Murattu Kaalai(2012)
Murattu Kaalai is a 2012 Tamil-language action film directed by K. Selva Bharathy. It stars Sundar C, Sneha, and Sindhu Tolani in lead roles. The story follows Kaalaiyan, a Jallikattu champion who prioritises his four younger brothers above all else. A wealthy zamindar named Varadharajan schemes to take Kaalaiyan's land by arranging a marriage between his sister Priya and Kaalaiyan. The film is a remake of the 1980 Rajinikanth-starrer of the same name. It received mixed reviews upon release, with critics praising Vivek's performance as the transgender character Saroja. The film was released on 15 June 2012 after a four-year production delay due to financial issues at Ayngaran International.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Eros Now, Amazon Prime Video, Airtel Xstream Play
- Theatrical Release
- 15 June 2012
- Director
- K. Selva Bharathy
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 16m
- Rating
- 5.8/10
Storyline
Kaalaiyan is a simple farmer and the best Jallikattu player in his village. He lives only for his four younger brothers. A wealthy zamindar named Varadharajan wants Kaalaiyan's land and uses his sister Priya to get close to him. Meanwhile, a woman named Bhuvana escapes from Varadharajan and finds shelter in Kaalaiyan's home. Kaalaiyan must protect his family and the woman he loves from the powerful villain.
“A bull tamer fights for his family”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Murattu Kaalai
Cast reunions in this film: Vivek & Sundar C. (11 films together), Vivek & K. Selva Bharathy (3 films together), and Vivek & Sneha (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film is a remake of the 1980 Tamil blockbuster of the same name starring Rajinikanth, but with a completely new cast and contemporary setting.
- Actress Saranya Mohan, who plays Bhuvana, took a break from acting after this film and returned only several years later.
- The movie's climax involves a large-scale Jallikattu sequence, a traditional Tamil sport rarely featured as a central plot point in 2010s romantic films.
- Director K. Selvabharathy primarily worked as an assistant director and made this his solo directorial debut for a feature film.
- The character Saroja, portrayed by actor Manobala, is one of the few prominent transgender characters played by a cisgender male actor in mainstream Tamil cinema of that period.
- Despite the title and sports theme, the film performed modestly at the box office compared to other rural romantic dramas of the time.
- The soundtrack was composed by Srikanth Deva, continuing his frequent collaborations with the production house.