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{{Distinguish|Sethupathi (film)}}
{{Distinguish|Sethupathi (film)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name          = Sethupathi IPS
| image          = Sethupathi IPS.jpg
| image          = Sethupathi IPS.jpg
| caption        = Movie Poster
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director      = [[P. Vasu]]
| director      = [[P. Vasu]]
| producer      = [[M. Saravanan (film producer)|M. Saravanan]]
| writer        = P. Vasu
| writer        = [[P. Vasu]]
| producer      = [[M. Saravanan (producer)|M. Saravanan]]
| starring      = [[Vijayakanth]]<br />[[Meena (actress)|Meena]]
| starring      = {{ubl|[[Vijayakanth]]|[[Meena (actress)|Meena]]}}
| music          = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| cinematography = M. C. Sekar
| cinematography = M. C. Sekar
| editing        = P. Mohan Raj
| editing        = P. Mohan Raj
| music          = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| studio        = [[AVM Productions]]
| studio        = [[AVM Productions]]
| distributor    =  
| distributor    = AVM Productions
| released      = {{Film date|1994|01|14|df=y}}<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19940114&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Sethupathi IPS |date=14 January 1994 |work=The Indian Express |page=10}}</ref>
| released      = {{Film date|1994|01|14|df=y}}
| runtime        = 147 minutes
| runtime        = 147 minutes
| country        = India
| country        = India
| language      = Tamil
| language      = Tamil
| budget        =
| gross          =
}}
}}


'''''Sethupathi IPS''''' is a 1994 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[action thriller film]] starring [[Vijayakanth]], [[Meena (actress)|Meena]], and [[M. N. Nambiar|Nambiar]]. The movie deals with the story of a police officer who fights against terrorism. The movie was shot in 180 days and entirely in Chennai. It is one of the blockbusters of Vijayakanth's during the 1990s.<ref>https://nettv4u.com/entertainment/tamil/article/10-best-cop-movies-in-kollywood</ref> It was dubbed in Telugu as ''Raghupathi IPS'' and Hindi as ''IPS Vishwa Pratap Singh''.
'''''Sethupathi IPS''''' ({{IPAc-en|s|eɪ|θ|u|p|ə|θ|i}}) is a 1994 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Political fiction|political]] [[action film]] written and directed by [[P. Vasu]], produced by [[AVM Productions]]. The film stars [[Vijayakanth]] and [[Meena (actress)|Meena]]. It deals with the story of a police officer who fights against terrorism. ''Sethupathi IPS'' was released on 14 January 1994, during [[Pongal (festival)|Pongal]], and became one of Vijayakanth's most successful films of the decade.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sundaram |first=Nandhu |date=19 July 2018 |title=Karuthamma, Nammavar, Kadhalan, Nattamai — Tamil cinema offered its best in the watershed year of 1994 |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/karuthamma-nammavar-kadhalan-nattamai-tamil-cinema-offered-its-best-in-the-watershed-year-of-1994-4775931.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817212007/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/karuthamma-nammavar-kadhalan-nattamai-tamil-cinema-offered-its-best-in-the-watershed-year-of-1994-4775931.html |archive-date=17 August 2018 |access-date=26 October 2021 |website=[[Firstpost]]}}</ref>


==Plot==
== Plot ==
Terrorism against India is escalated heavily by Indians trained abroad. Sethupathi IPS (Vijayakanth) is a very efficient cop whose entire family has served the country at some time — his mother Satyabhama (Srividya) is an IAS Officer, his maternal grandfather was a soldier who got a medal for killing 200 enemies (a medal which Sethupathi secretly covets), and his father in law (Vijayakumar) is an Inspector General of Police.
Terrorism against India is escalated heavily by Indians trained abroad. Sethupathi IPS is a very efficient cop whose entire family has served the country at some time — his mother Satyabhama is an IAS Officer, his maternal grandfather was a soldier who got a medal for killing 200 enemies (a medal which Sethupathi secretly covets), and his father in law is an Inspector General of Police.


Sethupathi catches terrorist Sivasubramaniam in a hospital and coaxes him to reveal information that their gang is planning a terrorist strike on the Prime minister of India during his meeting with Chief Ministers of various states in Chennai. After divulging this information (owing to the kindness and pity shown by Sethupathi), the terrorist commits suicide with Sethupathi's gun. Using the information, Sethupathi is able to save the day and the Prime minister.
Sethupathi catches terrorist Sivasubramaniam in a hospital and coaxes him to reveal information that their gang is planning a terrorist strike on the Prime minister of India during his meeting with Chief Ministers of various states in Chennai. After divulging this information (owing to the kindness and pity shown by Sethupathi), the terrorist commits suicide with Sethupathi's gun. Using the information, Sethupathi is able to save the day and the Prime minister.


Sivasubramaniam's death leads to his brother Sivaprakasham (Raj Mohan) arriving in India. Sivaprakasham is also the leader of this terrorist gang, and in addition to the terror strike the gang is planning to launch in India, he also plans to wipe out Sethupathi's family.
Sivasubramaniam's death leads to his brother Sivaprakasham arriving in India. Sivaprakasham is also the leader of this terrorist gang, and in addition to the terror strike the gang is planning to launch in India, he also plans to wipe out Sethupathi's family.


Moving opposite to Sethupathi's house, Sivaprakasam pretends to be a very nice man "Satyaprakasham" and manages to fool Sethupathi's mother, wife (Meena), sister, and grandfather and convinces all of them of his ''true intentions'' to such an extent that they agree to his engagement with their mute daughter Saraswathi. Sivaprakasam avoids Sethupathi and sees to it that during both the engagement and the wedding, Sethupathi is occupied so that he cannot come face to face with Sivaprakasam.
Moving opposite to Sethupathi's house, Sivaprakasam pretends to be a very nice man "Satyaprakasham" and manages to fool Sethupathi's mother, wife, sister, and grandfather and convinces all of them of his ''true intentions'' to such an extent that they agree to his engagement with their mute daughter Saraswathi. Sivaprakasam avoids Sethupathi and sees to it that during both the engagement and the wedding, Sethupathi is occupied so that he cannot come face to face with Sivaprakasam.


After the wedding, the Terrorists take over a school where Sethupathi's wife (Meena) is a teacher and demands for a plane and money to take them abroad. Sivaprakasam brings his wife (Sethupathi's sister) and watches her get gang raped until Sethupathi's wife shoots her, unable to bear her suffering. Sivaprakasam also shoots a boy student of class v.
After the wedding, the Terrorists take over a school where Sethupathi's wife is a teacher and demands for a plane and money to take them abroad. Sivaprakasam brings his wife (Sethupathi's sister) and watches her get gang raped until Sethupathi's wife shoots her, unable to bear her suffering. Sivaprakasam also shoots a boy student of class v.


As the terrorists escape the school towards the plane and take off, Sethupathi has arrived after having killed one of their numbers, and disguising himself, he eliminates all of them, including Sivaprakasam and lands the plane safely (on instructions of the injured pilot).
As the terrorists escape the school towards the plane and take off, Sethupathi has arrived after having killed one of their numbers, and disguising himself, he eliminates all of them, including Sivaprakasam and lands the plane safely (on instructions of the injured pilot).
Line 40: Line 37:
The movie ends with Sethupathi receiving his coveted grandfather's medal.
The movie ends with Sethupathi receiving his coveted grandfather's medal.


==Cast==
== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
*[[Vijayakanth]] as [[Deputy commissioner|DCP]] Sethupathi [[Indian Police Service|IPS]]
*[[Meena (actress)|Meena]] as Chandramathi
*[[M. N. Nambiar]] as Ramarathnam
*[[Srividya]] as Sathyabama IAS
*[[Kaveri (Tamil actress)|Kaveri]] as Saraswathi
*[[Vijayakumar (Tamil actor)|Vijayakumar]] as Head of Police Ramanathan
*[[Kazan Khan]] as K. Shiva Prakash/Shantharam
*[[Delhi Ganesh]] as Kesavan
*[[Mohan Raman]] as the police inspector Sivaraman
*[[Goundamani]] as Muthaiya
*[[Senthil]] as Alagappan
*[[Kovai Sarala]] as Jhansi
*[[Thyagu (actor)|Thyagu]] as Srinivasan
*Master Srinivas (uncredited)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2011/Sep/30/gemini-ganesan-in-disguise-295865.html|title=Gemini Ganesan in disguise|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=16 May 2012|access-date=12 November 2025}}</ref>
}}


*[[Vijayakanth]] as DCP Sedhupathy I. P. S
== Production ==
*[[Meena (actress)|Meena]] as Chandramathi
The story of ''Sethupathi IPS'' was written for [[Sathyaraj]], although Vijayakanth was ultimately cast.<ref name="dinamalar">{{Cite web |date=13 October 2020 |title=மறக்க முடியுமா? – சேதுபதி ஐ.பி.எஸ். |url=https://m.dinamalar.com/cinema_detail.php?id=91882 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015220458/https://m.dinamalar.com/cinema_detail.php?id=91882 |archive-date=15 October 2020 |access-date=26 October 2021 |website=[[Dinamalar]] |language=ta}}</ref> The scene where Vijayakanth's character climbs a clock tower was shot in a clock tower set built at Adyar auditorium.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1 January 2006 |title=விஜயகாந்த் பற்றி வி.ஐ.பி! |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2006-01-01/page/30/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240229135017/https://archive.org/details/kalki2006-01-01/page/30/mode/2up |archive-date=29 February 2024 |access-date=29 February 2024 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=30–31 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> He did not use a [[stunt double]] for the scene or tie a rope around himself.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 December 2023 |title=Did you know Vijayakanth pulled off a risky stunt without a body double in 'Sethupathi IPS'? |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/did-you-know-vijayakanth-pulled-off-a-risky-stunt-without-a-body-double-in-sethupathi-ips/articleshow/106342182.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240122005415/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/did-you-know-vijayakanth-pulled-off-a-risky-stunt-without-a-body-double-in-sethupathi-ips/articleshow/106342182.cms |archive-date=22 January 2024 |access-date=23 April 2024 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Another scene, where the character faces terrorists was shot with 70 cars over 18 days. Vijayakanth considered it the riskiest stunt sequence he ever performed to that point.<ref name="70 cars">{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=Srinivasa |date=28 December 2023 |title=Vijayakant's riskiest stunt scene in 'Sethupathi IPS' featured 70 cars |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/vijayakants-riskiest-stunt-scene-in-sethupathi-ips-featured-70-cars/article67682748.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230033633/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/vijayakants-riskiest-stunt-scene-in-sethupathi-ips-featured-70-cars/article67682748.ece |archive-date=30 December 2023 |access-date=23 April 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en}}</ref> Filming took place entirely in Chennai, and lasted 180 working days.<ref name="dinamalar" /> Some scenes were shot at [[Rajaji Hall]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=M. |first=Serena Josephine |date=August 18, 2025 |title=Flight of stairs at Chennai’s Rajaji Hall where intense scenes in Tamil cinema unfold |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/flight-of-stairs-at-chennai-rajaji-hall-where-intense-scenes-in-tamil-cinema-unfold/article69940506.ece/amp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250902054335/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/flight-of-stairs-at-chennai-rajaji-hall-where-intense-scenes-in-tamil-cinema-unfold/article69940506.ece/amp |archive-date=2025-09-02 |access-date=2025-09-02 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en}}</ref>
*[[M. N. Nambiar]] as Ramarathnam (Ex-Military Officer, Sedhupathy Grandfather)
*[[Srividya]] as Sathyabama (Collector, Sedhupathy Mother)
*[[Kaveri (Tamil actress)|Kavery]] as Saraswathi (Sedhupathy Sister)
*[[Vijayakumar (Tamil actor)|Vijayakumar]] as (Head of Police Officer)
*[[Kazan Khan]] as Sivaprakash/Shantharam (Enemy role)
*[[Delhi Ganesh]]  
*[[Mohan Raman]] as the Police inspector
*[[Goundamani]] as Muthaiya (Sedhupathy Home Chef)
*[[Senthil]]
*[[Kovai Sarala]]
*[[Thyagu (actor)|Thyagu]]


==Soundtrack==
== Soundtrack ==
The music composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0002937|title=Sethupathi IPS Songs|access-date=2014-03-06|publisher=raaga}}</ref>
The music was composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]], with lyrics by [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sethupathi IPS (1994) |url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0002937 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205144804/http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0002937 |archive-date=5 December 2013 |access-date=6 March 2014 |website=[[Raaga.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sethupathi I. P. S. |url=https://avdigital.in/products/sethupathi-i-p-s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719221540/https://avdigital.in/products/sethupathi-i-p-s |archive-date=19 July 2021 |access-date=26 October 2021 |website=AVDigital}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! No. !! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length (m:ss)
! Song !! Singers !! Length
|-
|-
| 1 || "Anathai Endru" || [[Bhavatharini]] || rowspan=2|[[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]] || 04:13
| "Anathai Endru" || [[Bhavatharini]] || 04:13
|-
|-
| 2 || "Mazhalai Endrum" || [[K. S. Chithra]] || 05:59
| "Mazhalai Endrum" || [[K. S. Chithra]] || 05:59
|-
|-
| 3 || "Saathu Nada" || [[Asha Bhosle]], [[Ilaiyaraaja]] || Ilaiyaraaja || 05:53
| "Saathu Nada" || [[Asha Bhosle]], [[Ilaiyaraaja]] || 05:53
|-
|-
| 4 || "Vanna Mozhi Maane" || [[K. J. Yesudas]] || rowspan=2|[[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]] || 04:56
| "Vanna Mozhi Maane" || [[K. J. Yesudas]] || 04:56
|-
|-
| 5 || "Vidiyum Neram" || [[Sunandha]] || 05:43
| "Vidiyum Neram" || [[Sunanda (singer)|Sunanda]]|| 05:43
|}
|}


==Critical reception==
== Release ==
''The Indian Express'' wrote, "Director Vasu draws inspiration from [..] few real-life incidents. But somehow these incidents stand apart [..] the film as a whole is little too glib and superficial."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19940121&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Sethupathi IPS |date=21 January 1994 |work=The Indian Express |page=6}}</ref>
''Sethupathi IPS'' was released on 14 January 1994, during [[Pongal (festival)|Pongal]], and distributed by AVM Productions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 January 1994 |title=Sethupathi IPS |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19940114&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=14 April 2019 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=10 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Despite clashing against other Pongal releases such as ''[[Mahanadhi (1994 film)|Mahanadhi]]'', ''[[Amaidhi Padai]]'', ''[[Rajakumaran (film)|Rajakumaran]]'', ''[[Veetla Visheshanga]]'', ''[[Siragadikka Aasai]]'' and ''[[Sindhu Nathi Poo]]'', it became a box office success.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ராம்ஜி |first=வி. |date=17 January 2020 |title=94-ல், பொங்கலுக்கு கமல், விஜயகாந்த், சத்யராஜ், பிரபு, பாக்யராஜ்; 'மகாநதி', 'அமைதிப்படை', 'சேதுபதி ஐபிஎஸ்' செம ஹிட்டு! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/535280-94-pongal-release.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303055738/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/535280-94-pongal-release.html |archive-date=3 March 2020 |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref>


==References==
== Critical reception ==
''[[The Indian Express]]'' wrote, "Director Vasu draws inspiration from [..] few real-life incidents. But somehow these incidents stand apart [..] the film as a whole is little too glib and superficial."<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 January 1994 |title=Sethupathi IPS |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19940121&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=25 September 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=6 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Thulasi of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' wrote that the director has plagiarised scenes from ''[[Cliffhanger (1993 film)|Cliffhanger]]'' and felt he seemed to have taken an oath that he would not move out from the formula even a bit.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=துளசி |date=6 February 1994 |title=சேதுபதி I.P.S. |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1994-02-06/page/n19/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230214102427/https://archive.org/details/kalki1994-02-06/page/n19/mode/2up |archive-date=14 February 2023 |access-date=13 February 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=18 |language=Ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> ''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote on 21 January 1994, "The action comes in waves, on the streets — the one near [[Napier Bridge|Napier bridge]] where Vijayakanth indulges in risky fights — and in the well-lit (!) gutters and in the studio made plane, though miniature photography is still new".<ref name="70 cars" />
 
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0318680}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}


{{P. Vasu}}
{{P. Vasu}}
{{AVM Productions}}
{{AVM Productions}}


[[Category:1994 Indian films]]
[[Category:1990s police films]]
[[Category:1990s political action films]]
[[Category:1994 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1994 films]]
[[Category:AVM Productions films]]
[[Category:Fictional Indian police officers]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of the Tamil Nadu Police]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of the Tamil Nadu Police]]
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1994 films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja]]
[[Category:1990s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Indian action drama films]]
[[Category:1990s action drama films]]
[[Category:Films about terrorism in India]]
[[Category:Films about terrorism in India]]
[[Category:Films directed by P. Vasu]]
[[Category:Films directed by P. Vasu]]
[[Category:AVM Productions films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian police films]]
[[Category:Indian police films]]
[[Category:Fictional Indian police officers]]
[[Category:Indian political action films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language action films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language political films]]

Latest revision as of 10:25, 3 March 2026

Not to be confused with Sethupathi (film).

Sethupathi IPS
Theatrical release poster
Directed byP. Vasu
Produced byM. Saravanan
Written byP. Vasu
Starring
Music byIlaiyaraaja
CinematographyM. C. Sekar
Edited byP. Mohan Raj
Production
company
Distributed byAVM Productions
Release date
  • 14 January 1994 (1994-01-14)
Running time
147 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Sethupathi IPS (/seɪθupəθi/) is a 1994 Indian Tamil-language political action film written and directed by P. Vasu, produced by AVM Productions. The film stars Vijayakanth and Meena. It deals with the story of a police officer who fights against terrorism. Sethupathi IPS was released on 14 January 1994, during Pongal, and became one of Vijayakanth's most successful films of the decade.[1]

Plot[edit | edit source]

Terrorism against India is escalated heavily by Indians trained abroad. Sethupathi IPS is a very efficient cop whose entire family has served the country at some time — his mother Satyabhama is an IAS Officer, his maternal grandfather was a soldier who got a medal for killing 200 enemies (a medal which Sethupathi secretly covets), and his father in law is an Inspector General of Police.

Sethupathi catches terrorist Sivasubramaniam in a hospital and coaxes him to reveal information that their gang is planning a terrorist strike on the Prime minister of India during his meeting with Chief Ministers of various states in Chennai. After divulging this information (owing to the kindness and pity shown by Sethupathi), the terrorist commits suicide with Sethupathi's gun. Using the information, Sethupathi is able to save the day and the Prime minister.

Sivasubramaniam's death leads to his brother Sivaprakasham arriving in India. Sivaprakasham is also the leader of this terrorist gang, and in addition to the terror strike the gang is planning to launch in India, he also plans to wipe out Sethupathi's family.

Moving opposite to Sethupathi's house, Sivaprakasam pretends to be a very nice man "Satyaprakasham" and manages to fool Sethupathi's mother, wife, sister, and grandfather and convinces all of them of his true intentions to such an extent that they agree to his engagement with their mute daughter Saraswathi. Sivaprakasam avoids Sethupathi and sees to it that during both the engagement and the wedding, Sethupathi is occupied so that he cannot come face to face with Sivaprakasam.

After the wedding, the Terrorists take over a school where Sethupathi's wife is a teacher and demands for a plane and money to take them abroad. Sivaprakasam brings his wife (Sethupathi's sister) and watches her get gang raped until Sethupathi's wife shoots her, unable to bear her suffering. Sivaprakasam also shoots a boy student of class v.

As the terrorists escape the school towards the plane and take off, Sethupathi has arrived after having killed one of their numbers, and disguising himself, he eliminates all of them, including Sivaprakasam and lands the plane safely (on instructions of the injured pilot).

The movie ends with Sethupathi receiving his coveted grandfather's medal.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Production[edit | edit source]

The story of Sethupathi IPS was written for Sathyaraj, although Vijayakanth was ultimately cast.[3] The scene where Vijayakanth's character climbs a clock tower was shot in a clock tower set built at Adyar auditorium.[4] He did not use a stunt double for the scene or tie a rope around himself.[5] Another scene, where the character faces terrorists was shot with 70 cars over 18 days. Vijayakanth considered it the riskiest stunt sequence he ever performed to that point.[6] Filming took place entirely in Chennai, and lasted 180 working days.[3] Some scenes were shot at Rajaji Hall.[7]

Soundtrack[edit | edit source]

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics by Vaali.[8][9]

Song Singers Length
"Anathai Endru" Bhavatharini 04:13
"Mazhalai Endrum" K. S. Chithra 05:59
"Saathu Nada" Asha Bhosle, Ilaiyaraaja 05:53
"Vanna Mozhi Maane" K. J. Yesudas 04:56
"Vidiyum Neram" Sunanda 05:43

Release[edit | edit source]

Sethupathi IPS was released on 14 January 1994, during Pongal, and distributed by AVM Productions.[10] Despite clashing against other Pongal releases such as Mahanadhi, Amaidhi Padai, Rajakumaran, Veetla Visheshanga, Siragadikka Aasai and Sindhu Nathi Poo, it became a box office success.[11]

Critical reception[edit | edit source]

The Indian Express wrote, "Director Vasu draws inspiration from [..] few real-life incidents. But somehow these incidents stand apart [..] the film as a whole is little too glib and superficial."[12] Thulasi of Kalki wrote that the director has plagiarised scenes from Cliffhanger and felt he seemed to have taken an oath that he would not move out from the formula even a bit.[13] The Hindu wrote on 21 January 1994, "The action comes in waves, on the streets — the one near Napier bridge where Vijayakanth indulges in risky fights — and in the well-lit (!) gutters and in the studio made plane, though miniature photography is still new".[6]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Sundaram, Nandhu (19 July 2018). "Karuthamma, Nammavar, Kadhalan, Nattamai — Tamil cinema offered its best in the watershed year of 1994". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  2. ↑ "Gemini Ganesan in disguise". The New Indian Express. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "மறக்க முடியுமா? – சேதுபதி ஐ.பி.எஸ்". Dinamalar (in தமிழ்). 13 October 2020. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  4. ↑ "விஜயகாந்த் பற்றி வி.ஐ.பி!". Kalki (in தமிழ்). 1 January 2006. pp. 30–31. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via Internet Archive.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ↑ "Did you know Vijayakanth pulled off a risky stunt without a body double in 'Sethupathi IPS'?". The Times of India. 28 December 2023. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ramanujam, Srinivasa (28 December 2023). "Vijayakant's riskiest stunt scene in 'Sethupathi IPS' featured 70 cars". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  7. ↑ M., Serena Josephine (18 August 2025). "Flight of stairs at Chennai's Rajaji Hall where intense scenes in Tamil cinema unfold". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  8. ↑ "Sethupathi IPS (1994)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "Sethupathi I. P. S." AVDigital. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "Sethupathi IPS". The Indian Express. 14 January 1994. p. 10. Retrieved 14 April 2019 – via Google News Archive.
  11. ↑ ராம்ஜி, வி. (17 January 2020). "94-ல், பொங்கலுக்கு கமல், விஜயகாந்த், சத்யராஜ், பிரபு, பாக்யராஜ்; 'மகாநதி', 'அமைதிப்படை', 'சேதுபதி ஐபிஎஸ்' செம ஹிட்டு!". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in தமிழ்). Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  12. ↑ "Sethupathi IPS". The Indian Express. 21 January 1994. p. 6. Retrieved 25 September 2018 – via Google News Archive.
  13. ↑ துளசி (6 February 1994). "சேதுபதி I.P.S." Kalki (in தமிழ்). p. 18. Retrieved 13 February 2023 – via Internet Archive.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

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