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{{short description|2015 film by Manimaran}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}

{{Infobox film
| name = RAJA
| image = Pugazh poster.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[Manimaran]]
| producer = Varun Manian Sushant Prasad Govindaraj
| writer = Manimaran
| starring = [[Jai (actor)|Jai]] [[Surbhi]] [[Karunas]] [[RJ Balaji]] [[G. Marimuthu]] [[Piraisoodan]]
| music = [[Vivek-Mervin]]
| cinematography = [[Velraj]]
| editing = G. B. Venkatesh
| studio = Radiance Media Film Department
| distributor = [[Ayngaran International|Ayngaran International Media]] [[Kalasangham Films]]
| released = 18 March 2016
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| runtime =
}}
'''''Pugazh''''' ({{translation|Fame}}) is a 2016 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[action thriller film]] written and directed by [[Maran]] and co-produced by Varun Manian. The film features [[Jai (actor)|Jai]] and [[Surbhi]] in the leading roles, while [[Karunas]], [[RJ Balaji]], [[G. Marimuthu]], and [[Piraisoodan]] play supporting roles. Vivek-Mervin composed the film's music.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.livechennai.com/detailnews.asp?catid=16&newsid=15082 |title=Live Chennai: Vimal and Anjali to romance again ,Vimal,Anjali,Mappillai Singam |website=www.livechennai.com}}</ref> The film was released on 18 March 2016 and received mixed reviews from critics.

==Cast==
{{colbegin}}
* [[Jai (actor)|Jai]] as Pugazhendhi (a) Pugazh
* [[Surbhi]] as Bhuvana
* [[Karunas]] as Pugazh's brother
* [[RJ Balaji]] as Balaji
* [[G. Marimuthu]] as Dass
* [[Piraisoodan]] as Selvanayagam
* Vikram as Venkat
* Supergood Subramani as Venkat's father
* Kannan as Bhuvana's brother
* Vijayamuthu as Muthu
* Kamal Hassan
* Ravisankar
* Valliappan
* Rajani
* [[Velraj]] in a cameo appearance
* AC Gaayathri in a cameo appearance
{{colend}}

==Production==
The film was first reported in November 2013, when it was revealed that [[Manimaran]] had cast [[Jai (actor)|Jai]] and [[Priya Anand]] to star in his second directorial venture. [[Anirudh Ravichander]] was suggested as the film's music composer, while a simultaneously shot Telugu version with [[Siddharth (actor)|Siddharth]] and [[Hansika Motwani]] was also considered.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/jai-and-priya-anand-in-manimarans-second-film-tamil-news-100181 |title=- Tamil News |website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref> Manimaran added that his first choice was initially [[Dhanush]], but his busy schedule prompted him to select Jai, while the film would be titled ''Podiyan'', and that filming would begin in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Jai-to-play-a-podiyan-in-his-next/articleshow/26022450.cms |title=Jai to play a 'podiyan' in his next - Times of India |website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-director/manimaran/pugazhdirector-manimaran-interview.html |title=Pugazhdirector Manimaran interview |website=www.behindwoods.com}}</ref>

Varun Manian announced in July 2014, that he would produce the Tamil film alongside Sushant Prasad and Govindaraj of Film Department Studios, while [[Velraj]] was revealed as the cinematographer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/varun-manians-new-project-with-jai-news-tamil-ohqm5fhjbccbd.html |title=Varun Manian's new project with Jai! |website=Sify}}</ref> Reports suggested that the film may be re-titled as ''Pugazh'', after the title became re-available following a shelved venture by [[Aascar Films]] and actor [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]]. The title ''Pugazh'' was also wanted by [[Sarathkumar]], who later permitted the film to take it.{{cn|date=August 2020}} In August 2014, reports emerged that [[Trisha (actress)|Trisha]] had liked the script of the film and was re-allocating her dates to try and fit the film into her schedule. However, following the end of her engagement with producer Varun Manian, she opted out of the project. Manimaran later stated that he was not interested in casting Trisha, as she did not suit the role, but the producer had been adamant.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/trishas-aura-is-very-strong-news-tamil-oihkUXehibeaj.html |title=Trisha's aura is very strong! |website=Sify}}</ref> By November 2014, the film was launched as ''Pugazh'' with [[Surabhi (actress)|Surabhi]] revealed to be the film's lead heroine.

==Release==
At the [[Chennai]] Box Office, Pugazh took an average opening, with collections of Rs. {{formatnum:3968766}} from 171 shows in the first weekend.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/pugazh/pugazh-box-office-mar-20.html |title=Pugazh box office collection |date=20 March 2016 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref> However, the film's collections dropped drastically in the second week, and the total collection at the Chennai Box Office was Rs. {{formatnum:7123250}} from 18 shows, settling for a below average verdict.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/pugazh/pugazh-box-office-mar-27.html |title=Pugazh box office collection |date=27 March 2016 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref>

Baradwaj Rangan of the Hindu wrote, "Pugazh is a collection of good bits of writing, good intentions, but they don't add up to a consistently good film because it wants to be both a rooted ensemble drama and a masala-style solo-hero narrative. We get neither."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/pugazh-a-middling-drama-somewhat-redeemed-by-grit-texture/article8374314.ece |title=Pugazh: A middling drama somewhat redeemed by grit, texture |first=Baradwaj |last=Rangan |date=19 March 2016 |via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
The soundtrack was composed by [[Vivek-Mervin]] in their second venture and collaboration with Jai after ''[[Vadacurry]]''.

{{Infobox album
| name = Pugazh
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Vivek-Mervin]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 2016
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 22:36
| language = Tamil
| label =
| producer = Dhibu Ninan Thomas
| prev_title = [[Vadacurry]]
| prev_year = 2014
| next_title = [[Dora (2017 film)|Dora]]
| next_year = 2017
}}
{{tracklist
| extra_column =Singers
| title1 = Naanga Podiyan
| extra1 = [[Anirudh Ravichander]], [[Diwakar]]
| length1 = 4:11
| title2 = Neeyae
| extra2 = [[Arijit Singh]], Mervin Solomon
| length2 = 4:43
| title3 = Podu Podu
| extra3 = RJ Balaji, Vivek-Mervin, MC AK, MC Rude
| length3 = 4:10
| title4 = Vizhigalil Vizhundhavalo
| extra4 = [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]], Vivek Siva, [[K. S. Chithra]]
| length4 = 5:10
| title5 = Sharpu Gangu (not featured in film)
| extra5 = Vivek-Mervin
| length5 = 4:22
|total_length = 22:36}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|5556110}}

[[Category:2016 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Indian political thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian action drama films]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:2010s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2016 action drama films]]
[[Category:2016 action thriller films]]
[[Category:Political action films]]
[[Category:2010s political thriller films]]

Pugazh - Revision history

imported>Fad Ariff at 10:26, 4 August 2021