Thaandavam(2012)
Thaandavam is a 2012 Indian Tamil-language neo-noir action thriller film written and directed by A. L. Vijay. The film stars Vikram in a dual role as a blind assassin and an honest police officer, alongside Jagapathi Babu, Anushka Shetty, and Amy Jackson. The story follows Sivakumar, an IPS officer who fakes blindness and uses echolocation to hunt down the men who murdered his wife. Set against the backdrop of a London terror plot, the film blends revenge, romance, and a unique sensory superpower. The film features music by G.V. Prakash Kumar and cinematography by Nirav Shah. It was shot extensively in the United Kingdom over 60 days, the longest schedule for an Indian film at the time. Thaandavam received mixed reviews but was noted for Vikram's committed performance and the innovative use of echolocation. The film was released on 28 September 2012 by UTV Motion Pictures.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 28 September 2012
- Director
- A. L. Vijay
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 40m
- Rating
- 6.1/10
Storyline
A blind pianist named Kenny is secretly a deadly assassin. He uses echolocation to hunt down his targets in London. But Kenny is actually Sivakumar, a police officer who faked his blindness. He is on a personal mission to avenge his wife's murder. A CBI officer closes in on him while he eliminates the men responsible.
“He sees with sound. He kills with silence.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Thaandavam
Cast reunions in this film: Nassar & Kota Srinivasa Rao (21 films together), Thambi Ramaiah & Nassar (19 films together), Santhanam & Nassar (18 films together), Nassar & Sayaji Shinde (17 films together), Nassar & M. S. Bhaskar (15 films together), and Nassar & G. V. Prakash Kumar (15 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Thaandavam' refers to the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, symbolising destruction and creation.
- Actor Vikram performed many of his own stunts despite playing a blind character, including a fight scene in a moving bus.
- The film's plot is loosely inspired by the 2011 Hollywood film 'Daredevil', which also features a blind superhero.
- This was the first time actress Amy Jackson worked in a Tamil film, and she learned her lines phonetically as she didn't speak Tamil.
- The movie was shot in various international locations including London and Scotland to depict the protagonist's backstory.
- Composer G. V. Prakash Kumar used unique sound design to help audiences 'hear' the world from the blind hero's perspective.
- The film faced some criticism for its similarities to other revenge thrillers but was praised for Vikram's dedicated performance.