ErwinGholson17: minor expand citations to improve readability and added references

2026-03-17T14:26:16Z

minor expand citations to improve readability and added references

2603:7000:8540:A0:C5E:5C78:2964:4895: /* Critics */

2021-08-08T23:48:20Z

Critics

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{{Short description|2021 television film directed by Muthaiah}}
{{Distinguish|Kutti Puli}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Pulikkuthi Pandi
| image = Pulikkuthi Pandi.jpg
| image_alt =
| caption = Promotional poster
| genre =
| creator =
| based_on =
| writer = [[M. Muthaiah]]
| screenplay =
| story =
| director = [[M. Muthaiah]]
| starring = {{unbulleted list|[[Vikram Prabhu]]|[[Lakshmi Menon (actress)|Lakshmi Menon]]}}
| narrated =
| music = [[N. R. Raghunanthan]]
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| num_episodes =
| producer = {{ubl|[[Kalanithi Maran]]|[[M. Muthaiah]]}}
| editor = Venkat Rajen
| cinematography = [[R. Velraj]]
| runtime = 145 minutes
| company = {{ubl|[[M. Muthaiah|M Studios]]|[[Sun Pictures|Sun Entertainment]]}}
| distributor = {{ubl|[[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]]|[[Sun NXT]]}}
| budget =
| network =
| released = {{Start date|2021|01|15|df=yes}}
| website =
}}

'''''Pulikkuthi Pandi''''' is a 2021 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Action drama film|action drama]] [[television film]] produced, written and directed by [[M. Muthaiah]]. The film stars [[Vikram Prabhu]], [[Lakshmi Menon (actress)|Lakshmi Menon]] and [[Singampuli]], with [[Samuthirakani|Samuthrakani]], [[R. K. Suresh|R.K. Suresh]], [[Vela Ramamoorthy]] and [[Sujatha Sivakumar]] in supporting roles. The music for the film is composed by [[N. R. Raghunanthan]]. It was released as a television premiere directly via [[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]] on 15 January 2021 coinciding with [[Pongal (festival)|Pongal]] and the birthday of Vikram Prabhu.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=7 January 2021 |title=பொங்கலன்று வெளியாகும் தமிழ் திரைப்படங்கள்! |url=https://www.dinamani.com/specialstories/2021/jan/07/tamil-movies-to-be-released-on-pongal-3539418.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109210721/https://www.dinamani.com/specialstories/2021/jan/07/tamil-movies-to-be-released-on-pongal-3539418.html |archive-date=9 January 2021 |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=Dinamani |language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 January 2021 |title=தியேட்டருக்கு பதில் டி.வி.யில் வெளியாகும் விக்ரம் பிரபு படம் |trans-title=Vikram Prabhu's film will release on TV instead of theatres |url=https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinemanews/2021/01/01074003/2212916/Tamil-cinema-vikram-Prabhus-PulikuthiPandi-will-release.vpf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112062642/https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinemanews/2021/01/01074003/2212916/Tamil-cinema-vikram-Prabhus-PulikuthiPandi-will-release.vpf |archive-date=12 January 2021 |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=Maalaimalar |language=Tamil}}</ref> This film received mixed to positive reviews from audience as well as critics. [[Lakshmi Menon (actress)|Lakshmi Menon]] received particular praise for her performance and role by the audience.

== Plot ==
Pandi ([[Vikram Prabhu]]), an orphan, is a ruffian who has close to 20 petty crime cases registered under his name in a police station. After meeting Pechi ([[Lakshmi Menon (actress)|Lakshmi Menon]]), he decides to be a responsible and sane man as he falls head over heels for her. Though he was ready to mend his ways, fate had other plans for him. He locks horns with Sannasi ([[Vela Ramamoorthy]]), a ruthless loan shark, after the latter misbehaves with Pechi and her father. How Pandi, Pechi and her relatives face the wrath of Sannasi and his sons forms the rest of the story.And Pandi dies by being beheaded by Sannasi's son and the rest of the story is about Pechi and his loved ones killing Sannasi and his family and that is where the story ends.

== Cast ==
{{colbegin}}
* [[Vikram Prabhu]] as Pulikuthi Pandi
* [[Lakshmi Menon (actress)|Lakshmi Menon]] as Pechi
* [[Samuthirakani]] as Karumbalai Pandi, Pandi's father
* [[Singampuli]] as Pandi's uncle
* [[R. K. Suresh]] as Saravedi
* [[Vela Ramamoorthy]] as Sannasi Thevar, Saravedi's father
* R. Kaleeswaran as Seeni Servai, Pechi's father
* [[Dheena (actor)|KPY Dheena]] as Pandi's friend
* [[KPY Bala]] as Pandi's friend
* [[Sujatha Sivakumar]] as Pandi's mother
* [[Aruldoss]] as DSP
* [[Aadukalam Naren]] as Inspector Ramanathan
* [[G. Marimuthu]] as Inspector Dhananchezhiyan
* C. Prabathvarman as Aalavandhan
* [[Namo Narayana]] as Rajakili
* [[Meenal]] as Chittu
* DMJ Rajasimhan as Inspector Karungali
* Stalin as Pechi's brother
* Veeran Selvaraj as Pechi's brother
* Madurai Janaki as Pechi's sister-in-law
* Ramya Shankar as Pechi's sister-in-law
* Velmurugan as Serattai
* Hello Kandhasamy as Selvaraj
* Avan Ivan Ramarajan as Pachamuthu
{{colend}}

== Production ==
The film was announced in September 2020 and the makers began production in the same month amid [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. [[Sun TV Network]] produced the film with a limited budget. The filmmakers initially titled the film as ''Pechi'' and began the [[principal photography]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vikram Prabhu and Lakshmi Menon's film titled Pechi |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vikram-prabhu-and-lakshmi-menons-film-titled-pechi/articleshow/79041728.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112062641/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vikram-prabhu-and-lakshmi-menons-film-titled-pechi/articleshow/79041728.cms |archive-date=12 January 2021 |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=The Times of India}}</ref> but was later changed to ''Pulikkuthi Pandi.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 December 2020 |title=விக்ரம் பிரபு படத்தில் திடீர் மாற்றம் |url=https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinemanews/2020/12/24233049/2191411/Tamil-Cinema-Vikram-prabhu-movie-title-changed.vpf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112062642/https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinemanews/2020/12/24233049/2191411/Tamil-Cinema-Vikram-prabhu-movie-title-changed.vpf |archive-date=12 January 2021 |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=maalaimalar.com |language=Tamil}}</ref> The film project marked the second collaboration between [[Vikram Prabhu]] and [[Lakshmi Menon (actress)|Lakshmi Menon]] after ''[[Kumki (film)|Kumki]]'' (2012).<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 September 2020 |title=Vikram Prabhu and Lakshmi Menon to star in Muthaiah's 'Pechi' |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/vikram-prabhu-and-lakshmi-menon-star-muthaiah-s-pechi-133980 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112062644/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/vikram-prabhu-and-lakshmi-menon-star-muthaiah-s-pechi-133980 |archive-date=12 January 2021 |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref> It also marked the first film project for Menon in four years after her last film ''[[Rekka (film)|Rekka]]'' (2016). Most of the portions of the film were predominantly shot in [[Madurai]] and [[Dindigul]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=100010509524078 |date=31 December 2020 |title=மாஸ் லுக்கில் விக்ரம் பிரபு.... வைரலாகும் 'புலிக்குத்தி பாண்டி' பர்ஸ்ட் லுக் |url=https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinemanews/2020/12/31101600/2212706/Tamil-cinema-Pulikkuthi-Pandi-movie-first-look.vpf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112062643/https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinemanews/2020/12/31101600/2212706/Tamil-cinema-Pulikkuthi-Pandi-movie-first-look.vpf |archive-date=12 January 2021 |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=maalaimalar.com |language=Tamil}}</ref>

The shooting of the film completed during November 2020 at a time when [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] permitted theatres to open for public for the first time post COVID-19. The first look poster of the film was unveiled on 30 December 2020.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title='புலிக்குத்தி பாண்டி' ஃபர்ஸ்ட் லுக் வெளியீடு |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/617131-pulikuthi-pandi-first-look-released.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112062649/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/617131-pulikuthi-pandi-first-look-released.html |archive-date=12 January 2021 |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=31 December 2020 |title=விக்ரம் பிரபு - லட்சுமி மேனனின் 'புலிக்குத்தி பாண்டி' ஃபர்ஸ்ட் லுக் ரிலீஸ் |url=https://tamil.news18.com/news/entertainment/pulikkuthi-pandi-movie-first-look-released-msb-387469.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112062651/https://tamil.news18.com/news/entertainment/pulikkuthi-pandi-movie-first-look-released-msb-387469.html |archive-date=12 January 2021 |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=News18 Tamil}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Pulikkuthi Pandi
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[N. R. Raghunanthan]]
| cover =
| border = yes
| alt =
| caption = Cover Art
| released = 9 January 2021
| recorded = 2020
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 24:15
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| label = [[Sun Pictures|Sun Entertainment]]<br/>[[Divo (record label)|Divo]]
| producer = [[N. R. Raghunanthan]]
| prev_title = [[Utraan]]
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title = [[Pirandhal Parasakthi]]
| next_year = 2021
}}
The film's soundtrack and score was composed by [[N. R. Raghunanthan]]. The album features six tracks with lyrics written by [[Mohan Rajan]], Mani Amudhavan and Araikudi Bharathi Ganesan.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Sun TV|author-link=Sun TV (India)|date=9 January 2021|title=Pulikkuthi Pandi - Official Audio Jukebox {{!}} Vikram Prabhu {{!}} N.R.Raghunanthan {{!}} Sun Entertainment|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRf6kkkTkRY|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124011928/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRf6kkkTkRY|archive-date=24 January 2021|access-date=16 January 2021|website=YouTube}}</ref> It was released on 9 January 2021, six days before the film's release.<ref name=":3" />
{{Track listing
| headline = Track list
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 24:15
| all_music =
| title1 = Gothavula
| extra1 = Mahalingam
| length1 = 02:55
| lyrics1 = Mohan Raj
| title2 = Yammadiyamma
| extra2 = Jagadeesh Kumar
| lyrics2 = Mohan Raj
| length2 = 05:07
| title3 = Venaam Madhu Pazhakkam
| extra3 = Mahalingam
| lyrics3 = Araikudi Bharathi Ganesan
| length3 = 03:28
| title4 = Sollamathan
| extra4 = [[Srinisha Jayaseelan]]
| length4 = 04:58
| lyrics4 = Mohan Raj
| title5 = Alangalankuruvi
| extra5 = Vandana Srinivasan, Lijesh Kumar
| length5 = 04:33
| lyrics5 = Mani Amudhan
| title6 = Alam Uzhuthupotten
| extra6 = Mahalingam
| length6 = 03:17
| lyrics6 = Araikudi Bharathi Ganesan
| all_writing =
}}

== Release ==
The filmmakers initially planned it for [[Christmas]] release on 25 December 2020 but was postponed due delays in post-production. The filmmakers again insisted that the film would be released initially in theatres on 1 January 2021 coinciding with the [[New Year]] which also taunted to be the first [[List of Tamil films of 2021|Tamil film release of 2021]] but the theatrical release was cancelled in the last minute due to delays in post-production of the film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vikram Prabhu's 'Puli Kutty Pandi' to be the first release of 2021 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vikram-prabhus-puli-kutty-pandi-to-be-the-first-release-of-2021/articleshow/79915919.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112062645/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vikram-prabhus-puli-kutty-pandi-to-be-the-first-release-of-2021/articleshow/79915919.cms |archive-date=12 January 2021 |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=The Times of India}}</ref> The film release was later finalised as a direct television premiere via Sun TV on 15 January 2021 as a Pongal release and subsequently the film would be streamed via digital platform [[Sun NXT]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Vikram Prabhu-Muthaiah film premiere on Sun NXT and Sun TV for Pongal! |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/vikram-prabhu-muthaiah-film-premiere-on-sun-nxt-and-sun-tv-for-pongal-news-tamil-umzgV2haebcje.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112062646/https://www.sify.com/movies/vikram-prabhu-muthaiah-film-premiere-on-sun-nxt-and-sun-tv-for-pongal-news-tamil-umzgV2haebcje.html |archive-date=12 January 2021 |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=Sify |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> It became the second film to directly premiere via Sun TV after ''[[Naanga Romba Busy]]'' (2020).<ref name=":2" />

== Reception ==
=== Critics ===
Avinash Ramachandran of [[Cinema Express]] rated the film 3 out of 5 stars and said, "proverbial climactic twist saves this generic film".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramachandran |first=Avinash |date=17 January 2021 |title=Pulikuthi Pandi Movie Review: Proverbial climactic twist saves this generic film |work=Cinema Express |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/tamil/2021/jan/17/pulikuthi-pandi-movie-review-proverbial-climactic-twist-saves-this-generic-film-22292.html |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121053703/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/tamil/2021/jan/17/pulikuthi-pandi-movie-review-proverbial-climactic-twist-saves-this-generic-film-22292.html |archive-date=21 January 2021}}</ref> [[The Times of India]] rated 2.5 out of 5 stars and said, "The action scenes in the latter half (though violent), cinematography and performances lift the film to a good extent till the climax. All the artists pull off their roles with ease – while Lakshmi Menon, Vela Ramamoorthy and RK Suresh stand out."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Menon |first=Thinkal |date=20 January 2021 |title=PULIKKUTHI PANDI REVIEW : PULIKKUTHI PANDI |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/tamil/pulikkuthi-pandi/ottmoviereview/80302281.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126005512/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/tamil/pulikkuthi-pandi/ottmoviereview/80302281.cms |archive-date=26 January 2021 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> [[Baradwaj Rangan]] of Film Companion South wrote "Muthaiah has a good head for plot, but his screenwriting – the way he fleshes out these plot points – is like what you’d find in a TV serial...there’s no flavour in the lines. There’s no life in the performances."<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 January 2021 |title=Pulikkuthi Pandi On SunNXT, With Vikram Prabhu, Lakshmi Menon: A Generic Rural Drama With A Solid Surprise |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/tamil-review/pulikkuthi-pandi-review-sun-nxt-a-generic-rural-drama-with-a-solid-surprise-vikram-prabhu-lakshmi-menon-tamil-movies-baradwaj-rangan/}}</ref>

Several audience praised [[Lakshmi Menon (actress)|Lakshmi Menon]] for her bold performance in the climax.

=== Ratings ===

The film which had a direct TV premiere on [[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]] garnered a viewership of 13.284 million impressions and a rating of 17.05 TVR becoming the most watched Tamil television program in that week.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 January 2021 |title=டி.ஆர்.பி-யில் தெறிக்க விட்ட 'புலிக்குத்தி பாண்டி'! |url=https://tamil.news18.com/news/entertainment/pulikkuthi-pandi-beats-soorarai-pottru-in-sun-tv-trp-scs-397657.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210125070404/https://tamil.news18.com/news/entertainment/pulikkuthi-pandi-beats-soorarai-pottru-in-sun-tv-trp-scs-397657.html |archive-date=25 January 2021 |access-date=25 January 2021 |website=[[CNN News18]]}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{IMDb title|id=tt13760126}}
{{M. Muthaiah}}

[[Category:2021 action drama films]]
[[Category:2021 television films]]
[[Category:Action television films]]
[[Category:Drama television films]]
[[Category:Films directed by M. Muthaiah]]
[[Category:Films not released in theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic]]
[[Category:Films shot in Madurai]]
[[Category:Indian action drama films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian television films]]
[[Category:Masala films]]
[[Category:2020s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2021 films]]

Pulikkuthi Pandi - Revision history

ErwinGholson17: minor expand citations to improve readability and added references

2603:7000:8540:A0:C5E:5C78:2964:4895: /* Critics */