Vaali(1999)
Vaalee is a 1999 Tamil-language romantic psychological thriller written and directed by S. J. Suryah in his directorial debut. The film stars Ajith Kumar in a dual role as identical twins Shiva and Deva, with Simran as Priya and Jyothika making her Tamil debut as Sona. The story follows Shiva, who marries Priya, while his deaf-mute twin brother Deva develops a dangerous obsession with her. Deva uses his lip-reading skills and silent manipulation to try and separate the couple. The film was a commercial success and a major breakthrough for Ajith, Simran, and Jyothika. Ajith won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil for his performance. The film was released on 1 May 1999.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video, MX Player, Plex
- Theatrical Release
- 1 May 1999
- Director
- S. J. Surya
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 40m
- Rating
- 6.0/10
Storyline
Shiva and Deva are identical twins. Deva is deaf and mute but runs a successful business. Shiva falls in love with Priya and marries her. Deva becomes obsessively attracted to Priya and uses silent manipulation to destroy their marriage. Priya must survive a dangerous brother-in-law who looks exactly like her husband.
“Two faces. One obsession. No escape.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Vaali
Cast reunions in this film: Pandu & Deva (29 films together), Ajith Kumar & Deva (12 films together), Simran & Deva (8 films together), Ajith Kumar & Pandu (5 films together), Deva & Jyothika (5 films together), and Pandu & Simran (4 films together).
Trivia
- The film was initially titled 'Kadhal Virus' but was changed to 'Vaali' to avoid controversy.
- Director S. J. Suryah also composed the film's music, marking his debut as a music director.
- The film's plot is noted for its similarities to the Hollywood film 'Dead Ringers' and the Tamil novel 'Puthiya Niyamam'.
- Actor Ajith Kumar played dual roles, and his performance as the deaf-mute brother was widely praised.
- The song 'Theme Music' from the film became a popular ringtone in the early 2000s in South India.
- This was the first Tamil film for actress Simran with actor Ajith Kumar, leading to several future collaborations.
- The film was a major commercial success and ran for over 175 days in many theatres.