| runtime = 166–177 minutes{{refn|The [[British Board of Film Classification]] and [[Amazon.com]] gives the runtime as 166 minutes and 177 minutes respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enthiran (English Subtitled) |url=https://www.amazon.com/Enthiran-English-Subtitled-HD-Rajnikanth/dp/B00RA9G2V0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122160952/http://www.amazon.com/Enthiran-English-Subtitled-HD-Rajnikanth/dp/B00RA9G2V0 |archive-date=22 January 2015 |access-date=22 January 2015 |work=[[Amazon (company)|Amazon]]}}</ref><ref name="Tamil version runtime">{{Cite web |title=ENTHIRAN (12A) – British Board of Film Classification |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/enthiran-the-robot-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtoty3mzg5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122063906/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/enthiran-robot-1970-0 |archive-date=22 January 2015 |access-date=14 October 2012 |work=[[British Board of Film Classification]]}}</ref>|group=Note}}
| country = India
| country = India<!-- do not link per MOS:OVERLINK -->
| language = Tamil
| language = Tamil
| budget = {{Estimation}} {{INR}}1.32{{mdash}}1.62 billion{{refn|''[[The Economic Times]]'' claims the film's budget to be {{INR}}1.32 billion,<ref name="Q3">{{Cite news |date=28 January 2011 |title=Sun TV Network Q3 Net up 48.40% at Rs 225.49 cr |work=[[The Economic Times]] |agency=Press Trust of India |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-01-28/news/28425591_1_interim-dividend-satellite-rights-enthiran |url-status=live |access-date=4 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204082505/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-01-28/news/28425591_1_interim-dividend-satellite-rights-enthiran |archive-date=4 February 2015}}</ref> whereas Anirban Bhattacharya of [[CNN Travel]] and T. S. Sreenivasan Raghavan of ''[[Bangalore Mirror]]'' state that it is {{INR}}1.62 billion.<ref name="CNN Travel">{{Cite web |last=Bhattacharya |first=Anirban |date=7 October 2010 |title=Rajinikanth's 'Robot' to end all robots |url=http://travel.cnn.com/mumbai/play/rajinikanths-robot-end-all-robots-538335/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605125444/http://travel.cnn.com/mumbai/play/rajinikanths-robot-end-all-robots-538335/ |archive-date=5 June 2016 |access-date=5 June 2016 |work=[[CNN Travel]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Raghavan |first=T. S. Sreenivasan |date=22 October 2010 |title=Chitti, the robot, delights tax officials |work=[[Bangalore Mirror]] |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/chitti-the-robot-delights-tax-officials/articleshow/21756582.cms |url-status=live |access-date=13 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813085423/https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/chitti-the-robot-delights-tax-officials/articleshow/21756582.cms |archive-date=13 August 2018}}</ref>|name=budget|group=Note}}
| runtime = 179 minutes
| gross = <!-- do not add any amount here, since India is notorious for lack of reliable box office info. the supposed gross is listed under "box office". -->
| budget = {{INR}}60 crore<ref>{{Cite web |title=Film industry-politics link: After Kamal Haasan's Vishwaroopam, Vijay starrer-Thalaivaa faces delay |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/?from=mdr |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125174713/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/?from=mdr |archive-date=25 November 2020 |access-date=24 November 2020 |website=The Economic Times}}</ref>
| gross = {{estimation}}{{INR|77 crore}}<ref name="tamil.cinemaprofile.com">{{Cite web |title=Thalaivaa Total Box Office Collections |url=https://tamil.cinemaprofile.com/movie-boxoffice/thalaivaa-movie.html |access-date=14 September 2023 |website=Cinema Profile}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''''Enthiran''''' ({{translation|Robot}}) is a 2010 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[science fiction action film]] written and directed by [[S. Shankar]].<ref name="AV Club">{{Cite web |last=Koski |first=Genevieve |date=3 March 2011 |title=Enthiran |url=https://film.avclub.com/enthiran-1798224462 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123151947/http://www.avclub.com/article/ienthirani-52653 |archive-date=23 January 2015 |access-date=1 August 2011 |website=[[The A.V. Club]]}}</ref> It is the first instalment in the [[Enthiran (film series)|''Enthiran'' franchise]]. The film stars [[Rajinikanth]] and [[Aishwarya Rai Bachchan]]; [[Danny Denzongpa]], [[Santhanam (actor)|Santhanam]] and [[Karunas]] play supporting roles. The [[Enthiran (soundtrack)|soundtrack album and background score]] were composed by [[A. R. Rahman]] while the dialogues, cinematography, editing and art direction were handled by [[Madhan Karky]], [[R. Rathnavelu]], [[Anthony (film editor)|Anthony]] and [[Sabu Cyril]] respectively.
The story revolves around the struggle of a scientist K. Vaseegaran (Rajinikanth) to control his [[humanoid robot]] named [[Chitti (character)|Chitti]] (also Rajinikanth), after Chitti's software is upgraded to give it the ability to comprehend and exhibit human emotions. The project backfires when Chitti falls in love with Vaseegaran's girlfriend, Sana (Rai), and is manipulated by Bohra (Denzongpa), a rival scientist, into becoming homicidal.
'''''Thalaivaa''''' ({{translation|The Leader}}) is a 2013 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[action thriller film]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 August 2013 |title='Thalaivaa' Box Office Collection: Has Vijay Starrer Earned ₹144 Crore at BO? |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/039thalaivaa039-box-office-collection-has-vijay-starrer-earned-144-crore-at-bo-501131 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116002224/https://www.ibtimes.co.in/039thalaivaa039-box-office-collection-has-vijay-starrer-earned-144-crore-at-bo-501131 |archive-date=16 November 2019 |access-date=25 June 2019 |website=[[International Business Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Thalaivaa - Time To Lead |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/thalaivaa-time-to-lead-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0znzmwntu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116091638/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/thalaivaa-time-to-lead-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0znzmwntu |archive-date=16 November 2020 |access-date=9 November 2020 |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]]}}</ref> directed by [[A. L. Vijay]] (credited as Vijay) and produced by [[Vendhar Movies]]. The film stars [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]] in the titular role, alongside [[Amala Paul]], [[Sathyaraj]], [[Ragini Nandwani]], [[Santhanam (actor)|Santhanam]], [[Abhimanyu Singh]], [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]] and [[Rajeev Pillai]]. In the film, a dancer in [[Australia]] takes over his father's duty as a [[crime boss]] in [[Mumbai]] after his death.
After being stalled in the [[development hell|development]] phase for nearly a decade, the film's principal photography began in 2008 and lasted two years. The film marked the debut of [[Legacy Effects]] studio (which was responsible for the film's [[Facial prosthetic|prosthetic make-up]] and [[animatronics]]) in Indian cinema. ''Enthiran'' was released worldwide on 1 October 2010, along with its [[dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbed]] versions: ''Robot'' in [[Hindi]] and ''Robo'' in [[Telugu language|Telugu]]. Produced by [[Kalanithi Maran]], it was India's [[List of most expensive Indian films|most expensive film]] up to that point.
The film, which commenced production in November 2012 in Mumbai, was released on 8 August 2013 on the occasion of [[Eid-ul Fitr]]. The film received mostly positive reviews from the critics. The film upon its early release was successful at the overseas box office,<ref>{{Cite news |title=From Ghilli to Theri: 10 Ilayathalapathy Vijay action blockbusters one should know! |url=http://www.catchnews.com/regional-cinema/list-of-ilayathalapathy-vijay-action-packed-films-actor-vijay-filmography-theri-movie-box-office-records-top-south-indian-action-films-from-ghilli-to-theri-movie-news-1463648578.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213072110/https://www.catchnews.com/regional-cinema/list-of-ilayathalapathy-vijay-action-packed-films-actor-vijay-filmography-theri-movie-box-office-records-top-south-indian-action-films-from-ghilli-to-theri-movie-news-1463648578.html |archive-date=13 December 2021 |access-date=15 December 2017 |work=CatchNews.com |language=en}}</ref> and also successful in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka box office.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Seshagiri |first=Sangeetha |title='Thalaivaa' Box Office Collection: How Has Vijay-Starrer Performed in Other States? |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/039thalaivaa039-box-office-collection-how-has-vijay-starrer-performed-in-other-states-500699 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215221505/http://www.ibtimes.co.in/039thalaivaa039-box-office-collection-how-has-vijay-starrer-performed-in-other-states-500699 |archive-date=15 December 2017 |access-date=15 December 2017 |work=International Business Times, India Edition |language=en}}</ref> Due to opposition from the ruling [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|AIADMK]] as insisted by the then Chief minister [[J Jayalalithaa]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 August 2020 |title=Throwback Thursday: When Thalapathy Vijay's Thalaivaa tagline offended AIADMK and Jayalalithaa |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/throwback-thursday-when-thalapathy-vijay-s-thalaivaa-tagline-offended-aiadmk-and-jayalalithaa-1713307-2020-08-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019164451/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/throwback-thursday-when-thalapathy-vijay-s-thalaivaa-tagline-offended-aiadmk-and-jayalalithaa-1713307-2020-08-20 |archive-date=19 October 2020 |access-date=6 December 2020}}</ref> the film had a delayed release in Tamil Nadu on 20 August 2013 and its performance was affected at the Tamil Nadu box office.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chennai Box Office – sify.com (1970) |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=plupxdhggfhjf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102013426/http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=plupxdhggfhjf |archive-date=2 January 2018 |access-date=1 January 2018 |website=[[Sify]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=19 August 2013 |title=Vijay's Thalaiva to release in Tamil Nadu on August 20 |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/vijays-thalaiva-to-release-in-tamil-nadu-on-august-20/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216034455/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/vijays-thalaiva-to-release-in-tamil-nadu-on-august-20/ |archive-date=16 December 2017 |access-date=15 December 2017 |work=The Indian Express |language=en-US}}</ref> The film went on to be remade in [[Punjabi cinema|Punjabi]] as ''[[Sardar Saab]]'' in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-12-27 |title=Thalaivaa {{!}} Sardar Saab {{!}} 10 Vijay super-hits that were remade in other languages |url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/10-vijay-super-hits-that-were-remaked-in-other-languages-oriyakannada/thalaivaa-sardar-saab.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205044231/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/10-vijay-super-hits-that-were-remaked-in-other-languages-oriyakannada/thalaivaa-sardar-saab.html |archive-date=5 December 2018 |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref> It was also screened in [[Japan]] in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-11 |title=『インディアンムービーウィーク2020リターンズ』公式サイト｜インド映画、無双のラインナップ！ |url=https://imwjapan.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211165522/https://imwjapan.com/ |archive-date=2020-12-11 |access-date=2020-12-11 |website=『インディアンムービーウィーク2020リターンズ』公式サイト｜インド映画、無双のラインナップ！ |language=ja |ref={{sfnref|『インディアンムービーウィーク2020リターンズ』公式サイト｜インド映画、無双のラインナップ！|2020}}}}</ref>
The film received generally positive reviews upon release. Critics were particularly appreciative of Rajinikanth's performance as Chitti, Rathnavelu's cinematography, Cyril's art direction and the visual effects by [[V. Srinivas Mohan]]. ''Enthiran'' emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film of 2010 and is among the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian films in history]]. It won two [[National Film Awards]], three [[Filmfare Awards South|Filmfare Awards]], seven [[Vijay Awards]] and two [[Screen Awards]]. ''Enthiran'' was followed by a [[Standalone film#Standalone sequel|standalone sequel]], ''[[2.0 (film)|2.0]]'', which released in 2018.
==Plot==
'''1988''': A riot occurs in [[Bombay]] where a group attacks Ratnam and his son, Logu. However, Ramadurai arrives and saves them. After the riot, Ratnam decides to leave for [[Chennai|Madras]] and start a new life somewhere abroad. Ramadurai asks him to stay, but Ratnam tells Ramadurai that he should move away. Suddenly, that night, Ramadurai's house gets attacked by his opposite gang, run by a politician named Bhadra. While trying to save him, Ramadurai's wife, Ganga, gets shot and dies suddenly. Enraged, Ramadurai goes to Bhadra's house, beats up Bhadra's goons and kills Bhadra. Ramadurai takes his son Vishwa to Ratnam, who is on a train and asks him to take Vishwa with him because he doesn't want his actions to waste Vishwa's life and sends him away with Ratnam to [[Australia]].
== Plot ==
'''2013''': Vishwa is a dancer who lives in [[Sydney]] and manages a water distribution business in the name of his mother Ganga with his childhood friend Logu and his dance team members. Ramadurai is a crime boss who fights for the rights of migrated Tamils and also keeps in contact with Vishwa as he grows up and lies to him about his profession. Vishwa falls in love with Meera, the daughter of a [[restaurateur]], who is one of his customers. Meera reciprocates Vishwa's feelings and joins his dance team, helping them win a dance competition. She soon proposes to Vishwa, who agrees. Meera's father accepts the marriage but wants to discuss the matter formally with Ramadurai.
After a decade of research, the scientist K. Vaseegaran creates a sophisticated [[humanoid robot]] with the help of his assistants, Siva and Ravi, to commission it into the [[Indian Army]]. He introduces the robot, named [[Chitti (character)|Chitti]], at a robotics conference in [[Chennai]]. Chitti helps Sana, Vaseegaran's [[medical student]] girlfriend, cheat in her examination, then saves her from being assaulted by a group of thugs in a local train. Vaseegaran's mentor, Professor Bohra, is secretly engaged in a project to create similar [[Android (robot)|android]] robots for a German terrorist organisation, but has so far been unsuccessful. The terrorists give him a month to have the robots ready, otherwise they will kill him.
Vaseegaran prepares Chitti for an evaluation by the Artificial Intelligence Research and Development (AIRD) Institute, which is headed by Bohra. During the evaluation, Chitti attempts to stab Vaseegaran at Bohra's command, which convinces the evaluation committee that the robot is a liability and cannot be used for military purposes. Vaseegaran's effort to prove Bohra wrong fails when he deploys Chitti to rescue people from a burning building. The robot saves most of them, including a girl named Selvi who was bathing at the time, but she is ashamed at being seen naked on camera. Though Vaseegaran puts his coat around her, and the girl's mother tries to convince her to come back, the girl flees, only to be hit and killed by a truck. Vaseegaran asks for one month to modify Chitti's [[image schema|neural schema]] to enable it to understand human behaviour and emotions, to which Bohra agrees. While nearing the deadline, Chitti becomes angry with Vaseegaran, demonstrating to him that it can manifest emotions.
They leave for Mumbai, where Vishwa finds out about Ramadurai's true profession and that he is hiding due to several false cases registered against him by his arch-enemy Bhima, Bhadra's son. Vishwa also finds out that Meera and her father are [[Criminal Investigation Department (India)|Crime Branch officers]] who lured him to Mumbai so that they could arrest Ramadurai. Ramadurai gets arrested, but just after he enters the police van, a bomb planted by Bhima in the vehicle explodes, killing him. Distraught over his father's death, Vishwa decides to stay back in Mumbai and take over his father's syndicate. He dons the title of ''Thalaivaa'' and provides his brand of justice for the helpless and downtrodden.
Chitti uses Sana's textbooks to successfully help Sana's sister Latha give birth to a child. Bohra congratulates Vaseegaran on the achievement and allows Chitti to pass the AIRD evaluation. Bohra then tells Vaseegaran that problems start from now on. Chitti develops romantic feelings for Sana after she congratulates Chitti by kissing it. When Vaseegaran and Sana realise this, Sana explains to Chitti that they are only friends. Saddened by Sana's rejection, yet still in love with her, Chitti purposely fails the evaluation conducted by the Indian Army the following day. Frustrated with Chitti's performance in the evaluation, Vaseegaran chops Chitti into pieces, which are dumped by Siva and Ravi into a landfill site.
Meanwhile, Bhima initiates a riot in Mumbai, which leads to the deaths and injuries of several people. Vishwa arrives at the scene and saves several others, including a [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] woman named Gowri, whose marriage became nullified due to the riots. Although there is seemingly inadequate evidence that Bhima is responsible, a video recorded by a cameraman, Kumar, highlighting Bhima's involvement in the riots, is stolen by a Bhojpuri-speaking [[pickpocketing|pickpocketer]]. Vishwa and his gang manage to reclaim the tape from the pickpocketer and make it public, leading to Bhima's arrest. Vishwa also kills the corrupt [[Chief Minister of Maharashtra|CM of Maharashtra]], who had given Bhima and his gang free rein and blames it on Bhima.
Bohra visits the site to retrieve Chitti, which has now reassembled itself, albeit in a damaged state. Bohra embeds a red chip inside Chitti while reconstructing it, converting it into version 2.0, which is more aggressive and ruthless. It then gatecrashes Vaseegaran and Sana's wedding, kidnaps Sana and fights off numerous policemen on the way who chase it. It then creates replicas of itself using Bohra's robots, and then kills Bohra after he attempts to kill Sana. Using its robot army, Chitti occupies AIRD and causes mayhem in the city. After informing Sana that it has acquired the human ability to reproduce, Chitti wishes to marry her so that a machine and a human being can give birth to a pre-programmed child, but Sana refuses. It eventually finds Vaseegaran, who entered AIRD to stop the chaos, and nearly kills him just before the police appear. The ensuing battle between Chitti's robot army and the police personnel leads to a lot of property destruction and many casualties. While fighting the police personnel and the army, Chitti and his robots attack in various formations like a sphere, a snake, a wall and a large human-like figure. Vaseegaran eventually captures Chitti using a magnetic wall and accesses its internal control panel, whereby he instructs all the other robots to self-destruct. He then removes Chitti's red chip, calming it.
However, Bhima soon escapes from prison and kills most of Vishwa's henchmen on the night of [[Maha Shivaratri]], including Gowri. When Vishwa enters a fort after hearing his uncle Rangaa and his second-in-command is being "held hostage" there by Bhima, Ranga stabs him. it gets revealed that Ranga helped Bhima to kill Gowri and Vishwa's henchmen. Taking his son, who is also the driver and cousin of Vishwa, he leaves the fort. He immediately informs the police that Vishwa is "dead". Ranga also reveals to have aided Bhima in killing Ramadurai to replace him as the leader. When Ranga's son hears about his father's betrayal, he becomes enraged and drives the car into a [[petroleum tanker]], killing them both.
In a court hearing, Vaseegaran is sentenced to death for the casualties and damages caused by the robot army, but Chitti explains that it was Bohra who caused its deviant behaviour and shows the court video footage of Bohra installing the red chip. The court releases Vaseegaran, while ordering that Chitti be dismantled. Left with no choice, Vaseegaran asks Chitti to dismantle itself. While saying goodbye, Chitti apologises to Vaseegaran, Sana and their families who forgive it, before dismantling itself.
Though injured, Vishwa fights with Bhima's goons and kills them individually. After a bitter fight, he kills Bhima by stabbing his throat. Meera soon arrives at the fort and realises that Vishwa killed Bhima, but she acts quickly and shoots the corpses of Bhima and his goons to imply that she killed them, thus saving Vishwa from prison. Meera eventually quits her job after realising her love for Vishwa, and the two get married. With Bhima and his gang out of the way, Vishwa is now the unchallenged crime boss in Mumbai.
The film's setting then shifts to 2030. Chitti is now a museum exhibit. A curious school student on an excursion trip asks her guide why it was dismantled, to which Chitti responds, "Naan sinthikka arambichen" (I started thinking).
==Cast==
{{cast listing|
== Cast ==
* [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]] as Vishwa Ramadurai (Vishwa Bhai), a dancer in Australia and Anna's son. He later becomes a [[Mumbai]] based Tamilian don known as "Thalaivaa".
{{quote box
* [[Amala Paul]] as [[Assistant commissioner of police|ACP]] Meera Narayanan [[Indian Police Service|IPS]], a crime branch officer who wants to find Anna with the help of Vishwa by falling in love with him and later becomes Vishwa's wife
| quote = I thought that playing Chitti the robot would be very difficult. He is a machine. His movements should not be like a human being's. We had to draw a line. If I deviated even slightly, Shankar would point it out and say I was being too human. After four to five days of shooting, we found a rhythm.
* [[Sathyaraj]] as Ramadurai (Anna), Vishwa's father and a [[Mumbai Underworld]] Don
| source =— Rajinikanth, on his experience of playing Chitti.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2014|page=227}}
* [[N. Santhanam|Santhanam]] as Logu, Vishwa's best friend and Ratnam's son
| align = right
* [[Ragini Nandwani]] as Gowri Mohan, a Bhojpuri woman who falls for Vishwa after he saves her from the rioters. She is later killed by Bhima's men
| width = 35%
* [[Abhimanyu Singh]] as Bhima Bhai, Anna's enemy from his childhood, and later Vishwa's enemy
* [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]] as Ratnam, Logu's father.
* [[Rajiv Pillai]] as Raju, Anna's henchman
* N. L. Srinivasan as Anand, Anna's henchman
* [[Udhaya (actor)|Udhaya]] as Video Kumar
* Tanu Vidyarthi as Video Kumar's wife
* [[Ponvannan]] as Ranga, Anna's brother, Vishwa's uncle and second-in-command who betrays Vishwa but later dies.
* M. R. Kishore Kumar as Santhosh, Ranga's physically handicapped son and Vishwa's cousin who acts as Vishwa's driver.
* [[Rekha Harris|Rekha]] as Ganga Ramadurai (Guest Appearance), Vishwa's deceased mother under whose name he manages a water distribution business.
* [[Suresh (actor, born 1963)|Suresh]] as Crime Branch officer who acts as Meera's father
* [[Y. G. Mahendran]] as Lawyer Radhakrishnan
* [[Manobala]] as Sathish, Anna's assistant
* [[Subbu Panchu]] as Ravi Kiran
* Mathivanan Sakthivel as Krishnaswamy, a doctor in Australia
* [[Ravi Prakash]] as Kesav
* [[Varun (actor)|Varun]] as Vishwa's friend
* [[Sathish Krishnan]] as Vishwa's friend
* K. Bujji Babu as Chef Thodaikari Maarthandam
* Prabhu as Vishwa's friend
* [[Pooran Kiri]] as Jadhav
* [[Raj Arjun]] as Bhima's henchman
* Ranjeev Verma as Mumbai Police Inspector
* Japan Kumar as Japan
* Nishikant Dixit as Advocate
* Vijay Varma as one of Vishwa's friends and a dancer in Tamil Pasanga
* [[Stunt Silva]] in a special appearance as himself
* [[Sam Anderson (Tamil actor)|Sam Anderson]] as himself (cameo appearance)
* [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]] (special appearance in the song "Vaanganna Vanakkanganna")
* [[Sridhar (choreographer)|Sridhar]] (special appearance in the song "Tamil Pasanga")
* [[Dinesh (choreographer)|Dinesh]] (special appearance in the song "Vaanganna Vanakkanganna")
}}
}}
{{colbegin}}
==Production==
* [[Rajinikanth]] as K. Vaseegaran and [[Chitti (character)|Chitti]]<ref name="OC">{{Cite AV media |title=Enthiran |date=1 October 2010 |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=[[Sun Pictures]] |place=India |time=01:00 to 02:00 |time-caption=Opening credits from}}</ref>
* [[Aishwarya Rai Bachchan]] as Sana<ref name="netflix">{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=Enthiran |url=https://www.netflixmovies.com/enthiran-2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171005082958/https://www.netflixmovies.com/enthiran-2010 |archive-date=5 October 2017 |access-date=8 October 2017 |website=[[Netflix]]}}</ref>
* [[Danny Denzongpa]] as Professor Bohra<ref name="netflix" />
* [[Santhanam (actor)|Santhanam]] as Siva<ref name="netflix" />
* [[Karunas]] as Ravi<ref name="netflix" />
* [[Cochin Haneefa]] as the traffic police officer<ref name="netflix" />
* [[Kalabhavan Mani]] as Pachaimuthu<ref name="netflix" />
* [[Delhi Kumar]] as Vaseegaran's father<ref name="netflix" />
* [[Raaghav]] as the neighbourhood bully<ref name="OC" />
* [[Devadarshini]] as Latha, Sana's sister<ref name="netflix" />
* [[Revathi Sankaran]] as Vaseegaran's mother<ref name="OC" />
* [[Sabu Cyril]] as Shah{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2014|page=231}}
* Sugunthan as the police inspector<ref name="CC">{{Cite AV media |title=Enthiran |date=1 October 2010 |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=[[Sun Pictures]] |place=India |time=2:55:05 |time-caption=Closing credits in}}</ref>
* [[Shriya Sharma]] as the curious student<ref name="CC" />
* [[Chaams]] as one of the barbers working at [[The Park, Chennai|The Park Hotel]]<ref name="CC" />
* [[Devadas Kanakala]] as K. Bhajanlal, a customer at The Park Hotel<ref name="CC" />
{{colend}}
== Production ==
===Casting===
[[File:Tamil-movies-vijay-thalaiva-movie-on-location-stills08.jpg|thumbnail|Vijay on the sets of ''Thalaivaa'' with stunt choreographers]]
After watching [[A. L. Vijay]]'s period drama film ''[[Madrasapattinam]]'' (2010), Vijay was impressed by the film and contacted the film director for a new project. A. L. Vijay later narrated the ''Thalaivaa'' story to Vijay and he agreed to play the role within 15 minutes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 March 2013 |title=Every scene in Thalaivaa will be like RDX |url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/every-scene-in-thalaivaa-will-be-like-rdx-vijay-al-vijay-28-03-13.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604052249/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/every-scene-in-thalaivaa-will-be-like-rdx-vijay-al-vijay-28-03-13.html |archive-date=4 June 2016 |access-date=13 April 2013 |work=Behindwoods}}</ref> [[Samantha Ruth Prabhu]], [[Priya Anand]], and [[Yami Gautam]] were initially considered for the lead female role.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 September 2012 |title=Samantha in Vijay's next? |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Samantha-in-Vijays-next/articleshow/16336438.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023065934/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-11/news-interviews/33738094_1_samantha-director-vijay-g-v-prakash |archive-date=23 October 2012 |access-date=20 November 2012 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=4 November 2012 |title=I'm a private person: Yami |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/telugu/news-interviews/Im-a-private-person-Yami/articleshow/17074991.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212080350/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-04/news-interviews/34893010_1_yami-gautham-gauravam-busy-bee |archive-date=12 December 2013 |access-date=20 November 2012 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Later [[Amala Paul]] with
[[Television|TV]] actress [[Ragini Nandwani]] was selected as the main female leads.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 October 2012 |title=Amala to pair opposite Vijay |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Amala-to-pair-opposite-Vijay/articleshow/17019066.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221124622/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-31/news-interviews/34818036_1_amala-paul-vijay-film |archive-date=21 February 2013 |access-date=20 November 2012 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 October 2012 |title=It's official: Amala Paul opposite Vijay |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/87740.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101175711/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/87740.html |archive-date=1 November 2012 |access-date=20 November 2012 |website=IndiaGlitz}}</ref> [[Vijay Yesudas]] was reported to be finalized for the antagonist role in this film,<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 August 2012 |title=Director Vijay, hero Vijay and villain Vijay |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/aug-12-02/vijay-al-vijay-14-08-12.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026060002/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/aug-12-02/vijay-al-vijay-14-08-12.html |archive-date=26 October 2016 |access-date=20 November 2012 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref> but he denied it as rumour.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 March 2013 |title=There won't be a third Vijay in Thalaivaa |url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/there-wont-be-a-third-vijay-in-thalaivaa-vijay-director-a-l-vijay-01-03-13.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604105241/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/there-wont-be-a-third-vijay-in-thalaivaa-vijay-director-a-l-vijay-01-03-13.html |archive-date=4 June 2013 |access-date=11 July 2013 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 September 2012 |title=I want to focus on my music for now, says Vijay Yesudas |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/others/i-want-focus-my-music-now-says-vijay-yesudas-343 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919142738/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/others/i-want-focus-my-music-now-says-vijay-yesudas-343 |archive-date=19 September 2012 |access-date=20 November 2012 |website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> [[Sathyaraj]] was also selected to be a part of this film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 October 2012 |title=Sathyaraj with Vijay again |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/87031.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012020159/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/87031.html |archive-date=12 October 2012 |access-date=20 November 2012 |website=IndiaGlitz}}</ref> A. L. Vijay's brother [[Udhaya (actor)|Udhaya]] has been selected to feature in a prominent role.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Udhaya in 'Thalaivaa' |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/90864.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214072939/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/90864.html |archive-date=14 February 2013 |access-date=11 February 2013 |website=IndiaGlitz}}</ref> [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]] will be the music director, while [[Nirav Shah]] will crank the camera. R. K. Naguraj has been enrolled as [[art director]]. Rumors about a [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] star portraying a singer, were refuted by Vijay.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 February 2013 |title=Vijay trashes Hollywood star act rumour |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Vijay-trashes-Hollywood-star-act-rumour/articleshow/18379263.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212080617/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-07/news-interviews/36971471_1_vijay-and-amala-paul-director-vijay-hollywood-star |archive-date=12 December 2013 |access-date=11 February 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
=== Origin ===
===Filming===
In 1996, following the release of ''[[Indian (1996 film)|Indian]]'', [[S. Shankar]] approached and pitched three storylines to [[Rajinikanth]] to consider for his next venture. This included scripts which would later become ''[[Sivaji: The Boss]]'' (2007), ''Enthiran'' (2010) and ''[[I (film)|I]]'' (2015). Rajinikanth was sceptical and refused all three scripts at the time.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeYKXbj9oOo|people=[[Rajinikanth]] |date=October 2010 |title=Super Star Rajini – Special Interview |medium=Interview |language=ta |location=Chennai |publisher=Sun TV}}</ref> Following the completion of his first directorial venture in Hindi, ''[[Nayak (2001 Hindi film)|Nayak]]'' (2001), Shankar announced his next project, ''Robot'', which was to feature [[Kamal Haasan]] and [[Preity Zinta]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 July 2010 |title=Shankar's Endhiran to become a reality soon |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/others/news-interviews/Shankars-Endhiran-to-become-a-reality-soon/articleshow/6215072.cms? |url-status=live |access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118101009/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/others/news-interviews/Shankars-Endhiran-to-become-a-reality-soon/articleshow/6215072.cms |archive-date=18 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="BZ">{{Cite web |date=2 January 2002 |title=Boys Zone |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/jan/02south.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118101218/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/jan/02south.htm |archive-date=18 January 2015 |access-date=18 January 2015 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> The film was to be produced by the now-defunct company [[Media Dreams]], a division of [[Pentamedia Graphics]].<ref name="BZ" /><ref name="Govardan">{{Cite news |last=Govardan |first=D. |date=5 January 2008 |title=Rajinikanth replaces Shah Rukh Khan in India's costliest movie |work=The Economic Times |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-01-05/news/28413738_1_rajinikanth-lulla-owned-eros-multimedia |url-status=live |access-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126124918/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-01-05/news/28413738_1_rajinikanth-lulla-owned-eros-multimedia |archive-date=26 January 2013}}</ref> The film was reported to be a futuristic [[techno-thriller]] set in Chennai in around 2200 or 3000.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 August 2004 |title=Man vs. machine |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2004/08/16/stories/2004081600740200.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118100919/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2004/08/16/stories/2004081600740200.htm |archive-date=18 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 January 2008 |title=Nirav and Sabu sign up for Robot! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/nirav-and-sabu-sign-up-for-robot-news-tamil-kkfuh8aidcdsi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118162759/http://www.sify.com/movies/nirav-and-sabu-sign-up-for-robot-news-tamil-kkfuh8aidcdsi.html |archive-date=18 January 2015 |access-date=18 January 2015 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref> Despite the completion of a photoshoot featuring Haasan and Zinta,<ref name="RFR" /> the project was shelved as a result of scheduling conflicts with Haasan.<ref name="Fate">{{Cite news |last=Tankha |first=Madhur |date=27 December 2010 |title=Script decides the fate of the movie |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/script-decides-the-fate-of-the-movie/article982047.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118101504/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/script-decides-the-fate-of-the-movie/article982047.ece |archive-date=18 January 2015}}</ref> Shankar consequently started work on ''[[Boys (2003 film)|Boys]]'' (2003).<ref name="BZ" />
The muhurta of the film was held in Chennai on 16 November 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 November 2012 |title=Vijay-Vijay project pooja held! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Vijay-Vijay-project-pooja-held/articleshow/17241035.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212081417/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-16/news-interviews/35156132_1_actor-vijay-ilayathalapathy-vijay-pooja |archive-date=12 December 2013 |access-date=20 November 2012 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> The first schedule began in Mumbai from 23 November 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 November 2012 |title=Vijay-Vijay start shoot in Mumbai |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Vijay-Vijay-start-shoot-in-Mumbai/articleshow/17334283.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212082100/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-23/news-interviews/35317860_1_vijay-and-amala-paul-al-vijay-ilayathalapathy-vijay |archive-date=12 December 2013 |access-date=23 November 2012 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> The title song "Thalaivaa Thalaivaa" was shot in Mumbai with 500 junior artists.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 April 2012 |title=Vijay's new Tamil film titled Thalaiva |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/regional/vijay-s-new-tamil-film-titled-i-thalaiva-i-317555 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208015949/http://movies.ndtv.com/regional/vijay-s-new-tamil-film-titled-i-thalaiva-i-317555 |archive-date=8 February 2013 |access-date=26 January 2013 |work=NDTV}}</ref> A major portion of the film was shot in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 October 2012 |title=Vijay & Amala does photoshoot! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/vijay-amala-does-photoshoot-news-tamil-mlvlvndhagb.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121121194147/http://www.sify.com/movies/vijay-amala-does-photoshoot-news-tamil-mlvlvndhagb.html |archive-date=21 November 2012 |access-date=20 November 2012 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref> The first look and title was revealed on 14 January 2013. Additional posters were released on 26 January 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thalaivaa new look |url=http://behindwoods.com/new-images/photo-galleries-q1-09/tamil-photo-gallery/thalaivaa-02/thalaivaa-02-thalaivaa-01.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127231447/http://behindwoods.com/new-images/photo-galleries-q1-09/tamil-photo-gallery/thalaivaa-02/thalaivaa-02-thalaivaa-01.html |archive-date=27 January 2013 |access-date=26 January 2013 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref>
After ''Boys'', Shankar began work on his next feature starring [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]], which was initially reported by [[Rediff.com]] to be ''Robot'' revived,<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 November 2003 |title=Shankar now wants sci-fi with Vikram |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/nov/24south.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118101527/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/nov/24south.htm |archive-date=18 January 2015 |access-date=18 January 2015 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> but was later revealed as ''[[Anniyan]]'' (2005).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |date=11 March 2005 |title=Director's dream project |url=http://www.thehindu.com/fr/2005/03/11/stories/2005031101810100.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=19 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113151544/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/03/11/stories/2005031101810100.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=13 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=M.I.N |date=15 March 2004 |title=Shankar's next |url=http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2004/03/15/stories/2004031500800200.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=19 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050529005859/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/03/15/stories/2004031500800200.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=29 May 2005}}</ref> One month post the release of ''Sivaji: The Boss'' in June 2007, he approached [[Shah Rukh Khan]] for the lead in ''Robot''.<ref name="srkcasting">{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=S. R. Ashok |date=29 July 2007 |title=Shah Rukh to star in Shankar's 'Robot' |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/shah-rukh-to-star-in-shankars-robot/article1881733.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118101927/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/shah-rukh-to-star-in-shankars-robot/article1881733.ece |archive-date=18 January 2015}}</ref> Shankar had cast [[Priyanka Chopra]] in the lead opposite him.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chauhan |first=Gaurang |date=28 November 2018 |title=Not Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra were the first choice for Robot |work=[[Times Now]] |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment/news/bollywood-news/article/not-rajinikanth-and-aishwarya-rai-bachchan-shah-rukh-khan-and-priyanka-chopra-were-the-first-choice-for-robot-bollywood-news/322385 |url-status=live |access-date=30 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329165639/https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment/news/bollywood-news/article/not-rajinikanth-and-aishwarya-rai-bachchan-shah-rukh-khan-and-priyanka-chopra-were-the-first-choice-for-robot-bollywood-news/322385 |archive-date=29 March 2020}}</ref> Khan was about to produce it under his own banner, [[Red Chillies Entertainment]], but in October the same year the project was officially aborted due to creative differences between him and Shankar.<ref name="srkcasting" /><ref name="Superstar casting">{{Cite web |last=Vilakudy |first=Rajaneesh |date=2 January 2008 |title=Shankar signs on Rajnikanth for Robot |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/jan/02robot.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118101954/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/jan/02robot.htm |archive-date=18 January 2015 |access-date=18 January 2015 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref>
As of 8 February 2013, 50% of total shootings were completed, with stunt scenes conducted by [[Stunt Silva]].<ref>{{Cite web |title='Thalaivaa' paces fast |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/90792.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211065128/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/90792.html |archive-date=11 February 2013 |access-date=11 February 2013 |website=IndiaGlitz}}</ref> [[Ragini Nandwani]], who plays a North Indian, stated that all of her film sequences were shot in Mumbai over 25–30 days. They moved to Chennai and shot a song at Binny Mills.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Super 6 for Vijay's Thalaivaa ! |url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/super-6-for-vijays-thalaivaa--vijay-a-l--vijay-14-03-13.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234619/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/super-6-for-vijays-thalaivaa--vijay-a-l--vijay-14-03-13.html |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=14 March 2013 |work=Behindwoods}}</ref> A last shooting schedule in Australia was completed by 24 April.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 March 2013 |title=It was delightful working with Vijay in Thalaivaa: Ragini |url=https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2013/ragini-nandwani-delightful-thalaivaa-vijay-104651.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212193946/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/news/2013/ragini-nandwani-delightful-thalaivaa-vijay-104651.html |archive-date=12 December 2013 |access-date=5 March 2013 |website=OneIndia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Thalaivaa wrapped up |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/93044.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426020701/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/93044.html |archive-date=26 April 2013 |access-date=25 April 2013 |website=IndiaGlitz}}</ref> They shot scenes at the [[Bondi Beach, New South Wales|Bondi Beach]] in [[New South Wales]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Australian spot which the Thalaivaa team cherishes |url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/the-australian-spot-which-the-thalaivaa-team-cherishes-vijay-thalaivaa-08-05-13.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607065644/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/the-australian-spot-which-the-thalaivaa-team-cherishes-vijay-thalaivaa-08-05-13.html |archive-date=7 June 2013 |access-date=10 May 2013 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref> It was revealed that Vijay would portray a leader of a dance group based in Australia, performing dance styles of different genres including [[tap dancing]] with [[Sathish Krishnan]] (''June Ponal'' from ''[[Unnale Unnale]]'' song fame), Karthik (Ungalil yaar [[Prabhu Deva]] winner), and their dance schoolmates.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karthik, Janani |title=Vijay tap dances in Thalaivaa! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Vijay-tap-dances-in-Thalaivaa/articleshow/19881530.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212075713/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-05/news-interviews/39027404_1_dance-group-dance-floor-kollywood-films |archive-date=12 December 2013 |access-date=13 May 2013 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><nowiki/>
The project was revived in January 2008 with [[Eros International]] and the [[London]]-based production company [[Ayngaran International]] willing to produce the film.<ref name="Govardan" /> The state government of [[Tamil Nadu]] granted tax exemptions for films titled in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], resulting in the new production being renamed ''Enthiran''.<ref name="Fate" /> While [[Sujatha Rangarajan]] was originally assigned to write the dialogue for the film, [[Madhan Karky]] took over after Rangarajan's death in February 2008.<ref name="RFR">{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=12 August 2010 |title=Ready for Robot? |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/article566585.ece |url-status=live |access-date=18 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118103719/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/article566585.ece |archive-date=18 January 2015}}</ref> In December 2008, Eros International withdrew from funding the project after financial difficulties caused by the box-office failure of ''[[Drona (2008 film)|Drona]]'' (2008) and ''[[Yuvvraaj]]'' (2008),<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=S. Suresh |date=30 December 2008 |title=Hollywood dreams |work=[[Mid-Day]] |url=http://archive.mid-day.com/news/2008/dec/301208-Rajinikanth-Aishwarya-Rai-Enthiran-Hollywood-HBO-simultaneous-release.htm |url-status=live |access-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6Vg1tedde?url=http://archive.mid-day.com/news/2008/dec/301208-Rajinikanth-Aishwarya-Rai-Enthiran-Hollywood-HBO-simultaneous-release.htm |archive-date=18 January 2015}}</ref> with the subsequent departure of Ayngaran International, which struggled with the [[financial crisis of 2007–08]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Balakrishnan |first=Ravikumar |date=26 December 2008 |title=Sri Lankan born producer edged out of Rs. 150 crore Rajanikanth's mega film 'Endhiran' |work=[[Asian Tribune]] |url=http://www.asiantribune.com/node/14840 |url-status=live |access-date=5 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605045455/http://www.asiantribune.com/node/14840 |archive-date=5 June 2016}}</ref> The film's production and release rights were sold to [[Sun Pictures]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 December 2008 |title=Sun Pictures to produce Rajni's Endhiran |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/dec/18sun-pictures-to-produce-endhiran.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118102809/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/dec/18sun-pictures-to-produce-endhiran.htm |archive-date=18 January 2015 |access-date=18 January 2015 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref>
==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
=== Cast and crew ===
| name = Thalaivaa
[[File:Rajini and Aishwarya Rai.jpg|thumbnail|For their roles, Rajinikanth (''left'') and Rai (''right'') were paid {{INR}}450 million and {{INR}}60 million respectively.]]
| type = Soundtrack
In January 2008, Rajinikanth accepted the lead role in the film for a salary of {{INR}}450 million ([[Indian rupee]]s).<ref name="Superstar casting" /><ref name="R+R">{{Cite news |last1=Subramanian |first1=Lakshmi |last2=Bamzai |first2=Kaveree |date=9 October 2010 |title=Robot+Rajini=Rs. 300 cr |work=[[India Today]] |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/robot+rajini=rs-300-cr/1/115629.html |url-status=live |access-date=22 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122111859/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/robot%2Brajini%3Drs-300-cr/1/115629.html |archive-date=22 January 2015}}</ref>{{refn|The average exchange rate in 2008 was 49.82 [[Indian rupee]]s ({{INR}}) per 1 US dollar (US$).<ref name="ex2010">{{Cite web |date=18 May 2012 |title=Rupee vs dollar: From 1990 to 2012 |url=http://inwww.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-rupee-vs-dollar-in-the-last-2-decades/20120518.htm?print=true |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321115240/http://inwww.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-rupee-vs-dollar-in-the-last-2-decades/20120518.htm?print=true |archive-date=21 March 2015 |access-date=21 March 2015 |website=Rediff.com}}</ref>|name=exchange2008|group=Note}} Shankar rewrote the original script to suit Rajinikanth's acting style.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2014|page=227}} Although [[Aishwarya Rai Bachchan]] was Shankar's original choice for the female lead in 2001, she declined it owing to a busy schedule and was replaced by Zinta.<ref name="Touch">{{Cite news |last=Sahgal |first=Geety |date=1 October 2010 |title=The HUMAN Touch |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/the-human-touch-6/ |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120151720/http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/the-human-touch-6/ |archive-date=20 January 2015}}</ref> When Shankar revived the project with Rajinikanth,<ref name="Superstar casting" /> contenders for the part included [[Deepika Padukone]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 January 2008 |title=Who should Rajni romance in Robot: Deepika or Ash? |work=[[Rediff.com]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/jan/10robot.htm |url-status=live |access-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118164646/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/jan/10robot.htm |archive-date=18 January 2015}}</ref> [[Shriya Saran]] and Rai, who was ultimately selected and paid {{INR}}60 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gupshup |first=Gullu |date=17 March 2008 |title=Ash is back in Rajni's Robot |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/mar/17ash.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118170445/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/mar/17ash.htm |archive-date=18 January 2015 |access-date=18 January 2015 |website=Rediff.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2008 |title=Should Shriya star opposite Rajni in Robot? |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/apr/17msg.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506070110/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/apr/17msg.htm |archive-date=6 May 2009 |access-date=18 January 2015 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref>{{refn|name=exchange2008|group=Note}} Rai's voice was dubbed by [[Savitha Reddy]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 October 2013 |title=Savitha Reddy to dub for Deepika in 'Kochadaiyaan' |work=[[Business Standard]] |agency=[[Indo-Asian News Service|IANS]] |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/savitha-reddy-to-dub-for-deepika-in-kochadaiyaan-113101000828_1.html |url-status=live |access-date=24 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225062543/http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/savitha-reddy-to-dub-for-deepika-in-kochadaiyaan-113101000828_1.html |archive-date=25 February 2015}}</ref>{{refn|In an interview with Geety Sahgal of ''[[The Indian Express]]'', Shankar stated that Rai had her dialogues translated from Tamil to English and rehearsed it the night before each day of filming.<ref name="Touch" />|group=Note}}
| artist = [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]]
| cover =
Several actors were considered for the role of Professor Bohra, including [[Amitabh Bachchan]], [[J. D. Chakravarthy]],<ref name="IT">{{Cite news |date=4 January 2016 |title=Rajinikanth told me not to play villain in Enthiran, says Amitabh Bachchan |work=India Today |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rajinikanth-told-me-not-to-play-villain-in-enthiran-says-amitabh-bachchan/1/561739.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605050104/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rajinikanth-told-me-not-to-play-villain-in-enthiran-says-amitabh-bachchan/1/561739.html |archive-date=5 June 2016}}</ref> [[Sathyaraj]] and British actor [[Ben Kingsley]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=28 January 2012 |title=Character Call |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/character-call/article2839950.ece |url-status=live |access-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118171750/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/character-call/article2839950.ece |archive-date=18 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="Manoj" /> but it was [[Danny Denzongpa]] who eventually received it, making ''Enthiran'' his first film in Tamil.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dutt |first=Purba |date=8 September 2010 |title=Rajini's unflappable: Danny |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Rajinis-unflappable-Danny/articleshow/6512564.cms |url-status=live |access-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6Vg6QiOB0?url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Rajinis-unflappable-Danny/articleshow/6512564.cms |archive-date=18 January 2015}}</ref> Dubbing for Denzongpa was provided by Kadhir.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rao |first=Subha J. |date=17 December 2011 |title=Over to the voices ... |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/over-to-the-voices/article2723614.ece |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119031821/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/over-to-the-voices/article2723614.ece |archive-date=19 January 2015}}</ref> Comedians [[Santhanam (actor)|Santhanam]] and [[Karunas]] were cast to portray Vaseegaran's assistants Siva and Ravi respectively.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 October 2010 |title=Rajnikanth's 'Endhiran' truly entertaining movie |work=[[Deccan Herald]] |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/101071/rajnikanths-endhiran-truly-entertaining-movie.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005083136/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/101071/rajnikanths-endhiran-truly-entertaining-movie.html |archive-date=5 October 2017}}</ref>
| alt =
| released = 21 June 2013<ref>{{Cite news |title=GV confirms Thalaivaa audio launch date |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/GV-confirms-Thalaivaa-audio-launch-date/articleshow/20242942.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212080059/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-24/news-interviews/39501532_1_audio-launch-date-gv-theatrical-rights |archive-date=12 December 2013 |access-date=24 March 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
The soundtrack album and background score were composed by A. R. Rahman.<ref name="Roll">{{Cite news |date=8 September 2008 |title=Endhiran set to roll out |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/endhiran-set-to-roll-out/article1424451.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121024256/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/endhiran-set-to-roll-out/article1424451.ece |archive-date=21 January 2015}}</ref> [[Vairamuthu]], [[P. Vijay]] and Madhan Karky authored the lyrics for the songs.<ref name="Roll" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Reddy |first=T. Krithika |date=5 May 2011 |title=Carry On Karky |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/money-and-careers/carry-on-karky/article1993594.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325054559/http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/money-and-careers/carry-on-karky/article1993594.ece |archive-date=25 March 2014}}</ref> [[Manoj Bharathiraja]], son of filmmaker [[Bharathiraja]], was signed on to be an assistant director after he approached Shankar.<ref name="Manoj">{{Cite news |last=Malini |first=Shankaran |date=14 September 2010 |title=Manoj Bharatiraja and 'Endhiran' |work=The New Indian Express |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/interviews/article301242.ece |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119024947/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/interviews/article301242.ece |archive-date=19 January 2015}}</ref> Also working as assistant directors were [[Atlee (director)|Atlee]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chowdhary |first=Y. Sunita |date=15 March 2014 |title=Atlee displays his chops |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/atlee-displays-his-chops/article5788431.ece |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119025905/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/atlee-displays-his-chops/article5788431.ece |archive-date=19 January 2015}}</ref> Shree and Karthik G. Krish.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=S. R. Ashok |date=8 March 2014 |title=Audio Beat: Damaal Dumeel – Hitting the high notes |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/audio-beat-damaal-dumeel-hitting-the-high-notes/article5764172.ece |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119030538/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/audio-beat-damaal-dumeel-hitting-the-high-notes/article5764172.ece |archive-date=19 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=Srinivasa |date=5 May 2014 |title=Reading between friendship |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/reading-between-friendship/article5979081.ece |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119030857/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/reading-between-friendship/article5979081.ece |archive-date=19 January 2015}}</ref> [[Sabu Cyril]], in addition to being the film's art director, made a guest appearance as Shah, an interpreter between Bohra and the terrorist organisation.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2014|page=231}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dundoo |first=Sangeetha Devi |date=23 July 2011 |title=All in a set's work |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/all-in-a-sets-work/article2287617.ece |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119031637/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/all-in-a-sets-work/article2287617.ece |archive-date=19 January 2015}}</ref>
| recorded =
| venue =
[[R. Rathnavelu]] was hired as the cinematographer after [[Ravi K. Chandran]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=Meera |date=13 July 2008 |title=Seeing through the lens, he creates magic |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/seeing-through-the-lens-he-creates-magic/article1295670.ece |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119033950/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/seeing-through-the-lens-he-creates-magic/article1295670.ece |archive-date=19 January 2015}}</ref> [[Nirav Shah]] and [[Tirru]] were considered.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krishnamoorthy |first=Suresh |date=22 January 2014 |title=Light, camera and a lens to top it all |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/light-camera-and-a-lens-to-top-it-all/article5604618.ece |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119034410/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/light-camera-and-a-lens-to-top-it-all/article5604618.ece |archive-date=19 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="Shoote">{{Cite web |date=15 February 2008 |title=''Robot'' shoot starts! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/robot-shoot-starts-news-tamil-kkftUPbiagdsi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422081847/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14605537 |archive-date=22 April 2008 |access-date=19 January 2015 |website=Sify}}</ref> [[Anthony (film editor)|Anthony]] was the film's editor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joseph |first=Renju |date=30 September 2010 |title='Robot': 'Endhiran' – Behind the camera |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/robot-endhiran--behind-the-camera/131984-8-66.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6Vgm6w0CK?url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/robot-endhiran--behind-the-camera/131984-8-66.html |archive-date=19 January 2015 |access-date=19 January 2015 |website=[[CNN-News18]]}}</ref> [[Yuen Woo-ping]], known for his work in [[The Matrix (franchise)|''The Matrix'' trilogy]] and the ''[[Kill Bill: Volume 1|Kill Bill]]'' films, was selected to be the stunt co-ordinator, while [[Legacy Effects]], a visual effects studio based in the United States, were in charge of the [[prosthetic make-up]] and animatronics in the film.<ref name="MYS" /> [[Munich]]-based film technical company, [[Panther (company)|Panther]], were responsible for the [[crane shot]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 July 2012 |title=The sea inside |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-sea-inside/article3657464.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120080408/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-sea-inside/article3657464.ece |archive-date=20 January 2015}}</ref>{{refn|In [[filmmaking]] and [[video production]], a crane shot is a shot taken by a [[video camera|camera]] on a [[Crane (machine)|crane]] or [[Jib (camera)|jib]].|group=Note}} The film's [[Subtitles|subtitle captioning]] was done by Rekha Haricharan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhavanishankar |first=Jyothsna |date=28 September 2010 |title=Rekhs Interview |url=http://behindwoods.com/new-videos/videos-q1-09/director-interview/rekha.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412124101/http://behindwoods.com/new-videos/videos-q1-09/director-interview/rekha.html |archive-date=12 April 2015 |access-date=12 April 2015 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref>
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
=== Costume design ===
| length = 31:25
[[Manish Malhotra]] and Mary E. Vogt were chosen to design the film's costumes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 April 2009 |title=Manish Malhotra's fab filmi fashion – Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Endhiran |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2009/apr/01slide3-best-of-manish-malhotra.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119041810/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2009/apr/01slide3-best-of-manish-malhotra.htm |archive-date=19 January 2015 |access-date=19 January 2015 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref>{{refn|Vogt was also the costume designer for the ''[[Men in Black (film series)|Men in Black]]'' film series.<ref name="MYS">{{Cite web |last=Iyengar |first=Pushpa |date=30 September 2010 |title=Platinum Man's Dance |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Platinum-Mans-Dance/266773 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119042620/http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Platinum-Mans-Dance/266773 |archive-date=19 January 2015 |access-date=19 January 2015 |website=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]}}</ref>|group=Note}} Fifty-seven costumes were used for Rai, including a "Mexican tribal" look that she sported during the filming of the "[[Kilimanjaro (song)|Kilimanjaro]]" segment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramani |first=Nithya |date=21 May 2009 |title='Ash's tribal look in Enthiran is very glamorous' |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2009/may/20slide-show-1-ojas-talks-about-favourite-stars.htm#1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120170121/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2009/may/20slide-show-1-ojas-talks-about-favourite-stars.htm |archive-date=20 January 2015 |access-date=20 January 2015 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> According to make-up artist [[Banu (make-up artist)|Banu]], no prosthetics were used for Rajinikanth to avoid bothering him by withholding his time on set.<ref name="Banu">{{Cite news |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |date=8 October 2010 |title=Man behind Rajni's looks |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Man-behind-Rajnis-looks/articleshow/6706929.cms |url-status=live |access-date=29 January 2015 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6VwRtka6p?url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Man-behind-Rajnis-looks/articleshow/6706929.cms |archive-date=29 January 2015}}</ref> Additional make-up was by Vance Hartwell, an employee of Legacy Effects.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mathai |first1=Kamini |last2=Nurullah |first2=Abdullah |date=8 December 2014 |title=What's the secret behind 63-year-old superstar Rajinikanth's youthful looks? |work=The Economic Times |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/whats-the-secret-behind-63-year-old-superstar-rajinikanths-youthful-looks/articleshow/45409978.cms |url-status=live |access-date=30 January 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150130131858/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/whats-the-secret-behind-63-year-old-superstar-rajinikanths-youthful-looks/articleshow/45409978.cms |archive-date=30 January 2015}}</ref>
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| label = [[Sony Music India|Sony Music]]
The visual appearance of Chitti was based on the [[G.I. Joe]] [[action figure]]s. For Chitti's "villain robot" look, its hair was spiked and brown coloured lenses were used for its eyes, whereas for its "good robot" look, green coloured lenses were used.<ref name="Banu" /> The wig used for Chitti's "villain robot" look had a silver streak in the middle, made out of [[Yak]] hair,<ref name="Banu Sify">{{Cite web |date=9 October 2010 |title=Banu – I give full credit to Rajini sir |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/banu-i-give-full-credit-to-rajini-sir-news-tamil-kkjrmldfhchsi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221074710/http://www.sify.com/movies/banu-i-give-full-credit-to-rajini-sir-news-tamil-kkjrmldfhchsi.html |archive-date=21 February 2015 |access-date=21 February 2015 |website=Sify}}</ref> while its leather jacket was designed by Vogt.<ref name="Banu Sify" /> To make Vaseegaran look mature, the team made Rajinikanth sport an [[Beard#Styles|Oakley beard]].{{refn|According to Banu, an Oakley beard is "neither a French beard not a full beard". It developed as a result of shaping Rajinikanth's already grown beard.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kingston |first=Daya |title=Make – up artist Banu interview |url=http://behindwoods.com/new-videos/videos-q1-09/director-interview/make-up-artist-banu.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225062905/http://behindwoods.com/new-videos/videos-q1-09/director-interview/make-up-artist-banu.html |archive-date=25 February 2015 |access-date=24 February 2015 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref>|group=Note}} Suits made of copper were used for Chitti's costumes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 February 2009 |title=Rajini's metallic look! |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/others/news-interviews/Rajinis-metallic-look/articleshow/4131575.cms |url-status=live |access-date=29 January 2015 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6VwSUJG9S?url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/others/news-interviews/Rajinis-metallic-look/articleshow/4131575.cms |archive-date=29 January 2015}}</ref>
The soundtrack was composed by [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]] with lyrics by [[Na. Muthukumar]], both teaming with [[A. L. Vijay]] for the fifth time. The soundtrack features five songs and two [[theme music]] tracks.<ref name="soundt">{{Cite news |last=Prasad |first=Shiva |date=11 February 2013 |title=Vijay's Thalaivaa scores 3 out of 5 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Vijays-Thalaivaa-scores-3-out-of-5/articleshow/18442448.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221125433/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-11/news-interviews/37038381_1_g-v-prakash-young-composer-songs |archive-date=21 February 2013 |access-date=11 February 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> As of 21 November 2012, he had composed two songs for the film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 November 2012 |title=Vijay chooses Spain as milieu for his Vijay film |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/vijay-chooses-spain-as-milieu-for-his-vijay-film-news-tamil-mkikrribhbf.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010024552/http://www.sify.com/movies/Vijay-chooses-Spain-as-milieu-for-his-Vijay-film-news-tamil-mkikrribhbf.html |archive-date=10 October 2012 |access-date=21 November 2012 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref> One song had been sung by [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]] alongside [[Santhanam (actor)|Santhanam]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 December 2011 |title=GV Prakash to do Ilayathalapathy film! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/gv-prakash-to-do-ilayathalapathy-film-news-tamil-lmhnbvaegjf.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107231447/http://www.sify.com/movies/gv-prakash-to-do-ilayathalapathy-film-news-tamil-lmhnbvaegjf.html |archive-date=7 January 2012 |access-date=20 November 2012 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref> A third song was completed on 11 February 2013.<ref name="soundt" /> The audio launch took place on 21 June 2013 in Hotel Connemara.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Thalaiva Audio Release Posters |url=http://moviegalleri.net/2013/06/thalaiva-audio-release-posters-vijay-amala-paul.html?pid=494862 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116064750/https://moviegalleri.net/2013/06/thalaiva-audio-release-posters-vijay-amala-paul.html?pid=494862 |archive-date=16 November 2018 |access-date=19 June 2013 |publisher=moviegalleri.net}}</ref> The audio rights of Thalaivaa were bought by [[Sony Music India|Sony Music]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ilayathalapthy Vijay's Thalaivaa – Audio Launch |url=http://badhil.com/ilayathalapthy-vijays-thalaivaa-audio-launch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204030408/http://badhil.com/ilayathalapthy-vijays-thalaivaa-audio-launch/ |archive-date=4 February 2016 |access-date=22 June 2013 |publisher=Badhil}}</ref>
| footer = The residential section of the Incan city of Machu Picchu, which features in the song, "Kilimanjaro".
For Sabu Cyril's sets, Shankar required approximately twice as much studio floor space as for his previous film. After rejecting [[Ramoji Film City]] for technical reasons, ''Enthiran''{{'s}} producer, [[Kalanithi Maran]], took six months to set up three air-conditioned studio floors on land in [[Perungudi]] owned by Sun TV Network.{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=226}} Filming began on 15 February 2008 at [[AVM Productions|AVM Studios]] in Chennai.<ref name="Shoote" /> After the initial stages of filming, Shankar and Rathnavelu toured the world for three weeks, scouting for exotic filming locations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 June 2008 |title=Shankar goes on a global location hunt! |url=http://www.sify.com/entertainment/movies/tamil/boxoffice/fullstory.php?id=14694570 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617110015/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14694570 |archive-date=17 June 2008 |access-date=19 January 2015 |website=Sify}}</ref> They visited Austria, Germany, Peru, Brazil and Argentina, looking for a backdrop to shoot the "Kilimanjaro" and "Kadhal Anukkal" segments,<ref name="YHSH">{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=S. R. Ashok |date=2 October 2010 |title=Your hunt stops here |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/your-hunt-stops-here/article804495.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120164057/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/your-hunt-stops-here/article804495.ece |archive-date=20 January 2015}}</ref> eventually deciding on Peru and Brazil.<ref name="WSJ" /><ref name="EL" /> "Kilimanjaro" was filmed at the ruins of the [[Inca Empire|Incan]] city of [[Machu Picchu]] in Peru, with some 100 Brazilian extras.<ref name="YHSH" /><ref name="WSJ">{{Cite news |last=Lahiri |first=Tripti |date=1 October 2010 |title=Machu Picchu Welcomes Rajinikanth (and India) |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2010/10/01/machu-picchu-welcomes-rajnikanth-and-india/ |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120104833/https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2010/10/01/machu-picchu-welcomes-rajnikanth-and-india/ |archive-date=20 January 2015}}</ref> It was choreographed by [[Raju Sundaram]] and supervised by Fernando Astete, director of the Machu Picchu archaeological park.<ref name="WSJ" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shetty |first=Shakti |date=19 April 2014 |title=Why Bollywood filmmakers are spending generously on a song shoot |work=[[Mid-Day]] |url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/why-bollywood-filmmakers-are-spending-generously-on-a-song-shoot/15239094 |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120105528/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/why-bollywood-filmmakers-are-spending-generously-on-a-song-shoot/15239094 |archive-date=20 January 2015}}</ref> "Kadhal Anukkal" was filmed in [[Lençóis Maranhenses National Park]] in northeastern Brazil.<ref name="EL">{{Cite news |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |date=26 October 2010 |title=Kollywood in search of exotic locations |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Kollywood-in-search-of-exotic-locations/articleshow/6809384.cms |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6Vj4LuiS4?url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Kollywood-in-search-of-exotic-locations/articleshow/6809384.cms |archive-date=20 January 2015}}</ref>
The filming for Chitti's introduction to the international robotics conference was completed in December 2008 at [[Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering]] and [[Vellore Institute of Technology]], where more than 400 students were used as extras.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 December 2008 |title=Aishwarya, Rajnikanth in Vellore for Endhiran |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Aishwarya-Rajnikanth-in-Vellore-for-Endhiran/articleshow/3897654.cms |url-status=live |access-date=5 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605082449/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Aishwarya-Rajnikanth-in-Vellore-for-Endhiran/articleshow/3897654.cms |archive-date=5 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2 June 2010 |title='Enthiran' highest budget Indian film! |work=The New Indian Express |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article427262.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120073105/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article427262.ece |archive-date=20 January 2015}}</ref> Further footage was shot over five days at the [[Ennore Port]] on the [[Mitsui O.S.K. Lines]] car carrier, ''Neptune Ace''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Padamanabhan |first=Geeta |date=6 June 2012 |title=Cresting the tech wave |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/cresting-the-tech-wave/article3497160.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120072000/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/cresting-the-tech-wave/article3497160.ece |archive-date=20 January 2015}}</ref> An action sequence where Chitti saves Sana from thugs was filmed in [[Lonavla]], under the supervision of the action choreographer [[Peter Hein]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 December 2009 |title=''Endhiran'' action scenes in Lonavala |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/endhiran-action-scenes-in-lonavala-news-tamil-kkfrgkfbfjesi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122163026/http://www.sify.com/movies/endhiran-action-scenes-in-lonavala-news-tamil-kkfrgkfbfjesi.html |archive-date=22 January 2015 |access-date=22 January 2015 |website=Sify}}</ref> Scenes featuring Rajinikanth as Chitti were captured over five days at the [[Perungudi#Dump Yard|Perungudi Dump Yard]] in Chennai.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=H. Ramakrishnan |first1=Deepa |last2=Lakshmi |first2=K. |date=5 May 2010 |title=Now garbage dump turns shooting spot |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/now-garbage-dump-turns-shooting-spot/article761579.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120065159/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/endhiran-almost-complete-shankar/article76198.ece |archive-date=20 January 2015}}</ref> Sabu Cyril told Uma Kannan of ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' that the sets for the climax sequence, which was filmed at [[Mayajaal]], consisted of a tar road and glass buildings which rose to {{convert|65|ft|m}}, and that [[Sandwich panel|aluminium composite panels]], reported to have cost {{INR}}50 million, were also used to design the sets.<ref name="Sabu">{{Cite news |last=Kannan |first=Uma |date=29 September 2010 |title=Sets, Sabu and 'Enthiran' |work=The New Indian Express |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/interviews/article479419.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120100715/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/interviews/article479419.ece |archive-date=20 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 July 2009 |title=Endhiran shot on expensive sets |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/endhiran-shot-on-expensive-sets-news-tamil-kkfrK8bjcdjsi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122162428/http://www.sify.com/movies/endhiran-shot-on-expensive-sets-news-tamil-kkfrK8bjcdjsi.html |archive-date=22 January 2015 |access-date=22 January 2015 |website=Sify}}</ref>{{refn|The average exchange rate in 2010 was 45.09 Indian rupees ({{INR}}) per 1 US dollar (US$).<ref name="ex2010" />|name=exchange2010|group=Note}}
==Release==
''Thalaivaa'' distribution rights for the United States and Canada were bought by Bharat Creations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 March 2013 |title=Thalaivaa snapped by Bharath Creations! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Thalaivaa-snapped-by-Bharath-Creations/articleshow/18807791.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130426195453/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-05/news-interviews/37469334_1_vijay-s-thalaivaa-chandraprakash-jain-amala-paul |archive-date=26 April 2013 |access-date=5 March 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Ayngaran International acquired the overseas rights for ''Thalaivaa''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ayngaran International acquired the overseas rights for Thalaivaa |url=https://twitter.com/Ayngaran_Intl/status/311881400041226240 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213214809/https://twitter.com/Ayngaran_Intl/status/311881400041226240 |archive-date=13 December 2013 |access-date=13 March 2013 |publisher=Ayngaran}}</ref> Tamil Nadu rights were bought by [[Vendhar Movies]] and Kerala rights by Thameens via [[Vendhar Movies]]. The music rights were sold to [[Sony Music India|Sony Music]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 May 2013 |title=Vijay's New film 'Thalaiva' Audio and Film Rights Sold |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/94170.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609024000/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/94170.html |archive-date=9 June 2013 |access-date=11 July 2013 |website=IndiaGlitz}}</ref> Prior to Vijay's birthday on 21 June a theatrical film trailer was released by [[Sony Music India]] on their [[YouTube]] channel.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hYS1PoM4XM |title=Thalaivaa — Official Theatrical Trailer |type=YouTube |publisher=Sony Music India}}</ref> Trailer got 1.2 million in 32 hours and 2 million views within 2 days on YouTube after its release. The film garnered totally 3.4 million hits on YouTube. The satellite rights of the film were secured by [[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]] for a record sum of {{INRConvert|15|c}}.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132025/http://www.cinemakaramkapi.com/2014/10/deepawali-2014-movies-on-tv.html Deepawali 2014 Movies on Tv]. cinemakaramkapi.com. 19 October 2014</ref> The film's running length is 3 hours 2 minutes and was given a "U" certificate by the [[Indian Censor Board]]. The film has been released on Friday, 9 August 2013 worldwide.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
The set for "[[Arima Arima]]", a sequence choreographed by [[Prabhu Deva]],<ref name="Dancing" /> was designed and constructed by Cyril at Ramoji Film City.<ref name="Sabu" /> Filming of the number took place over 22 days in April 2009.<ref name="Dancing">{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=Meera |date=28 April 2009 |title=Dancing in 100 ways, Rajini style |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/dancing-in-100-ways-rajini-style/article317305.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120161226/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/dancing-in-100-ways-rajini-style/article317305.ece |archive-date=20 January 2015}}</ref> Junior artists were employed by Rathnavelu to wear masks of Rajinikanth.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shivakumar |first=S. |date=15 October 2010 |title=Unveiled! |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/unveiled/article831081.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=21 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121043753/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/unveiled/article831081.ece |archive-date=21 January 2015}}</ref> For the sequence entitled "Irumbile Oru Irudhaiyam", choreographed by [[Remo D'Souza]] and featuring Rai and Rajinikanth as Chitti,<ref name="D" /> three different sets were used: one of copper, one of gold and one in silver.<ref name="Sabu" /> The musical number, which was filmed in AVM Studios for eight days, was the last portion of the film's principal photography. D'Souza incorporated the [[popping]] style of [[street dance]]s, but encountered difficulties in performing the dance movements in tandem with the robot, and with the restrictions created by the rigid costumes.<ref name="D">{{Cite news |last=Malini |first=Shankaran |date=21 September 2010 |title=Remo D'Souza and the 'Enthiran' dance |work=The New Indian Express |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/interviews/article488740.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120155914/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/interviews/article488740.ece |archive-date=20 January 2015}}</ref> Principal photography ended on 7 July 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rajinikanth, Aishwarya and Shankar at the Enthiren party |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/rajinikanth-aishwarya-and-shankar-at-the-enthiren-party-imagegallery-kollywood-khnkP2egjifsi.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609155103/http://www.sify.com/movies/rajinikanth-aishwarya-and-shankar-at-the-enthiren-party-imagegallery-kollywood-khnkP2egjifsi.html |archive-date=9 June 2016 |access-date=9 June 2016 |website=Sify}}</ref>
==Reception==
===Box office===
Thalaivaa earned {{INR|63.50 crore}} in India and {{INR|13.46 crore}} overseas, for a worldwide total of {{INR|76.96 crore}}.<ref name="tamil.cinemaprofile.com">{{Cite web |title=Thalaivaa Total Box Office Collections |url=https://tamil.cinemaprofile.com/movie-boxoffice/thalaivaa-movie.html |access-date=14 September 2023 |website=Cinema Profile}}</ref>
=== Visual effects ===
Thalaivaa opened well at international markets, especially in the US and UK.<ref name="cinemalead.com">[http://www.cinemalead.com/news-id-thalaivaa-usa-and-uk-box-office-report-box-office-analysis-12-08-133080.htm Thalaivaa USA and UK Box Office report – Thalaivaa USA And UK Box Office Report- Box Office Analysis- Thalaivaa- Kerala- Karnataka- Tamil NAdu- Thalaivaa Box Office- Thalaivaa Box Office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029200826/http://www.cinemalead.com/news-id-thalaivaa-usa-and-uk-box-office-report-box-office-analysis-12-08-133080.htm |date=29 October 2014 }}. Cinemalead.com (12 August 2013). Retrieved on 12 October 2015.</ref> In UK From the paid previews on Thursday till Saturday, Thalaivaa's gross in the UK is {{INRConvert|78|l}} approximate from 34 locations and it is seen as a very impressive opening. [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]]'s films generally embark on a great start in the UK, and Thalaivaa is no exception.<ref name="ReferenceB">[http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/how-has-thalaiva-opened-outside-tamil-nadu-thalaivaa-thalaiva-12-08-13.html Thalaiva release | Box office release report of Thalaiva (aka) Thalaivaa outside Tamil nadu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801063642/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/how-has-thalaiva-opened-outside-tamil-nadu-thalaivaa-thalaiva-12-08-13.html |date=1 August 2014 }}. Behindwoods.com (12 August 2013). Retrieved on 12 October 2015.</ref> The film's UK collection is said to be {{INRConvert|1.14|c}} in its opening weekend.<ref name="cinemalead.com" /> In UK "Thalaivaa" made an impressive start earning {{INRConvert|1.14|c}} (£1,21,249) from 36 screens in the opening weekend. The film has made higher collections than Suriya's "Singam 2" in the UK. "Singam 2" earned around {{INRConvert|99|l}} in the first week of its release. But [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]]'s "Thalaivaa" crossed "Singam 2" collections in its debut weekend. The film continued its dream run at the UK box office even in its second weekend. Its total UK collections are now pegged at {{INRConvert|2.09|c}}.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.co.in/039thalaivaa039-box-office-collection-vijay-starrer-a-hit-in-uk-earns-over-2-crore-500110 'Thalaivaa' Box Office Collection: Vijay Starrer a Hit in UK, Earns Over ₹2 Crore] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821110732/http://www.ibtimes.co.in/039thalaivaa039-box-office-collection-vijay-starrer-a-hit-in-uk-earns-over-2-crore-500110 |date=21 August 2014 }}. Ibtimes.co.in (20 August 2013). Retrieved on 12 October 2015.</ref>
Impressed with the film's script, [[V. Srinivas Mohan]] became the visual effects supervisor in December 2007. He asked Shankar to increase the filming schedules by six months to include pre-production requirements.<ref name="SMBW">{{Cite web |last=Bhavanishankar |first=Jyothsna |date=22 October 2010 |title=Endhiran VFX Supervisor Srinivas Interview |url=http://behindwoods.com/new-videos/videos-q1-09/director-interview/srinivas-mohan.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121032143/http://behindwoods.com/new-videos/videos-q1-09/director-interview/srinivas-mohan.html |archive-date=21 January 2015 |access-date=21 January 2015 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref><ref name="Clone">{{Cite news |last=Devi Dundoo |first=Sangeetha |date=31 October 2010 |title=Animatronics maketh the clone |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/animatronics-maketh-the-clone/article860359.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=21 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121041958/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/animatronics-maketh-the-clone/article860359.ece |archive-date=21 January 2015}}</ref> Both Mohan and Shankar visited several visual effects companies, including the New Zealand-based [[Weta Digital]] and the United States-based [[Industrial Light & Magic]], [[Cafe FX]] and [[Tippett Studio]] before partnering with Legacy Effects.<ref name="SMBW" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=13 August 2010 |title=Science meets cinema |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/science-meets-cinema/article567194.ece |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121030008/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/science-meets-cinema/article567194.ece |archive-date=21 January 2015}}</ref> The original Eros-Ayngaran visual effects budget was {{INR}}700 million,{{refn|name=exchange2008|group=Note}} but after Sun Pictures took over production, it was significantly reduced to {{INR}}200 million.{{refn|name=exchange2008|group=Note}} As a result, the visual effects team had to omit and alter some sequences, making Chitti wear sunglasses for most of the film to reduce the cost and difficulty of animating his eyes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Venkadesan |first=S. |date=18 October 2012 |title=Why Enthiran Rajini wore coolers? |work=The New Indian Express |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article1304321.ece |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121034556/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article1304321.ece |archive-date=21 January 2015}}</ref>
After a series of [[previsualisation]] tests, including a scene in which Chitti jumps on a train to save Sana, Mohan eventually decided to use the technique in 40 out of the 60 visual effects scenes featured in the film,<ref name="SMBW" /> consisting of 2,000 takes.<ref name="Behind">{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=30 October 2010 |title=Behind the Robot |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/behind-the-robot/article859242.ece |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119040836/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/behind-the-robot/article859242.ece |archive-date=19 January 2015}}</ref> Further previsualisation supervision was conducted by P. C. Sanath of Firefly Creative Studios, a visual effects company based in [[Hyderabad]]. [[Storyboard#Creation|3D storyboards]] were constructed using 3D animation programs for every scene in the film and were shot from different angles.<ref name="Clone" /> In an interview with Malathi Rangarajan of ''[[The Hindu]]'', Mohan said all the pre-production work took one-and-a-half years to complete.<ref name="Behind" />
At the end of the first weekend, the US gross of Thalaivaa from 44 reported locations is US$212,000 {{INRConvert|1.29|c}}. A record total of 70 locations are screening Thalaivaa and the total gross for the first weekend is expected to be in the US$250,000 range<ref name="ReferenceB" /> Thalaivaa fared well in Malaysia too. Thalaivaa has maintained exceptionally well in its second weekend in Malaysia. The film has become ninth highest grosser of all time in Malaysia's box office in just 10 days collection. In its second weekend the film has collected {{INRConvert|1.14|c}} (MYR 579,153) on 60 screens and average working out per screens {{INRConvert|1.90|l}} (MYR 9,654).<ref>[http://www.glintcinemas.com/2013/08/thalaivaa-2nd-weekend-collection-in-malaysia.html Account Suspended]. Glintcinemas.com. Retrieved on 12 October 2015. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219102026/http://www.glintcinemas.com/2013/08/thalaivaa-2nd-weekend-collection-in-malaysia.html |date=19 February 2014 }}</ref> Thalaivaa collected around {{INRConvert|8.34|c}} in just 10 days at the Malaysian box office.<ref>[http://www.glintcinemas.com/2013/09/malaysia-thalaivaa-5th-weekend-collection.html Account Suspended]. Glintcinemas.com. Retrieved on 12 October 2015. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819130352/http://www.glintcinemas.com/2013/09/malaysia-thalaivaa-5th-weekend-collection.html |date=19 August 2014 }}</ref> [[Baradwaj Rangan]] of the Hindu wrote "The director gets a lot of things right...this film has been made with some integrity, with respect for the story being told (and, to some extent, the audience too). After Vishwa's transformation, he's rarely shown smiling. Even when Santhanam makes a re-entry, there is no joyous reunion. Even after the heroine is separated from the hero for a while, there are no "dream songs".
"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |date=24 August 2013 |title=Thalaivaa: Replete with masala moments |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/thalaivaa-replete-with-masala-moments/article5055589.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805153501/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/thalaivaa-replete-with-masala-moments/article5055589.ece |archive-date=5 August 2020 |access-date=4 August 2019 |work=The Hindu}}</ref>
Rathnavelu used the [[Arriflex 435#435 Xtreme|435 Xtreme]] camera and also wrote a 1,600-page manual, in which he listed all the possible angles from where he could film the characters Rajinikanth played.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhavanishankar |first=Jyothsna |date=22 October 2010 |title=Cameraman Rathanvelu Interview |url=http://behindwoods.com/new-videos/videos-q1-09/director-interview/rathnavelu.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120171704/http://behindwoods.com/new-videos/videos-q1-09/director-interview/rathnavelu.html |archive-date=20 January 2015 |access-date=20 January 2015 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Reddy |first=T. Krithika |date=29 November 2014 |title=Lingaa through Randy's lens |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/interview-with-cinematographer-rathnavelu/article6646451.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120080947/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/interview-with-cinematographer-rathnavelu/article6646451.ece |archive-date=20 January 2015}}</ref> Legacy Effects and the Hong Kong-based visual effects companies Kinomotive Studios and Menfond Electronics took responsibility for the film's [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] work.<ref name="Behind" /> To create the robots with Rajinikanth's appearance, a complete scan of his face in 3D digital format in all possible lighting conditions was conducted using the Doom Light Stage,{{refn|The Doom Light Stage is based on an original research conducted by [[Paul Debevec]] at the [[Institute for Creative Technologies|ICT]] division of the [[University of California, Berkeley]]. The Light Stage systems efficiently capture how an actor's face appears when lit from every possible lighting direction. From this captured imagery, realistic virtual renditions of the actor are created in the illumination of any location or set, faithfully reproducing the colour, texture, shine, shading and translucency of the actor's skin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seymour |first=Mike |date=23 October 2010 |title=Light Stage brings The Robot to life in India |url=http://www.fxguide.com/quicktakes/light-stage-brings-the-robot-to-life-in-india/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123145843/http://www.fxguide.com/quicktakes/light-stage-brings-the-robot-to-life-in-india/ |archive-date=23 January 2015 |access-date=23 January 2015 |website=[[Fxguide]]}}</ref>|group=Note}} so that his face could be replicated on the [[mannequin]]s.<ref name="Clone" /> The technique, according to Shankar, was previously used in ''[[The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (film)|The Curious Case of Benjamin Button]]'' (2008).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ravi |first=Bhama Devi |date=29 September 2010 |title='Enthiran doesn't have a regional mosaic' |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/interviews/Enthiran-doesnt-have-a-regional-mosaic/articleshow/6644888.cms |url-status=live |access-date=26 January 2015 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6Vs1IJKK2?url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/interviews/Enthiran-doesnt-have-a-regional-mosaic/articleshow/6644888.cms |archive-date=26 January 2015}}</ref> The robot Chitti featured in the film was a mannequin made by a Legacy Effects team of 100 technicians in Los Angeles. For every robotic mannequin used, six puppeteers were employed to control the mannequin's movements.<ref name="Behind" />
===Critical response ===
''[[IBN Live]]'' gave it a 3/5 rating, stating that the film is a full-baked product. ''[[Sify]]'' stated "Thalaivaa is good and the movie was racy and shorter".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131019052704/http://www.sify.com/movies/thalaivaa-review-tamil-15036024.html Thalaivaa]. sify.com</ref>
== Themes and influences ==
''[[The Times of India]]'' gave it a 3/5, stating [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]] is in top form when he's normal and menacing. [[Sathyaraj]] as the don is effective. But the one who makes this arduous journey enjoyable is [[Santhanam (actor)|Santhanam]], whose poker-faced humour provides relief in a largely grim story.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/movie-reviews/Thalaivaa/movie-review/21706107.cms/ Thalaivaa movie review: Wallpaper, Story, Trailer at Times of India]. Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved on 29 December 2013. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028120545/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/movie-reviews/Thalaivaa/movie-review/21706107.cms/ |date=28 October 2013 }}</ref> ''MovieCrow'' rated it a 3/5, stating that the movie is a typical entertainer.<ref>[http://www.moviecrow.com/News/2643/thalaivaa-review---rehashed-godfather 'Thalaivaa Review – Rehashed Godfather' Tamil Movie, Music Reviews and News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826121009/http://www.moviecrow.com/News/2643/thalaivaa-review---rehashed-godfather |date=26 August 2013 }}. Moviecrow.com. Retrieved on 29 December 2013.</ref> ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'' rated the film 42 out of 100.<ref>{{Cite web |last=சார்லஸ் |first=தேவன் |date=22 June 2021 |title=பீஸ்ட் : 'நாளைய தீர்ப்பு' டு 'மாஸ்டர்'... விஜய்க்கு விகடனின் மார்க்கும், விமர்சனமும் என்ன? #Beast |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/how-vijay-movies-scored-in-vikatan-reviews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008100344/https://cinema.vikatan.com/amp/story/tamil-cinema/how-vijay-movies-scored-in-vikatan-reviews |archive-date=8 October 2021 |access-date=7 December 2021 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref>
''Enthiran'' focuses on the battle between man and machine.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Srivathsan |first=A. |date=23 October 2010 |title=Enjoy the carnival folks |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/enjoy-the-carnival-folks/article842791.ece |url-status=live |access-date=27 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127041324/http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/enjoy-the-carnival-folks/article842791.ece |archive-date=27 January 2015}}</ref> Despite Shankar's claim that ''Enthiran'' was a purely original idea,<ref name="RFR" /> it has been compared to [[Mary Shelley]]'s 1818 novel ''[[Frankenstein]]'', owing to the similar personae of Chitti and [[Frankenstein's monster]], both of whom turn against their respective creators.<ref name="malini">{{Cite news |last=Mannath |first=Malini |date=4 October 2010 |title=Enthiran |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/reviews/article287453.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123151201/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/reviews/article287453.ece |archive-date=23 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=G. Tilak |first=Sudha |date=10 October 2010 |title=BBC News – India's most expensive film is another Rajinikanth hit |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11498630 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123151717/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11498630 |archive-date=23 January 2015 |access-date=23 January 2015 |website=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> K. Moti Gokulsing and Wimal Dissanayake, in their book ''Routledge Handbook of Indian Cinemas'', noted the similarity between the two works, arguing that Chitti was "manipulated by Bohra to become a Frankenstein-like figure".<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gokulsing |first1=K. Moti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QwGgF-rDucEC |title=Routledge Handbook of Indian Cinemas |last2=Dissanayake |first2=Wimal |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-415-67774-5 |pages=294 |access-date=27 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413223856/http://books.google.com/books?id=QwGgF-rDucEC |archive-date=13 April 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Writing for ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', Genevieve Koski observed, "The plot of ''Enthiran'' is essentially ''Frankenstein'' via [[Isaac Asimov|[Isaac] Asimov]]'s [[Three Laws of Robotics]]."<ref name="AV Club" />
Director and film critic [[Sudhish Kamath]] called ''Enthiran'' "a superhero film, a sci-fi adventure, a triangular love story with a hint of the [[Ramayana]]", while remarking that ''Enthiran''{{'s}} similarities to ''[[The Terminator]]'' (1984) were "more than obvious. Not just visually—where we see the Superstar with one human eye and one scarred metallic eye but also intentionally spelt out when the bad robot announces that he has created Terminators." Kamath compared two of the film's robots to [[C-3PO]] and [[R2-D2]], [[droid (Star Wars)|droids]] from the ''[[Star Wars]]'' film series, which was referenced in ''Enthiran'' when Vaseegaran refers to one of his creations as "R2".<ref name="man versus machine">{{Cite news|last=Kamath|first=Sudhish|date=19 October 2010|title=Superstar Wars: Man versus Machines|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/superstar-wars-man-versus-machines/article836818.ece|url-status=live|access-date=26 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126074813/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/superstar-wars-man-versus-machines/article836818.ece|archive-date=26 January 2015}}</ref> The film was noted to have similarities with the 2002 [[Kannada]] film ''[[Hollywood (2002 film)|Hollywood]]'' which had its lead actor playing three roles – one of which was a scientist and the other a humanoid robot invented by that scientist which falls in love with the girlfriend of his creator.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 September 2010 |title=Is Endhiran a rich man's Hollywood? |work=[[Bangalore Mirror]] |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/south-masala/is-endhiran-a-rich-mans-hollywood/articleshow/21774804.cms |url-status=live |access-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806173123/https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/south-masala/is-endhiran-a-rich-mans-hollywood/articleshow/21774804.cms |archive-date=6 August 2020}}</ref>
===Accolades===
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2020}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 103%;"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Recipient
! Result
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Vijay Awards]]
|[[Vijay Award for Favourite Hero|Favourite Hero]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Vijay Award for Entertainer of the Year|Entertainer of the Year]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Vijay Award for Favourite Film|Favourite Film]]
|''Thalaivaa''
|{{Won}}
|-
||[[Techofes Awards]]
|Favourite Actor
|[[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]]
|{{won}}
|}
Although Shankar initially claimed that ''Enthiran'' would be made for all audiences, including those lacking [[computer literacy]],<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9kxJN4I1fk |title=Enthiran – The Robot Will Work in Villages Too: Shankar |date=24 September 2010 |last=Shankar, S. (director) |publisher=[[Rajshri Media]] |place=India |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720013658/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9kxJN4I1fk |archive-date=20 July 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> the film is influenced by and makes references to many scientific principles relating to the fields of engineering, computer science and robotics, including [[terabyte]]s and Asimov's laws of robotics.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Balakrishnan |first=Ravi |date=2 October 2010 |title=The experience of first show of a Rajinikanth film |work=[[The Economic Times]] |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/business-of-bollywood/the-experience-of-first-show-of-a-rajinikanth-film/articleshow/6668088.cms |url-status=live |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6Vuhy4vrt?url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/business-of-bollywood/the-experience-of-first-show-of-a-rajinikanth-film/articleshow/6668088.cms |archive-date=28 January 2015}}</ref> Visual references are made to the [[science book]]s ''[[A Briefer History of Time (Hawking and Mlodinow book)|A Briefer History of Time]]'' (2005) and ''[[Freakonomics]]'' (2005).<ref name="R+R" /> In his book ''Visual Perception and Cultural Memory: Typecast and Typecast(e)ing in Malayalam Cinema'', Sujith Kumar Parayil notes the similarities between Kalabhavan Mani's role in the film to the one Mani played in the [[Malayalam]] film ''[[Sallapam]]'' (1996).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Parayil |first=Sujith Kumar |year=2014 |title=Visual Perception and Cultural Memory: Typecast and Typecast(e)ing in Malayalam Cinema |url=http://synoptique.hybrid.concordia.ca/index.php/main/article/view/40/50 |url-status=live |format=PDF |journal=Synoptique |pages=75–76 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413071441/http://synoptique.hybrid.concordia.ca/index.php/main/article/view/40/50 |archive-date=13 April 2015 |access-date=13 April 2015}}</ref>
==References==
== Music ==
{{Main|Enthiran (soundtrack)}}
For ''Enthiran''{{'}}s soundtrack and score, A. R. Rahman made use of the [[Continuum Fingerboard]], an instrument he had experimented with previously in the song "Rehna Tu" from [[Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra]]'s [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] ''[[Delhi-6]]'' (2009).<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 July 2009 |title=Rahman uses novel concept for Endhiran |url=https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg66979.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6i2BRom7m?url=https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg66979.html |archive-date=5 June 2016 |access-date=5 June 2016 |website=[[Radio City (Indian radio station)|PlanetRadiocity.com]]}}</ref> The film also marked the debut of Rahman's daughter Khatija as a playback singer.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 August 2010 |title=Daughter croons for AR Rahman |work=The Times of India |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrint_TOI&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TOIBG/2010/08/01&ID=Ar04102 |url-status=dead |access-date=16 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316051521/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib%3ALowLevelEntityToPrint_TOI&Type=text%2Fhtml&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TOIBG%2F2010%2F08%2F01&ID=Ar04102 |archive-date=16 March 2015}}</ref>
The soundtrack album to ''Enthiran'' was released on 31 July 2010 at the [[Putrajaya International Convention Centre]] in [[Kuala Lumpur]], Malaysia.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 July 2010 |title=Aishwarya, Rajnikanth launch Endhiran music |work=[[NDTV]] |agency=Press Trust of India |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/aishwarya-rajnikanth-launch-endhiran-music-615789 |url-status=live |access-date=24 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124043033/http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/aishwarya-rajnikanth-launch-endhiran-music-615789 |archive-date=24 January 2015}}</ref> The original Tamil and dubbed Telugu versions were released by [[Think Music]], while the dubbed Hindi version was released by Venus Music.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 July 2010 |title=Venus acquires Hindi audio rights of Endhiran |work=NDTV |agency=IANS |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/venus-acquires-hindi-audio-rights-of-endhiran-615772 |url-status=live |access-date=30 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124043413/http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/venus-acquires-hindi-audio-rights-of-endhiran-615772 |archive-date=24 January 2015}}</ref> Think Music purchased the release rights of the original Tamil and dubbed Telugu versions of the album for {{INR}}70 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kandavel |first=Sangeetha |date=20 July 2011 |title=Sony Music buys 146 catalogues of Think Music but loses on Rajinikanth starrer Endhiran's rights |work=The Economic Times |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-07-20/news/29795015_1_sony-music-shridhar-subramaniam-endhiran |url-status=live |access-date=24 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124043155/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-07-20/news/29795015_1_sony-music-shridhar-subramaniam-endhiran |archive-date=24 January 2015}}</ref>{{refn|name=exchange2010|group=Note}} The album of the film's dubbed Telugu version, ''Robo'', was released on 6 August 2010, while its dubbed Hindi version, ''Robot'', was released on 14 August 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 August 2010 |title=Ash down with high fever, gives Endhiran music launch a miss |work=NDTV |agency=Press Trust of India |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/ash-down-with-high-fever-gives-endhiran-music-launch-a-miss-615920 |url-status=live |access-date=24 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124054557/http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/ash-down-with-high-fever-gives-endhiran-music-launch-a-miss-615920 |archive-date=24 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Padmanabhan |first=Krishnakumar |date=16 August 2010 |title=When superstar Rajnikanth met superstar Big B |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-robot-launch-in-mumbai/20100816.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124054705/http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-robot-launch-in-mumbai/20100816.htm |archive-date=24 January 2015 |access-date=24 January 2015 |website=Rediff.com}}</ref> After the second day of release, the album's original Tamil version reached the number one position in the Top 10 World Albums chart on [[iTunes]], making it the first Tamil album to do so.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Narayanan |first=Sharadha |date=4 August 2010 |title='Endhiran' tops iTunes chart |work=The New Indian Express |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article200776.ece |url-status=live |access-date=24 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124043426/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article200776.ece |archive-date=24 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="Fells">{{Cite news |last=Narasimhan |first=T. E. |date=2 October 2010 |title=Rajini fells all records with sci-fi entertainer Endhiran |work=[[Business Standard]] |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/rajini-fells-all-records-with-sci-fi-entertainer-endhiran-110100200074_1.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605123527/http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/rajini-fells-all-records-with-sci-fi-entertainer-endhiran-110100200074_1.html |archive-date=5 June 2016}}</ref>
== Release ==
''Enthiran'' was released on 1 October 2010 in three languages—in Tamil as ''Enthiran'', in Hindi as ''Robot'' and in Telugu as ''Robo''.<ref name="CNN Travel" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 October 2010 |title=''Enthiran'' – D-Day is here! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/enthiran-d-day-is-here-news-tamil-kkgu7Xchbedsi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221064709/http://www.sify.com/movies/enthiran-d-day-is-here-news-tamil-kkgu7Xchbedsi.html |archive-date=21 February 2015 |access-date=21 February 2015 |website=Sify}}</ref> The original version was in Tamil, while the Hindi and Telugu versions were dubbed.<ref name="CNN Travel" /> The film was released in 2,250 theatres worldwide, including 500 theatres in Tamil Nadu,<ref name="HBLScreens" /> 350 theatres in [[Andhra Pradesh]],<ref name="HBLScreens">{{Cite news |last=Ravikumar |first=R. |date=29 September 2010 |title=Enthiran – curious audience, optimistic Kollywood |work=[[Business Line]] |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/enthiran-curious-audience-optimistic-kollywood/article1005373.ece |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121084052/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/enthiran-curious-audience-optimistic-kollywood/article1005373.ece |archive-date=21 January 2015}}</ref> 128 theatres in [[Kerala]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 September 2010 |title=''Enthiran'' creates record in Kerala |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=14957682&cid=2362 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121083015/http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=14957682&cid=2362 |archive-date=21 January 2015 |access-date=21 January 2015 |website=Sify}}</ref> 23 theatres in [[Karnataka]], and 750 theatres in North India.<ref name="Fells" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=7 October 2010 |title=Enthiran crosses screening limit; Kannada producers irked |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/enthiran-stalls-new-releases/article811969.ece |url-status=live |access-date=26 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121084058/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article817325.ece |archive-date=21 January 2015}}</ref> With an estimated budget of {{INR}}1.32{{mdash}}1.62 billion,<ref name="Q3" />{{refn|name=budget|group=Note}}{{refn|name=exchange2010|group=Note}} ''Enthiran'' was [[List of most expensive Indian films|India's most expensive film]] up to that point,<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 August 2010 |title=Endhiran: The costliest film in India |work=India Today |agency=Press Trust of India |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/endhiran-the-costliest-film-in-india/1/108599.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203012913/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/endhiran-the-costliest-film-in-india/1/108599.html |archive-date=3 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Buncombe |first=Andrew |date=3 October 2010 |title=Meet India's biggest film star |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/meet-indias-biggest-film-star-2096273.html |url-status=live |access-date=3 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122065142/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/meet-indias-biggest-film-star-2096273.html |archive-date=22 January 2015}}</ref> surpassing the Hindi film ''[[Blue (2009 film)|Blue]]'' (2009), which was filmed on a budget of {{INR}}750 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Iyer |first=Meena |date=10 August 2010 |title=At 150 crore, Rajinikant's Robot costliest ever movie |work=The Economic Times |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-08-10/news/27627378_1_first-film-special-effects-yuen-woo-ping |url-status=live |access-date=24 January 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141214014845/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-08-10/news/27627378_1_first-film-special-effects-yuen-woo-ping |archive-date=14 December 2014}}</ref>{{refn|The average exchange rate in 2009 was 46.29 Indian rupees ({{INR}}) per 1 US dollar (US$).<ref name="ex2010" />|group=Note}}
''Enthiran'' became the first Tamil film to be released at the [[Colosseum kino]], a [[Norway|Norwegian]] theatre complex in [[Oslo]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Raj K. |first=Rohith |date=10 October 2010 |title='Enthiran's bitter pill to Malayalam cinema |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article289735.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208085811/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article289735.ece |archive-date=8 February 2015 |access-date=8 February 2015 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> and it was screened at the 21st [[Bath Film Festival]], held in the United Kingdom in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 21st Bath film festival |url=http://bathfilmfestival.org.uk/the-robot.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101081726/http://bathfilmfestival.org.uk/the-robot.html |archive-date=1 November 2010 |access-date=24 November 2011 |work=[[Bath Film Festival]]}}</ref> Additionally, a version of the film, edited to a running length of two hours, was released in Japan in May 2012, and later screened at the 24th [[Tokyo International Film Festival]], where it won a special award under the section "Winds of Asia–Middle East".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Winds of Asia-Middle East – Film Panorama of Asia-Middle East: The Robot |url=http://2011.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/works.php?id=108 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121090417/http://2011.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/works.php?id=108 |archive-date=21 January 2015 |access-date=2 November 2011 |work=[[Tokyo International Film Festival]]}}</ref><ref name="TIFF">{{Cite web |title=24th Tokyo International Film Festival – List of Winners |url=http://2011.tiff-jp.net/en/tiff/awards.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121094438/http://2011.tiff-jp.net/en/tiff/awards.html |archive-date=21 January 2015 |access-date=21 January 2015 |work=Tokyo International Film Festival}}</ref> By public demand, the original, unedited version was later released in that country.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ankita |date=13 June 2012 |title=Rajinikant's Robot Becomes a Hit in Japan [PHOTOS & VIDEOS] |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/rajinikants-robot-becomes-a-hit-in-japan-photos-videos-351635 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206154818/http://www.ibtimes.co.in/rajinikants-robot-becomes-a-hit-in-japan-photos-videos-351635 |archive-date=6 February 2015 |access-date=6 February 2015 |website=[[International Business Times]]}}</ref>
=== Marketing and distribution ===
The first poster for ''Enthiran'' was released on 8 September 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 September 2008 |title=Enthiren (Robot) – First Look! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/enthiren-robot-first-look-news-tamil-kkfsWHedhfisi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605085125/http://www.sify.com/movies/enthiren-robot-first-look-news-tamil-kkfsWHedhfisi.html |archive-date=5 June 2016 |access-date=5 June 2016 |work=Sify}}</ref> The film's trailer was released on 11 September 2010, at the [[SPI Cinemas|Sathyam Cinemas]] theatre complex in Chennai.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 September 2010 |title=Endhiran trailer released |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/endhiran-trailer-released/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121100152/http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/endhiran-trailer-released/ |archive-date=21 January 2015 |access-date=21 January 2015 |website=The Indian Express}}</ref> To promote ''Enthiran'', [[AGS Entertainment]] organised a festival from 25 September 2010 until its release date, in which they screened popular films of Rajinikanth at the company's theatre in [[Villivakkam]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 September 2010 |title=One for the fans |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/one-for-the-fans/article791697.ece |url-status=live |access-date=8 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208044841/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/one-for-the-fans/article791697.ece |archive-date=8 February 2015}}</ref> In Coimbatore, the [[India Post|Department of Posts]] printed 100,000 post cards advertising the film.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 September 2010 |title=Endhiran advertisement on post cards |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/endhiran-advertisement-on-post-cards/article799913.ece |url-status=live |access-date=8 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208044846/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/endhiran-advertisement-on-post-cards/article799913.ece |archive-date=8 February 2015}}</ref> Sun Pictures invested a total of {{INR}}500 million on promotional activities.<ref name="R+R" />{{refn|name=exchange2010|group=Note}}
Advance bookings for the film began two weeks before the release date in the United States. In the [[Jackson Heights, Queens|Jackson Heights]] neighbourhood in New York, tickets were sold out within ten minutes of going on sale.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nivas |first=Namita |date=1 October 2010 |title=Endhiran makes news even before release |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/endhiran-makes-news-even-before-release/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121100802/http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/endhiran-makes-news-even-before-release/ |archive-date=21 January 2015 |access-date=21 January 2015 |website=The Indian Express}}</ref> In Kerala the distribution rights were sold for {{INR}}50 million,<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 August 2010 |title=Malayalam rights of 'Endhiran' sets record |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article209164.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121080239/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article209164.ece |archive-date=21 January 2015 |access-date=21 January 2015 |website=The New Indian Express |publisher=Sampurn Wire}}</ref>{{refn|name=exchange2010|group=Note}} while in Karnataka they were sold for {{INR}}100 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prasad |first=Shyam |date=25 September 2010 |title=Enthiran will singe you |url=http://bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=10&contentid=2010092520100925051125158c0163429 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707213303/http://bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=10&contentid=2010092520100925051125158c0163429 |archive-date=7 July 2011 |access-date=24 December 2010 |website=Bangalore Mirror}}</ref>{{refn|name=exchange2010|group=Note}} The distribution rights in Mumbai were sold to Shringar Films.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheikh |first=Aminah |date=4 October 2010 |title=Robot, Anjaana Anjaani sweep box office |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-10-04/news/27624325_1_box-office-anjaana-anjaani-occupancies |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126024710/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-10-04/news/27624325_1_box-office-anjaana-anjaani-occupancies |archive-date=26 January 2013 |access-date=5 June 2016 |website=The Economic Times}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, ''Enthiran'' was released by Ayngaran International, while ''Robot'' was released by [[B4U (network)|B4U Network]].<ref name="Tamil version runtime" /> DVD marketing in India was handled by [[Moser Baer]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=Endhiran (Movie, DVD) |url=http://www.flipkart.com/endhiran/p/itmdgyahufaytfhh?pid=AVMDGY9Y6P2RHTKK&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=endhiran&ref=18d2e162-a197-461c-9b97-f2efd7a691b1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130155109/http://www.flipkart.com/endhiran/p/itmdgyahufaytfhh?pid=AVMDGY9Y6P2RHTKK&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=endhiran&ref=18d2e162-a197-461c-9b97-f2efd7a691b1 |archive-date=30 January 2015 |access-date=30 January 2015 |work=[[Flipkart]]}}</ref> Ayngaran International released the two-DVD set of the film in early 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Endhiran 2 DVD Special Edition |url=https://www.amazon.com/Endhiran-2-DVD-Special-Edition/dp/B004L2FCOW |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808143758/http://www.amazon.com/Endhiran-2-DVD-Special-Edition/dp/B004L2FCOW |archive-date=8 August 2014 |access-date=30 January 2015}}</ref>
=== Plagiarism allegations ===
The novelist Aarur Thamizhnadan made a complaint with the [[Chennai Metropolitan Police]] against the filmmakers in November 2010, stating that the producers plagiarised his 1996 novel ''Jugiba''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iyengar |first=Pushpa |date=11 November 2010 |title=Chennai Corner – So who wrote Endhiran? |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Chennai-Corner/267919 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122035951/http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Chennai-Corner/267919 |archive-date=22 January 2015 |access-date=22 January 2015 |website=Outlook}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2011 |title=Scribe stakes claim to Enthiran story |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/kollywood/scribe-stakes-claim-enthiran-story-743 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530010555/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/kollywood/scribe-stakes-claim-enthiran-story-743 |archive-date=30 May 2011 |access-date=15 December 2011 |website=[[Deccan Chronicle]]}}</ref> Thamizhnadan demanded {{INR}}10 million{{refn|name=exchange2010|group=Note}} from the director and producers for damages and filed a case against Kalanithi Maran.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 November 2010 |title=Plea to restrain screening of 'Enthiran' |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/plea-to-restrain-screening-of-enthiran/article877295.ece |url-status=live |access-date=22 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122054356/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/plea-to-restrain-screening-of-enthiran/article877295.ece |archive-date=22 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="EPMHC">{{Cite web |date=10 June 2011 |title=HC stay on case against Kalanithi |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/HC-stay-on-case-against-Kalanithi/articleshow/8794646.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6X2XSIrYu?url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/HC-stay-on-case-against-Kalanithi/articleshow/8794646.cms |archive-date=15 March 2015 |access-date=15 March 2015 |website=The Times of India}}</ref> In June 2011, the [[Madras High Court]] dismissed the case after a petition filed by Maran denying the allegation was approved.<ref name="EPMHC" /> The case continued, and in early 2021, after failing several times to show up in court, Shankar was issued a non-bailable warrant.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Entertainment|first=Quint|date=2021-01-31|title=Enthiran Plagiarism Case: Non-bailable Warrant Against Dir Shankar|url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/celebrities/enthiran-plagiarism-case-non-bailable-warrant-against-director-shankar|access-date=2021-06-14|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref>
== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
The daily newspaper ''[[Business Line]]'' reported that ''Enthiran'' grossed {{INR}}580 million from all versions in the opening weekend,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhat |first=Varada |date=4 October 2010 |title=Bollywood buoyant as Q3 opens on positive note |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-marketing/bollywood-buoyant-as-q3-opens-on-positive-note/article1005838.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206082026/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-marketing/bollywood-buoyant-as-q3-opens-on-positive-note/article1005838.ece |archive-date=6 February 2015 |access-date=4 October 2010 |website=Business Line}}</ref>{{refn|name=exchange2010|group=Note}} and ''[[The Economic Times]]'' stated it netted {{INR}}1.17 billion by the end of its opening week.<ref name="first week">{{Cite news |last=Dubey |first=Bharati |date=9 October 2010 |title=Rs 117 cr in just 7 days, 'Robot' Rajini smashes all records |work=The Economic Times |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-10-09/news/27593126_1_film-collection-endhiran |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=9 October 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126032109/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-10-09/news/27593126_1_film-collection-endhiran |archive-date=26 January 2013}}</ref>{{refn|name=exchange2010|group=Note}} According to a February 2015 report by ''Hindustan Times'', the film has grossed ₹2.56 billion worldwide in its lifetime.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 February 2015 |title=Vikram's I crosses Rs 200 crore mark, eyes Enthiran record |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/vikram-s-i-crosses-rs-200-crore-mark-eyeing-endhiran-record/story-yiOmxaPA0HSNn8v8s3T1mK.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919134414/http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/vikram-s-i-crosses-rs-200-crore-mark-eyeing-endhiran-record/story-yiOmxaPA0HSNn8v8s3T1mK.html |archive-date=19 September 2016 |access-date=19 September 2016 |website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> [[Indo-Asian News Service]] stated in July 2015 that the film grossed ₹2.90 billion from both its original and its dubbed versions.<ref name="2.90 billion">{{Cite web |date=19 July 2015 |title=SS Rajamouli's Baahubali enters RS 300 crore club |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/ss-rajamoulis-baahubali-enters-rs-300-crore-club/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919134359/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/ss-rajamoulis-baahubali-enters-rs-300-crore-club/ |archive-date=19 September 2016 |access-date=19 September 2016 |website=The Indian Express}}</ref>{{refn|name=exchange2010|group=Note}} ''Enthiran'' became the top-earning Indian film of 2010 ahead of ''[[My Name Is Khan]]'' and ''[[Dabangg]]'' and became the [[list of highest-grossing Tamil films|highest-grossing Tamil film of all time]] at that point.<ref name="worldwide gross">{{Cite web |date=1 November 2010 |title=Endhiran – The Robot Expected Lifetime Business |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/boxnewsdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=2171&nCat=box_office_news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104233643/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/boxnewsdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=2171&nCat=box_office_news |archive-date=4 November 2010 |access-date=6 February 2015 |work=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Upadhyaya |first=Prakash |date=27 January 2015 |title='I' Mints ₹184 Crore in 12 Days in Worldwide Box Office Collections |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/i-mints-184-crore-12-days-worldwide-box-office-collections-621620 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206083044/http://www.ibtimes.co.in/i-mints-184-crore-12-days-worldwide-box-office-collections-621620 |archive-date=6 February 2015 |access-date=6 February 2015 |website=International Business Times}}</ref>
As of January 2018, ''Enthiran'' is the [[List of highest-grossing Tamil films|fourth-highest-grossing]] [[Cinema of South India|South Indian film]] of all time after ''[[Baahubali 2: The Conclusion]]'' (2017), ''[[Baahubali: The Beginning]]'' (2015),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=5 May 2017 |title='Baahubali 2' Becomes All-Time No. 1 Indian Film at Worldwide Box Office |url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/baahubali-2-the-conclusion-record-box-office-india-imax-north-america-worldwide-prabhas-1202079770/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505171227/http://deadline.com/2017/05/baahubali-2-the-conclusion-record-box-office-india-imax-north-america-worldwide-prabhas-1202079770/ |archive-date=5 May 2017 |access-date=5 May 2017 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=H. Hooli |first=Shekhar |date=19 July 2015 |title=2nd Saturday Box Office Collection: Baahubali Beats Endhiran's Lifetime Record in 9 Days |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/baahubali-beats-endhirans-lifetime-box-office-record-639747 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6aB2A1IPn?url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/baahubali-beats-endhirans-lifetime-box-office-record-639747 |archive-date=21 July 2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |website=International Business Times}}</ref> and ''[[Kabali (film)|Kabali]]'' (2016).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |date=30 July 2016 |title='Magizhchi' at the box-office |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/kabali-has-had-the-biggestever-opening-for-a-tamil-film/article8921554.ece |url-status=live |access-date=31 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731061021/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/kabali-has-had-the-biggestever-opening-for-a-tamil-film/article8921554.ece |archive-date=31 July 2016}}</ref> [[Box Office India]] estimated that ''Enthiran'' netted {{INR}}1.95 billion across India with the Tamil version netting {{INR}}1.20 billion, the Telugu version netting {{INR}}530 million and the Hindi version netting {{INR}}220 million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 July 2016 |title=Kabali Set To Be Biggest Tamil Grosser |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2189 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727095155/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2189 |archive-date=27 July 2016 |access-date=27 July 2016 |work=Box Office India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kabali (Hindi) And Madaari Are Low On Monday |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2187 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727095208/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2187 |archive-date=27 July 2016 |access-date=27 July 2016 |work=Box Office India}}</ref>{{refn|name=exchange2010|group=Note}} The website estimated the overseas earnings of the film (including its dubbed versions) at approximately $12 million as of November 2010 with the Tamil version grossing $11 million and the remaining $1 million coming in from the Telugu and Hindi versions.<ref name="worldwide gross" /> ''Enthiran'' collected {{INR}}1.05 billion in Tamil Nadu alone,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Upadhyaya |first=Prakash |date=24 May 2017 |title=Baahubali 2 (Bahubali 2) Tamil Nadu box office collection: SS Rajamouli's film inching towards Rs. 125 crore-mark |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/baahubali-2-bahubali-2-tamil-nadu-box-office-collection-ss-rajamoulis-film-inching-towards-rs-727904 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525093647/http://www.ibtimes.co.in/baahubali-2-bahubali-2-tamil-nadu-box-office-collection-ss-rajamoulis-film-inching-towards-rs-727904 |archive-date=25 May 2017 |access-date=25 May 2017 |website=International Business Times}}</ref>{{refn|name=exchange2010|group=Note}} a record it held for seven years before being surpassed by ''[[Baahubali 2: The Conclusion]]'' (2017), which grossed {{INR}}1.526 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Upadhyaya |first=Prakash |date=20 September 2017 |title=Baahubali 2 (Bahubali 2) box office collection: SS Rajamouli's film mints Rs 1,706.50 cr in 140 days |work=[[International Business Times]] |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/baahubali-2-bahubali-2-box-office-collection-ss-rajamoulis-film-mints-rs-1706-50-cr-140-days-742747 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023011833/http://www.ibtimes.co.in/baahubali-2-bahubali-2-box-office-collection-ss-rajamoulis-film-mints-rs-1706-50-cr-140-days-742747 |archive-date=23 October 2017}}</ref>{{refn|name=exchange2010|group=Note}}
In Japan, the film grossed $407,438, including $370,697 for the Hindi version and $36,741 for the Tamil version.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 February 2019 |title=Japan's love for Indian films continues to rise |work=[[Moneycontrol]] |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/entertainment/japans-love-for-indian-films-continues-to-rise-3505491.html |url-status=live |access-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209095056/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/entertainment/japans-love-for-indian-films-continues-to-rise-3505491.html |archive-date=9 February 2019}}</ref>
=== Critical response ===
==== India ====
''Enthiran'' received positive reviews from critics in India, with praise particularly directed at Rathnavelu's cinematography, Cyril's art direction, Srinivas Mohan's visual effects and Rajinikanth's performance as Chitti.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 October 2010 |title=Critics give a thumbs up to Endhiran |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/critics-give-a-thumbs-up-to-endhiran/story-o1InoBdTUUJ7tpF1Xtcl8K.html |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127100230/http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/critics-give-a-thumbs-up-to-endhiran/article1-606784.aspx |archive-date=27 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Agarwal |first=Vibhuti |date=1 October 2010 |title=Review Round-Up: 'Endhiran'/'Robot' |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2010/10/01/review-round-up-endhiranrobot/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 January 2015 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6VwPqteUr?url=http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2010/10/01/review-round-up-endhiranrobot/ |archive-date=29 January 2015}}</ref> Aniruddha Guha of ''[[Daily News and Analysis]]'' gave the film a rating of four out of five stars and believed it had the "best special effects ever seen in a Tamil film" and that it was "one of the most entertaining Tamil films—across all languages—ever made."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guha |first=Aniruddha |date=1 October 2010 |title=Robot (Endhiran) is an Indian film to be proud of |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/review-review-robot-endhiran-is-an-indian-film-to-be-proud-of-1446033 |url-status=live |access-date=1 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123151434/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/review-review-robot-endhiran-is-an-indian-film-to-be-proud-of-1446033 |archive-date=23 January 2015}}</ref> Both [[Nikhat Kazmi]] of ''The Times of India'' and Kaveree Bamzai of ''[[India Today]]'' rated the film four out of five stars. Kazmi called it "the perfect getaway film".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kazmi |first=Nikhat |author-link=Nikhat Kazmi |date=30 September 2010 |title=Robot Review |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/hindi/Robot/movie-review/6658514.cms |url-status=live |access-date=1 October 2010 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6W5oOH49J?url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-review/Robot/movie-review/6658514.cms |archive-date=4 February 2015}}</ref> Bamzai praised Rajinikanth's acting in the film and said, "Rajni tells us why robot sapiens are superior to [[homo sapiens]]".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bamzai |first=Kaveree |date=1 October 2010 |title=Film review: Endhiran |work=India Today |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/film-review-endhiran/1/114755.html |url-status=live |access-date=9 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204095812/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/film-review-endhiran/1/114755.html |archive-date=4 February 2015}}</ref>
Both [[Anupama Chopra]] of [[NDTV]] and Pavithra Srinivasan of Rediff.com gave ''Enthiran'' a rating of three-and-a-half stars out of five. Chopra criticised the film's portions in the second half, describing them as "needlessly stretched and cacophonous", but concluded her review by saying, "''Robot'' rides on Rajinikanth's shoulders and he never stoops under the burden. Aided by snazzy clothes, make-up and special effects, he makes Chitti endearing."<ref name="Chopra">{{Cite web|last=Chopra|first=Anupama|author-link=Anupama Chopra|date=1 October 2010|title=Review: Robot|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/movie-reviews/review-robot-551|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204151648/http://movies.ndtv.com/movie-reviews/review-robot-551|archive-date=4 February 2015|access-date=1 October 2010|website=NDTV}}</ref> Srinivasan, however, said that Shankar "strikes the balance between science fiction and masala quotient." She concluded that, "Whichever way you look at it, {{sic|''Endhiran''|nolink=y}} is one of those rare films that give you just enough material to pull you in, and enjoy yourself."<ref name="PRrediff">{{Cite web |last=Srinivasan |first=Pavithra |date=1 October 2010 |title=Shankar, Rajinikanth make Endhiran work |url=http://movies.rediff.com/review/2010/oct/01/south-tamil-review-endhiran.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204094855/http://movies.rediff.com/review/2010/oct/01/south-tamil-review-endhiran.htm |archive-date=4 February 2015 |access-date=9 July 2011 |website=Rediff.com}}</ref> [[Rajeev Masand]] of [[CNN-News18]] gave a rating of three out of five stars and said, "In the end, it's the fantastic special effects and an inspired performance from {{sic|Rajnikant|nolink=y}} that keeps the film fresh."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Masand |first=Rajeev |author-link=Rajeev Masand |date=8 October 2010 |title='Robot' is an adventure waiting for you |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/masand-robot-is-an-adventure-waiting-for-you/132161-47-84.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6W5po6YQx?url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/masand-robot-is-an-adventure-waiting-for-you/132161-47-84.html |archive-date=4 February 2015 |access-date=6 November 2011 |website=CNN-News18}}</ref> [[Mayank Shekhar]], writing for ''Hindustan Times'', rated it three stars and said, "Leave aside jokes running on the Internet. This film, just a few feet too long, is fine entertainment by itself."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shekhar |first=Mayank |author-link=Mayank Shekhar |date=4 October 2010 |title=Mayank Shekhar's Review: Robot |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/mayank-shekhar-s-review-robot/story-QvlgAwwSQRpAbqpE5utmRO.html |url-status=live |access-date=22 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922090833/http://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/mayank-shekhar-s-review-robot/story-QvlgAwwSQRpAbqpE5utmRO.html |archive-date=22 September 2017}}</ref>
Malini Mannath of ''The New Indian Express'' noted ''Enthiran'' for having "An engaging script, brilliant special effects, and a debonair hero who still carries his charisma effortlessly."<ref name="malini" /> Karthik Subramanian of ''The Hindu'' observed that actors "tend to get lost in special effects movies." He believed it was not the case in ''Enthiran'': "Rajinikanth and [Aishwarya Rai] carry the movie on their shoulders, and considering the fact that much of the acting must have been in front of green screens, one has to say that nothing looks artificial right through."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Subramanian |first=Karthik |date=1 October 2010 |title=Unabashed entertainer |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/unabashed-entertainer/article807284.ece |url-status=live |access-date=1 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204094450/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/unabashed-entertainer/article807284.ece |archive-date=4 February 2015}}</ref> In contrast, Gautaman Bhaskaran of ''Hindustan Times'' rated it two out of five stars, writing that "Shankar's work slips into a loud, overdramatic and exaggerated mess".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bhaskaran |first=Gautaman |date=1 October 2010 |title=Gautaman Bhaskaran's Review: Endhiran |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/gautaman-bhaskaran-s-review-endhiran/story-ENP80sXGeoKJxuITEAdiyN.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204100758/http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional/gautaman-bhaskaran-s-review-endhiran/article1-606907.aspx |archive-date=4 February 2015}}</ref>
==== Overseas ====
''Enthiran'' has received a rating of 67% on the [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on twelve reviews, with an average rating of 5.62/10.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Endhiran (2010) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/endhiran/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719052215/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/endhiran/ |archive-date=19 July 2016 |access-date=30 May 2019 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]}}</ref> Lisa Tsering from ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' said, "Rajinikanth is such a badass that [[Chuck Norris]] is [[Chuck Norris facts|afraid of him]]." She praised the filming locations, especially the "Kilimanjaro" song sequence, but criticised the length of the film's climax portions.<ref name="LSHR">{{Cite news |last=Tsering |first=Lisa |date=14 October 2010 |title=Robot – Film Review |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/robot-film-review-30163 |url-status=live |access-date=1 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205164503/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/robot-film-review-30163 |archive-date=5 February 2015}}</ref> Genevieve Koski from ''The A. V. Club'' believed that ''Enthiran'' was "pretty good" and concluded that "if you prefer elaborate costumes and dance music mixed in with your killer-robot action, expect to enjoy up to an hour of ''Enthiran''."<ref name="AV Club" /> Marc Savlov of ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'' called ''Enthiran'' "the best apocalyptic sci-fi-romcom-melodrama-dance-off date movie of the year."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Savlov |first=Marc |date=25 February 2011 |title=Endhiran (Robot) |work=[[The Austin Chronicle]] |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/2011-02-25/endhiran-the-robot/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206072711/http://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/2011-02-25/endhiran-the-robot/ |archive-date=6 February 2015}}</ref> Roger Moore, writing for the ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'', gave a mixed review, evaluating it as a "melodramatic kitschy Indian musical about a robot built for national defense but who discovers his human side."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Roger |date=7 October 2010 |title=Movie Review: Endhiran |url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_movies_blog/2010/10/movie-review-endhiran.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013034935/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_movies_blog/2010/10/movie-review-endhiran.html |archive-date=13 October 2010 |access-date=21 April 2015 |website=[[Orlando Sentinel]]}}</ref>
Following the film's screening at the [[Mumbai International Film Festival]], American film director [[Oliver Stone]] praised ''Enthiran''{{'s}} originality.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Balasubramanianram|first1=P. C.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SaabAwAAQBAJ|title=Grand Brand Rajini|last2=Ramakrishnan|first2=N.|publisher=Rupa Publications|year=2012|isbn=978-81-291-2059-5|pages=79|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614154325/https://books.google.com/books?id=SaabAwAAQBAJ|archive-date=2021-06-14|url-status=live}}</ref> Conversely, [[Joe Leydon]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' believed that Shankar "riffs on everything" from ''Frankenstein'' to ''The Terminator'', but suggested that the film was an "overwhelming mash-up of American-style, f/x-driven sci-fi spectacle and a Bollywood musical."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leydon |first=Joe |author-link=Joe Leydon |date=8 October 2010 |title=Review: 'Endhiran – The Robot' |url=https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/endhiran-the-robot-1117943809/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131223083911/http://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/endhiran-the-robot-1117943809 |archive-date=23 December 2013 |access-date=20 January 2015 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>
== Awards and nominations ==
{{Main|List of accolades received by Enthiran}}
At the [[58th National Film Awards]], ''Enthiran'' won for [[National Film Award for Best Special Effects|Best Special Effects]] and [[National Film Award for Best Production Design|Best Production Design]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=58th National Film Awards for 2010 announced |url=http://dff.nic.in/awards.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233408/http://dff.nic.in/awards.asp |archive-date=30 December 2013 |access-date=19 May 2011 |website=Directorate of Film Festivals}}</ref> It won in three categories at the [[58th Filmfare Awards South]] for [[Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer – South|Best Cinematographer]], [[Filmfare Award for Best Art Director – South|Best Art Director]] and Best Costume Design.<ref>{{Cite web |title=58th Idea Filmfare Awards South winners |url=http://www.ndtv.com/photos/entertainment/58th-south-filmfare-awards-winners-10839/slide/21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122121638/http://www.ndtv.com/photos/entertainment/58th-south-filmfare-awards-winners-10839/slide/21 |archive-date=22 January 2015 |access-date=27 May 2012 |website=[[NDTV]] |pages=21, 22, 23 27, 28, 30}}</ref> At the [[5th Vijay Awards]], it was nominated in fourteen categories and won in seven, including [[Vijay Award for Best Villain|Best Villain]] and [[Vijay Award for Favourite Hero|Favourite Hero]] for Rajinikanth, [[Vijay Award for Favourite Film|Favourite Film]] and [[Vijay Award for Favourite Director|Favourite Director]].<ref name="Vijay">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl0sMfvSm_M |title=Vijay Awards 07/15/11 |date=6 June 2012 |work=[[YouTube]] |place=[[Chennai]] |access-date=11 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921063254/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl0sMfvSm_M |archive-date=21 September 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[Screen Awards|17th Screen Awards]], the film won awards under the [[Screen Award for Best Special Effects|Best Special Effects]] and Spectacular Cutting Edge Technology categories.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 January 2011 |title=Winners of 17th Annual Star Screen Awards 2011 |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/features/type/view/id/1748/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126105906/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/features/type/view/id/1748/ |archive-date=26 January 2015 |access-date=7 January 2011 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]}}</ref> However, the film missed out on being the [[List of Indian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|official Indian submission for the Academy Awards]] since the jury noted out that it had sequences lifted from four American films.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 October 2011 |title=Tamil entries for Oscars lack originality |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2011/oct/05/tamil-entries-for-oscars-lack-originality-297658.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200707165253/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2011/oct/05/tamil-entries-for-oscars-lack-originality-297658.html |archive-date=7 July 2020}}</ref>
== Legacy ==
In a personal appreciation letter to Shankar following the film's release, the director [[K. Balachander]] described Shankar as India's [[James Cameron]], ''Enthiran'' as India's ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'' (2009) and Sun Pictures as India's [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]].<ref name="letter">{{Cite web |date=15 October 2010 |title="Kamalhaasan sent me flowers" – Shankar |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/oct-10-03/k-balachander-endhiran-shankar-15-10-10.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204155915/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/oct-10-03/k-balachander-endhiran-shankar-15-10-10.html |archive-date=4 February 2015 |access-date=19 May 2011 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref> ''Enthiran'' was the only Tamil film featured on the [[IMDb|Internet Movie Database]] (IMDb) list of the 50 best films of 2010.<ref name="Facts">{{Cite web |title=Rajinikanth: Lesser known facts – Page 7 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/Rajinikanth-Lesser-known-facts/photostory/34830196.cms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6W5sfb5uy?url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/Rajinikanth-Lesser-known-facts/photostory/34830196.cms |archive-date=4 February 2015 |access-date=4 February 2015 |website=The Times of India}}</ref> The film was also included as a case study in a postgraduate elective course of the [[Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad]], "Contemporary Film Industry: A Business Perspective".<ref name="Facts" />
Scenes from ''Enthiran'', particularly one known as the "Black Sheep" scene,{{refn|The "Black Sheep" scene refers to a scene where Chitti finds Dr. Vaseegaran disguised as him amidst the robot army.<ref name="Behind" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gunasekaran |first=Ranjitha |date=10 October 2010 |title=Why you should watch Endhiran |work=The New Indian Express |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/article289615.ece |url-status=live |access-date=6 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206165657/http://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/article289615.ece |archive-date=6 February 2015}}</ref>|group=Note}} have been parodied in subsequent films, including ''[[Mankatha]]'' (2011),<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Mankatha |date=2011 |last=[[Venkat Prabhu|Prabhu, Venkat]] (director) |publisher=[[Cloud Nine Movies]] |place=India |time=45:12 |medium=motion picture}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Mankatha |date=2011 |last=[[Venkat Prabhu|Prabhu, Venkat]] (director) |publisher=[[Cloud Nine Movies]] |place=India |time=2:17:26 |medium=motion picture}}</ref> ''[[Osthe]]'' (2011),<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Osthe |date=2011 |last=[[Dharani (director)|Dharani]] (director) |publisher=Balaji Real Media |place=India |time=2:01:16 |medium=motion picture}}</ref> ''[[Singam II]]'' (2013),<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Singam II |date=2013 |last=[[Hari (director)|Hari]] (director) |publisher=Prince Pictures |place=India |time=14:25 |medium=motion picture}}</ref> ''[[Ya Ya (film)|Ya Ya]]'' (2013),<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Ya Ya |date=2013 |last=I. Rajasekaran (director) |publisher=M10 Productions |place=India |time=53:13 |medium=motion picture}}</ref> ''[[I (film)|I]]'' (2015) with the same director,<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=I |date=2015 |last=[[S. Shankar]] (director) |publisher= Aascar Film |place=India |time=25:34 |medium=motion picture}}</ref> as well as in the Telugu films ''[[Dookudu]]'' (2011)<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Dookudu |date=2011 |last=[[Srinu Vaitla|Vaitla, Srinu]] (director) |publisher=[[14 Reels Entertainment]] |place=India |time=1:43:02 |medium=motion picture}}</ref> and ''[[Nuvva Nena]]'' (2011).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dundoo |first=Sangeetha Devi |date=18 March 2012 |title=Old wine, same old bottle |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/old-wine-same-old-bottle/article3007871.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122041218/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/old-wine-same-old-bottle/article3007871.ece |archive-date=22 January 2015}}</ref>{{refn|The satellite rights of ''Mankatha'', ''Osthe'' and ''Singam II'' were purchased by Sun TV.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 August 2011 |title=K – Family unites to release ''Mankatha'' |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/k-family-unites-to-release-mankatha-news-tamil-lizkKhjibjesi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314135235/http://www.sify.com/movies/k-family-unites-to-release-mankatha-news-tamil-lizkKhjibjesi.html |archive-date=14 March 2015 |access-date=14 March 2015 |work=Sify}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=''Osthi'', all clear for Dec 8 release |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/osthi-all-clear-for-dec-8-release-imagegallery-kollywood-lmfpb5aabfisi.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314135338/http://www.sify.com/movies/osthi-all-clear-for-dec-8-release-imagegallery-kollywood-lmfpb5aabfisi.html |archive-date=14 March 2015 |access-date=14 March 2015 |website=Sify}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 May 2014 |title=Sun TV Grabs Rights for Anjaan |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Sun-TV-Grabs-Rights-for-Anjaan/2014/05/01/article2198491.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605113455/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Sun-TV-Grabs-Rights-for-Anjaan/2014/05/01/article2198491.ece |archive-date=5 June 2016 |access-date=5 June 2016 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>|group=Note}} In the film, Chitti often introduces himself by stating the [[clock rate]] of his [[central processing unit]], which is 1 terahertz (10<sup>12</sup> [[hertz]]), and his [[random-access memory]] limit, which is 1 zettabyte (10<sup>21</sup> [[byte]]s). This introduction dialogue, which is spoken by Chitti as "Hi, I'm Chitti, speed 1 terahertz, memory 1 zettabyte" became popular.<ref name="Clone" /><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2RPAk2Tipw |title=Chitti meets G.One sequence – RA.One |date=5 January 2012 |last=Kareena Kapoor, Rajinikanth, Shah Rukh Khan |publisher=[[Eros International|Eros Now]] |place=India |access-date=25 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914034010/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2RPAk2Tipw |archive-date=14 September 2015 |medium=Motion picture |url-status=live}}</ref> Rajinikanth featured in a cameo role as Chitti in the science-fiction film ''[[Ra.One]]'' (2011).<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 October 2011 |title=Rajnikanth plays Chitti – the robot in SRK's "Ra. One" |work=The Hindu |agency=Press Trust of India |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/rajnikanth-plays-chitti-the-robot-in-srks-ra-one/article2511736.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122041225/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/rajnikanth-plays-chitti-the-robot-in-srks-ra-one/article2511736.ece |archive-date=22 January 2015}}</ref>
On Rajinikanth's 64th birthday, an agency named Minimal Kollywood Posters designed posters of Rajinikanth's films, in which the [[Despicable Me (franchise)#Minions|Minion]] characters from the ''[[Despicable Me (franchise)|Despicable Me]]'' franchise are dressed as Rajinikanth. The digital art was hand drawn on a digital pad by Gautham Raj. One of the posters depicted a mutated Minion, reminiscent of Chitti's "villain robot" look in ''Enthiran''.<ref name="Minions">{{Cite web |last=Prasad |first=Shiva |date=15 December 2014 |title=Superstar Rajinikanth as Minions – Enthiran (2010) |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/Superstar-Rajinikanth-as-Minions/photostory/45519505.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6XC9ugLHl?url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/Superstar-Rajinikanth-as-Minions/photostory/45519505.cms |archive-date=21 March 2015 |access-date=21 March 2015 |website=The Times of India}}</ref> In March 2015, Kamath, in his review of the science fiction film ''[[Chappie (film)|Chappie]]'', compared its eponymous lead character to Chitti in terms of learning human emotions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kamath |first=Sudhish |date=14 March 2015 |title=Chappie: Chitti's Hollywood cousin |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/chappie-chittis-hollywood-cousin/article6993688.ece |url-status=live |access-date=30 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330064030/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/chappie-chittis-hollywood-cousin/article6993688.ece |archive-date=30 March 2015}}</ref> [[Russo brothers|Joe Russo]], who co-directed ''[[Avengers: Infinity War]]'' (2018), said the sequence in ''Enthiran'' where numerous clones of Chitti come together to form a giant snake inspired a similar scene in ''Infinity War''{{'}}s predecessor ''[[Avengers: Age of Ultron|Age of Ultron]]'' (2015) where the titular antagonist, [[Ultron]] and his clones come together to form a gigantic version of himself, but that the scene was cut from the final version of the film to accommodate its runtime.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Raman |first=Sruthi Ganapathy |date=1 April 2019 |title=What to expect as the countdown to 'Avengers: Endgame' begins: 'The cost of being a hero' |work=[[Scroll.in]] |url=https://scroll.in/reel/918568/what-to-expect-as-the-countdown-to-avengers-endgame-begins-the-cost-of-being-a-hero |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402140056/https://scroll.in/reel/918568/what-to-expect-as-the-countdown-to-avengers-endgame-begins-the-cost-of-being-a-hero |archive-date=2 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Naahar |first=Rohan |date=1 April 2019 |title=Avengers: Endgame director Joe Russo confirms he is 'talking to Priyanka Chopra' about future project |work=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/hollywood/avengers-endgame-director-joe-russo-confirms-marvel-is-talking-to-priyanka-chopra-about-future-project/story-Ty0qzYYZeLzZgQ8xWFchCM.html |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402135840/https://www.hindustantimes.com/hollywood/avengers-endgame-director-joe-russo-confirms-marvel-is-talking-to-priyanka-chopra-about-future-project/story-Ty0qzYYZeLzZgQ8xWFchCM.html |archive-date=2 April 2019}}</ref>
== Standalone sequel ==
{{Main|2.0 (film)}}
In September 2015, writer [[B. Jeyamohan]] announced that the pre-production stage of a standalone sequel to ''Enthiran'' was "going on in full swing" and that principal photography would commence once Rajinikanth finished filming for ''Kabali'', by the end of that year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sidhardhan |first=Sanjith |date=3 September 2015 |title=Enthiran sequel to start filming by the end of this year |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Enthiran-sequel-to-start-filming-by-the-end-of-this-year/articleshow/48773748.cms |url-status=live |access-date=9 September 2015 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6bPO73muw?url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Enthiran-sequel-to-start-filming-by-the-end-of-this-year/articleshow/48773748.cms |archive-date=9 September 2015}}</ref> [[Nirav Shah]] would be the cinematographer and A. R. Rahman would return as music director, while Muthuraj would handle the art direction. The sequel would be shot in 3D, unlike its predecessor which was shot in 2D and converted to 3D in post-production.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Upadhyaya |first=Prakash |date=8 October 2015 |title=Rajinikanth's 'Endhiran 2' to be shot in 3D |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/rajinikanths-endhiran-2-be-shot-3d-649656 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012070359/http://www.ibtimes.co.in/rajinikanths-endhiran-2-be-shot-3d-649656 |archive-date=12 October 2015 |access-date=12 October 2015 |website=International Business Times}}</ref> Titled ''2.0'', the film entered production in December 2015 and was released on 29 November 2018. Rajinikanth reprised his role as Vaseegaran and Chitti with the additional cast played by [[Akshay Kumar]] and [[Amy Jackson]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Upadhyaya |first=Prakash |date=17 December 2015 |title=Rajinikanth's Vaseegaran look in 2.0 (Enthiran 2, Endhiran) revealed [PHOTOS] |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/rajinikanths-vaseegaran-look-enthiran-2-endhiran-revealed-photos-659843 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218131706/http://www.ibtimes.co.in/rajinikanths-vaseegaran-look-enthiran-2-endhiran-revealed-photos-659843 |archive-date=18 December 2015 |access-date=18 December 2015 |website=International Business Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Suganth |first=M. |date=29 November 2018 |title=2.0 Movie Review |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/2-0/movie-review/66858163.cms |url-status=live |access-date=29 November 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181129130545/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/2-0/movie-review/66858163.cms |archive-date=29 November 2018}}</ref>
==See also==
* ''[[En Iniya Iyanthira]]''
* ''[[Meendum Jeano]]''
* [[Indian science-fiction films]]
== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=Note}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
=== Sources ===
==External links==
* {{Cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |title=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |title-link=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-81-8475-796-5 |edition=2nd |location=New Delhi |author-link=Naman Ramachandran |orig-year=2012}}
* {{IMDb title|2617676}}
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|1305797|Enthiran}}
* {{Mojo title|1305797}}
{{Enthiran franchise}}
{{National Film Award Best Special Effects}}
{{S. Shankar}}
{{A. L. Vijay}}
[[Category:Enthiran| ]]
[[Category:2013 films]]
[[Category:2010 films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mumbai]]
[[Category:2010 science fiction action films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Sydney]]
[[Category:2010s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2013 action drama films]]
[[Category:Android (robot) films]]
[[Category:2013 action thriller films]]
[[Category:Films about artificial intelligence]]
[[Category:Indian action drama films]]
[[Category:Films directed by S. Shankar]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Films involved in plagiarism controversies]]
[[Category:Films directed by A. L. Vijay]]
[[Category:Films scored by A. R. Rahman]]
[[Category:Films scored by G. V. Prakash Kumar]]
[[Category:Films set in Chennai]]
[[Category:2013 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films set in the 2030s]]
[[Category:2013 Indian films]]
[[Category:Films set in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films set in Sydney]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chennai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chennai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Tamil films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Films shot in Peru]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Films that won the Best Special Effects National Film Award]]
[[Category:Tamil-language action drama films]]
[[Category:Films whose production designer won the Best Production Design National Film Award]]
The film, which commenced production in November 2012 in Mumbai, was released on 8 August 2013 on the occasion of Eid-ul Fitr. The film received mostly positive reviews from the critics. The film upon its early release was successful at the overseas box office,[5] and also successful in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka box office.[6] Due to opposition from the ruling AIADMK as insisted by the then Chief minister J Jayalalithaa,[7] the film had a delayed release in Tamil Nadu on 20 August 2013 and its performance was affected at the Tamil Nadu box office.[8][9] The film went on to be remade in Punjabi as Sardar Saab in 2017.[10] It was also screened in Japan in 2020.[11]
1988: A riot occurs in Bombay where a group attacks Ratnam and his son, Logu. However, Ramadurai arrives and saves them. After the riot, Ratnam decides to leave for Madras and start a new life somewhere abroad. Ramadurai asks him to stay, but Ratnam tells Ramadurai that he should move away. Suddenly, that night, Ramadurai's house gets attacked by his opposite gang, run by a politician named Bhadra. While trying to save him, Ramadurai's wife, Ganga, gets shot and dies suddenly. Enraged, Ramadurai goes to Bhadra's house, beats up Bhadra's goons and kills Bhadra. Ramadurai takes his son Vishwa to Ratnam, who is on a train and asks him to take Vishwa with him because he doesn't want his actions to waste Vishwa's life and sends him away with Ratnam to Australia.
2013: Vishwa is a dancer who lives in Sydney and manages a water distribution business in the name of his mother Ganga with his childhood friend Logu and his dance team members. Ramadurai is a crime boss who fights for the rights of migrated Tamils and also keeps in contact with Vishwa as he grows up and lies to him about his profession. Vishwa falls in love with Meera, the daughter of a restaurateur, who is one of his customers. Meera reciprocates Vishwa's feelings and joins his dance team, helping them win a dance competition. She soon proposes to Vishwa, who agrees. Meera's father accepts the marriage but wants to discuss the matter formally with Ramadurai.
They leave for Mumbai, where Vishwa finds out about Ramadurai's true profession and that he is hiding due to several false cases registered against him by his arch-enemy Bhima, Bhadra's son. Vishwa also finds out that Meera and her father are Crime Branch officers who lured him to Mumbai so that they could arrest Ramadurai. Ramadurai gets arrested, but just after he enters the police van, a bomb planted by Bhima in the vehicle explodes, killing him. Distraught over his father's death, Vishwa decides to stay back in Mumbai and take over his father's syndicate. He dons the title of Thalaivaa and provides his brand of justice for the helpless and downtrodden.
Meanwhile, Bhima initiates a riot in Mumbai, which leads to the deaths and injuries of several people. Vishwa arrives at the scene and saves several others, including a Bhojpuri woman named Gowri, whose marriage became nullified due to the riots. Although there is seemingly inadequate evidence that Bhima is responsible, a video recorded by a cameraman, Kumar, highlighting Bhima's involvement in the riots, is stolen by a Bhojpuri-speaking pickpocketer. Vishwa and his gang manage to reclaim the tape from the pickpocketer and make it public, leading to Bhima's arrest. Vishwa also kills the corrupt CM of Maharashtra, who had given Bhima and his gang free rein and blames it on Bhima.
However, Bhima soon escapes from prison and kills most of Vishwa's henchmen on the night of Maha Shivaratri, including Gowri. When Vishwa enters a fort after hearing his uncle Rangaa and his second-in-command is being "held hostage" there by Bhima, Ranga stabs him. it gets revealed that Ranga helped Bhima to kill Gowri and Vishwa's henchmen. Taking his son, who is also the driver and cousin of Vishwa, he leaves the fort. He immediately informs the police that Vishwa is "dead". Ranga also reveals to have aided Bhima in killing Ramadurai to replace him as the leader. When Ranga's son hears about his father's betrayal, he becomes enraged and drives the car into a petroleum tanker, killing them both.
Though injured, Vishwa fights with Bhima's goons and kills them individually. After a bitter fight, he kills Bhima by stabbing his throat. Meera soon arrives at the fort and realises that Vishwa killed Bhima, but she acts quickly and shoots the corpses of Bhima and his goons to imply that she killed them, thus saving Vishwa from prison. Meera eventually quits her job after realising her love for Vishwa, and the two get married. With Bhima and his gang out of the way, Vishwa is now the unchallenged crime boss in Mumbai.
Vijay as Vishwa Ramadurai (Vishwa Bhai), a dancer in Australia and Anna's son. He later becomes a Mumbai based Tamilian don known as "Thalaivaa".
Amala Paul as ACP Meera Narayanan IPS, a crime branch officer who wants to find Anna with the help of Vishwa by falling in love with him and later becomes Vishwa's wife
Vijay on the sets of Thalaivaa with stunt choreographers
After watching A. L. Vijay's period drama film Madrasapattinam (2010), Vijay was impressed by the film and contacted the film director for a new project. A. L. Vijay later narrated the Thalaivaa story to Vijay and he agreed to play the role within 15 minutes.[12]Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Priya Anand, and Yami Gautam were initially considered for the lead female role.[13][14] Later Amala Paul with
TV actress Ragini Nandwani was selected as the main female leads.[15][16]Vijay Yesudas was reported to be finalized for the antagonist role in this film,[17] but he denied it as rumour.[18][19]Sathyaraj was also selected to be a part of this film.[20] A. L. Vijay's brother Udhaya has been selected to feature in a prominent role.[21]G. V. Prakash Kumar will be the music director, while Nirav Shah will crank the camera. R. K. Naguraj has been enrolled as art director. Rumors about a Hollywood star portraying a singer, were refuted by Vijay.[22]
The muhurta of the film was held in Chennai on 16 November 2012.[23] The first schedule began in Mumbai from 23 November 2012.[24] The title song "Thalaivaa Thalaivaa" was shot in Mumbai with 500 junior artists.[25] A major portion of the film was shot in Australia.[26] The first look and title was revealed on 14 January 2013. Additional posters were released on 26 January 2013.[27]
As of 8 February 2013, 50% of total shootings were completed, with stunt scenes conducted by Stunt Silva.[28]Ragini Nandwani, who plays a North Indian, stated that all of her film sequences were shot in Mumbai over 25–30 days. They moved to Chennai and shot a song at Binny Mills.[29] A last shooting schedule in Australia was completed by 24 April.[30][31] They shot scenes at the Bondi Beach in New South Wales.[32] It was revealed that Vijay would portray a leader of a dance group based in Australia, performing dance styles of different genres including tap dancing with Sathish Krishnan (June Ponal from Unnale Unnale song fame), Karthik (Ungalil yaar Prabhu Deva winner), and their dance schoolmates.[33]
The soundtrack was composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar with lyrics by Na. Muthukumar, both teaming with A. L. Vijay for the fifth time. The soundtrack features five songs and two theme music tracks.[35] As of 21 November 2012, he had composed two songs for the film.[36] One song had been sung by Vijay alongside Santhanam.[37] A third song was completed on 11 February 2013.[35] The audio launch took place on 21 June 2013 in Hotel Connemara.[38] The audio rights of Thalaivaa were bought by Sony Music.[39]
Thalaivaa distribution rights for the United States and Canada were bought by Bharat Creations.[40] Ayngaran International acquired the overseas rights for Thalaivaa[41] Tamil Nadu rights were bought by Vendhar Movies and Kerala rights by Thameens via Vendhar Movies. The music rights were sold to Sony Music.[42] Prior to Vijay's birthday on 21 June a theatrical film trailer was released by Sony Music India on their YouTube channel.[43] Trailer got 1.2 million in 32 hours and 2 million views within 2 days on YouTube after its release. The film garnered totally 3.4 million hits on YouTube. The satellite rights of the film were secured by Sun TV for a record sum of ₹15 crore (US$2.1 million).[44] The film's running length is 3 hours 2 minutes and was given a "U" certificate by the Indian Censor Board. The film has been released on Friday, 9 August 2013 worldwide.[citation needed]
Thalaivaa earned ₹63.50 crore in India and ₹13.46 crore overseas, for a worldwide total of ₹76.96 crore.[2]
Thalaivaa opened well at international markets, especially in the US and UK.[45] In UK From the paid previews on Thursday till Saturday, Thalaivaa's gross in the UK is ₹78 lakh (US$110,000) approximate from 34 locations and it is seen as a very impressive opening. Vijay's films generally embark on a great start in the UK, and Thalaivaa is no exception.[46] The film's UK collection is said to be ₹1.14 crore (US$160,000) in its opening weekend.[45] In UK "Thalaivaa" made an impressive start earning ₹1.14 crore (US$160,000) (£1,21,249) from 36 screens in the opening weekend. The film has made higher collections than Suriya's "Singam 2" in the UK. "Singam 2" earned around ₹99 lakh (US$140,000) in the first week of its release. But Vijay's "Thalaivaa" crossed "Singam 2" collections in its debut weekend. The film continued its dream run at the UK box office even in its second weekend. Its total UK collections are now pegged at ₹2.09 crore (US$290,000).[47]
At the end of the first weekend, the US gross of Thalaivaa from 44 reported locations is US$212,000 ₹1.29 crore (US$180,000). A record total of 70 locations are screening Thalaivaa and the total gross for the first weekend is expected to be in the US$250,000 range[46] Thalaivaa fared well in Malaysia too. Thalaivaa has maintained exceptionally well in its second weekend in Malaysia. The film has become ninth highest grosser of all time in Malaysia's box office in just 10 days collection. In its second weekend the film has collected ₹1.14 crore (US$160,000) (MYR 579,153) on 60 screens and average working out per screens ₹1.90 lakh (US$2,700) (MYR 9,654).[48] Thalaivaa collected around ₹8.34 crore (US$1.2 million) in just 10 days at the Malaysian box office.[49]Baradwaj Rangan of the Hindu wrote "The director gets a lot of things right...this film has been made with some integrity, with respect for the story being told (and, to some extent, the audience too). After Vishwa's transformation, he's rarely shown smiling. Even when Santhanam makes a re-entry, there is no joyous reunion. Even after the heroine is separated from the hero for a while, there are no "dream songs".
"[50]
IBN Live gave it a 3/5 rating, stating that the film is a full-baked product. Sify stated "Thalaivaa is good and the movie was racy and shorter".[51]
The Times of India gave it a 3/5, stating Vijay is in top form when he's normal and menacing. Sathyaraj as the don is effective. But the one who makes this arduous journey enjoyable is Santhanam, whose poker-faced humour provides relief in a largely grim story.[52]MovieCrow rated it a 3/5, stating that the movie is a typical entertainer.[53]Ananda Vikatan rated the film 42 out of 100.[54]
