Vellai Yaanai (transl. White elephant) is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Subramaniam Siva and starring Samuthirakani and Athmiya Rajan in the lead roles. Produced by Mini Studios, it was released on 11 July 2021 on Sun TV.[1][2]
| Vellai Yaanai | |
|---|---|
 Official release poster | |
| Directed by | Subramaniam Siva |
| Starring | Samuthirakani Athmiya Rajan |
| Music by | Santhosh Narayanan |
| Country of origin | India |
| Original language | Tamil |
| Production | |
| Producer | S. Vinodh Kumar |
| Cinematography | Vishnu |
| Editor | A. L. Ramesh |
| Production company | Mini Studios |
| Original release | |
| Network | Sun TV |
| Release | 11 July 2021 |
Plot
editAn agrarian community with a thriving barter system becomes prey to a profit-driven bank. The once-prosperous village soon wilts as the bank systematically tears down the village.
Cast
edit- Samuthirakani as Vellai Kunju
- Athmiya Rajan as Vendaam Amirtham
- Yogi Babu as Kolukattai aka KK
- S. S. Stanley as Bank Officer
- E. Ramdoss as Insecticide seller
- A. Govindamoorthy as Villager
- Bava Chelladurai as Major
- Uday Mahesh
- Saranya Ravichandran
- Benjamin
- Poraali Dileepan
Production
editSubramaniam Siva made a return as a director after a long sabbatical, and selected Samuthirakani to portray the lead role of a farmer. Athmiya Rajan was cast as the lead actress after the director was impressed by her performance in the Malayalam film, Joseph (2018) Post-production for the film began in June 2019, but the film's release was delayed by two years.[3][4][5][6]
Soundtrack
editSoundtrack was composed by Santhosh Narayanan.[7]
- Vennila – Vijaynarain, Sangeetha Karuppiah
- Aara Thedum – Santhosh Narayanan
- Vaazha Vechonae – Vijaynarain
- Thandhom Thana – Mukesh Mohamed
- Nellu Vaasam – Santhosh Narayanan
Release
editThe film was directly released on Sun TV on 11 July 2021. A critic from Cinema Express wrote "inconsistency mars this well-intentioned Samuthirakani tearjerker", adding "inconsistent writing ruins the well-performed rural drama."[8] Entertainment portals Behindwoods and Dinamalar gave the film mixed reviews.[9][10][11]
References
edit- ^ "Samuthirakani's 'Vellai Yaanai' to release directly on TV". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "Samuthirakani's Vellai Yaanai to premiere next Sunday". Cinema Express. 4 July 2021. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "Thiruda Thirudi-director Subramaniam Shiva's comeback film, Vellai Yaanai, ready for release". Cinema Express. 9 June 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "Samuthirakani's 'Vellai Yaanai' to skip theatrical release!". Sify. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ Subramanian, Anupama (16 June 2019). "Samuthirakani is a farmer now". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ Suganth, M. "This film talks about the plight of farmers". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "Vellaiyanai Songs". Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Vellai Yaanai Movie Review: Inconsistency mars this well-intentioned Samuthirakani tearjerker". Cinema Express. 12 July 2021. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "Vellai Yaanai (Tamil) (aka) Vellai Yanai (Tamil) review". Behindwoods. 13 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "வெள்ளை யானை - விமர்சனம்". Dinamalar. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "Vellai Yaanai – Movie Review by Naveen". 12 July 2021. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.