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Eli  official poster

Eli (2015)

7.2/10
Tamil154 minstheatrical

Eli is a 2015 Indian Tamil-language spy comedy film directed by Yuvaraj Dhayalan. The film stars Vadivelu as Elisamy, a small-time thief, alongside Sadha, Pradeep Rawat, and Adithya Menon. Set in the 1960s, the story follows a petty thief who is recruited by the police to infiltrate a cigarette smuggling ring. The film blends comedy with crime and undercover action. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Vadivelu's performance but criticized the weak screenplay and pacing. The film was released on 19 June 2015.

Filmed In:Chennai
Mood:
funnysuspensefuluplifting
Where to watch:

Quick Facts

Streaming on
YouTube, Amazon Prime Video
Theatrical Release
19 June 2015
Director
Yuvaraj Dhayalan
Language
Tamil
Runtime
2h 34m
Rating
7.2/10

Storyline

A small-time thief named Eli dreams of becoming a police officer. After being rejected, he turns to crime. But when the police need a spy to catch a dangerous cigarette smuggler, they turn to Eli. He must go undercover and gain the gang's trust. Can a rat become a hero?

A rat who became a hero

Film Details

7.2Rating
154Minutes
TamilLanguage
UCertificate
Release Date19 June 2015
Release Typetheatrical
Filmed InChennai

Parental Guide

Violence
Mild
Language
Moderate
Sex / Nudity
Moderate
Drugs
Mild
Intensity
Mild

Where to Watch

Vibe & Tags

Mood
funnysuspensefuluplifting
Themes
corruptionfriendshipjusticeidentity
Tonewhimsical
Pacingfast-paced
Complexitylight
Audiencemass
Best Withfriends
Violence2
Emotion2
Humor4
Rewatchability3

Cast & Crew

Reunion Meter

Frequent partnerships reunited for Eli

Cast reunions in this film: Vadivelu & Vidyasagar (16 films together), Vadivelu & Bose Venkat (5 films together), Vadivelu & Shanmugarajan (5 films together), Bose Venkat & Besant Ravi (3 films together), Vidyasagar & Shanmugarajan (3 films together), and Sadha & Vidyasagar (2 films together).

Trivia

  • The film's title 'Eli' means 'rat' in Tamil, symbolising the main character's role as an informant.
  • Director Yuvaraj Dhayalan is also a popular dialogue writer, having worked on films like 'Siva Manasula Sakthi'.
  • The movie was shot in just 35 days, a very short schedule for a Tamil film at the time.
  • Actor Jai, who plays the lead, performed many of his own stunts, including chase sequences.
  • The comedy track involving supporting characters was largely improvised during filming.
  • Despite being a comedy, the film includes several homages to classic Tamil gangster movies.
  • The soundtrack by N. R. Raghunanthan features a folk-inspired song that became popular in rural areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

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