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{{short description|2015 film by James Vasanthan}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Vaanavil Vaazhkai
| image = Vaanavil Vaazhkai.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Poster
| native_name = 
| director = [[James Vasanthan]]
| producer =
| writer = James Vasanthan
| screenplay =
| story =
| based_on =
| starring =
| narrator =
| music = James Vasanthan
| cinematography = R. K. Prathap
| editing =
| studio = Oceanaa AJR Cine Arts
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2015|3|13}}
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget =
| gross =
}}
'''''Vaanavil Vaazhkai''''' ({{trans|Colourful life}}) is a 2015 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[musical film]] written and directed by [[James Vasanthan]] in his directorial debut. He also worked as music director. The film stars predominantly newcomers who also sing the songs picturised on their characters. It was released on 13 March 2015.

== Plot ==
Rival bands come together to compete in a national inter-university competition.

== Cast ==
{{colbegin}}
* Jithin Raj as Jack
* Sai Shankar as Arvind
* Jose Selvaraj as Fayaz
* Jonathan Devadoss as Pramod
* Pavithran as Saravanan
* Shilvi Sharon as Ankita
* Radhika George as Harini
* [[Maya S. Krishnan]] as Shweta
* Janani Rajan as Preethi
* Cassandra Rachel as Vinita
* Gaana Siva as Gaana Raja
* Santhosh Cherian as GL Judge
* Josh Mark Raj as GL Judge
* Ilayaraja as Team Folk Singer
* Dr. Joseph Selvaraj as Dr. Parthasarathy
* Aarthi Murali as Prof. Gurupriya
* Prof. Saravanan as Prof. Selvaraj
* Rashna Adhiraj as Jack's mother
* Malic Ibrahim as Jack's mother
* S. Soumya as Preethi's mother
* Sundaresan as Preethi's fother
* Richwin Roy as Harini's brother
* Prof. Karthik as Loyola College Professor
* Aparna as Vinita's friend
* Prajitha as Vinita's friend
{{colend}}

== Production ==
''Vaanavil Vaazhkai'' is the directorial debut of music director [[James Vasanthan]], who wrote the script in six months. For the film's cast, he decided to take newcomers, primarily college students and those from college bands.<ref name="From music to movies" /> Among the newcomers were vocalist/guitarist Jithin Raj,<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 January 2015 |title=Jithin Raj: 'Vaanavil Vaazhkai' will be a musical treat |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/jithin-raj-vaanavil-vaazhkai-will-be-a-musical-treat-735521.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505185132/http://www.news18.com/news/india/jithin-raj-vaanavil-vaazhkai-will-be-a-musical-treat-735521.html |archive-date=5 May 2016 |access-date=27 December 2018 |website=[[CNN-News18]]}}</ref> [[Carnatic music]]-trained Janani Rajan,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=Srinivasa |date=20 March 2015 |title=A sound choice |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-sound-choice/article7015592.ece |url-status=live |access-date=27 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227064133/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-sound-choice/article7015592.ece |archive-date=27 December 2018}}</ref> percussionists Jose Selvaraj and Radhika George, singer Cassandra Rachel, Carnatic singer S. Soumya,<ref name="gulfnews">{{Cite news |last=Ramachandran |first=Mythiliy |date=11 March 2015 |title='Vaanavil Vaazhkai' a true musical entertainer |work=[[Gulf News]] |url=https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/south-indian/vaanavil-vaazhkai-a-true-musical-entertainer-1.1470285 |url-status=live |access-date=27 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227064133/https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/south-indian/vaanavil-vaazhkai-a-true-musical-entertainer-1.1470285 |archive-date=27 December 2018}}</ref> and [[Maya S. Krishnan]].<ref name="Maya S Krishnan">{{Cite news |last=Saravanan |first=T. |date=24 November 2016 |title=Sharing screen space with the Superstar |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/Sharing-screen-space-with-the-Superstar/article16693596.ece |url-status=live |access-date=27 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125153345/http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/Sharing-screen-space-with-the-Superstar/article16693596.ece |archive-date=25 November 2016}}</ref> It took nearly two years to finalise the lead artistes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 February 2015 |title=The continuing struggle of Lingaa's distributors |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/the-continuing-struggle-of-lingaas-distributors/article6914840.ece |url-status=live |access-date=27 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227064133/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/the-continuing-struggle-of-lingaas-distributors/article6914840.ece |archive-date=27 December 2018}}</ref> James Vasanthan did not learn the basics of filmmaking or work as an assistant director before directing this film, saying "I’m just making a film that I would like to see on screen."<ref name="From music to movies">{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=Srinivasa |date=14 June 2014 |title=From music to movies |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/from-music-to-movies/article6114895.ece |url-status=live |access-date=27 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620045153/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/from-music-to-movies/article6114895.ece |archive-date=20 June 2014}}</ref> He likened it to a "[[Broadway theatre|Broadway musical]]", and said the film would feature the actors singing the songs, as opposed to using [[playback singer]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 July 2014 |title=James Vasanthan turns director with Vaanavil Vaazhkai |work=[[The Hindu]] |agency=[[Indo-Asian News Service|IANS]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/james-vasanthan-turns-director-with-vaanavil-vaazhkai/article6228181.ece |url-status=live |access-date=27 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701080133/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/james-vasanthan-turns-director-with-vaanavil-vaazhkai/article6228181.ece |archive-date=1 July 2018}}</ref> The film was produced by Oceanaa AJR Cine Arts, and had cinematography by R. K. Prathap.<ref name="gulfnews" />

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by [[James Vasanthan]]. It features 17 songs, all performed by the actors themselves.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vaanavil Vaazhkai (2014) |url=https://mio.to/album/Cassandra%2C+Janani%2C+Jithin%2C+Shivi+Sharon/Vaanavil+Vaazhkai+%282014%29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227064133/https://mio.to/album/Cassandra%2C+Janani%2C+Jithin%2C+Shivi+Sharon/Vaanavil+Vaazhkai+%282014%29 |archive-date=27 December 2018 |access-date=27 December 2018 |website=Music India Online}}</ref>
{{Infobox album
| name = Vaanavil Vaazhkai
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[James Vasanthan]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 2015
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 49:29
| language = [[Tamil (language)|Tamil]]
| label =
| producer = James Vasanthan
| prev_title = [[Sandamarutham]]
| prev_year = 2015
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}

{{Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length =
| title1 = Bye to School
| extra1 = Santhosh Cherian
| length1 = 4:12
| title2 = Music Makes Me Happy
| extra2 = Jithin Raj
| length2 = 2:59
| title3 = Supergirl
| extra3 = Cassandra Rachel
| length3 = 3:01
| title4 = We Are Happy This Way
| extra4 = Jithin Raj
| length4 = 3:43
| title5 = Vazha Pirandhaval
| extra5 = Janani Rajan
| length5 = 3:21
| title6 = This Is Real Love
| extra6 = Shilvi Sharon, Janani Rajan
| length6 = 3:27
| title7 = Boys Don't Cry
| extra7 = Jithin Raj, Janani Rajan, Maya Krishnan, Shilvi Sharon
| length7 = 3:47
| title8 = God Bless Saturday
| extra8 = Jithin Raj, Janani Rajan, Maya Krishnan, Shilvi Sharon
| length8 = 3:12
| title9 = Four In One
| extra9 = Jithin Raj
| length9 = 1:28
| title10 = Culturals Vandhirukkum
| extra10 = Gaana Shiva
| length10 = 3:06
| title11 = Senthamizh Naadenum
| extra11 = Jithin Raj
| length11 = 1:04
| title12 = Vaasanai
| extra12 = Jithin Raj, Janani Rajan, Maya Krishnan, Sai Shankar, Shilvi Sharon, Jonathan Devadoss
| length12 = 3:40
| title13 = Vaazhndhidave Vidu
| extra13 = Janani Rajan
| length13 = 2:48
| title14 = Please Forgive Me
| extra14 = Jithin Raj
| length14 = 2:35
| title15 = Tamizhukkum Amudhendru Per
| extra15 = Jithin Raj, Janani Rajan
| length15 = 2:05
| title16 = Tamizh Nadu Engal Veedu
| extra16 = Jithin Raj, Janani Rajan, Cassandra Rachel, Ilaiyaraaja, Niranjana, Vaijaynthi Sri, Vaishali
| length16 = 5:18
| title17 = Vaanavil Vaazhkai
| extra17 = Jithin Raj, Janani Rajan, Sai Shankar, Cassandra Rachel, Shilvi Sharon
| length17 = 3:30
}}

== Release and reception ==
''Vaanavil Vaazhkai'' was released on 13 March 2015.<ref name="fandango">{{Cite web |title=Vaanavil Vaazhkai |url=https://www.fandango.com/vaanavil-vaazhkai-181947/movie-overview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227064133/https://www.fandango.com/vaanavil-vaazhkai-181947/movie-overview |archive-date=27 December 2018 |access-date=27 December 2018 |website=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]}}</ref> M. Suganth of ''[[The Times of India]]'' rated the film 1.5 out of 5 stars, saying, "The film is so devoid of excitement that even the final portions, involving the university championship, do not get our pulses racing."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Suganth |first=M. |title=Vaanavil Vaazhkai |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/vaanavil-vaazhkai/movie-review/46569449.cms |url-status=live |access-date=27 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108223150/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/vaanavil-vaazhkai/movie-review/46569449.cms |archive-date=8 January 2018}}</ref> Vishal Menon of ''[[The Hindu]]'' panned the film, saying, "The idea to make a musical is creditable, but ''VV'' is a wasted effort. I only wish James had co-directed the film with someone more capable of handling the technical aspects."<ref name="HinduReview">{{Cite news |last=Menon |first=Vishal |date=13 March 2015 |title=Vaanavil vaazhkai: Good music, no movie |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/vaanavil-vaazhkai-review-good-music-no-movie/article6990473.ece |url-status=live |access-date=27 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227064133/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/vaanavil-vaazhkai-review-good-music-no-movie/article6990473.ece |archive-date=27 December 2018}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=4519830}}

[[Category:2010s coming-of-age films]]
[[Category:2010s musical films]]
[[Category:2015 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:Indian coming-of-age films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian musical films]]

Vaanavil Vaazhkai - Revision history

imported>Citation bot: Alter: title. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Abductive | Category:2015 films | #UCB_Category 2699/3238