Vellai Yaanai(2021)
Vellai is a farmer from an economically self-sufficient village. But when he and the villagers take a bank's crop loan, they get caught in debt due to drought and low prices for crops. So few desperate farmers migrate to the city in search of a job. Can they pay off their debt? Or will they give up farming?
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Sun NXT, Airtel Xstream Play
- Theatrical Release
- 19 August 2021
- Director
- Subramaniam Siva
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 7m
- Rating
- 6.3/10
Storyline
A farmer and his village take out a loan for their crops. When drought and low crop prices hit, they fall into debt. Some farmers move to the city to find work, struggling to pay back what they owe and questioning their future in farming.
“A village's debt. A desperate journey. Can hope survive?”
Film Details
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Vellai Yaanai
Cast reunions in this film: Samuthirakani & Yogi Babu (4 films together), and Samuthirakani & Subramaniam Siva (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Vellai Yaanai' translates to 'White Elephant', symbolising a costly burden, much like the farmers' debt.
- Director Subramaniam Siva also wrote the screenplay, drawing inspiration from real-life farmer suicides in Tamil Nadu.
- The movie was shot on location in rural Tamil Nadu to authentically depict village life and farming struggles.
- It was produced by director Ameer, known for his socially conscious films, who supported the project to highlight agrarian issues.
- The film's release was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually premiering directly on a streaming platform.
- Actor Vela Ramamoorthy, who plays a key role, is known for his realistic portrayals of rural characters in Tamil cinema.
- The story mirrors the 2017 Tamil Nadu farmers' protest, where farmers demanded loan waivers and better crop prices.
