Kaththi

Story:

“Kaththi” is a 2014 Indian Tamil-language action masala film directed by AR Murugadoss and produced by Lyca Productions. The movie features Vijay in a dual role, alongside Samantha, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Tota Roy Chowdhury, and Sathish. The storyline revolves around Kathiresan, a petty thief who resembles Jeevanantham. Kathiresan takes on Jeevanantham’s identity and leads a rebellion by farmers from Thanoothu village, fighting against an entrepreneur who exploited their water resources.

This film marks the second collaboration between Vijay and Murugadoss, following “Thuppakki” (2012). The official announcement occurred in November 2013, with principal photography spanning from February to September 2014. Filming took place primarily in Chennai and extended to locations such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and various other cities. The cinematography was overseen by George C. Williams, and the film was edited by A. Sreekar Prasad. The musical score was composed by Anirudh Ravichander.

Released on October 22, 2014, coinciding with Diwali, “Kaththi” received critical acclaim for its technical aspects, performances, direction, writing, background score, cinematography, editing, action sequences, and the inclusion of a social message. Before its release, the film faced controversies related to plagiarism allegations and the producer Subaskaran’s business ties with Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, prompting protests from Tamil fringe groups. The movie is notable for being remade into Telugu as “Khaidi No. 150” (2017), starring Chiranjeevi.

Awards and recognition followed “Kaththi’s” release. It received several accolades, including Filmfare Awards South and SIIMA Awards. The film’s success extended to the recognition of its impactful social message and engaging narrative.

The plot centers around Kathiresan, a prisoner in Kolkata who aids the police in capturing an escaping prisoner named Vivek Banerjee. Kathir, along with his friend Ravi, plans to escape to Bangkok. However, he falls in love with Ankitha, who tricks him into believing she reciprocates his feelings. Kathir and Ravi encounter Jeevanandham, who resembles Kathir, and gets shot by thugs. Kathir impersonates Jeeva to evade the police and enters an old-age home run by Jeeva. Here, he learns about Jeeva’s mission to fight for farmers’ rights in Thanoothu village.

Jeeva had uncovered a groundwater source that could benefit the villagers, but an entrepreneur named Chirag exploited the situation for his gain. Kathir takes up Jeeva’s cause and poses as him to advocate for the villagers. He uses tactics to expose Chirag’s misdeeds and garners support for the villagers’ plight. As the story unfolds, Kathir’s efforts intensify, leading to a dramatic culmination in the Madras High Court.

Kathir’s determination to help the villagers gains national attention as he stages a water supply blockade, spotlighting their struggle. Throughout the narrative, the film interweaves elements of love, activism, and social consciousness. The film’s finale sees Kathir’s resolve and sacrifice, delivering a powerful message of resilience and justice.