Vaazhai
Movie Details:
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
| Genre | Drama |
| Release date | August 23, 2024 |
| Running time | 2hr 14min |
| Certificate | U |
| Starring | Ponvel. M, Raghul. R, Kalaiyarasan, Nikhila Vimal, J. Satish Kumar, Dhivya Duraisamy |
| Directed by | Mari Selvaraj |
| Written by | Mari Selvaraj |
| Produced by | Sajith Sivanandan, Divya Mari Selvaraj, Mari Selvaraj, Dhilip Subbarayan |
| Cinematography by | Theni Eswar |
| Edited by | Suriya Pradhaman |
| Music by | Santhosh Narayanan |
| Production Companies | Disney+ Hotstar Navvi Studios Farmer’s Master Plan Production |
| Distributors | Red Giant Movies |
Cast & Characters:
- Ponvel M. as Sivanaindhan
- Raghul R. as Sekar
- Kalaiyarasan as Kani
- Nikhila Vimal as Poongodi, a school teacher
- Karnan Janaki as Sivanaindhan and Vembu’s mother
- Dhivya Duraisamy as Vembu, Sivanaindhan’s elder sister
- Pathmen as Muthuraj, a broker
- J. Satish Kumar as a trader
- Nivedita Rajappan as a teacher
- Puliyankulam D Kannan as a villager
- Gomathi as Sekar’s mother
- Aadukalam Stella as a teacher
Storyline:
Set against a rural backdrop, the film follows a twelve-year-old boy named Sivanandhan, along with his mother, sister, and friend, as they navigate life’s challenges. A plantain tree, Vaazhai (Banana), becomes a central presence in their journey.
About Vaazhai Movie:
The film features newcomers Ponvel M. and Raghul R., alongside Kalaiyarasan, Nikhila Vimal, J. Satish Kumar, and Dhivya Duraisamy.
This marks the third collaboration between writer-director Mari Selvaraj and cinematographer Theni Eswar, following Karnan (2021) and Maamannan (2023). It is also actress Nikhila Vimal’s first time working with Mari Selvaraj.
The film was officially announced in November 2022 under the tentative title Production No.1, marking the first production of Navvi Studios.
On November 21, 2022, director Mari Selvaraj officially unveiled the film’s title as Vaazhai. The film marks the debut of Ponvel M. and Raghul R., both collaborating with Selvaraj for the first time.
Principal photography for the film began on November 21, 2022, and concluded on January 11, 2023. It was shot extensively across Tamil Nadu, including locations in Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli.
Vaazhai was released in theaters worldwide on August 23, 2024. The satellite rights were acquired by Vijay TV and was premiered on Disney+ Hotstar on 11 October 2024 in Tamil, alongside Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, and Marathi languages.
Music:
The soundtrack and film score for Vaazhai are composed by Santhosh Narayanan, marking his third collaboration with Mari Selvaraj after Pariyerum Perumal and Karnan, and his first with Nikhila Vimal.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thenkizhakku | Yugabharathi | Dhee | 4:22 | July 18, 2024 |
| 2 | Oru Oorula Raja | Mari Selvaraj | Santhosh Narayanan | 4:02 | July 29, 2024 |
| 3 | Otha Satti Soru | Vivek | Kapil Kapilan, Aditya Ravindran | 3:41 | August 5, 2024 |
| 4 | Paadhavathi | Mari Selvaraj | Jayamoorthy, Meenakshi Ilayaraja | 5:05 | August 10, 2024 |
Budget & Box Office Collection:
| Budget | ₹5 crore |
| Worldwide Collection | ₹40 crore |