Pudhupettai(2006)
Pudhupettai is a 2006 Tamil-language crime action film directed by Selvaraghavan. It stars Dhanush as Kokki Kumar, with Sonia Agarwal and Sneha in supporting roles. The story follows a slum-dwelling student from Pudhupettai who becomes a feared gangster in North Chennai after his mother is killed by his father. The film explores the link between crime and politics, showing how violence can lead to power. It was shot in Super 35 mm and released in digital format, a first for Tamil cinema. The music was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Though it had an average box office opening, the film gained cult status over the years for its unapologetic storytelling. It was released on 26 May 2006.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 26 May 2006
- Director
- Selvaraghavan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 40m
- Rating
- 7.9/10
Storyline
A schoolboy named Kumar returns home to find his mother murdered by his father. He runs away to survive. He joins a gang and learns to kill. Soon, he becomes the most dangerous man in North Chennai. But power comes at a terrible price.
“Crime pays. But it costs everything.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Pudhupettai
Cast reunions in this film: Selvaraghavan & Yuvan Shankar Raja (10 films together), Vijay Sethupathi & Yuvan Shankar Raja (8 films together), Dhanush & Yuvan Shankar Raja (8 films together), Sneha & Yuvan Shankar Raja (6 films together), Dhanush & Selvaraghavan (6 films together), and Yuvan Shankar Raja & Arvind Krishna (6 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Pudhupettai' is the name of a real Chennai neighbourhood, but the movie was not shot there due to logistical issues.
- Director Selvaraghavan originally wanted his brother Dhanush to play a different role, but later cast him as the lead after being impressed by his acting range.
- The violent and raw style was inspired by real newspaper reports about gang wars in North Chennai during the early 2000s.
- A.R. Rahman composed the background score but could not compose the songs due to scheduling conflicts; Yuvan Shankar Raja did the songs instead.
- The film initially faced censorship trouble for its extreme violence and had to undergo several cuts before release.
- Many of the supporting gangster characters were played by non-actors from Chennai's slums to add authenticity.
- Despite mixed reviews upon release, it later gained a massive cult following, especially for its gritty portrayal and Dhanush's performance.