Paruthiveeran is a 2007 Indian Tamil romantic-drama film written and directed by Ameer Sultan. The film stars Karthi in his feature film debut as the title character, with Priyamani as the female lead and Ponvannan, Saravanan and Ganja Karuppu and Sujatha Sivakumar playing supporting roles. Produced by Studio Green, it features a soundtrack and score composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, cinematography by Ramji and editing by Raja Mohammad.
Paruthiveeran was entirely shot in Madurai and its surroundings. After two years of making, the film was released on 23 February 2007 and received universal critical acclaim. The film won prizes at major film award ceremonies in India, including two National Film Awards, six Filmfare Awards South and two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, among others, whilst being screened at several international film festivals such as the Berlin International Film Festival and the Osian’s Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema as well. It also emerged a high commercial success, running successfully for more than one year in theatres. The film was dubbed into Telugu and released as ‘Malligadu’ on 2 March 2012.
The story is set in a rural area around Madurai, in the village called Paruthiyur. Paruthiveeran (Karthi) is a country brash, who is often arrested for petty crimes. His one ambition in life is to gain enough notoriety to be on TV news and to be thrown into Madras Jail. He often bullies Paruthiyur villagers for money, women and fun. He lives with his doting uncle Chevvaazhai (Saravanan) who pampers and accompanies him in every misbehavior to keep him happy. His cousin Muththazhagu (Priyamani) is the daughter of a caste fanatic who is a prominent person in the village’s council. Muththazhagu loves him more than her life, but he remains unmoved and keeps her at bay. As a kid, Paruthiveeran saved her from drowning in a well, an event where she promised to marry him and be by his side forever. She starts loving him passionately against her parents’ will. In order to delay her marriage with anybody else, she fails herself in school to be in the same grade/class. At times Paruthiveeran is violent too. When he understands Muththazhagu’s true love for him and decides to marry her, the feud between the two families comes in the way. Determined as he is to possess her, he warns her against marrying someone of her parents’ choice. He even threatens to cut her into pieces. Undeterred by his threats, her parents press ahead with the preparations for her marriage with a man of their choice. Since Muththazhagu is not able to convince her parents, she runs away from home wanting to elope with Paruthiveeran. However, she gets kidnapped and brutally gang raped by four people. Muththazhagu beseeches Paruthiveeran to cut her into pieces, as she is dying anyway and does not want anybody to find her like this. Paruthiveeran, on her request, hence chops her corpse into pieces, and is walking away, when he is found by Muththazhagu’s father and other relatives. Assuming him to be her kidnapper and killer, they beat him to death.
Directed by Ameer Sultan
Produced by K. E. Gnanavelraja
Written by Ameer Sultan
Starring Karthi, Priyamani, Saravanan, Ponvannan, Ganja Karuppu
Music by Yuvan Shankar Raja
Cinematography Ramji
Edited by Raja Mohammad
Production Studio Green
Release dates 23 February 2007
Running time 162 minutes
Country India
Language Tamil
