Virumaandi(2004)
Virumaandi is a 2004 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written, co-edited, produced, and directed by Kamal Haasan. The cast includes Kamal Haasan, Pasupathy, Napoleon, Abhirami, Rohini, and Nassar. The story is set in a village in Theni district and revolves around two prisoners who give conflicting accounts of the same violent events. The film uses the Rashomon effect to explore truth, justice, and revenge. It won the Best Asian Film Award at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival and was screened at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The film was released on Amazon Prime Video in 2021.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video
- Theatrical Release
- 14 January 2004
- Director
- Kamal Haasan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 55m
- Rating
- 7.6/10
Storyline
A civil rights activist interviews two prisoners for her PhD thesis against the death penalty. One man is serving a double life sentence. The other is waiting to be hanged. Both tell her their version of the same story. Their accounts are completely different. The truth lies somewhere in between.
“Two prisoners. One truth. Which one is real?”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Virumaandi
Cast reunions in this film: Kamal Haasan & Ilayaraja (60 films together), Nassar & Ilayaraja (49 films together), Nassar & Kamal Haasan (17 films together), Ilayaraja & Ganthimathi (17 films together), Ilayaraja & Napoleon (14 films together), and Nassar & Rohini (12 films together).
Trivia
- The film was shot in two versions, one in Tamil and another in Telugu, with Kamal Haasan directing both simultaneously.
- The entire movie was filmed using a single camera, a technique that added to its raw and realistic feel.
- Kamal Haasan's character Virumaandi was inspired by a real-life person he met during his travels in rural Tamil Nadu.
- The film's climax was shot in a single, continuous 10-minute take, which was a technical challenge for the crew.
- It was one of the first Tamil films to extensively use the non-linear narrative style, showing the same events from two different perspectives.
- The movie faced censorship issues due to its violent content and had to undergo several cuts before release.
- Kamal Haasan also composed the background score for the film, showcasing his versatility beyond acting and directing.