Thangalaan Vegamovies: Budget, Box Office Collection, and Star Performances
Thangalaan is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language period action-adventure drama. The film is directed by Pa. Ranjith, who co-wrote the script with Tamil Prabha and Azhagiya Periyavan. It is produced by K. E. Gnanavel Raja under Studio Green and Neelam Productions. The movie stars Vikram in the main role, along with Parvathy Thiruvothu, Malavika Mohanan, Daniel Caltagirone, Pasupathy, Hari Krishnan, Arjun Anbudan, and Preeti Karan.
The story is set during the British Raj era. It follows a brave tribal leader who faces a mysterious sorceress. His troubles begin after he helps a British officer find gold in their village, which angers the sorceress.
The movie was first announced in December 2021 under the working title Chiyaan 61, as it is Vikram's 61st film. The official title, Thangalaan, was revealed in October 2022. Filming began that same month and was completed by early July 2023. The movie was shot in various locations including Chennai, Andhra Pradesh, Madurai, and Karnataka. G. V. Prakash Kumar composed the music, A. Kishor Kumar handled the cinematography, and Selva RK did the editing.
Thangalaan was released worldwide on 15 August 2024 in standard, 3D, and EPIQ formats, coinciding with India's Independence Day. The film received high praise from critics. They particularly appreciated the performances of the lead actors (especially Vikram, Malavika Mohanan, Parvathy Thiruvothu, and Daniel Caltagirone), the background score by G. V. Prakash Kumar, and Ranjith's direction and screenplay. However, the CGI and VFX did not receive the same level of praise.
Cast:
- Vikram plays five different roles: Thangalaan Muni, Kaadaiyan (Thangalaan's great-grandfather), Arasan "Aaran", Adhi Muni, and Naga Muni.
- Parvathy Thiruvothu as Gangamma
- Malavika Mohanan as Aarathi
- Pasupathy as Gengupattar
- Daniel Caltagirone as Lord Clement
- Hari Krishnan as Varadhan
- Vettai Muthukumar as the zamindar
- Arjun Anbudan as Asokan
- Preeti Karan as Arasani
- Krish Hassan as a villager
- Sampath Ram as Kaadaiyan's aide
Production:
The project was in the works for several years. Pa. Ranjith first discussed the idea with Vikram during the making of Madras (2014), but it got delayed. In September 2021, the project was revived, with K. E. Gnanavel Raja producing it under Studio Green. Initially, Anirudh Ravichander was expected to compose the music, but G. V. Prakash Kumar eventually took on the role.
The official announcement came on 2 December 2021, with the tentative title Chiyaan 61. Rashmika Mandanna was originally cast as the female lead but was later replaced by Malavika Mohanan due to scheduling conflicts. Malavika even learned Silambam, a traditional martial art, for her role.
Pa. Ranjith mentioned in May 2022 that the story is set against the backdrop of the Kolar Gold Fields in Karnataka. It focuses on miners who discover gold in the 19th century. The film's title, Thangalaan, was officially revealed on 23 October 2022.
Filming:
Filming began in October 2022 with an initial schedule in Chennai, followed by shoots in Kadapa, Madurai, Hogenakkal Falls, and the Maldives. The production continued in various locations including a film city in Chennai and the Kolar Gold Fields, where the team shot for nearly six weeks. The final schedule was completed in Madurai and Chennai by early July 2023.
Music:
The soundtrack and background score are composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar. This is his first collaboration with Pa. Ranjith and his third with Vikram after Deiva Thirumagal (2011) and Thaandavam (2012). The soundtrack includes tracks like "Minikki Minikki" and "Thangalaan War Song." The album was released under the Times Music label.
Release:
Thangalaan hit theaters on 15 August 2024, coinciding with India's Independence Day. It was released in standard, 3D, and EPIQ formats. The movie was initially planned for a January 2024 release but was delayed to allow for screenings at film festivals. The movie was eventually released with a U/A certificate after passing through the censor board with no major cuts.
Distribution:
The movie's distribution rights were sold in various regions. In Karnataka, KVN Productions acquired the rights, while the Malayalam rights went to Sree Gokulam Movies through Dream Big Films. Mythri Movie Makers took charge of distribution in Telangana, and international rights were handled by Home Screen Entertainment and AP International. The film's digital streaming rights were sold to Netflix for ₹35 crore.
