Pokkiri

Pokkiri (transl. Rogue) is a 2007 Indian Tamil-language action film directed by Prabhu Deva. A remake of the 2006 Telugu-language film Pokiri, it stars Vijay and Asin with Prakash Raj, Nassar, Mukesh Tiwari, Vadivelu, Sriman and Napoleon playing supporting roles. Mumaith Khan and Prabhu Deva make guest appearances. Nirav Shah handled cinematography while Kola Bhaskar was the film's editor. Filming took place in India and Australia.

For the 2006 Telugu original, see Pokiri.

Pokkiri
Poster
Directed by	Prabhu Deva
Produced by	S.Sathyaramamoorthy
Written by	V. Prabhakar (dialogues)
Screenplay by	Prabhu Deva
Story by	Puri Jagannadh
Based on	Pokiri by Jagannadh
Starring	Vijay Asin Prakash Raj Nassar Mukesh Tiwari Vadivelu Sriman Napoleon
Music by	Mani Sharma
Cinematography	Nirav Shah
Edited by	Kola Bhaskar
Production company	Kanagarathna Movies
Distributed by	Aascar Films
Release date	12 January 2007 (2007-01-12)
Running time	165 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Set in Chennai, the film revolves around a thug willing to do anything for the sake of money, including killing. His killer instincts help him win the attention of two rival gangs, out of which he joins one and helps its members finish off their rivals. On the other hand, he also attempts to save his girlfriend, who disapproves of his violent behavior, from a corrupt cop hellbent on marrying her against her will.

The film was released theatrically on 12 January 2007 and received praise for its action sequences, humor and songs.[1] It became a commercial success, running for more than 200 days at the box office.[2] The film also had a Blu-ray release in United Kingdom on 21 June 2009.[3] In 2019, the film also had a limited re-release on the occasion of Vijay's birthday.[4]

Plot

The city of Chennai is rife with the nefarious activities of land mafia. There are two rival gangs: one under Ali Bhai (Prakash Raj), who resides in Dubai and controls his India operations through his brothers Guru (Vincent Asokan) and Korattur Logu (Subbaraju) as well as his girlfriend Mona (Brinda Parekh); and another operated by a local goon named Narasimhan (Anandaraj). They threaten builders and landowners into giving them protection money or property through force, extortion, or murder. Mohammed Mohideen Khan IPS (Napoleon) takes charge as the new Police Commissioner of Chennai and starts cracking down on crime.

Tamizh (Vijay), a thug, is abducted by Logu and his henchmen. Tamizh has taken a contract from Narasimhan to beat up Logu, which he does. However, Guru and Mona invite Tamizh to join their gang. Tamizh declines stating that he does not work for any gang, but is ready to do anything for money. Meanwhile, Tamizh falls in love with Shruthi (Asin), when he visits his friend Saravanan's (Sriman) aerobics class, but she mistakes him for a pervert. Shruthi, a college student, lives with her widowed mother Lakshmi (Sriranjani) and younger brother Pappu (Master Bharath). Body Soda (Vadivelu), a bogus kung fu master, lives above Shruthi's house and frequently, albeit comically and unsuccessfully, tries to convince her to marry him. Inspector Govindan (Mukesh Tiwari) is a corrupt police inspector in the colony where Tamizh and Shruthi live and is on Ali Bhai's payroll. He lusts for Shruthi and decides to make her his mistress, even after she rejects him multiple times.

Tamizh's first assignment with Ali Bhai's gang is to kill a member of Narasimhan's gang. However, police show up at the spot where Tamizh and the other gangsters are waiting. Tamizh engages the cops long enough for the others to finish the task and flee. He also helps Shruthi escape from Govindan. She is impressed by his kindness, and a friendship soon blossoms between the two, leading to the development of unspoken romantic feelings for each other. When Shruthi tries to express her feelings to Tamizh, they are attacked by members of Narasimhan's gang, whom Tamizh finishes off. Shruthi is shocked to learn that Tamizh is a gangster with no qualms about killing people. Later, Govindan arranges for some thugs to pretend to rape Shruthi so that no decent family will want to take her as their daughter-in-law, as a result of which with no other option, Shruthi and Lakshmi will accept his demands. Tamizh learns of this and thrashes Govindan incognito. After much ado and mental anguish, Shruthi accepts Tamizh's love.

Soon, Guru is found dead, presumably killed by Narasimhan in retaliation against the death of his gang members at the hands of Tamizh earlier, which forces Ali Bhai to come to Chennai from Dubai and kill Narasimhan. He also meets Tamizh to discuss the killing of a minister by blowing up a school. Tamizh disagrees with Ali Bhai's method as it would involve killing innocents including women and children. In the middle of their argument, the police raids the club and arrests Ali Bhai. His gang members retaliate by kidnapping Mohammed's daughter, drugging her, and creating a lewd video of her which they threaten to release to the media if Ali Bhai is not released, forcing the embattled commissioner to release Ali Bhai. However, in her drugged state, Mohammed's daughter reveals that her father had placed an undercover officer as a mole in Ali Bhai's gang.

The gang members find out that an IPS police officer by the name of Satyamoorthy, the son of a retired police inspector Shanmugavel (Nassar), has gone undercover to finish off the underworld mafia gangs and is now a part of their gang. Ali Bhai kills Satyamoorthy in front of Shanmugavel. However, it is revealed that the person who died was actually Saravanan, who was Shanmugavel's adopted son. Ali Bhai then kills Shanmugavel, hoping that the real Satyamoorthy would come to see his father's body and avenge his death. When the real Satyamoorthy actually turns up, everyone, especially Shruthi and Govindan, are shocked to see that he is none other than Tamizh. Satyamoorthy had gone undercover by posing himself as a criminal. It is further revealed that Satyamoorthy was the one who killed Guru and not Narasimhan. He killed Guru under the Commissioner's direction.

After Shanmugavel and Saravanan's funerals, Satyamoorthy forces Govindan to call Ali Bhai to find out his location, which is Binny Mills. He goes there and starts to eliminate Ali Bhai's gang members one by one, rescuing the commissioner's daughter in the process. In a final confrontation, Satyamoorthy kills Ali Bhai by slashing his throat with a broken glass window, following which he kills Govindan as well.

Cast

• Vijay as Satyamoorthy IPS, the undercover Assistant Commissioner of Police (Tamizh) . He is Shanmugavel's biological son and an undercover police officer.
• Asin as Shruthi, Tamizh's love interest
• Prakash Raj as Ali Bhai, the international mafia don
• Mukesh Tiwari as Inspector L. Govindan
• Vadivelu as Body Soda / Sangi-Mangi
• Napoleon as Mohammed Mohideen Khan IPS , Commissioner of Chennai city
• Nassar as Shanmugavel Tamizh biological father and Saravana's adopted father
• Sriman as Saravana Shanmugavel adopted son and Tamizh's friend
• Anandaraj as Narasimman
• Vincent Asokan as Guru
• Subbaraju as Korattur Logu
• Master Bharath as Pappu
• Sriranjini as Lakshmi
• Ajay Rathnam as Assistant commissioner
• Brinda Parekh as Mona
• G. V. Sudhakar Naidu as Das
• Dhamu as Juice Shop Owner
• Vaiyapuri as Tamizh's friend
• Karate Raja as Tamizh's friend
• Rekha as Mrs. Mohammed Maideen Khan
• Pandu as Elevator Operator
• King Kong as Lorry Driver
• Scissor Manohar as Colony Member
• Besant Ravi as Ali Bhai's henchman
• Soundhar as Veluchamy
• Sampath Ram as Narasimman's henchman
• Japan Kumar as Kannayiram
• G. K. as Vishwanath
• Bobby as Thamba
• Mumaith Khan (special appearance in the song "En Chella Peru Apple")
• Sridhar (special appearance in the song "En Chella Peru Apple")
• Ashok Raja (special appearance in the song "Aadungada Yennai Suththi")
• Prabhu Deva (special appearance in the song "Aadungada Yennai Suththi")[5]

Production

After his film Aathi in January 2006, for nearly six months Vijay was listening to stories, but none had appealed; he was supposed to do a Tamil Remake of Dharani's Bangaram, until that film's failure made him look at other options.[6] That's when he got to watch the Telugu Pokiri – he felt that it would work.[7] After difficulty in finding directors, Prabhudeva was selected as director, directing his first film in Tamil after the failure of his Telugu film Pournami.[8][9] The movie was launched on 6 July 2006.[10] Vijay's father SAC conducted special puja at the Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai. On Saturday night, which was the full moon day, an auspicious occasion for the presiding deity there, he spent a full hour before the Lord seeking his blessings. He also prayed at the Sacred Church at Velankanni.[11] Asin was selected, pairing with Vijay for the second time after Sivakasi.[12]

The first day of shoot for the film was held at the new Pillayar Kovil at AVM studios, with various dignitaries gracing the occasion. Vijay's mother Shobha Chandrasekhar gave the clap for the first shot. The first scene shot was with Asin and Vijay, the lead pair in the film, in an elevator that was specially designed for the film.[13]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack has 8 songs composed by Mani Sharma. Two of the songs from the original Telugu version were retained and remade in Tamil. The soundtrack also features a remix of the song "Vasantha Mullai" from Sarangadhara (1958).[14][15]

Pokkiri
Soundtrack album by Mani Sharma
Released	15 December 2006 (India)
Recorded	2006
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Length	34:27
Label	Five Star Audio
Producer	Mani Sharma
Mani Sharma chronology
Ashok (2006) Pokkiri (2006) Yogi (2007)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Rediff.com Movies

Song	Artist(s)	Picturization	Length	Lyrics
"Dole Dole Than"	Ranjith, Suchitra	Vijay, Asin Thottumkal	4:43	Pa. Vijay
"Aadungada Yennai Suththi"	Naveen	Vijay, Prabhu Deva	4:29	Kabilan
"Nee Mutham Ondru"	Ranjith, Swetha Mohan	Vijay, Asin	4:52	Pa. Vijay
"Mambazhamam Mambazham"	Shankar Mahadevan, Ganga	Vijay, Asin, Vadivelu	4:41	Snehan
"En Chella Peru Apple"	A. V. Ramanan, Suchitra	Vijay, Mumaith Khan	4:35	Pa. Vijay
"Vasantha Mullai"	Rahul Nambiar, Krishnamoorthy	Vijay, Asin	4:19	Na. Muthukumar
"Nee Mutham Ondru" (Remix)	Ranjith, Shweta Mohan		4:12	Pa. Vijay
"Pokkiri Theme"	Mani Sharma		2:36

Release

The satellite rights of the film were sold to Sun TV. The film was given a "U/A" certificate by the Indian Censor Board and released on 2007 at the festival of Pongal, alongside Ajith's Aalwar and Vishal's Thaamirabharani.[16] The film grossed ₹6.1 crore in Tamil Nadu in opening week from 142 screens.[17][18]

Critical reception

Sify said that the film was "enjoyable while it lasts".[19] Indiaglitz stated that Vijay stole the show with his "typical 'Vijayisms' (action, humor and punch dialogues)" and that the show was "action-packed entertainer".[20] Behindwoods review felt that Vadivelu and Prakash Raj's performances were lackluster, and stated that Raj " might do well to sit back and analyze the roles that he accepts," but concluded that the movie overall "packs a punch."[21] Rediff.com gave the movie two stars, stating "there's nothing more tedious than a badly made remake."[22] Nowrunning.com stated that "Pokkiri' is attractively packaged and presented".[23] Oneindia.in stated that "Pokkiri is a full length action movie of Vijay."[24]

Box office

The film was commercial success and ran over 200 days in Tamil Nadu,[25] and 100 days in Kerala.[26]

Awards

Award	Category	Recipient	Result
Vijay Awards	Favourite Film	Singanamala Ramesh	Won
	Favourite Director	Prabhu Deva	Won
	Entertainer of the Year	Vijay	Won
	Favourite Hero	Vijay	Nominated
	Favourite Heroine	Asin	Nominated
	Best Actress	Asin	Nominated
	Best Villain	Prakash Raj	Nominated
	Best Choreographer	Dinesh ("Vansantha Mullai")	Won
	Best Art Director	Kathir	Nominated
	Best Stunt Director	Fefsi Vijaan	Nominated
Filmfare Awards South	Best Actor	Vijay	Nominated
	Best Actress	Asin	Nominated
Mathrubhumi Film Awards	Best Tamil Film	Pokkiri	Won
	Best Tamil Director	Prabhu Deva	Won
	Best Tamil Actor	Vijay	Won

Remakes

The original Telugu film Pokiri, directed by Puri Jagannadh, was remade in several other languages and still found success in the respective regional cinemas. Pokkiri is the first remake. The second one was Wanted, the Hindi version in 2009. Both Pokkiri and Wanted were directed by Prabhu Deva. Prakash Raj reprises his role as the villain in both the remakes.[27][28] After that, a Kannada version, Porki, directed by M. D. Sridhar, was released on 14 January 2010.[29] Below is an actor map of the lead actors in the story of Pokiri and its remakes.

Despite the Hindi remake, the original Telugu film Pokiri, its Tamil remake Pokkiri and Kannada remake Porki were dubbed in Hindi as Tapori Wanted, Wanted Baghi (2013) and Main Hoon Wanted (2012) respectively.

Legacy

A dialogue spoken by Vadivelu in the film, "Vada Poche" became very popular.[30] The dialogue inspired a comedy show in Sun Music with same name. The dialogue also inspired a song sung by Velmurugan and Powerstar Srinivasan in Arya Surya (2013).[31] Vadivelu's dialogue "Plan Panni Pannanum" inspired a film of the same name.[32] The scenes from the film were parodied in Thamizh Padam as hero being an undercover cop.[33]

References

1. ""Pokkiri is turning out to be my biggest hit": Vijay". Sify.com.
2. "The Top 7 Vijay Movies - Pokkiri". Rediff.com.
3. "Pokkiri Blu-ray Release Date June 21, 2009 (United Kingdom)". Blu-ray.com.
4. "Actor Vijay's films to be re-released in many theatres across Kerala as throwback". Behindwoods.
5. "7 1/2, காமெடி காலனி". Vikatan (in Tamil).
6. rediff.com: Vijay and Asin sizzle in Pokiri. Specials.rediff.com (13 July 2006). Retrieved on 5 February 2017.
7. "Friday Review Chennai : Scaling heights with `Pokkiri'". The Hindu. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
8. "Prabhudeva directs Tamil 'Pokiri'". Cinesouth. Archived from the original on 9 September 2006. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
9. "Prabhu Deva as a Director in Tamil". IndiaGlitz. 8 June 2006. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
10. "Events – 'Pokiri' Movie Launch". IndiaGlitz. 6 July 2006. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
11. "Tamil movies : Pokiri announced! Vijay's father offers prayers at temples!!". Behindwoods.com. 13 June 2006. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
12. "Asin in `Pokiri` remake!". Sify. 21 January 2006. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
13. "Tamil movies : Vijay's Pokkiri sold at record price!". Behindwoods.com. 6 July 2006. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
14. "'Vasantha Mullai' song recreated for Pokkiri". Chennai Mirror. 6 December 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
15. "Pokkiri has racy music". Rediff.
16. "Pokkiri Tamilnadu collection". Indiaglitz. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
17. "Pokkiri Tamilnadu collection". Behindwoods. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
18. "Pokkiri Tamilnadu collection". screendaily. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
19. "Movie Review:Nanban". Sify.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
20. Pokkiri – Action aplenty Indiaglitz 15 January 2007
21. Pokkiri Review at Behindwoods
22. Pokkiri: Watch only for Vijay, Asin Rediff. Shwetha Bhaskar 15 January 2007
23. "Movie Review:Pokkiri". Retrieved 12 January 2012.
24. "Movie Review:Pokkiri". Oneindia.in. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
25. "Looking at Vijay's TOP 7 landmark films". Rediff. 23 June 2014.
26. "Tamil movies big grossers in State". The Hindu. 19 June 2007.
27. Bhaskar, Shwetha (15 January 2007). "Pokkiri: Watch only for Vijay, Asin". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
28. Sen, Raja (18 September 2009). "Wanted is watchable... casually". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
29. Indira Lakshminarayan, Shruti (29 January 2010). "Watch Porki only for Darshan". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
30. Filmi dialogues used in everyday lingo – Times of India. Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved on 5 February 2017.
31. Audio beat: Arya Surya – Songs to lighten the mood. The Hindu (31 August 2013). Retrieved on 5 February 2017.
32. "Rio and Ramya's next takes a cue from Vadivelu's lines - Times of India". The Times of India.
33. "Clash of the spoof boys - 9 years of Goa and Thamizh Padam! - Tamil News". IndiaGlitz.com. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2020.

External links

• Pokkiri on IMDb