Eli (2015 film) - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 15:35, 15 June 2022
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	\| music = [[Vidyasagar (~~music director~~)\|Vidyasagar]]		\| music = [[Vidyasagar (composer)\|Vidyasagar]]
	\| cinematography = Paul Livingstone		\| cinematography = Paul Livingstone
	\| editing = {{plainlist\|		\| editing = {{plainlist\|
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	'''''Eli''''' ({{Translation\|Rat}}) is a 2015 Indian [[Tamil language\|Tamil]]-language [[Spy film\|spy]] [[Comedy film]] written and directed by [[Yuvaraj Dhayalan]]. The film stars [[Vadivelu]] and [[Sadha]]. [[Vidyasagar (~~music director~~)\|Vidyasagar]] composed the film's music. ''Eli'', set in the 1960s, focuses on a small-time thief who is recruited by the police to infiltrate a gang in an effort to thwart an illegal cigarette smuggling scheme. The film was released on 19 June 2015 to negative reviews and became a [[box-office bomb]].<ref>http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/eli/eli-review.html</ref>		'''''Eli''''' ({{Translation\|Rat}}) is a 2015 Indian [[Tamil language\|Tamil]]-language [[Spy film\|spy]] [[Comedy film\|comedy]] written and directed by [[Yuvaraj Dhayalan]]. The film stars [[Vadivelu]] and [[Sadha]]. [[Vidyasagar (composer)\|Vidyasagar]] composed the film's music. ''Eli'', set in the 1960s, focuses on a small-time thief who is recruited by the police to infiltrate a gang in an effort to thwart an illegal cigarette smuggling scheme. The film was released on 19 June 2015 to negative reviews and became a [[box-office bomb]].<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/eli/eli-review.html\|title = Eli (Aka) Yeli review\|date = 19 June 2015}}</ref>

	== Plot ==		== Plot ==
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	== Production ==		== Production ==
	''Eli'' is the second film of Vadivelu with Yuvaraj Dhayalan after ''[[Tenaliraman (film)\|Tenaliraman]]'' (2014).<ref name = "EliBW1">{{cite web \| url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/vaigai-puyal-vadivelu-as-eli.html \| title=Vadivelu as Eli \| publisher=Behindwoods \| date=5 February 2015 \| accessdate=9 February 2015}}</ref> In March 2015, [[Sadha]] was confirmed to play the female lead in the film.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/actress-sada-of-anniyan-fame-makes-a-comeback-in-comedian-vadivelus-film-eli.html \| title=Tough fight for Vadivelu from this actress! \| publisher=Behindwoods \| date=24 March 2015 \| accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref> [[Pradeep Rawat (actor)\|Pradeep Rawat]] plays the film's antagonist.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/the-shooting-of-vadivelu-starrer-eli-directed-by-yuvaraj-dhayalan-will-wrap-in-15-days.html \| title=Grand plans for Vadivelu's Eli \| publisher=Behindwoods \| date=8 April 2015 \| accessdate=12 April 2015}}</ref> In an interview with Sudhir Srinivasan of ''[[The Hindu]]'', Dhayalan said that the inspiration for the film's title came from the repeated usage of the word "rat", which is a term used to denote a spy, in the [[Martin Scorsese]] film ''[[The Departed]]'' (2006).<ref>{{cite ~~web~~ \| url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/vadivelu-about-his-role-in-new-film-eli/article7312839.ece \| title=Manmohan Singh used my line \| work=[[The Hindu]] \| date=13 June 2015 \| accessdate=13 June 2015 \| author=Srinivasan, Sudhir}}</ref>		''Eli'' is the second film of Vadivelu with Yuvaraj Dhayalan after ''[[Tenaliraman (film)\|Tenaliraman]]'' (2014).<ref name = "EliBW1">{{cite web \| url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/vaigai-puyal-vadivelu-as-eli.html \| title=Vadivelu as Eli \| publisher=Behindwoods \| date=5 February 2015 \| accessdate=9 February 2015}}</ref> In March 2015, [[Sadha]] was confirmed to play the female lead in the film.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/actress-sada-of-anniyan-fame-makes-a-comeback-in-comedian-vadivelus-film-eli.html \| title=Tough fight for Vadivelu from this actress! \| publisher=Behindwoods \| date=24 March 2015 \| accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref> [[Pradeep Rawat (actor)\|Pradeep Rawat]] plays the film's antagonist.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/the-shooting-of-vadivelu-starrer-eli-directed-by-yuvaraj-dhayalan-will-wrap-in-15-days.html \| title=Grand plans for Vadivelu's Eli \| publisher=Behindwoods \| date=8 April 2015 \| accessdate=12 April 2015}}</ref> In an interview with Sudhir Srinivasan of ''[[The Hindu]]'', Dhayalan said that the inspiration for the film's title came from the repeated usage of the word "rat", which is a term used to denote a spy, in the [[Martin Scorsese]] film ''[[The Departed]]'' (2006).<ref>{{cite news \| url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/vadivelu-about-his-role-in-new-film-eli/article7312839.ece \| title=Manmohan Singh used my line \| work=[[The Hindu]] \| date=13 June 2015 \| accessdate=13 June 2015 \| author=Srinivasan, Sudhir}}</ref>

	[[Principal photography]] commenced with the filming of a song sequence on the outskirts of the city,<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Vadivelu-sports-retro-look-for-Eli/articleshow/46132863.cms \| title=Vadivelu sports retro look for 'Eli' \| work=[[The Times of India]] \| date=6 February 2015 \| accessdate=9 February 2015 \| author=Karthik, Janani}}</ref> from the same day as the first look poster was released. The shooting is reported to continue for 60 days at a stretch.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/why-is-vadivelu-an-eli.html \| title=Why is Vadivelu a rat? \| publisher=Behindwoods \| date=9 February 2015 \| accessdate=9 February 2015}}</ref> A stunt sequence was shot at a specially erected set in early April 2015 over a period of eight days. According to Dhayalan, this sequence features Vadivelu evading the villain's henchmen instead of fighting them.<ref>{{cite news \| url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/vadivelu-pulls-off-a-tough-fight-sequence-for-eli-115040600167_1.html \| title=Vadivelu pulls off a tough fight sequence for 'Eli' \| work=[[Business Standard]] \| agency=[[Indo-Asian News Service\|IANS]] \| date=6 April 2015 \| accessdate=6 April 2015}}</ref>		[[Principal photography]] commenced with the filming of a song sequence on the outskirts of the city,<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Vadivelu-sports-retro-look-for-Eli/articleshow/46132863.cms \| title=Vadivelu sports retro look for 'Eli' \| work=[[The Times of India]] \| date=6 February 2015 \| accessdate=9 February 2015 \| author=Karthik, Janani}}</ref> from the same day as the first look poster was released. The shooting is reported to continue for 60 days at a stretch.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/why-is-vadivelu-an-eli.html \| title=Why is Vadivelu a rat? \| publisher=Behindwoods \| date=9 February 2015 \| accessdate=9 February 2015}}</ref> A stunt sequence was shot at a specially erected set in early April 2015 over a period of eight days. According to Dhayalan, this sequence features Vadivelu evading the villain's henchmen instead of fighting them.<ref>{{cite news \| url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/vadivelu-pulls-off-a-tough-fight-sequence-for-eli-115040600167_1.html \| title=Vadivelu pulls off a tough fight sequence for 'Eli' \| work=[[Business Standard]] \| agency=[[Indo-Asian News Service\|IANS]] \| date=6 April 2015 \| accessdate=6 April 2015}}</ref>
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	\| next_year = 2015		\| next_year = 2015
	}}		}}
	[[Vidyasagar (composer)\|Vidyasagar]] composed the film's soundtrack and score while [[Pulamaipithan]] and [[Viveka (lyricist)\|Viveka]] wrote the lyrics. The music rights were purchased by [[Saregama]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9v8Z5V-kSM \|title=Eli Audio Jukebox \|publisher=[[Saregama]] \|date=15 May 2015 \|accessdate=30 May 2015 \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324155926/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9v8Z5V-kSM \|archivedate=24 March 2016 \|url-status=dead \|df=dmy }}</ref> The launch of the soundtrack was held on 11 May 2015.<ref name=TOI>{{cite web \| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/Vadivelus-Eli-audio-launch-on-May-11th/articleshow/47172917.cms \| title=Vadivelu's 'Eli' audio launch on May 11th \| work=The Times of India \| date=6 May 2015 \| accessdate=7 May 2015}}</ref> During the audio launch, Vadivelu revealed that the Hindi song "[[Mere Sapno Ki Rani]]" from ''[[Aradhana (1969 film)\|Aradhana]]'' (1969) would be reused in the film and that the sequence would feature himself and Sadha.<ref>{{cite ~~web~~ \| url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/wont-rule-out-another-stint-in-politics-says-vadivelu/article7203553.ece \| title=Won't rule out another stint in politics, says Vadivelu \| work=The Hindu \| date=13 May 2015 \| accessdate=26 May 2015 \| author=Naig, Udhav}}</ref>		[[Vidyasagar (composer)\|Vidyasagar]] composed the film's soundtrack and score while [[Pulamaipithan]] and [[Viveka (lyricist)\|Viveka]] wrote the lyrics. The music rights were purchased by [[Saregama]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9v8Z5V-kSM \|title=Eli Audio Jukebox \|publisher=[[Saregama]] \|date=15 May 2015 \|accessdate=30 May 2015 \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324155926/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9v8Z5V-kSM \|archivedate=24 March 2016 \|url-status=dead \|df=dmy }}</ref> The launch of the soundtrack was held on 11 May 2015.<ref name=TOI>{{cite web \| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/Vadivelus-Eli-audio-launch-on-May-11th/articleshow/47172917.cms \| title=Vadivelu's 'Eli' audio launch on May 11th \| work=The Times of India \| date=6 May 2015 \| accessdate=7 May 2015}}</ref> During the audio launch, Vadivelu revealed that the Hindi song "[[Mere Sapno Ki Rani]]" from ''[[Aradhana (1969 film)\|Aradhana]]'' (1969) would be reused in the film and that the sequence would feature himself and Sadha.<ref>{{cite news \| url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/wont-rule-out-another-stint-in-politics-says-vadivelu/article7203553.ece \| title=Won't rule out another stint in politics, says Vadivelu \| work=The Hindu \| date=13 May 2015 \| accessdate=26 May 2015 \| author=Naig, Udhav}}</ref>

	{{tracklist		{{tracklist
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	\| total_length = 12:38		\| total_length = 12:38
	\| title1 = Kollai Azhagu		\| title1 = Kollai Azhagu
	\| extra1 = Mukesh, [[Manjari (Indian singer)\|Manjari]]		\| extra1 = [[Mukesh Mohamed]], [[Manjari (Indian singer)\|Manjari]]
	\| length1 = 4:35		\| length1 = 4:35
	\| title2 = Kannameya		\| title2 = Kannameya
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	== Release ==		== Release ==
	On 5 February 2015, ''Eli''{{'}}s first look poster was revealed. The poster featured Vadivelu sporting a red coat and yellow scarf over a black shirt and checked black trousers.<ref name = "EliBW1"/> The first trailer was released on 14 May 2015,<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Vadivelus-Eli-trailer/articleshow/47294195.cms \|title=Vadivelu's 'Eli' trailer \|work=The Times of India \|date=14 May 2015 \|accessdate=26 May 2015 \|archiveurl=https://~~www~~.~~webcitation~~.org/~~6YuPi7fBq?url=~~http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Vadivelus-Eli-trailer/articleshow/47294195.cms \|archivedate=~~30 May~~ 2015 \|url-status=dead \|df=dmy }}</ref> while a second trailer was released on 4 June 2015.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Eli-Trailer-2/articleshow/47552494.cms \|title=Eli: Trailer 2 \|work=The Times of India \|date=4 June 2015 \|accessdate=6 June 2015 \|archiveurl=https://~~www~~.~~webcitation~~.org/~~6Z4y7zm3n?url=~~http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Eli-Trailer-2/articleshow/47552494.cms \|archivedate=~~6 June 2015~~ \|url-status=dead \|df=dmy }}</ref> The film was released on 19 June the same month.<ref>{{cite web\|last=\|first=\|date=26 May 2015\|title=Vadivelu's Eli censored, gearing up for release\|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/vadivelus-eli-censored-gearing-up-for-release-news-tamil-pf0kHMajcaejd.html\|url-status=live\|archive-url=\|archive-date=\|accessdate=26 May 2015\|website=[[Sify]]\|publisher=}}</ref>		On 5 February 2015, ''Eli''{{'}}s first look poster was revealed. The poster featured Vadivelu sporting a red coat and yellow scarf over a black shirt and checked black trousers.<ref name = "EliBW1"/> The first trailer was released on 14 May 2015,<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Vadivelus-Eli-trailer/articleshow/47294195.cms \|title=Vadivelu's 'Eli' trailer \|work=The Times of India \|date=14 May 2015 \|accessdate=26 May 2015 \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711204726/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Vadivelus-Eli-trailer/articleshow/47294195.cms \|archivedate=11 July 2015 \|url-status=dead \|df=dmy }}</ref> while a second trailer was released on 4 June 2015.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Eli-Trailer-2/articleshow/47552494.cms \|title=Eli: Trailer 2 \|work=The Times of India \|date=4 June 2015 \|accessdate=6 June 2015 \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021085829/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Eli-Trailer-2/articleshow/47552494.cms \|archivedate=21 October 2016 \|url-status=dead \|df=dmy }}</ref> The film was released on 19 June the same month.<ref>{{cite web\|last=\|first=\|date=26 May 2015\|title=Vadivelu's Eli censored, gearing up for release\|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/vadivelus-eli-censored-gearing-up-for-release-news-tamil-pf0kHMajcaejd.html\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526235539/http://www.sify.com/movies/vadivelus-eli-censored-gearing-up-for-release-news-tamil-pf0kHMajcaejd.html \|archive-date=26 May 2015 \|accessdate=26 May 2015\|website=[[Sify]]\|publisher=}}</ref>

	=== Critical reception ===		=== Critical reception ===
	''Eli'' received generally negative reviews from critics.<ref>{{Cite news \|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/eli-movie-review-live-audience-response-636355 \|title='Eli' Movie Review: Live Audience Response \|last=Upadhyaya \|first=Prakash \|date=20 June 2015 \|work=International Business Times \|access-date=9 May 2017 \|quote="Eli" has opened to negative reviews from the audience and critics.}}</ref> [[Baradwaj Rangan]] of ''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote, "There have been films...that have mined comedy from crime, but just about nothing works here. ''Eli'' is full of scenes that go on forever — and for no reason....Even Vadivelu is stranded — the gags he's in are shockingly weak."<ref>{{cite ~~web~~ \| url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/eli-seriously-unfunny/article7333554.ece \| title=Eli: Seriously unfunny \| work=The Hindu \| date=19 June 2015 \| accessdate=19 June 2015 \| author=Rangan, Baradwaj \| author-link=Baradwaj Rangan }}</ref> [[The Times of India]]'s M. Suganth gave the film 1.5 stars out of 5, describing it as "overlong, dull and largely unfunny" and adding, "Yuvaraj Dhayalan, seems to be after a spoof of spy movies but the filmmaking has no comic rhythm and the script, which rehashes elements from movies as varied as ''[[Ragasiya Police 115]]'' and ''The Departed'', is too slack that scenes just go on for ever".<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Eli/movie-review/47743640.cms \| title=Eli Movie Review \| work=The Times of India \| date=20 June 2015 \| accessdate=13 April 2016 \| author=Suganth, M.}}</ref> ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' wrote, "An insipid screenplay and flat narration ensures that it would be the most tedious and boring 154 minutes one could have spent in a theatre...the film is a test of patience".<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/reviews/Insipid-Screenplay-Flat-Narration-Make-Eli-a-Test-of-Ones-Patience/2015/06/21/article2878188.ece \| title=Insipid Screenplay, Flat Narration Make Eli a Test of One's Patience \| work=[[The New Indian Express]] \| date=21 June 2015 \| accessdate=13 April 2016 \| author=Mannath, Malini}}</ref> Behindwoods concluded, "Vadivelu tries hard but ''Eli'' doesn’t evoke enough laughter."<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/eli/eli-review.html \| title=Eli Movie Review \| publisher=Behindwoods \| date=19 June 2015 \| accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref> [[Sify]] called ''Eli'' an "unmitigated disaster" and "probably the worst movie he (Vadivelu) has ever done as a hero".<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.sify.com/movies/eli-review-tamil-pgtrsygieiaad.html \| title=Review : Eli \| publisher=Sify \| accessdate=13 April 2016}}</ref> Raisa Nasreen of Bookmyshow commented positively on Vadivelu's performance but criticised the film's screenplay by stating that the scenes in the film were "too long and too predictable".<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://in.bookmyshow.com/entertainment/eli-film-review-a-slow-paced-spy-thriller/60578 \| title=Eli: Film Review – A slow paced spy thriller! \| publisher=Bookmyshow \| date=19 June 2015 \| accessdate=19 June 2015 \| author=Nasreen, Raisa}}</ref>		''Eli'' received generally negative reviews from critics.<ref>{{Cite news \|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/eli-movie-review-live-audience-response-636355 \|title='Eli' Movie Review: Live Audience Response \|last=Upadhyaya \|first=Prakash \|date=20 June 2015 \|work=International Business Times \|access-date=9 May 2017 \|quote="Eli" has opened to negative reviews from the audience and critics.}}</ref> [[Baradwaj Rangan]] of ''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote, "There have been films...that have mined comedy from crime, but just about nothing works here. ''Eli'' is full of scenes that go on forever — and for no reason....Even Vadivelu is stranded — the gags he's in are shockingly weak."<ref>{{cite news \| url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/eli-seriously-unfunny/article7333554.ece \| title=Eli: Seriously unfunny \| work=The Hindu \| date=19 June 2015 \| accessdate=19 June 2015 \| author=Rangan, Baradwaj \| author-link=Baradwaj Rangan }}</ref> [[The Times of India]]'s M. Suganth gave the film 1.5 stars out of 5, describing it as "overlong, dull and largely unfunny" and adding, "Yuvaraj Dhayalan, seems to be after a spoof of spy movies but the filmmaking has no comic rhythm and the script, which rehashes elements from movies as varied as ''[[Ragasiya Police 115]]'' and ''The Departed'', is too slack that scenes just go on for ever".<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Eli/movie-review/47743640.cms \| title=Eli Movie Review \| work=The Times of India \| date=20 June 2015 \| accessdate=13 April 2016 \| author=Suganth, M.}}</ref> ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' wrote, "An insipid screenplay and flat narration ensures that it would be the most tedious and boring 154 minutes one could have spent in a theatre...the film is a test of patience".<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/reviews/Insipid-Screenplay-Flat-Narration-Make-Eli-a-Test-of-Ones-Patience/2015/06/21/article2878188.ece \| title=Insipid Screenplay, Flat Narration Make Eli a Test of One's Patience \| work=[[The New Indian Express]] \| date=21 June 2015 \| accessdate=13 April 2016 \| author=Mannath, Malini}}</ref> Behindwoods concluded, "Vadivelu tries hard but ''Eli'' doesn’t evoke enough laughter."<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/eli/eli-review.html \| title=Eli Movie Review \| publisher=Behindwoods \| date=19 June 2015 \| accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref> [[Sify]] called ''Eli'' an "unmitigated disaster" and "probably the worst movie he (Vadivelu) has ever done as a hero".<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.sify.com/movies/eli-review-tamil-pgtrsygieiaad.html \| title=Review : Eli \| publisher=Sify \| accessdate=13 April 2016}}</ref> Raisa Nasreen of Bookmyshow commented positively on Vadivelu's performance but criticised the film's screenplay by stating that the scenes in the film were "too long and too predictable".<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://in.bookmyshow.com/entertainment/eli-film-review-a-slow-paced-spy-thriller/60578 \| title=Eli: Film Review – A slow paced spy thriller! \| publisher=Bookmyshow \| date=19 June 2015 \| accessdate=19 June 2015 \| author=Nasreen, Raisa}}</ref>

	=== Box office ===		=== Box office ===

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{{Short description|2015 film by Yuvaraj Dhayalan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Eli
| image = Eli first look poster.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| native_name = {{film name|ta|எலி}}
| director = [[Yuvaraj Dhayalan]]
| producer = {{plainlist|
*G. Sathis Kumar
*S. Amarnath
}}
| writer = Yuvaraj Dhayalan
| starring = {{plainlist|
*[[Vadivelu]]
*[[Sadha]]
}}
| music = [[Vidyasagar (music director)|Vidyasagar]]
| cinematography = Paul Livingstone
| editing = {{plainlist|
*[[V. T. Vijayan]]
*T. S. Jay
}}
| studio = City Cine Creations
| distributor = City Cine Creations
| released = {{Film date|2015|06|19|df=y}}<ref name="release">{{cite web | url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/eli/eli-movie-release-expectations.html | title=Eli Movie Release Expectation | publisher=Behindwoods | date=16 June 2015 | accessdate=16 June 2015}}</ref>
| runtime = 154 minutes<ref name="release"/>
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget =
| gross =
}}
'''''Eli''''' ({{Translation|Rat}}) is a 2015 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Spy film|spy]] [[Comedy film]] written and directed by [[Yuvaraj Dhayalan]]. The film stars [[Vadivelu]] and [[Sadha]]. [[Vidyasagar (music director)|Vidyasagar]] composed the film's music. ''Eli'', set in the 1960s, focuses on a small-time thief who is recruited by the police to infiltrate a gang in an effort to thwart an illegal cigarette smuggling scheme. The film was released on 19 June 2015 to negative reviews and became a [[box-office bomb]].<ref>http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/eli/eli-review.html</ref>

== Plot ==

In 1960s [[Chennai]] (Madras then), a police officer and a social worker give speech about ban of cigarettes in [[All India Radio]]. Then three men get out from a car. They were thieves and were headed by Eli, a petty thief (who once aspired to become a police officer), who pretends to be a thief who has sold all his robbery items to a jewellery shop owner. The jewellery shop owner had no contact with him and his henchmen dressed as police take all the items pointed out and pretend to arrest Eli and loot the shop. He uses his tricks and loots many other places. One day he enters the house of retired police officer Mr. Rangarajan who had rejected him at the police selection. He loots everything except his photograph. When the current police I.G came there to meet Rangarajan, Eli pretends as though Rangarajan had vacated his house and he is performing rituals and not to disturb him. When the police officer meets Rangarajan on the way he is shocked to find that he had been tricked and Eli had looted the house.

Later when the police officer tells Rangarajan to send a police spy to catch the illegal cigarette cartel leader Nagaraj, Rangarajan recommends Eli to capture him. Eli pretends to be one of Nagaraj's henchmen and with the help of Julie captures Nagaraj red handed and hands him over to the police and also the policeman who had been helping Nagaraj.

== Cast ==
{{Colbegin}}
* [[Vadivelu]] as Elisamy a.k.a. "Eli" / Jolly
* [[Sadha]] as Julie
* [[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]] as Nagarajan
* [[Adithya (actor)|Adithya]] as IG Mohanraj
* [[Santhana Bharathi]] as Jail Warden Ezhumalai
* [[Raj Kapoor (Tamil film director)|Raj Kapoor]] as Police Inspector
* [[Rajendran]] as Kuruvi Manda Kumaru
* [[Kitty (actor)|Kitty]] as Retired IG Rangarajan
* [[Bose Venkat]] as Inspector Karunakaran
* [[Besant Ravi]] as Kuruvi Manda Kumaru's brother
* [[Shanmugarajan]]
* [[Mahanadi Shankar]] as Padagu Babu
* Bava Lakshmanan as Eli's partner
* Vengal Rao as Eli's partner
* [[Nellai Siva]]
* [[King Kong (actor)|King Kong]] as convict
* [[Muthukaalai]] as terrorist
* Boys Rajan as Padmanabhan
* [[Krishnamoorthy (actor)|Krishnamoorthy]] as Bank clerk
* Sakthivel as Jail warden
* Poochi Murugan as Minister Poochi Muthu
* Amirtha Lingam
* Pei Krishnan
* Kottai Perumal as smuggler
* Jayakumar as Police officer
* Aarivaya Shaik as Dumb convict
* Karnaa Radha
{{Colend}}

== Production ==
''Eli'' is the second film of Vadivelu with Yuvaraj Dhayalan after ''[[Tenaliraman (film)|Tenaliraman]]'' (2014).<ref name = "EliBW1">{{cite web | url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/vaigai-puyal-vadivelu-as-eli.html | title=Vadivelu as Eli | publisher=Behindwoods | date=5 February 2015 | accessdate=9 February 2015}}</ref> In March 2015, [[Sadha]] was confirmed to play the female lead in the film.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/actress-sada-of-anniyan-fame-makes-a-comeback-in-comedian-vadivelus-film-eli.html | title=Tough fight for Vadivelu from this actress! | publisher=Behindwoods | date=24 March 2015 | accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref> [[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]] plays the film's antagonist.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/the-shooting-of-vadivelu-starrer-eli-directed-by-yuvaraj-dhayalan-will-wrap-in-15-days.html | title=Grand plans for Vadivelu's Eli | publisher=Behindwoods | date=8 April 2015 | accessdate=12 April 2015}}</ref> In an interview with Sudhir Srinivasan of ''[[The Hindu]]'', Dhayalan said that the inspiration for the film's title came from the repeated usage of the word "rat", which is a term used to denote a spy, in the [[Martin Scorsese]] film ''[[The Departed]]'' (2006).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/vadivelu-about-his-role-in-new-film-eli/article7312839.ece | title=Manmohan Singh used my line | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=13 June 2015 | accessdate=13 June 2015 | author=Srinivasan, Sudhir}}</ref>

[[Principal photography]] commenced with the filming of a song sequence on the outskirts of the city,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Vadivelu-sports-retro-look-for-Eli/articleshow/46132863.cms | title=Vadivelu sports retro look for 'Eli' | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=6 February 2015 | accessdate=9 February 2015 | author=Karthik, Janani}}</ref> from the same day as the first look poster was released. The shooting is reported to continue for 60 days at a stretch.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/why-is-vadivelu-an-eli.html | title=Why is Vadivelu a rat? | publisher=Behindwoods | date=9 February 2015 | accessdate=9 February 2015}}</ref> A stunt sequence was shot at a specially erected set in early April 2015 over a period of eight days. According to Dhayalan, this sequence features Vadivelu evading the villain's henchmen instead of fighting them.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/vadivelu-pulls-off-a-tough-fight-sequence-for-eli-115040600167_1.html | title=Vadivelu pulls off a tough fight sequence for 'Eli' | work=[[Business Standard]] | agency=[[Indo-Asian News Service|IANS]] | date=6 April 2015 | accessdate=6 April 2015}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Eli
| type = Soundtrack
| longtype = Eli
| artist = [[Vidyasagar (composer)|Vidyasagar]]
| cover =
| border = yes
| alt =
| caption = Album Cover for ''Eli''
| released = 11 May 2015
| recorded = [[Varsha Vallaki Studios]]
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Feature Film Soundtrack]]
| length = 12:48
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| label = [[Saregama]]
| producer = [[Vidyasagar (composer)|Vidyasagar]]
| prev_title = [[Ennum Eppozhum]]
| prev_year = 2015
| next_title = [[Anarkali (2015 film)|Anarkali]]
| next_year = 2015
}}
[[Vidyasagar (composer)|Vidyasagar]] composed the film's soundtrack and score while [[Pulamaipithan]] and [[Viveka (lyricist)|Viveka]] wrote the lyrics. The music rights were purchased by [[Saregama]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9v8Z5V-kSM |title=Eli Audio Jukebox |publisher=[[Saregama]] |date=15 May 2015 |accessdate=30 May 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324155926/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9v8Z5V-kSM |archivedate=24 March 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> The launch of the soundtrack was held on 11 May 2015.<ref name=TOI>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/Vadivelus-Eli-audio-launch-on-May-11th/articleshow/47172917.cms | title=Vadivelu's 'Eli' audio launch on May 11th | work=The Times of India | date=6 May 2015 | accessdate=7 May 2015}}</ref> During the audio launch, Vadivelu revealed that the Hindi song "[[Mere Sapno Ki Rani]]" from ''[[Aradhana (1969 film)|Aradhana]]'' (1969) would be reused in the film and that the sequence would feature himself and Sadha.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/wont-rule-out-another-stint-in-politics-says-vadivelu/article7203553.ece | title=Won't rule out another stint in politics, says Vadivelu | work=The Hindu | date=13 May 2015 | accessdate=26 May 2015 | author=Naig, Udhav}}</ref>

{{tracklist
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 12:38
| title1 = Kollai Azhagu
| extra1 = Mukesh, [[Manjari (Indian singer)|Manjari]]
| length1 = 4:35
| title2 = Kannameya
| extra2 = [[Vadivelu]]
| length2 = 3:34
| title3 = Engalukkum
| extra3 = Hariharasudhan
| length3 = 4:29
}}

== Release ==
On 5 February 2015, ''Eli''{{'}}s first look poster was revealed. The poster featured Vadivelu sporting a red coat and yellow scarf over a black shirt and checked black trousers.<ref name = "EliBW1"/> The first trailer was released on 14 May 2015,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Vadivelus-Eli-trailer/articleshow/47294195.cms |title=Vadivelu's 'Eli' trailer |work=The Times of India |date=14 May 2015 |accessdate=26 May 2015 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6YuPi7fBq?url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Vadivelus-Eli-trailer/articleshow/47294195.cms |archivedate=30 May 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> while a second trailer was released on 4 June 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Eli-Trailer-2/articleshow/47552494.cms |title=Eli: Trailer 2 |work=The Times of India |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=6 June 2015 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6Z4y7zm3n?url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Eli-Trailer-2/articleshow/47552494.cms |archivedate=6 June 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> The film was released on 19 June the same month.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=26 May 2015|title=Vadivelu's Eli censored, gearing up for release|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/vadivelus-eli-censored-gearing-up-for-release-news-tamil-pf0kHMajcaejd.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=26 May 2015|website=[[Sify]]|publisher=}}</ref>

=== Critical reception ===
''Eli'' received generally negative reviews from critics.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/eli-movie-review-live-audience-response-636355 |title='Eli' Movie Review: Live Audience Response |last=Upadhyaya |first=Prakash |date=20 June 2015 |work=International Business Times |access-date=9 May 2017 |quote="Eli" has opened to negative reviews from the audience and critics.}}</ref> [[Baradwaj Rangan]] of ''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote, "There have been films...that have mined comedy from crime, but just about nothing works here. ''Eli'' is full of scenes that go on forever — and for no reason....Even Vadivelu is stranded — the gags he's in are shockingly weak."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/eli-seriously-unfunny/article7333554.ece | title=Eli: Seriously unfunny | work=The Hindu | date=19 June 2015 | accessdate=19 June 2015 | author=Rangan, Baradwaj | author-link=Baradwaj Rangan }}</ref> [[The Times of India]]'s M. Suganth gave the film 1.5 stars out of 5, describing it as "overlong, dull and largely unfunny" and adding, "Yuvaraj Dhayalan, seems to be after a spoof of spy movies but the filmmaking has no comic rhythm and the script, which rehashes elements from movies as varied as ''[[Ragasiya Police 115]]'' and ''The Departed'', is too slack that scenes just go on for ever".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Eli/movie-review/47743640.cms | title=Eli Movie Review | work=The Times of India | date=20 June 2015 | accessdate=13 April 2016 | author=Suganth, M.}}</ref> ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' wrote, "An insipid screenplay and flat narration ensures that it would be the most tedious and boring 154 minutes one could have spent in a theatre...the film is a test of patience".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/reviews/Insipid-Screenplay-Flat-Narration-Make-Eli-a-Test-of-Ones-Patience/2015/06/21/article2878188.ece | title=Insipid Screenplay, Flat Narration Make Eli a Test of One's Patience | work=[[The New Indian Express]] | date=21 June 2015 | accessdate=13 April 2016 | author=Mannath, Malini}}</ref> Behindwoods concluded, "Vadivelu tries hard but ''Eli'' doesn’t evoke enough laughter."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/eli/eli-review.html | title=Eli Movie Review | publisher=Behindwoods | date=19 June 2015 | accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref> [[Sify]] called ''Eli'' an "unmitigated disaster" and "probably the worst movie he (Vadivelu) has ever done as a hero".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sify.com/movies/eli-review-tamil-pgtrsygieiaad.html | title=Review : Eli | publisher=Sify | accessdate=13 April 2016}}</ref> Raisa Nasreen of Bookmyshow commented positively on Vadivelu's performance but criticised the film's screenplay by stating that the scenes in the film were "too long and too predictable".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://in.bookmyshow.com/entertainment/eli-film-review-a-slow-paced-spy-thriller/60578 | title=Eli: Film Review – A slow paced spy thriller! | publisher=Bookmyshow | date=19 June 2015 | accessdate=19 June 2015 | author=Nasreen, Raisa}}</ref>

=== Box office ===
''Eli'' grossed {{INR}} 9,34,054 in [[Chennai]] during its opening weekend.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/eli/eli-box-office-jun-21.html | title=Eli 1st week | publisher=Behindwoods | date=22 June 2015 | accessdate=22 June 2015}}</ref> It was a [[box-office bomb]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/eli/eli-box-office-jun-28.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630232100/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/eli/eli-box-office-jun-28.html | url-status=live | archive-date=30 June 2015 | title=Eli 2nd week | publisher=Behindwoods | date=29 June 2015 | accessdate=9 May 2017 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|4786638}}

{{Yuvaraj Dhayalan}}

[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:2015 films]]
[[Category:Indian crime comedy films]]
[[Category:2010s crime comedy films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Vidyasagar]]
[[Category:2010s spy comedy films]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1960s]]
[[Category:Cross-dressing in Indian films]]
[[Category:Films set in Chennai]]
[[Category:2015 comedy films]]