Vaazhai Explained

Vaazhai
Director:Mari Selvaraj
Producer:Sajith Sivanandan
Divya Mari Selvaraj
Mari Selvaraj
Dhilip Subbarayan
Starring:Ponvel M.
Raghul R.
Kalaiyarasan
Nikhila Vimal
Cinematography:Theni Eswar
Editing:Suriya Pradhaman
Music:Santhosh Narayanan
Studio:Disney+ Hotstar
Navvi Studios
Farmer’s Master Plan Production
Distributor:Red Giant Movies
Country:India
Language:Tamil

Vaazhai is an upcoming 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.

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]

Cast

Production

Development

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

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

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

Music

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]

Release

Theatrical

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

The streaming rights of the film were acquired by Disney+ Hotstar.

Reception

Critical response

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 21 November 2022. Mari Selvaraj To Make A Children's Film Titled Vaazhai. The Times of India. 18 July 2024. 18 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240718151103/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/mari-selvaraj-to-make-a-childrens-film-titled-vaazhai/amp_articleshow/95656527.cms. live.
  2. Web site: 21 November 2022. Mari Selvaraj's next titled Vaazhai. Cinema Express. 18 July 2024. 18 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240718151102/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/Nov/21/mari-selvarajs-next-titledvaazhai-36841.html. live.
  3. Web site: 9 March 2023. Here's the first review of Mari Selvaraj's 'Vaazhai'. The Times of India. 18 July 2024. 18 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240718151102/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/heres-the-first-review-of-mari-selvarajs-vaazhai/articleshow/98513889.cms. live.
  4. Web site: 22 November 2022. Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai commences shooting in Thoothukudi. Indulge Express. 18 July 2024. 18 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240718151102/https://www.indulgexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/cinema/2022/Nov/22/mari-selvarajs-vaazhai-commences-shooting-in-thoothukudi-45640.html. live.
  5. Web site: 18 July 2024. Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai first single Thenkizhakku out-Film to release on this date. OTTplay. 18 July 2024. 18 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240718164438/https://www.ottplay.com/news/mari-selvarajs-vaazhai-first-single-thenkizhakku-out-film-to-release-on-this-date/e117d79864688. live.
  6. Web site: 18 July 2024. Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai gets a release date. Cinema Express. 24 July 2024. 22 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240822111131/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2024/Jul/18/mari-selvarajs-vaazhai-gets-a-release-date. live.
  7. Web site: 21 November 2022. Mari Selvaraj's Next Film With Disney Plus Hotstar Is Titled Vaazhai - First Look Poster Is Out!. Filmibeat. 24 July 2024. 12 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230212014609/https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2022/mari-selvaraj-s-next-film-with-disney-plus-hotstar-is-titled-vaazhai-first-look-poster-is-out-343109.html. live.
  8. Web site: 21 November 2022. இயக்குநர் மாரி செல்வராஜ் தயாரித்து இயக்கும் ‘வாழை’ - படப்பிடிப்பு தொடக்கம். Hindu Tamil Thisai. 1 August 2024. 1 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240801141358/https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/901299-mariselvaraj-next-directorial-movie-vaazhai-kick-start-from-today.html. live.
  9. Web site: 21 November 2022. Mari Selvaraj begins shooting for Vaazhai in Thoothukudi. DT Next. 7 August 2024. 7 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240807030850/https://www.dtnext.in/amp/cinema/2022/11/22/mari-selvaraj-begins-shooting-for-vaazhai-in-thoothukudi. live.
  10. Web site: 11 January 2023. Maari Selvaraj's 'Vaazhai' shooting wrapped up. The Times of India. 7 August 2024. 7 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240807030851/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/maari-selvarajs-vaazhai-shooting-wrapped-up/amp_articleshow/96915337.cms. live.
  11. Web site: 18 July 2024. 'Thenkizhakku' from Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai is a breezy number about teacher-student rapport. Cinema Express. 19 July 2024. 22 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240822111021/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Jul/18/thenkizhakku-from-mari-selvarajs-vaazhai-is-a-breezy-number-about-teacher-student-rapport. live.
  12. Web site: 30 July 2024. Oru Oorula Raja, Second Single From Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai, Out. News18. 1 August 2024. 31 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240731081856/https://www.news18.com/amp/movies/oru-oorula-raja-second-single-from-mari-selvarajs-vaazhai-out-8984088.html. live.
  13. Web site: 4 August 2024. Third single from Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai to drop on this date. Cinema Express. 6 August 2024. 6 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240806042130/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2024/Aug/04/third-single-from-mari-selvarajs-vaazhai-to-drop-on-this-date. live.
  14. Web site: 10 August 2024. 'Paadhavathi' from Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai out. Cinema Express. 11 August 2024. 11 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240811101604/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2024/Aug/10/paadhavathi-from-mari-selvarajs-vaazhai-out. live.
  15. Web site: 17 July 2024. First single from Mari Selvaraj's Vaazhai to be out on this date. Cinema Express. 19 July 2024. 22 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240822111022/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2024/Jul/17/first-single-from-mari-selvarajs-vaazhai-to-be-out-on-this-date. live.
  16. Web site: 19 July 2024. Mari Selvaraj's directorial 'Vaazhai' is set to release in theatres on August 23. The Times of India. 24 July 2024. 24 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240724110014/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/mari-selvarajs-directorial-vaazhai-is-set-to-release-in-theatres-on-august-23/articleshow/111854707.cms. live.
  17. Web site: 18 July 2024. OFFICIAL: DIRECTOR MARI SELVARAJ'S NEXT FILM RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED!. Indiaglitz. 19 July 2024. 27 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240727060857/https://www.indiaglitz.com/director-mari-selvaraj-next-movie-release-date-announced-vaazhai-official-update-first-single-tamil-_amp-news-357264. live.
  18. Web site: 17 July 2024. The first song from @mari_selvaraj Directorial #Vaazhai will be out tomorrow. Stay tuned!. Twitter. 19 July 2024. 22 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240822111025/https://x.com/RedGiantMovies_/status/1813528948506235289. live.
  19. Web site: 2024-08-22 . ‘Vaazhai’ Review: Mari Selvaraj’s career-best film will make you speechless . 2024-08-22 . India Today . en.