Poi(2006)
'Poi' is a 2006 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed by K. Balachander. It stars Uday Kiran in his Tamil debut and Vimala Raman in her acting debut. The story follows Kamban, who flees to Sri Lanka after a political scandal, and falls in love with Shilpa, an ambitious student. A lie told by a friend leads to tragic consequences. The film features music by Vidyasagar and supporting roles by Prakash Raj, Geetu Mohandas, and Avinash. It received mixed reviews for its dated narrative but was praised for its performances and emotional depth. 'Poi' was released on 22 December 2006.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Eros Now, Amazon Prime Video
- Theatrical Release
- 22 December 2006
- Director
- K. Balachander
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 46m
- Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
Kamban, the son of an honest politician, is arrested for a crime he did not commit. He flees to Sri Lanka to escape the scandal. There he meets Shilpa, a career-focused student. He falls in love with her, but she rejects love for her ambitions. A friend's lie threatens to destroy everything.
“One lie can destroy two hearts.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Trivia
- The film's title 'Poi' means 'lie' in Tamil, reflecting its theme of truth versus deception in politics and relationships.
- Director K. Balachander returned to filmmaking after a seven-year gap with this movie, which was his last directorial venture.
- Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran made his Tamil debut in this film, playing the lead role of Kamban.
- The movie was shot partly in Sri Lanka, which was rare for Tamil films at the time due to political tensions.
- It features a fictional character named Theepori, portrayed by M. N. Nambiar, who appears as a figment of the protagonist's imagination.
- The film underperformed at the box office, ending Balachander's long career as a director on a commercially unsuccessful note.
- Actress Laila, who played Shilpa, was cast after Balachander saw her in earlier Tamil films and wanted a fresh pairing.





