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Sandai

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Sandai
Poster
Directed bySakthi Chidambaram
Written byRavi Mariya
(Dialogue)
Screenplay bySakthi Chidambaram
Story bySakthi Chidambaram
Produced byRadha Sakthi Chidambaram
StarringSundar C
Nadhiya
Namitha
Ramya Raj
CinematographyK. S. Selva Raj
Edited byG. Sasikumar
Music byDhina
Production
company
Cinema Paradise
Release date
  • 21 March 2008 (2008-03-21)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Sandai (transl. Fight) is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language action comedy film directed by Sakthi Chidambaram. The film stars Sundar C, Nadhiya, Namitha and Ramya Raj, while Vivek, Lalu Alex, and Mithun Tejasvi, among others, play supporting roles. The music was composed by Dhina with cinematography handled by K. S. Selva Raj and editing by G. Sasikumar. The film was released on 21 March 2008, and became a commercial success.[1]

Plot

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Thangalakshmi, a wealthy woman, arranges a marriage for her daughter Abhinaya with an NRI in her native village. A gang led by Paalpandi, who is later revealed to be Thangalakshmi's brother, keeps stalking Abhi and Thangalskhmi. A rogue called Kathhi, who does anything for money, is appointed as Abhi's bodyguard until her marriage to the NRI groom.

Paalpandi makes repeated unsuccessful attempts to convince Thangalakshmi to marry Abhi off to his son. In a strange turn of events, the stepfather and cousins of Thangalakshmi's husband Kamaraj (a former District Collector), who claim to have been innocently jailed on the charges of killing him, are released and kill the judge and public prosecutor responsible for their imprisonment. They also enter into Thangalakshmi's good books by manipulating her into believing that they are innocent and Paalpandi is the real killer, a fact which Thangalakshmi herself has been believing herself due to a misunderstanding.

In due course of events, during which Kathhi and Mani (Thangalakshmi's PA who also wants to secretly marry Abhi) comically try to thwart Abhi's marriage, the groom gets kidnapped by Kamaraj's relatives, who try to kill him to pin the blame on Paalpandi. Kathi intervenes, bashing them and their goons up and saving the groom, who then refuses to marry Abhi, honouring the words of his parents. Arriving at the venue along with his men, Paalpandi once gain tries to convince Thangalakshmi into marrying Abhi off to his son. Refusing to give in due to her sense of pride, Thangalakshmi forces Abhi and Kathhi to get marries and taunts Paalpandi by saying that she fulfilled her oath. At the same time, Paalpandi starts laughing and mockingly reveals that Kathhi is none other than his son, his real name being Kathiresan MBA.

Shocked, Abhi and Thangalakshmi try to foist charges of kidnapping and criminal intimidation on Kathiresan, who successfully manages to evade charges by showing the DSP the video recording of the events at the marriage hall. Abhi and Thangalakshmi try to run away to Bangkok but are waylaid by Kathiresan, who challenges Thangalakshmi to mafke Abhi accept him as her husband after staying in his house for seven days, while also promising that he would try to engage in physical contact with Abhi without her consent.

Initially getting off to a rocky start with her relatives on the maternal side, Abhi comes to understand Kathir's and the family's caring and loving nature. All attempts by Thangalakshmi to separate Abhi and Kathiresan fail, with towards the end, she too coming to understand her brother's innocence and the good nature of Kathiresan and her family.

In the climax, Kamaraj's relatives attempt to kill Thangalakshmi, and she manages to place a call to Kathiresan, who arrives at the right time and rescues her but gets stabbed by the villains in the process. After Paalpandi arrives at the spot and sees Thangalakshmi standing beside his son with a blood-stained knife, he still believes her, making her realise her folly. Kathiresan, who has not yet lost consciousness, bounces back and kills the villains after a thrilling fight. Thangalakshmi reunites with her family, and they all live happily ever after.

Cast

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Production

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During launch, the film was initially titled Porukki; as the title was criticised as derogatory, Sakthi Chidambaram retitled it to Adhirudhulla, after the usage of the term as a catchphrase in Sivaji: The Boss (2007).[2] However he later felt it had become clichéd due to its popularity and subsequent overuse, so he opted for Mahamagam, in reference to the festival Mahamaham which features in the story,[3] but later finalised Sandai.[4] The filming was held at Pollachi, Karaikudi, Switzerland and London.[5]

Soundtrack

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Music is composed by Dhina and released via T-Series.[6] It includes a remix of the song "Vaadi En Kappa Kelange", composed by Ilaiyaraaja for Alaigal Oivathillai (1981), which marked the singing debut of Sundar C.[7] The dappankuthu song "Pokkirina" invokes the names of contemporary Tamil stars and their films, namely Vijay and Pokkiri (2007), Ajith Kumar and Villain (2002); Dhanush and Polladhavan (2007).[8]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Pokkirina"Na. MuthukumarSilambarasan4:50
2."October Madathil"Ravi MariyaShaan, Rita5:49
3."Vaadi En"Gangai AmaranSundar C, Grace Karunas5:26
4."Aathadi"Na. MuthukumarT. Rajendar, Dev Prakash4:37
5."Maduraikara"Sakthi ChidambaramUdit Narayan, Anuradha Sriram5:29
Total length:26:11

Release and reception

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Sandai was released on 21 March 2008, Good Friday alongside Kannum Kannum, Inba and Singakutty.[9] Pavithra Srinivasan of Rediff.com called the film "illogical" and stated that "Just suspend all logic and reason before settling for this age-old mother-in-law/son-in-law battle movies on the lines of Poova Thalaiya and Mappillai."[10] Sify wrote "Here is regressive piece of kitsch, with over-the-top loud performances. The plot degenerates into a farce in the second half of this tedious film as it tumbles to an all?s-well-that- concludes-well end".[11] Naresh of The Indian Express wrote, "One star for Sundar C. and one star for Shakthi Chidambaram for his fast paced narration".[12] Cinesouth wrote, "This is a typical 'maappillai' type masala film story but director Shakti Chidambaram has given it an exciting flavour".[13]

References

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  1. ^ Kumar, S. R. Ashok (27 March 2008). "Hat trick?". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Change of title for 'Poruki'". Cinesouth. 5 September 2007. Archived from the original on 8 September 2007. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  3. ^ "New title for 'Porukki'". Cinesouth. 19 September 2007. Archived from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  4. ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (18 July 2008). "Name game". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  5. ^ Mannath, Malini (3 October 2007). "Porukki". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Sanda". JioSaavn. 1 January 2009. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Lights Camera Playback: 12 times filmmakers tried their hands at playback singing". Cinema Express. 9 October 2019. p. 10. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Simbu sings in Sundar C's film". Cinesouth. 24 September 2007. Archived from the original on 31 October 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  9. ^ "Big easter weekend". Sify. 20 March 2008. Archived from the original on 28 March 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  10. ^ Srinivasan, Pavithra (24 March 2008). "Review: Sandai is illogical". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Sandai". Sify. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  12. ^ Naresh (2 April 2008). "SANDAI: For the masses". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  13. ^ "Sandai". Cinesouth. Archived from the original on 19 January 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
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