Vetrimel Vetri(1989)
Vetri Mel Vetri (transl. Success streak) is a 1989 Indian Tamil-language masala film directed by M. Thyagarajan in his directorial debut. The film stars Prabhu as Rajkumar, a spoilt and aimless man who transforms into a boxer, and Seetha as his wife Janaki. The supporting cast includes Nassar as the antagonist Duraipandi, Anandaraj, Manorama, and Dara Singh as the boxing trainer Antony. The plot follows Rajkumar's journey from a lazy rich youth to a disciplined fighter, driven by love and the need to protect his family. The film features a soundtrack composed by Vijay Anand with five songs. Upon release on 1 December 1989, it received mixed reviews but achieved average commercial success.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1989
- Director
- Thyagarajan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 15m
- Rating
- 1.0/10
Storyline
A lazy rich man named Rajkumar falls in love with Janaki. To win her heart and protect her from a local bully, he decides to become a boxer. With the help of a tough trainer, he must transform his body and his life. But the bully will do anything to stop him.
“From lazy to champion”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Vetrimel Vetri
Cast reunions in this film: Prabhu & Goundamani (18 films together), Prabhu & Gangai Amaran (15 films together), Goundamani & Gangai Amaran (5 films together), Prabhu & Seetha (4 films together), Thyagarajan & Goundamani (4 films together), and Prabhu & Thyagarajan (3 films together).
Trivia
- This was the only Tamil film directed by veteran cinematographer M. Thiyagarajan, who was better known for his work behind the camera.
- The film's music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, but it is not considered one of his major or widely remembered scores from that period.
- Actor Karthik, who played the lead, was already an established star, making this a standard commercial vehicle for him at the time.
- The boxing storyline was a less common sports theme in Tamil cinema of the late 1980s compared to cricket or kabaddi.
- The film's release coincided with a period where many Tamil films explored marital drama and external threats to relationships.
- Actress Radha, who played Janaki, was one of the top heroines of the era, often paired with Karthik in successful films.
- Despite the star cast, the film did not achieve major box office success and is not frequently referenced in career retrospectives of its lead actors.