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Pencil official poster

Pencil(2016)

7.0/10
Tamil134 minstheatrical

Pencil is a 2016 Indian Tamil-language teen mystery thriller film directed by Mani Nagaraj in his directorial debut. The film stars G.V. Prakash Kumar, Sri Divya, and Shariq Hassan in lead roles. The story follows a school murder investigation led by a student named Shiva. The film is based on the South Korean film 4th Period Mystery and is inspired by true events. The movie received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the suspense but noted some predictable elements. Pencil was released on May 13, 2016, by Kalsan Movie Productions.

Director:Mani Nagaraj
Mood:
suspensefulemotionaldark
Where to watch:

Quick Facts

Streaming on
ShemarooMe, Amazon Prime Video, Eros Now
Theatrical Release
13 May 2016
Director
Mani Nagaraj
Language
Tamil
Runtime
2h 14m
Rating
7.0/10

Storyline

A student is found murdered in a school. Shiva, a smart and observant student, decides to find the killer. He investigates on his own, uncovering secrets and lies. Everyone is a suspect. The truth is darker than he imagined.

A murder. A mystery. A pencil.

Film Details

7.0Rating
134Minutes
TamilLanguage
UCertificate
Release Date13 May 2016
Release Typetheatrical

Parental Guide

Violence
High
Language
Low
Sex / Nudity
Mild
Drugs
Mild
Intensity
High

Where to Watch

Vibe & Tags

Mood
suspensefulemotionaldark
Themes
justicefriendshipcorruptionidentity
Tonegritty
Pacingslow-burn
Complexitymoderate
Audiencemultiplex
Best Withfriends
Violence3
Emotion4
Humor2
Rewatchability3

Cast & Crew

Reunion Meter

Frequent partnerships reunited for Pencil

Cast reunions in this film: Ravi Prakash & G. V. Prakash Kumar (4 films together), VTV Ganesh & Gopi Amarnath (2 films together), and G. V. Prakash Kumar & Arunraja Kamaraj (2 films together).

Trivia

  • The film's title 'Pencil' refers to a key clue in the murder mystery involving a pencil sketch.
  • Director Mani Nagaraj is also a popular Tamil television anchor, known for hosting reality shows.
  • The movie was shot in just 30 days on a tight budget, mostly in real school locations in Chennai.
  • It features a cameo by director-actor Manobala, who plays a small but memorable role as a teacher.
  • The film's climax was inspired by real-life school incidents reported in Tamil Nadu newspapers.
  • Despite being a thriller, it includes light-hearted romantic subplots between the teenage characters.
  • The soundtrack was composed by newcomer Karthik Raja, son of legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja.

Frequently Asked Questions

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