Thotta(2008)
Thotta is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language gangster film directed by Selvaa and produced by Mariappa Babu Baskar under Oscar Movies. The film stars Jeevan as Shanmugham, a street boy turned ruthless rowdy, alongside Priyamani as Nalina, a young woman aspiring to join the police force. Supporting roles are played by Mallika, Sampath Raj, Hema Chaudhary, and Charan Raj. The story follows Shanmugham's rise as a gangster used by corrupt police officer DCP Muthuvel for fake encounters. The film explores themes of corruption, sacrifice, and redemption set against the violent underworld of Chennai. Production began in 2005 but was shelved and revived in 2007, releasing on 29 February 2008. The music was composed by Srikanth Deva. Critical reception was mixed, with praise for the performances but criticism for the predictable screenplay.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 29 February 2008
- Director
- Selva
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 23m
- Rating
- 5.5/10
Storyline
A young boy named Shanmugham loses his mother in Chennai and grows up on the streets. He becomes a violent rowdy named Thotta and works for a corrupt police officer. But when he falls in love with a woman who dreams of being a cop, he must choose between his violent past and a chance at redemption.
“One bullet can change everything.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Thotta
Cast reunions in this film: Livingston & Srikanth Deva (5 films together), Sampath Raj & Livingston (4 films together), Sampath Raj & Priyamani (3 films together), Selva & U.K. Senthil Kumar (3 films together), Selva & Jeevan (2 films together), and Livingston & Jeevan (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Thotta' means 'bullet' in Tamil, reflecting the protagonist's violent transformation.
- Director Selva originally planned a different climax but changed it during filming due to logistical constraints.
- Actor Jeevan performed most of his own stunts in the action sequences without a body double.
- The movie's soundtrack by Srikanth Deva includes a rare fusion track blending folk and electronic music.
- It was shot extensively in Chennai's northern suburbs to capture realistic urban slum settings.
- A minor subplot involving a local politician was edited out to shorten the runtime before release.
- The film faced censorship delays due to its depiction of police corruption and gang violence.