year in Tamil Nadu. Rediff.com called the film a "must watch", while Sify.com labelled the film as a "rollicking comedy" and gave particular praise for Shiva's performance and the director's script and dialogues.[8][9]
However The Times of India rated it 2.5/5, commenting, "It's a brilliant idea, to make a mocumentary of Tamil cinema, and the very concept raises your expectations" and concluded, "Having dared to test the waters, the director seems to have stepped back in apprehension."[10]
Shiva's meeting with Devaraj is heavily based on the encounter between Rajinikanth and Raghuvaran in Baasha. Shiva's fight in market, plus the circle of rowdies around him and walking are based on Rajinikanth's walk in Baasha when he hits Anandaraj. The villain D shoots the henchman when the henchman says "India lost the cricket match". In Baasha, Raghuvaran shoots his henchman when he conveys a bad news.
Shiva's friends (Siddharth, Bharath, and Nakul) are named after the actors in the film. Their introduction scene, as well as Siddharth's failed attempt to impress his girlfriend, are based on this film.
Shiva's introduction scene shows him stretching his leg (the scene from Chandramukhi is parodied when it is revealed that Shiva has a split seam in his pants).
The doctor tells the commissioner that Shiva will not be able to walk for 10 years, but he gets up and walks, which the doctor calls a 'medical miracle', similar to the scene in this movie.
A similar character is shown as a resident of Cinemapatti. One of the film's promotional posters showed Shiva in Ramarajan's look as milkman from this film.
The hero and heroine travel in an open jeep to a retreat in Pondicherry, where the hero is beaten up and the heroine gets kidnapped. Pandiya, the villain character of that film, is also imitated. An instrumental version of the song Ennai Konjam is part of the background score (Shiva even mentions that a certain Mr. Anbuselvam is travelling ahead of them on the same route).
Shiva goes to Priya's house and performs "classical dance" to win her love (this same scene would later be parodied in Sonna Puriyathu, also starring Shiva in the lead role).
The opening scene shows Periyar Dasan as the father of a baby who is about to be killed. Dasan played the same role in Karuththamma as well. This version shows male infanticide instead of female infanticide.
At Cinemapatti railway station, a woman is shown sending messages at the back of the train compartment. The song "Koovura Sandham" from Kizhakke Pogum Rail can be heard as background music for the scene.
Shiva first encounters Priya as she is beating up another woman. Bharath's "signals" of love, and the heroine's friend named Sheela, are all based on Mozhi.
The scene where Devaraj's gang asks Shiva to meet Devaraj, Shiva's eyes are blindfolded, and he tried to locate the place while sensing sounds while he is in the car.
Devaraj is shown to accidentally meet other guy also called Ramana before his brother (and asks forgiveness to Ramana). The protagonist of the film is famous for his dialogue "Tamilla enakku pidikkatha vaarthai...mannippu" (transl. "Sorry" is the only word I hate in Tamil).
Shiva is chased by thugs, and when he is not visible to them, he sticks a small fake birthmark on his face. When the thugs find him, they are unable to recognize him, though he is in the same dress. Even his girlfriend finds it difficult to recognize him.
Shiva meets a minister to report about the lack of water and ends up selling his cycle to him, similar to the act of Rajinikanth selling his car from the film. His unique way of signing documents is also based on Sivaji. Additionally, Shiva's stepmother has a laptop that is unlocked by her voice, similar to what Rajinikanth has in Sivaji.
The title character appears in the film. Bharath remarks that Virumaandi means well, but is always misunderstood. The instrumental version of song "Kombula Poova" can be heard during the scene.
The judge declares that the Government has to award a Golden Globe award to Paravai Muniyamma, to which she says "Ella Pugazhum Iraivanukke" (a popular dialogue uttered by Rahman at the 2009 Academy Awards).
The heroine introduction scene in which the girl who abuses her husband mentioning that she wants to go to the pub with her friend Trisha to have drinks.
At the beginning of the film, there are references to Vijay's punch dialogues, and Shiva also imitates the slogan saying that Vijay has sung the song. Later, Shiva flexes his muscles like Vijay did in Vettaikaran.
Soundtrack
Song
Parody
"Kuthu Vilakku"
This song is an item number focusing on Kasthuri. It parodies item numbers which appeared in commercial films, and these songs mostly happens at the antagonists' residence.
"O Maha Zeeya"
This song is a romantic duet featuring Shiva and Disha Pandey. This song parodies romantic duets in Tamil cinema, and the lyrics of the song contains gibberish terms which are coincidentally named after the chartbuster song names in Tamil cinema.
"Oru Sooravali"
This song depicts Shiva's transformation into a billionaire. This song parodies the song "Vetri Nichayam" from Annaamalai and from films like Suryavamsam, where the male protagonist's transformation from a poor person to a rich person happens within one song.
"Pacha Manja"
This song parodies introductory songs of film stars which have lyrics written to suit the star's image.
When Priya calls Shiva's mobile phone, his ring tone is set to Hutch's signature tune, and a dog follows him as depicted in the Hutch advertisement. He eventually gives brandy to the dog to stop it from following him.
After Shiva beats up the rowdies to save Priya, the ZooZoos attempt to defeat Shiva in the name of BooBoos.
Notes
^In Tamil cinema, the term "mass hero" is a colloquialism referring to an immensely popular actor who can romance, sing, dance, amuse, and defeat several goons in a fight.[4]