Poojai (Eng: Veneration) is a 2014 Indian Tamil movie directed by Hari and produced by Vishal, who himself plays the lead role alongside an ensemble cast featuring Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Raadhika Sarathkumar and Mukesh Tiwari. Yuvan Shankar Raja composed the soundtrack and score for Poojai, while cinematography and editing were handled by Priyan and V. T. Vijayan, respectively.
Poojai was officially launched on 28 March 2014 and principal photography began on 18 April 2014. The film released on 22 October 2014 on the occasion of Deepavali. The film was dubbed into hindi as Himmatwar and in Telugu titled as Pooja.
Vasudevan aka Vasu (Vishal) is a Coimbatore-based moneylender and also was the heir to the Kovai Group, a cloth manufacturing conglomerate, until he was disowned by his mother and matriarch of his joint family Rajalakshmi (Raadhika Sarathkumar) due to some misunderstanding. He meets a rich girl Divya (Shruthi Haasan) at a mall, who soon falls in love with him for his good nature. One day, Vasu saves the Police Superintendent for Coimbatore District Sivakkozhundhu (Sathyaraj) and his wife (Aishwarya) from a group of thugs who work for Anna Thandavam (Mukesh Tiwari), a Pollachi-based businessman and contract killer who kills anyone to acquire their land and money. As Sivakkozhundhu was transferred to Coimbatore district to capture Anna Thandavam, the latter had planned to kill him. Anna Thandavam also plans to illegally grab land sold to a village temple by Vasu’s late father. These two incidents cause enmity between Vasu and Anna Thandavam.
Vasu soon reconciles with the rest of his family and returns home. When the land is formally sold to the temple, an irate Anna Thandavam assaults Vasu’s uncle Ramaswamy (Jayaprakash), following which Vasu beats him up in retaliation and breaks his hand. A bitter battle erupts between Vasu and Anna Thandavam, with Vasu, assisted by Sivakkozhundhu, subduing Anna Thandavam’s henchmen and thwarting all attempts by Anna Thandavam to destroy his family. In the process however, Anna Thandavam’s wife kills Rajalakshmi during the temple festival. Vasu, seeking revenge for his mother’s death, rushes to Patna, where Anna Thandavam is hiding and kills him in a thrilling climax.
Directed by Hari
Produced by Vishal
Written by Hari & Shashank Vennelakanti (Telugu dialogues)
Starring Vishal, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Raadhika Sarathkumar, Mukesh Tiwari
Music by Yuvan Shankar Raja
Cinematography Priyan
Edited by V. T. Vijayan & T. S. Jai
Production Vishal Film Factory
Distributed by Vendhar Movies[1]
Release dates 22 October 2014
Running time 158 minutes
Country India
Language Tamil
Visitor Rating: 2 Stars