Vetri Vizha(1989)
'Vetri Vizha' is a 1989 Tamil-language action thriller film directed by Prathap Pothen. The lead cast includes Kamal Haasan, Prabhu, Amala Akkineni, and Khushbu Sundar. The story follows an amnesiac man who washes up on a Goa beach and must piece together his criminal past while being hunted by a ruthless gang. The film is notable for being an early Indian adaptation of Robert Ludlum's 'The Bourne Identity', predating the Hollywood version by over a decade. It features intense martial arts action sequences and a complex narrative about identity and redemption. The movie was produced by Sivaji Productions and had a theatrical run of over 100 days. It is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video
- OTT Release Date
- 27 April 1990
- Theatrical Release
- 1 February 1989
- Director
- Prathap K. Pothan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 22m
- Rating
- 3.9/10
Storyline
A man wakes up on a beach with no memory of who he is. Hunted by killers and chased by police, he must uncover his past before it destroys him. The only clues are violent flashes of a diamond heist and a betrayal. He does not know if he is the victim or the villain.
“Who are you when you forget everything?”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Vetri Vizha
Cast reunions in this film: Prabhu & Ilayaraja (60 films together), Kamal Haasan & Ilayaraja (60 films together), Ilayaraja & V. K. Ramasamy (42 films together), Kushboo & Ilayaraja (32 films together), Kamal Haasan & V. K. Ramasamy (14 films together), and Ponnambalam & Ilayaraja (14 films together).
Trivia
- The film's director, Prathap Pothan, was primarily known as an acclaimed actor before making his directorial debut with this movie.
- The story is an official remake of the 1986 Hindi film 'Dacait', which itself was based on the novel 'Viduthalai' by Manian.
- Composer Ilaiyaraaja reused his own background score theme from the Kamal Haasan film 'Nayakan' for a key sequence in this movie.
- Actress Rohini, who plays the female lead, was cast shortly after her notable debut in Mani Ratnam's 'Mouna Ragam'.
- The film was shot extensively in and around the hill station of Ooty, giving it a distinct visual atmosphere compared to typical city-based thrillers.
- Despite being an action thriller, the movie features a subplot and songs highlighting the traditional Tamil folk dance of Karagattam.
- The climax sequence involving a train was considered a major technical achievement for Tamil cinema at the time of its release.
