Visaranai

2021-06-04T19:28:36Z

2A01:CB00:19:5C00:F129:C953:283A:AB1F:

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Visaranai
| image = Visaranai film release poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Vetrimaaran]]
| producer = [[Dhanush]]
| screenplay = Vetrimaaran
| based_on = {{Based on|''Lock Up''|M. Chandrakumar}}
| starring = [[Dinesh Ravi|Dinesh]] [[Anandhi]] [[Samuthirakani]] [[Aadukalam Murugadoss|Murugadoss]] S Rathnasamy [[Kishore (actor, born 1974)|Kishore]] Pradheesh Raj
| music = [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]]
| cinematography = S. Ramalingam
| editing = [[Kishore Te.]] '''Co-editor''' G. B. Venkatesh
| studio = [[Wunderbar Films]] [[Grass Root Film Company]]
| distributor = [[Lyca Productions]]
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2015|9|12|[[72nd Venice International Film Festival|Venice]]|2016|2|5|India}}
| runtime = 118 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget = ₹1 crore
| gross = ₹11 crore
}}
'''''Visaranai''''' ({{trans|Interrogation }}) is a 2015 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[crime thriller film]] written and directed by [[Vetrimaaran]]. It is based on the novel ''Lock Up'' by M. Chandrakumar. The film features [[Dinesh Ravi|Dinesh]], [[Anandhi]], [[Samuthirakani]], [[Aadukalam Murugadoss]], [[Kishore (actor, born 1974)|Kishore]], Pradheesh Raj, and Silambarasan Rathnasamy in the lead roles. The film deals with lives of two men before and after thrown into a [[Franz Kafka|kafkaesque]]<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkPR4Rcf4ww</ref> scenario in which they get tortured for confession.

The film premiered in the Orrizonti (Horizons) section of the [[72nd Venice Film Festival]],<ref name=huffington /> where it won the Amnesty International Italia Award.<ref>{{cite web|title=Collateral Awards of the 72nd Venice Film Festival|url=http://www.labiennale.org/en/news/12-09b.html?back=true|publisher=[[Venice Biennale]]|date=12 September 2015}}</ref> The film was released in India on 5 February 2016 and received highly positive reviews from both critics and audience alike.<ref>{{cite web|author=KollyTalk |url=http://www.kollytalk.com/cinenews/vetrimaarans-visaranai-postponed-release-05th-february-358065.html |title='Visaranai release postponed to Feb 5th |publisher=KollyTalk.com |date=25 January 2014 |access-date=28 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Soodhadi-with-Dhanush-another-with-Dinesh-Vetrimaran/movie-review/39812326.cms |title='Soodhadi' with Dhanush, another with Dinesh: Vetrimaran Movie Review, Trailer, & Show timings at Times of India |work=The Times of India |date=8 August 2014 |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref> Many issues arose regarding the film in [[Tamil Nadu]] among the police force.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Sagayam-take-on-police-creates-a-stir-cops-cry-foul/articleshow/50861456.cms|title=Sagayam take on police creates stir|newspaper=Times of India|access-date=18 February 2016}}</ref> At the [[63rd National Film Awards]], the film won three honours: [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil|Best Feature Film in Tamil]], [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] for [[Samuthirakani]] and [[National Film Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]] for [[Kishore Te]]. It was selected as India's official entry for the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[89th Academy Awards]]<ref name="India">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/asia/india-puts-interrogation-into-foreign-language-oscars-contention-1201867964/ |title=India Puts 'Interrogation' Into Foreign-Language Oscars Contention |first=Naman |last=Ramachandran |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=22 September 2016 |access-date=22 September 2016}}</ref> but it was not nominated.<ref name="out">{{cite web|title=9 Foreign Language films advance in Oscar race|url=http://www.oscars.org/news/9-foreign-language-films-advance-oscar-race|website=[[Oscars]]|access-date=16 December 2016|date=15 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="nary">{{cite news|last1=Dave|first1=McNary|title=Oscars: Nine Films Advance in Foreign-Language Race|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/oscars-2017-foreign-language-race-1201943744/|access-date=16 December 2016|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=15 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="visar">{{cite news|title='Visaranai' falls out of the Oscar race|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/visaranaifalls-out-of-the-oscar-race/articleshow/56014548.cms|access-date=16 December 2016|work=[[Times of India]]|date=16 December 2016}}</ref> At the [[64th Filmfare Awards South]], the film was nominated for the [[Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil|Best Film]], [[Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil|Best Director]] for [[Vetrimaaran]] and won the award for the [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil|Best Supporting Actor]] for [[Samuthirakani]].<ref name=":0" />

== Plot ==
Pandi ([[Dinesh Ravi]]), Murugan ([[Aadukalam Murugadoss]]), Afzal (Silambarasan Rathnasamy), and Kumar (Pradheesh Raj) are Tamil labourers who are working in [[Guntur]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] and living in a nearby park and working to make ends meet. A Tamil man named Muthuvel ([[Samuthirakani]]) is shown to be undertaking some operation in Andhra Pradesh along with a group of men. The lives of the four labourers take a turn for worse when they are caught, beaten and tortured brutally in police lock-up for a theft that they did not commit, due to police's need to close a high-profile robbery case. The four resist the torture and refuse to confess but are forced to relent due to the police brutality. However, when produced in court, they speak out the true set of events to the judge. Muthuvel, who is shown to be a [[police inspector]], helps them go free by translating for them in court and vouching for them. Before the men can leave, Muthuvel enlists their help to kidnap a high-profile auditor named K.K ([[Kishore (actor, born 1974)|Kishore]]) who has surrendered in the same court. It is shown that Muthuvel's police team had come there unofficially to nab KK before he surrendered. Since Muthuvel's team are closely watched by KK's lawyers inside the court, Muthuvel gives the 4 boys a task to bring KK out of the court. Muthuvel's seniors use their influence to make the court police aid them and KK is kidnapped by the 4 boys. The men are brought back to [[Tamil Nadu]], and Kumar is dropped on the way to [[Chennai]]. The remaining three men are asked by Muthuvel to clean the police station before leaving. The nature of Muthuvel's case is then revealed.

The kidnapping was masterminded by the [[Deputy Commissioner of Police (India)|Deputy Commissioner]] (DCP), under directions from the top brass of the ruling political party of the state, to use K.K in court and take down the President of the opposition party, since general elections are merely 5 months away. Meanwhile, the [[Assistant Commissioner of Police (India)|Assistant Commissioner]] (ACP), who is on the payroll of the opposition party, convinces the DCP to play a double game and get three crores (30 million) rupees from the opposition for dropping the case. However, buying the DCP's bluff, the opposition party fears that K.K has given up their secrets and orders the ACP to interrogate him, during which he dies from the injuries sustained. Since the death happened in Muthuvel's station when Muthuvel was on charge, he and his men take KK's body to KK's beach house and set up his death as suicide by hanging. Later, A discussion ensues to figure out a way to get the bribe and to cover up the [[Death in custody|death]] as a [[suicide]].

After the meeting, the DCP sees Pandi and Afzal cleaning in an adjoining bathroom and suspects that they might have overheard the plan. To cover up, they decide to frame Pandi and his friends as convicts in a pending [[Cash machine|ATM]] robbery case, and eliminate them under the cover of an [[Encounter killings by police|encounter]]. Muthuvel, who feels responsible for the three men, is fed up with the corruption and immorality of the events that have transpired and initially refuses to cooperate, but he is coerced because of his deep involvement. During the staged encounter, Afzal is killed, causing Pandi and Murugan to run away. In the ensuing pursuit, Murugan is shot and killed. Muthuvel chases Pandi and negotiates with him, assuring no harm and promising a spot in front of the media to expose the corruption. Meanwhile, orders arrive from the DCP to tie up loose ends and eliminate Muthuvel as well. As the film cuts to black, gunshots are heard, followed by a conversation that reveals the deaths of both Muthuvel and Pandi. A plan is made for the press coverage of Muthuvel's death 'in the line of duty', alongside photographs of his family to hold the attention and sympathy of the public.

In the eiplogue it is shown that this film is based on the novel written by real-life Kumar, who has been felicitated by multiple human rights organisations.

== Cast ==
{{colbegin}}
* [[Dinesh Ravi]] as Pandi
* [[Aadukalam Murugadoss|Murugadoss]] as Murugan
* [[Samuthirakani]] as Muthuvel
* [[Kishore (actor, born 1974)|Kishore]] as K. K.
* [[E. Ramdoss]] as Ramachandran
* [[Ajay Ghosh]] as Vishveshwara Rao
* [[Anandhi]] as Shanthi
* as Murugan
* Silambarasan Rathnasamy as Afzal
* Pradheesh Raj as Kumar
* [[Misha Ghoshal]] as Sindhu
* [[Saravana Subbiah]] as Saravanan
* [[Halwa Vasu]]
* [[Munnar Ramesh]] as Ramesh
* Dhaya Senthil as Neethipathi
* Muthukumar as Rathnasamy
* Cheran Raj as Goule
* Supergood Subramani
{{colend}}

== Production ==
The film was adapted from the novel titled ''Lock up'', written by M. Chandrakumar, an [[auto rickshaw]] driver in [[Coimbatore]].<ref name=huffington>{{cite news|last1=Hebbar|first1=Prajakta|title=Meet The Auto Driver Who Wrote The Novel That Inspired Tamil Film 'Visaranai', Premiering At Venice|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/09/08/visaranai-vetrimaaran-dhanush_n_8101382.html|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=8 September 2015|access-date=14 October 2015}}</ref> Vetrimaaran chose to begin the film before the schedule for his other venture ''[[Vada Chennai]]'' (2018) and signed up actors [[Attakathi Dinesh]] and [[Aadukalam Murugadoss]] to play convicts in the film. The film earlier had the working titles of ''Kutravaali'' and ''Lock-Up'', during the first schedule in [[Guindy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-14/vetrimaaran-convicts-actors-dinesh-and-murugadoss.html |title=Vetrimaaran convicts actors Dinesh and Murugadoss |publisher=Behindwoods.com |date=14 August 2014 |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref> The first half of the film was finished completely in September 2014 in locations across Hyderabad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-14/vetrimaaran-and-attakathi-dinesh-are-busy.html |title=Vetrimaaran and Attakathi Dinesh are busy ! |publisher=Behindwoods.com |date=4 October 2014 |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref> The director later announced that the film would be an experimental film lasting only 60 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livechennai.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=14048 |title=60-minutes experimental film by Vetrimaran|publisher=Live Chennai |date=30 September 2014 |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref> [[Anandhi]] joined the cast as heroine in October 2014, being selected after Vetrimaran was impressed with her performance in his production venture, ''[[Poriyaalan]]'' (2014) and Prabhu Solomon's ''[[Kayal (film)|Kayal]]'' (2014).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chennaivision.com/news/2014/123829.php |title=Vetrimaran's next is Visaranai |publisher=Chennaivision.com |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref> Telugu film actor Ajay Ghosh stated that he played the role of an inspector in the film and would appear throughout the first half.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/working-with-vetrimaaran-was-inspiring-ajay-ghosh-115040700239_1.html |title=Working with Vetrimaaran was inspiring: Ajay Ghosh|work=Business Standard |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref>

==Release==
The satellite rights of the film were sold to [[STAR Vijay]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/vijaytelevision/status/783203068133404673?lang=en |title=#SuperProud! #Visaranai will be premiered on Ayudha Pooja. 10th Oct 12 pm |website=twitter.com/vijaytelevision |date=4 October 2016 |access-date=13 April 2019}}</ref> The film is also available as [[Video on demand|VOD]] on [[Netflix]].

== Critical reception ==
This film received the best movie award from Tamil magazine [[Ananda Vikatan]] in Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.vikatan.com/news/english/78546-ananda-vikatan-cinema-awards---2016.art|title=Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards - 2016|newspaper=www.vikatan.com|language=ta|access-date=2017-01-28}}</ref> IndiaGlitz.com had rated the film 4.5 out of 5 and said, "Visaranai is by no means only an art or docu film, but fits into the commercial arena as well as it has thrills, especially a nail biting climax, humour, action, a little painful love story in the background and above all filled with real life incidents which one can easily relate to".<ref>{{Cite web|title = Visaranai review. Visaranai Tamil movie review, story, rating - IndiaGlitz.com|url = http://www.indiaglitz.com/visaranai-tamil-movie-review-10132.html|website = IndiaGlitz|access-date=18 February 2016}}</ref> [[Twitch Film]] viewed Visarnai as a top class film about reality comparable to [[2012 Cannes]] favourite ''[[Gangs of Wasseypur]]''.<ref name="twitchfilm.com">{{Cite news|url=http://twitchfilm.com/2016/02/review-in-visaranai-the-truth-will-never-set-you-free.html|title=Truth will never set you free|publisher=twitchfilm.com|access-date=18 February 2016}}</ref> ''The Hindu'' wrote "Visaranai is beautifully filmed, though there isn't much room for beauty. The frames appear to have been snatched from the back alleys of life. The verité illusion is aided by the utterly lifelike performances—even if the word "performance" seems wrong.".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/visaranai-a-powerful-chilling-drama-about-how-the-system-toys-with-us/article8200022.ece|title=Visranai, a powerful chilling drama|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=18 February 2016}}</ref> ''Rediff'' wrote "Director Vetrimaaran deserves credit for having extracted the best from all his actors. They are so remarkable you sense their terror as they stutter and stumble with their broken and bruised bodies. The hard-hitting screenplay is relentless, making no effort to shield you from the harsh realities of the ruthless world we live in today."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-visaranai-is-chilling/20160207.htm|title=Review: Visaranai is chilling|website=Rediff}}</ref> ''Behindwoods'' wrote "Some may call Visaranai to be a violent film, while most of the others may say it is a brilliant piece of art that is so real and suspenseful. But if you’re a fan of crime thriller or film that depicts pain, do not miss it!"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/visaranai/visaranai-review.html|title=Visaranai (aka) Visaaranai review|date=1 February 2016|website=Behindwoods}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Nominee
! Result
! {{tooltip|Ref.|References}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[72nd Venice International Film Festival]]
| Orizzonti Prize (Horizons Award for Best Film)
|rowspan="2"|[[Vetrimaaran]]
|{{nom}}
|rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/dhanushs-visaranai-becomes-the-first-tamil-movie-to-win-an-award-to-at-venice-film-festival/|title=Dhanush's Visaranai becomes the first Tamil movie to win an award to at Venice Film Festival|access-date=13 September 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Amnesty International Italia Award
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[63rd National Film Awards]]
| [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil|Best Feature Film in Tamil]]
| [[Vetrimaaran]] [[Dhanush]]
| {{won}}
|rowspan="3"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://dff.nic.in/writereaddata/Winners_of_63rd_NFA_2015.pdf | title=Winners of 63rd National Film Awards 2015 | publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]] |access-date=28 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007194418/http://dff.nic.in/writereaddata/Winners_of_63rd_NFA_2015.pdf | archive-date=28 March 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| [[Samuthirakani]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[National Film Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]]
| [[Kishore Te]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="5"|[[Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards]]
| Best Film
|[[Vetrimaaran]] [[Dhanush]]
| {{Won}}
|rowspan="5"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tamilglitz.in/vikatan-awards-2016-winners-list/3/|title=Vikatan Awards 2017 – Winners List|access-date=14 January 2017}}</ref>
|-

|Best Direction
|[[Vetrimaaran]] 
| {{Won}}
|-
|Best Screenplay
|[[Vetrimaaran]]
| {{Won}}
|-
|Best Editing
|[[Kishore Te]]
| {{Won}}
|-
|Best Supporting Actor
|[[Samuthirakani]]
| {{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[64th Filmfare Awards South]]
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil|Best Film - Tamil]]
|[[Vetrimaaran]]
[[Dhanush]]
|{{nom}}
| rowspan="3" |<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Filmfare Awards South 2017 Tamil Nominations {{!}} Filmfare|url=https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards-south-2017/tamil/nominations/|website=filmfare.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref>
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil|Best Director - Tamil]]
|[[Vetrimaaran]]
|{{Nom}}
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil|Best Supporting Actor - Tamil]]
|[[Samuthirakani]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[List of submissions to the 89th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film]]
* [[List of Indian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title|4991384}}
* Visaranai at [https://moviesda.pro/ Moviesda]

{{Vetrimaaran}}
{{Lyca Productions}}
{{Wunderbar Films}}
{{Indian submission for Academy Awards}}
{{National Film Award Best Feature Film Tamil}}

[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2015 films]]
[[Category:Films based on Indian novels]]
[[Category:2015 crime thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian prison films]]
[[Category:Indian crime thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Films about police brutality]]
[[Category:Films set in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Films scored by G. V. Prakash Kumar]]
[[Category:Films based on crime novels]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor National Film Award-winning performance]]
[[Category:2010s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films about police misconduct]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of the Tamil Nadu Police]]
[[Category:Films shot in Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Films whose editor won the Best Film Editing National Award]]
[[Category:Best Tamil Feature Film National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of the Andhra Pradesh Police]]
[[Category:Films set in Chennai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Vijayawada]]
[[Category:Films shot in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Films directed by Vetrimaaran]]

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Visaranai