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{{Short description|2021 Indian Tamil-language neo-noir action film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Rocky 2021 tamil film poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Arun Matheswaran]]
| writer = Arun Matheswaran
| producer = C. R. Manoj Kumar
| starring = [[Vasanth Ravi]]<br />[[Bharathiraja]]<br />[[Raveena Ravi]]
| cinematography = Shreyaas Krishna
| editing = [[Nagooran Ramachandran]]
| music = [[Darbuka Siva]]
| studio = RA Studios
| distributor = [[Rowdy Pictures]]
| released = {{film date|df=yes|2021|12|23}}
| runtime = 121 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
'''''Rocky''''' is a 2021 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[neo-noir]] [[action thriller film]] directed by [[Arun Matheswaran]] in his directorial debut, while it was produced by C. R. Manoj Kumar under RA Studios and distributed by [[Vignesh Shivan|Rowdy Pictures]].<ref name="Rocky ToI" /> It stars [[Vasanth Ravi]], [[Bharathiraja]] and [[Raveena Ravi]] in the lead roles. The music was composed by [[Darbuka Siva]], while the cinematography and editing were handled by Shreyaas Krishna and [[Nagooran Ramachandran]].<ref name="Rocky N18" />

''Rocky'' was released on 23 December 2021 on [[Christmas]] weekend to widespread critical acclaim and became a box office success.<ref name="Rocky Mint" />

== Plot ==
{| class="infobox"
|-
! style="font-size:100%; text-align: center;"| Narrative structure
|-
| Prologue: "Aadhi Muran Pudhir" ("The God Paradox")
|-
| Chapter 1: "Un Amma Unna Yen Peththa Theriyuma?" ("Do You Know Why Your Mom Gave Birth To You?")
|-
| Chapter 2: "Ketta Kadavul Nalla Saathan" ("Evil God, Virtuous Devil")
|-
| Chapter 3: "Naatukku Pogalam" ("Let us go back to our homeland")
|-
| Chapter 4: "Oru Kazhugu 100 Moonji" ("1 Eagle; 100 Faces")
|-
| Epilogue: "The Seedless Fruit"
|}

Rocky, an assassin who gets released from prison after finishing his sentence, learns that his younger sister Amutha has left the city. He stays at his friend Mahalingam's house and enquires a gangster named Saamy about Amutha, but to no avail. Mahalingam learns through Nadarajan that Amutha is in [[Sellur]], which he informs to Rocky. It is revealed that Rocky lived with his mother Malli and Amutha in [[Madras]]. He worked with a drug smuggler named Manimaran. Malli objected to Rocky's decision for working with Manimaran as her husband had worked with Manimaran and subsequently lost his life.

Rocky heads to Sellur where he meets a pregnant Amutha, who berates him for his mistakes, but eventually reconciles with him. Suddenly, Manimaran's henchman and an [[Inspector]] arrive, where they knock out Rocky and kill Amutha. Rocky awakens alongside Nadarajan, who learns about the incident. They reach the Inspector's hideout and brutally kills the Inspector and the henchmen. Rocky heads to Saamy's lodge where he tortures Saamy's assistant, who reveals Manimaran's location in an abandoned construction site in [[Minjur]]. They reach the site only to fight with his goons, which results in Nadarajan being killed. Rocky kills most of the goons including Saamy.

Rocky reaches and confronts Manimaran only to learn that they also killed Amutha's husband and Amutha's daughter is the only lone survivor. She is held by Manimaran's right-hand Thanraj at knifepoint. Rocky escapes along with Amutha's daughter after knocking out both Manimaran and Thanraj. They leave for Malli's village in [[Tamil Eelam]]. It is revealed that Rocky killed Manimaran's son as he was jealous of Rocky taking over the smuggling consignments. Manimaran's son was berated by Manimaran due to which he killed Malli. During the journey, Rocky learns that his niece's name is also Malli. During the journey, a bond grows between them.

Thanraj kills Mahalingam and traces Rocky and Malli in [[Dhanushkodi]], where he tries to kill him, but Rocky kills Thanraj by stabbing his eyes with a sharp object and kills the remaining henchmen. While reaching Dhanushkodi, Rocky faces Manimaran and the entire criminal fraternity of [[Madras]]. Rocky mows down and kills all of them using a [[M134 Minigun]], which was actually a part of the consignment secretly kept by Rocky. Accepting his defeat, Manimaran commits suicide by slitting his throat. With no one else to trouble him, Rocky and Malli leaves on a boat to Malli's village, where Malli asks Rocky that if she can tell him a story about an eagle.

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
* [[Vasanth Ravi]] as Rocky
* [[Bharathiraja]] as Manimaran
* [[Raveena Ravi]] as Amudha
* [[Rohini (actress)|Rohini]] as Malli
* Poo Ram as Mahalingam
*Ravi Venkataraman as Saamy
*Ashraf Mallisery as Thanraj
*Rishikanth as Manimaran's son
*Jayakumar as Nadarajan
*Anisha as Malli
*[[Nagooran Ramachandran]] as [[Date (fruit)|dates seller]]
}}

== Production ==

=== Development ===
In April 2018, [[Vasanth Ravi]], during an exclusive interview with [[The Times of India|''ETimes'']], revealed that he signed his next project after his debut film [[Taramani (film)|''Taramani'']] (2017). He further revealed that it was written and directed by debutant Arun Matheswaran, who worked as an associate of [[Thiagarajan Kumararaja]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-04-18 |title=Acting cannot be taught; there is no set principle: Vasanth Ravi |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/acting-cannot-be-taught-there-is-no-set-principle-vasanth-ravi/articleshow/63800216.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821174942/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/acting-cannot-be-taught-there-is-no-set-principle-vasanth-ravi/articleshow/63800216.cms?from=mdr |archive-date=21 August 2023 |access-date=2024-01-09 |work=The Times of India }}</ref> On 26 September that year, the official title ''Rocky'' was announced by the production house. Initially, [[Mysskin]] was chosen to play the main antagonist, but opted out for unknown reasons.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-09-26 |title=Vasanth Ravi turns an action hero |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vasanth-ravi-turns-an-action-hero/articleshow/65965623.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-01-09 |work=The Times of India}}</ref>

== Music ==
The soundtrack and score was composed by [[Darbuka Siva]] and the album featured three songs. The audio rights were acquired by [[Lahari Music]].
{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| title1 = Aalilalilo
| lyrics1 = [[Madhan Karky]]
| extra1 = [[Chinmayi Sripada|Chinmayi]] Sripada
| length1 = 04:44
| title2 = Naan Sinam Ariven
| lyrics2 = [[Kaber Vasuki]]
| extra2 = [[Anthony Daasan]]
| length2 = 04:51
| title3 = Vanma Padhaiyil
| lyrics3 = Kaber Vasuki
| extra3 = James Thakara, Kaber Vasuki
| length3 = 04:52
| extra_column = Singer(s)
}}

== Reception ==
Ashameera Aiyappan of ''[[Firstpost]]'' gave 4/5 stars and wrote "With ''Rocky'', Director Arun Matheswaran and DOP Shreyas Krishnaa manipulate the space on-screen with great finesse to communicate the emotional psyche of the characters."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocky movie review: A stunning tapestry of anger, blood, and violence |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/rocky-movie-review-a-stunning-tapestry-of-anger-blood-and-violence-10231601.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215191309/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/rocky-movie-review-a-stunning-tapestry-of-anger-blood-and-violence-10231601.html |archive-date=15 December 2023 |access-date=27 December 2021 |website=[[Firstpost]]}}</ref> M. Suganth of ''[[The Times of India]]'' gave 4/5 stars and describe the film as "gloriously violent, superbly shot and deeply sentimental film."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocky Movie Review: Rocky is gloriously violent and deeply sentimental |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/rocky/movie-review/88455427.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504112323/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/rocky/movie-review/88455427.cms |archive-date=4 May 2022 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Manoj Kumar. R of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "None before Arun Matheswaran had dared to graphically depict violence in such a way. The film's setup innately compromises the separation between good versus evil. It is a demon versus demon and we have to root for the lesser evil."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocky movie review: A bold, relentless depiction of senselessness of violence |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/rocky-review-a-bold-relentless-depiction-of-the-senselessness-of-violence-7686364/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211231057/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/rocky-review-a-bold-relentless-depiction-of-the-senselessness-of-violence-7686364/ |archive-date=11 December 2023 |access-date=27 December 2021 |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref>

Thinkal Menon of ''[[OTTplay]]'' gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "Rocky is an undiluted action film which is nothing short of a feast for fans of gangster flicks. It stands out for its fine technical aspects and performances from the lead cast."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocky movie review: Vasanth Ravi, Bharathiraja excel in this blatant blood-splattered tale of revenge |url=https://www.ottplay.com/review/rocky-movie-review-vasanth-ravi-bharathiraja-excel-in-this-blatant-blood-splattered-tale-of-revenge/336d424b00693 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209111649/https://www.ottplay.com/review/rocky-movie-review-vasanth-ravi-bharathiraja-excel-in-this-blatant-blood-splattered-tale-of-revenge/336d424b00693 |archive-date=9 December 2023 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=[[OTTplay]]}}</ref> Janani. K of ''[[India Today]]'' gave 3/5 stars and wrote "Rocky is not a plain revenge drama, it is layered and carefully structured. The film is a leaf out of the ''[[John Wick]]'' universe, but remains rooted in [[Tamil Nadu]]."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocky Movie Review: Vasanth Ravi's John Wick-style film is tastefully gruesome |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/rocky-movie-review-vasanth-ravi-s-john-wick-style-film-is-tastefully-gruesome-1891270-2021-12-23 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225124228/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/rocky-movie-review-vasanth-ravi-s-john-wick-style-film-is-tastefully-gruesome-1891270-2021-12-23 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |access-date=27 December 2021 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref>

[[Baradwaj Rangan]] of ''[[Film Companion]]'' wrote "Rocky is best seen as a showreel of Arun Matheswaran and has a fantastic eye for composition, where he also uses the big screen beautifully."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Despite A Generic Narrative, Rocky Signals The Arrival Of A Genuine Cinematic Voice |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/rocky-tamil-movie-review-vasanth-ravi-bharathiraja-despite-a-generic-narrative-signals-the-arrival-of-a-genuine-cinematic-voice |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209111650/https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/rocky-tamil-movie-review-vasanth-ravi-bharathiraja-despite-a-generic-narrative-signals-the-arrival-of-a-genuine-cinematic-voice |archive-date=9 December 2023 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=[[Film Companion]]}}</ref> Praveen Sudevan of ''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote "Revenge dramas have existed for generations in [[Tamil cinema]]. There are scores of good and bad ones, but Rocky will probably be among the best, because it is spectacularly bloody and poetic at the same time."<ref>{{Cite web |title=‘Rocky’ movie review: Arun Matheshwaran announces his arrival with a bloody, brilliant revenge drama |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/rocky-tamil-film-2021-review-vasanth-ravi-bharathiraja-arun-matheswaran/article38027415.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022122221/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/rocky-tamil-film-2021-review-vasanth-ravi-bharathiraja-arun-matheswaran/article38027415.ece |archive-date=22 October 2023 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Haricharan Pudipeddi of ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' wrote "Arun Matheswaran’s Rocky is a no-nonsense, extremely ultraviolent revenge drama. It is unarguably the most violent film in Tamil cinema's history."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocky movie review: Vasanth Ravi’s slow burning, violent revenge drama dares to push boundaries |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/rocky-movie-review-vasanth-ravi-s-slow-burning-violent-revenge-drama-dares-to-push-boundaries-101640335750825.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209111649/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/rocky-movie-review-vasanth-ravi-s-slow-burning-violent-revenge-drama-dares-to-push-boundaries-101640335750825.html |archive-date=9 December 2023 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="Rocky ToI">{{Cite web |title=Vasanth Ravi's 'Rocky' to hit the screens on December 23 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vasanth-ravis-rocky-to-hit-the-screens-on-december-23/articleshow/88125891.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207063913/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vasanth-ravis-rocky-to-hit-the-screens-on-december-23/articleshow/88125891.cms |archive-date=7 December 2021 |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
<ref name="Rocky N18">{{Cite web |title=Vasanth Ravi, Bharathiraaja-Starrer Rocky To Hit The Theatres on December 23 |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/vasanth-ravi-bharathiraaja-starrer-rocky-to-hit-the-theatres-on-december-23-4532093.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220115801/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/vasanth-ravi-bharathiraaja-starrer-rocky-to-hit-the-theatres-on-december-23-4532093.html |archive-date=20 December 2021 |access-date=8 December 2021 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
<ref name="Rocky Mint">{{Cite web |title=Tamil film ‘Rocky’ to release on 23 December |url=https://www.livemint.com/industry/media/tamil-film-rocky-to-release-on-23-december-11639459309723.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220115744/https://www.livemint.com/industry/media/tamil-film-rocky-to-release-on-23-december-11639459309723.html |archive-date=20 December 2021 |access-date=14 December 2021 |website=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]}}</ref>

</references>

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

{{Arun Matheswaran}}

[[Category:2020s gangster films]]
[[Category:2021 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2021 action thriller films]]
[[Category:2021 films]]
[[Category:2021 Indian films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Arun Matheswaran]]
[[Category:Films scored by Darbuka Siva]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian gangster films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language action thriller films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Rocky (2021 film) - Revision history

Kanna chan: stub