Imsai Arasan 24am Pulikesi Full Story Explained (2017)
Imagine a king so foolish he uses his own guards as target practice. That is Pulikesi XXIII, the ruler of Cholapuram Paalayam. But this is not just his story. It is also the story of his long-lost twin brother, Ukraputhan. This 2006 Tamil comedy, directed by Chimbudeven and produced by Shankar, stars Vadivelu in a double role. The film mixes history with sharp social satire. It makes you laugh while also making you think. Set in the 18th century, it tackles issues like caste, corruption, and British rule. The film was a huge hit and won awards for Vadivelu and its art director. It is a family entertainer that still feels fresh today.
A King's Deadly Game
King Pulikesi XXIII is bored. He decides to have some fun. He orders his palace guards to stand in a line. Then he uses them as targets for his shooting practice. The guards are terrified. But they cannot say no to their king. This scene shows you exactly how foolish and cruel Pulikesi is.
Full Plot
In the kingdom of Cholapuram Paalayam, King Raja Mokkaiyappar and Queen Bhavani Ammaiyar are desperate for a child. All their previous twenty-two children have died at birth. The queen's brother, Sangilimayan, is the high priest. He is secretly killing the babies to gain power for himself. When the queen finally gives birth to twin boys, Sangilimayan is shocked. The palace astrologer predicts the elder twin will be foolish and the younger one will be smart. Sangilimayan orders the palace doctor to kill the younger twin. But the doctor's wife, Maragathavalli, rescues the baby from the river. She raises him as her own son and names him Ukraputhan. The elder twin becomes King Pulikesi XXIII.
Twenty-five years pass. Pulikesi grows up to be a foolish and cruel king. He tortures his subjects and uses his guards for target practice. He is a puppet in the hands of Sangilimayan, who collaborates with the British. Ukraputhan grows up to be a smart and educated revolutionary. He falls in love with Vasantha Sundari. He plans to overthrow the king and free the land from British rule. When he sneaks into the palace to kill the king, he is shocked to see that the king looks exactly like him. He learns the truth about his birth from his foster parents. He realizes that Pulikesi is his identical twin brother.
Ukraputhan switches places with an unconscious Pulikesi. He becomes the king and sends the real Pulikesi to prison. As king, Ukraputhan starts making reforms. He turns the palace harem into a playground. He builds schools for children. He refuses to pay taxes to the British. The people love their new king. In prison, Pulikesi is taken care of by Soolayini. The two fall in love.
Sangilimayan returns from a business trip with the British. He is furious about the changes. He confronts Ukraputhan, who defies him. Pulikesi escapes from prison and overhears Ukraputhan's plan. He learns the truth about his birth and realizes his mistake. He joins Ukraputhan to fight for the kingdom. But Sangilimayan's men capture both brothers and the commander-in-chief, Agandamuthu.
Pulikesi escapes again with the help of a blacksmith. He disguises himself as Ukraputhan and confronts Sangilimayan. A big fight breaks out. Ukraputhan joins the fight. They overpower Sangilimayan. Ukraputhan is about to kill him, but Queen Bhavani Ammaiyar stops him. She asks her brother to change his heart. Sangilimayan feels guilty and apologizes. The kingdom wins its freedom from British rule. Pulikesi marries Soolayini. Ukraputhan marries Vasantha Sundari. Pulikesi announces ten new laws for the welfare of his people. The brothers rule the kingdom together.
Act Breakdown
The Birth of Twins
The film introduces the kingdom of Cholapuram Paalayam. Queen Bhavani Ammaiyar gives birth to twin boys. The evil Sangilimayan orders the younger twin to be killed. But the baby is rescued and raised as Ukraputhan. The elder twin becomes King Pulikesi XXIII. Twenty-five years pass. Pulikesi is a foolish king. Ukraputhan is a revolutionary.
The Switch
Ukraputhan plans to kill the king. But he discovers that the king is his twin brother. He switches places with an unconscious Pulikesi. Ukraputhan becomes the king and starts making reforms. He turns the palace harem into a playground. He builds schools and refuses to pay taxes to the British. The people love him.
Sangilimayan's Return
Sangilimayan returns from a business trip. He is furious about the changes. He confronts Ukraputhan. Pulikesi escapes from prison and learns the truth. He joins Ukraputhan. But Sangilimayan captures both brothers. The kingdom is in danger. The British are getting stronger.
The Final Battle
Pulikesi escapes again. He disguises himself as Ukraputhan. A big fight breaks out. The brothers overpower Sangilimayan. Ukraputhan is about to kill him, but the queen stops him. Sangilimayan apologizes and changes his heart. The kingdom wins its freedom. Pulikesi and Ukraputhan marry their lovers. The film ends happily.
Characters
King Pulikesi XXIII
Played by Vadivelu
Pulikesi is the foolish and cruel king of Cholapuram Paalayam. He is a puppet controlled by his uncle Sangilimayan. He tortures his subjects and uses his guards for target practice. He is lecherous and lazy. But later, he learns the truth about his birth and changes his ways. He joins his brother to fight for the kingdom and becomes a good ruler.
Ukraputhan
Played by Vadivelu
Ukraputhan is the smart and educated twin brother of Pulikesi. He was abandoned at birth but rescued by a kind couple. He becomes a revolutionary who wants to free his land from British rule. He falls in love with Vasantha Sundari. He switches places with his brother to reform the kingdom. He is brave, wise, and a true leader.
Sangilimayan
Played by Nassar
Sangilimayan is the queen's brother and the high priest. He is the main villain of the story. He killed the queen's previous children to gain power. He collaborates with the British for his own gain. He is cunning and ruthless. But in the end, he feels guilty and apologizes to his sister. He changes his heart.
Vasantha Sundari
Played by Monica
Vasantha Sundari is the love interest of Ukraputhan. She is kind, beautiful, and supports Ukraputhan's mission. She falls in love with him and they get married at the end of the film. She represents hope and a better future.
Soolayini
Played by Tejashree
Soolayini is the woman who takes care of Pulikesi when he is in prison. She provides refreshments to the soldiers. She is kind and compassionate. She falls in love with Pulikesi and they get married at the end of the film. She helps Pulikesi become a better person.
Queen Bhavani Ammaiyar
Played by Manorama
Bhavani Ammaiyar is the queen mother of Cholapuram Paalayam. She is kind and desperate for a child. She is unaware of her brother's evil plans. She praises Ukraputhan's reforms without knowing his true identity. In the end, she forgives her brother and brings peace to the family.
Scene Highlights
The Shooting Practice
King Pulikesi is bored. He orders his palace guards to stand in a line. He uses them as targets for his shooting practice. The guards are terrified. They cannot say no to their king. This scene shows how foolish and cruel Pulikesi is. It sets the tone for the entire film. It is both funny and shocking.
The Switch
Ukraputhan sneaks into the palace to kill the king. He finds Pulikesi unconscious. He sees that they look exactly alike. He switches places with him. He sends the real Pulikesi to prison. This scene is the turning point of the film. It changes everything. Ukraputhan becomes the king and starts reforming the kingdom.
The Reforms
Ukraputhan, disguised as the king, starts making changes. He turns the palace harem into a playground. He builds schools for children. He creates fertile land for farming. He refuses to pay taxes to the British. The people are happy. This scene shows the power of good leadership. It is inspiring and hopeful.
The Confrontation
Sangilimayan returns and sees the changes. He is furious. He confronts Ukraputhan in the throne room. Ukraputhan defies him. Sangilimayan threatens him. The tension is high. This scene shows the clash between good and evil. It sets up the final battle.
The Final Fight
Pulikesi and Ukraputhan fight Sangilimayan together. They overpower him. Ukraputhan is about to kill him. But Queen Bhavani Ammaiyar stops him. She asks her brother to change his heart. Sangilimayan apologizes. This scene is emotional and powerful. It shows the power of forgiveness and family.
Cast & Context
This film was meant to be a reunion of Vadivelu and director Chimbudeven after their successful 2006 film 'Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikesi'. Vadivelu, known as 'Vaigai Puyal', was at the peak of his career as a comedian and lead actor. Parvathy Omanakuttan, a former Miss India, was cast as the female lead. This would have been her second Tamil film after 'Billa 2'. The film was produced by Shankar, a major force in Tamil cinema. The pairing of Vadivelu and Shankar had already proven successful in the first film.
Themes
Good vs. Evil
The film clearly shows the battle between good and evil. Ukraputhan represents good. He wants to free his people and rule with kindness. Sangilimayan represents evil. He is selfish and cruel. The film shows that good always wins in the end. Ukraputhan's reforms and the brothers' unity defeat Sangilimayan's greed.
Social Satire
The film uses comedy to criticize real-world problems. It mocks the caste system, child labor, and corruption. It even makes fun of soft drink companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi. The film shows how the British exploited India. It uses humor to make people think about serious issues. This makes the film both entertaining and meaningful.
Redemption
The film shows that people can change. Pulikesi starts as a cruel and foolish king. But when he learns the truth, he realizes his mistakes. He joins his brother to fight for the kingdom. Sangilimayan also changes. He feels guilty and apologizes to his sister. The film shows that it is never too late to do the right thing.
Brotherhood and Unity
The bond between the twin brothers is the heart of the film. They are separated at birth but later reunite. They work together to save the kingdom. Their unity is stronger than Sangilimayan's evil plans. The film shows that family and togetherness can overcome any obstacle.
Music & Soundtrack
ComposerGhibran
The music for the sequel was to be composed by Ghibran. He is known for his unique style. Since the film was cancelled, no songs were released. The first film's music, composed by Sabesh-Murali, was very popular. Songs like 'Aah Aadivaa' and 'Vaanam Namakul' were hits.
Similar Films
This is the first film in the series. It has the same director, lead actor, and similar story. It is a must-watch for fans of the sequel.
This classic Tamil film also features a double role. It is a comedy with a similar plot of twins separated at birth. The film inspired some scenes in Imsai Arasan.
This Kamal Haasan film features multiple roles and a comedy plot. It is a classic Tamil comedy with a similar tone of humor and mistaken identities.
Kamal Haasan plays ten different roles in this film. It is a historical comedy-drama with a similar mix of humor and social commentary.
Ending Explained
In the final scenes, Pulikesi escapes from prison with the help of a blacksmith named Kollan. He disguises himself as Ukraputhan and confronts Sangilimayan. A big fight breaks out. Ukraputhan joins the fight. Together, the brothers overpower Sangilimayan. Ukraputhan is about to kill him, but Queen Bhavani Ammaiyar stops him. She asks her brother to change his heart. Sangilimayan feels guilty for betraying his kingdom and his family. He apologizes to his sister. She forgives him. The kingdom wins its freedom from British rule. Pulikesi marries Soolayini, the woman who took care of him in prison. Ukraputhan marries his love, Vasantha Sundari. Pulikesi announces ten new laws for the welfare of his people. The brothers rule the kingdom together. The film ends with a message of unity, hope, and the power of redemption. It shows that even the worst people can change and do good.
Imsai Arasan 24am Pulikesi is a film that never was. It was cancelled mid-way through production. So there is no film to watch. But the first film, Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikesi, is a must-watch. It is a hilarious and smart comedy. It has great performances, especially by Vadivelu. It mixes history with social satire. It is a perfect family entertainer. If you love Tamil comedy, watch the original. You will not be disappointed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is the sequel to the 2006 film Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikesi. The same director, Chimbudeven, planned to make it. Vadivelu was set to reprise his role. But the sequel was cancelled mid-way through shooting due to creative differences. The film was never completed or released.
The music for the sequel was to be composed by Ghibran. He is a well-known music director in Tamil cinema. He has composed for films like 'Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal' and 'Vishwaroopam'. But since the film was cancelled, the music was never released.
The 2006 film is set in the 18th century. It tells the story of twin brothers separated at birth. The elder brother, Pulikesi, becomes a foolish king. The younger brother, Ukraputhan, becomes a revolutionary. They reunite to fight against a corrupt minister and the British. The film is a comedy with social satire.
The sequel was cancelled because Vadivelu, the lead actor, opted out of the project. He cited creative differences with the director. The film was already in production, but it was dropped mid-way. Shankar and Lyca Productions were producing it. The cancellation disappointed many fans.
Vadivelu was set to reprise his role as Pulikesi. Parvathy Omanakuttan was cast as the female lead. Chimbudeven was the director. Shankar and Allirajah Subaskaran were the producers. Ghibran was the music composer. The film was announced in 2017 but was later cancelled.