Vidiyum Munn (Eng: Before Dawn) is a 2013 Indian Tamil thriller film directed by Balaji K. Kumar. Vidiyum Munn stars Pooja Umashankar as Rekha, a prostitute trying to rescue a 12-year-old girl, played by Malavika Manikuttan, from the clutches of prostitution. The music was composed by Girishh Gopalakrishnan. Vidiyum Munn was the fifth Indian film to be released in Auro 3D 11.1 surround sound system. Vidiyum Munn was released by PVR Pictures on 29 November 2013 to Critical acclaim but below average grosser at the box office.
Vidiyum Munn unfolds as a taut thriller that examines the characters’ vulnerability and strengths. The subplot, however, explores a relationship between a woman & a girl; Rekha, the protagonist, is a sex worker who tries to rescue Nandhini, a twelve-year-old girl, from the clutches of prostitution. The journey takes us through the brutality and the hypocrisy that surrounds us, which we deliberately choose to ignore—broken homes, abuse, unfulfilled dreams, manipulation, blackmail, threat, hopelessness and paranoia. It’s a dog-eat-dog world where nothing is as simple as it appears.
Rekha, an aging prostitute, is seen selling herself to old and low level people in order to eke out a living. During one of her sessions, she meets with her old pimp Singaram, who informs her that he needs her help to bring in a virgin, prepubescent girl for one of his major clients, Periayyah, an unnamed, wealthy liquor baron of India. She refuses in the beginning and accepts reluctantly, after he agrees to split the profts with her.
Singaram takes Rekha to meet with her old pimp and ex-lover Dorasingam, who is now bedridden and furious at Rekha for leaving him. However Rekha convinces him to deliver the girl to her, on the condition that the girl be returned the very next day. After picking up the girl Nandini, Rekha travels with Singaram to get the girl ready for the night. Even though she tries to develop a bonding with the girl, Nadini shies away, avoiding to talk to Rekha. Although Rekha does not tell Nadini about what is going to happen to her, she is constantly tormented by her actions and feels responsible for the girl.
Everything goes according to Singaram’s plan and Rekha accompanies the girl to Periayyah’s mansion. Perriayyah takes the girl upstairs and starts to tie her up. As the girl prostests, Perriayyah is seen taking up a razor blade, when suddenly Rekha breaks into the room and a struggle ensues, in which Perriayyah is killed. Rekha and Nandini escape the mansion and go on the run.
Singaram is then visited by the henchmen of Chinnayyah, Periayyah’s son. They question her about the girl he sent and threaten him to find them within a day. An intimidated Singaram approaches Lankesh, a rouge detective with an eye for details. Lankesh agrees to help Singaram to track down the girl for a sum. In his search of Rekha’s apartment, he discovers a photo of her friend taken in Srirangam, and concludes that the two are headed there.
As this happens, Dorasingam’s men spot the girl and Rekha on a train. They decide to kidnap her, but their attempts are thwarted and the two escape to Srirangam and meet with Devanayagi, Rekha’s old friend.
Lankesh tracks down the house in which Devanayagi lives and how all loose ends tie together is the story.
Directed by Balaji K. Kumar
Produced by Javed Khayum
Starring Pooja Umashankar, Malavika Manikuttan, Vinod Kishan
Music by Girishh Gopalakrishnan
Cinematography Sivakumar Vijayan
Edited by Sathyaraj
Distributed by PVR Pictures
Release dates 29 November 2013
Country India
Language Tamil
Visitor Rating: 3 Stars