Thavasi is a 2001 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by K. R. Udhayashankar starring Vijayakanth in dual lead roles as father and son, with Soundarya, Vadivelu, Jayasudha, Prathyusha, Nassar and Sriman playing other pivotal roles. The film released on 14 November 2001 and received mixed reviews from the critics but was a hit at the box office. It was also dubbed in Hindi as Aaj Ka Krantiveer. The film was remade in Kannada as Mallikarjuna.
Plot
Thavasi is an influential do-gooder landlord in a small village, who commands respect from the village. Thavasi and his wife arrange for their son Boopathi's marriage with Priyadarshini. Sankarapandi, who sodomised and killed Thavasi's sister after marrying her, wants to marry his daughter (whom he had with his second wife) to Boopathi. Thavasi, since he doesn't want his son to marry his daughter, insults Sankarapandi. Sankarapandi instead to save his prestige, engages her daughter with Maragathammal's son Thangarasu, who is present there. Boopathi's engagement is done with Priyadarshini, with both of them liking each other after many chance encounters. Thangarasu is accused of stealing temple owned jewels, and Thavasi judges him to be guilty. The next day Thangarasu commits suicide. It is implied that Thangarasu is innocent and took his own life since he couldn't live with the blame. Later a mute person is arrested as the person who stole the jewel. Hearing this Thangarasu's mother Maragathammal questions Thavasi's judgement, which was said to be never wrong. Thavasi decides to give away his own son Boopathi to Maragathammal, for his injustice to her son. Maragathammal despises Boopathi and treats him like badly, though he tolerates it. Sankarapandi wants his daughter to marry Boopathi, who is now the son of Maragathammal, as engaged. Boopathi, unknown to Maragathammal, saves Thanagarasu's imbecile sister from Maragathammal's brother Kottai Perumal's sexual assaulting and also reforms Karmegam, who is the brother in law of Thangarasu, who constantly tortures his wife for due dowry. In a chance encounter before his marriage with Sankarapandi's daughter, he meets the mute thief and realises that he acted as a mute. He captures him and makes him confess that Sankarapandi was responsible for theft of Temple's jewel and Thangarasu's murder, who made it look like suicide. In the end, Boopathi marries Priya and Priya gets pregnant with twins.
Cast
Vijayakanth in a dual role as: Thavasi (Father) Boopathi (Son) Soundarya as Priyadarshini Jayasudha as Thavasi's wife and Boopathi's mother Prathyusha as Nandhini Sriman as Thangarasu, Maragathammal's son Nassar as Sankarapandi Vadivelu as Azhagu Delhi Ganesh as Kanakku Pillai Nizhalgal Ravi as Rajadurai, Priyadarshini's father Gandhimathi as Priyadarshini's grandmother Vadivukkarasi as Maragathammal, Thangarasu's mother Kuyili as Sankarapandi's wife Eswari Rao as Gowri, Maragathammal's daughter Soumiya as Soumiya, Priya's friend Aishwarya as Kaveri, Maragathammal's daughter Ponnambalam as Kottai Perumal, Maragathammal's brother Thyagu as Sankarapandi's henchman Mahanadi Shankar as Ezhumalai Ilavarasu as Karmegam, Maragathammal's son-in-law Soundar as Auto rickshaw driver Mayilsamy as Fraud G. V. Sudhakar Naidu as Sundarapandian Rajkumar as Chinna Pandi Sempuli Jagan as Kannaian Rajajirajan as Man vomiting blood Scissor Manohar as Servant Set Govindaraj as Govind Sampath Ram as Thief A. C. Murali Mohan as Collector Master Naveen as Naughty boy Shathiga as Gowri's daughter Krishnamoorthy as Mentally challenged man Bonda Mani as Shop owner Muthukaalai as Coconut seller Jayamani as Son of the death father Kottachi as Villager Citizen Mani as Villager Karnaa Radha as Villager
Production
The first phase of shooting of Thavasi started in Chennai and continued in Pollachi and Udumalpet. Song sequences involving Vijayakanth and Soundharya were shot in Kerala and Kodaikanal. Kumbakonam Mahamaham tank was specially designed for the film as its grandest set. Around 10,000 junior artistes participated in the holy dip. Around 30 artistes performed them while nine cameras whirred from all directions to roll. The intro scene of Vijayakanth was captured with 12 cameras.
Soundtrack
Soundtrack was composed by Vidyasagar.
Reception
The film received mixed reviews. This film became a "Hit" at box office.
Rediff wrote, "Trouble is, everyone of them have gone through the selfsame motions so often in the past that they seem to sleepwalk through this film, doing their stuff by rote and with little conviction. The crisis is predictable, ditto the denouement. And the fights, songs and comedy tracks that bridge crisis and denouement fail to grip."