(Translated by https://www.hiragana.jp/)
Vaazhai - Wikipedia
Wikipedia

Vaazhai

Vaazhai (/ˈvɑːɑːzɑːi/ transl. Banana) is an 2024 Indian Tamil-language biographical children's drama film written, co-produced and directed by Mari Selvaraj. It is produced by Disney+ Hotstar, Navvi Studios and Farmer’s Master Plan Production.[1] The film stars debutantes Ponvel. M, Raghul. R, Kalaiyarasan and Nikhila Vimal in the lead roles, alongside J. Satish Kumar, Dhivya Duraisamy, Janaki, Priyanka Nair and Nivedita Rajappan. Partially based on Selvaraj's life, in the film, Sivanaindhan works at a banana plantation while going to school, however, he hates working there for obvious reasons.

Vaazhai
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMari Selvaraj
Written byMari Selvaraj
Produced bySajith Sivanandan
Divya Mari Selvaraj
Mari Selvaraj
Dhilip Subbarayan
StarringPonvel M.
Raghul R.
Kalaiyarasan
Nikhila Vimal
CinematographyTheni Eswar
Edited bySuriya Pradhaman
Music bySanthosh Narayanan
Production
companies
Distributed byRed Giant Movies
Release date
  • 23 August 2024 (2024-08-23)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

The film was officially announced in November 2022 under the tentative title Production No.1, as it is the first production of Navvi Studios, and the official title was announced few days later. Principal photography commenced the same month. It was shot for the most part in Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli, and wrapped by mid-January 2023. The film has music composed by Santhosh Narayanan, cinematography handled by Theni Eswar and editing by Suriya Pradhaman.[2][3][4]

Vaazhai is scheduled to release worldwide on 23 August 2024 in theaters.[5][6]

Synopsis

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Sivanaindhan and Sekar are two school-going boys. During the weekends, they along with other families in the village, work as labourers at the banana plantation fields. Sivanaindhan has an infatuation on his school teacher Poongodi. As Vaazhai unfolds the lives of the young boys, they are caught between brimming innocence and the hardships they are put through because of their labour-inducing work.

Cast

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Production

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Development

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The film was produced by Divya Mari Selvaraj and Mari Selvaraj under his own banner Navvi Studios Production No. 1 on 21 November 2022, the film's official title was unveiled as Vaazhai by director Mari Selvaraj.[7]

Casting

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Ponvel. M and Raghul. R was made their debut, marking their first collaboration with Mari Selvaraj.Nikhila Vimal was reported to play an teacher in the film while veteran actor J. Satish Kumar and other actors and actresses like Kalaiyarasan, Dhivya Duraisamy, Janaki, Priyanka Nair and Nivedita Rajappan appear were cast in other pivotal roles.[8]

Filming

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Principal photography of the film began on 21 November 2022 and wrapped up on 11 January 2023.[9][10]

Music

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The soundtrack and film score is composed by Santhosh Narayanan, in his third collaboration with Mari Selvaraj after Pariyerum Perumal and Karnan and first with Nikhila Vimal.The first single titled, "Thenkizhakku" was released on 18 July 2024.[11]The second single "Oru Oorula Raja" was released on 29 July 2024.[12]The third single "Otha Satti Soru" was released on 5 August 2024.[13]The fourth single "Paadhavathi" was released on 10 August 2024.[14]

Later, the production house announced that the audio rights for the film was secured by Think Music.[15]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Thenkizhakku"YugabharathiDhee4:22
2."Oru Oorula Raja"Mari SelvarajSanthosh Narayanan4:02
3."Otha Satti Soru"VivekKapil Kapilan
Aditya Ravindran		3:41
4."Paadhavathi"Mari SelvarajJayamoorthy
Meenakshi Ilayaraja		5:05

Release

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Theatrical

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Vaazhai is scheduled to release worldwide on 23 August 2024 in theatres.[16][17] The distribution rights for Tamil Nadu were acquired by Red Giant Movies.[18]

Home Media

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The streaming and satellite rights of the film were acquired by Disney+ Hotstar and Vijay TV.[citation needed]

Reception

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Critical response

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Janani K of India Today gave 4/5 stars and wrote "Director Mari Selvaraj, on several occasions, called ‘Vaazhai’ his best film. He stated that it was the film he wanted to make first, before ‘Pariyerum Perumal’, ‘Karnan’ and ‘Maamannan’. ‘Vaazhai’ is a biographical film that explores a significant incident that changed Mari’s life. Mari is absolutely right, as ‘Vaazhai’ is his career-best film and a perfect answer to the trolls that targeted him."[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Mari Selvaraj To Make A Children's Film Titled Vaazhai". The Times of India. 21 November 2022. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Mari Selvaraj's next titled Vaazhai". Cinema Express. 21 November 2022. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Here's the first review of Mari Selvaraj's 'Vaazhai'". The Times of India. 9 March 2023. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai commences shooting in Thoothukudi". Indulge Express. 22 November 2022. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai first single Thenkizhakku out-Film to release on this date". OTTplay. 18 July 2024. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai gets a release date". Cinema Express. 18 July 2024. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Mari Selvaraj's Next Film With Disney Plus Hotstar Is Titled Vaazhai - First Look Poster Is Out!". Filmibeat. 21 November 2022. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  8. ^ "இயக்குநர் மாரி செல்வராஜ் தயாரித்து இயக்கும் 'வாழை' - படப்பிடிப்பு தொடக்கம்". Hindu Tamil Thisai. 21 November 2022. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Mari Selvaraj begins shooting for Vaazhai in Thoothukudi". DT Next. 21 November 2022. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Maari Selvaraj's 'Vaazhai' shooting wrapped up". The Times of India. 11 January 2023. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  11. ^ "'Thenkizhakku' from Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai is a breezy number about teacher-student rapport". Cinema Express. 18 July 2024. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Oru Oorula Raja, Second Single From Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai, Out". News18. 30 July 2024. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Third single from Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai to drop on this date". Cinema Express. 4 August 2024. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  14. ^ "'Paadhavathi' from Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai out". Cinema Express. 10 August 2024. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  15. ^ "First single from Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai to be out on this date". Cinema Express. 17 July 2024. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Mari Selvaraj's directorial 'Vaazhai' is set to release in theatres on August 23". The Times of India. 19 July 2024. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  17. ^ "OFFICIAL: DIRECTOR MARI SELVARAJ'S NEXT FILM RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED!". Indiaglitz. 18 July 2024. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  18. ^ "The first song from @mari_selvaraj Directorial #Vaazhai will be out tomorrow. Stay tuned!". Twitter. 17 July 2024. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  19. ^ "'Vaazhai' Review: Mari Selvaraj's career-best film will make you speechless". India Today. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
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Vaazhai at IMDb

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