How a criminal's son became a minister in this Tamil black comedy
In short: In the 2013 film Soodhu Kavvum, a botched kidnapping leads to an unexpected political rise. What begins as a low-profile kidnapping attempt by an incompetent criminal evolves into a high-stakes scheme that transforms a criminal into a powerful legislator.
Directed by Nalan Kumarasamy, Soodhu Kavvum (meaning "Evil Engulfs") is a black comedy that explores the chaotic intersection of crime and politics. The narrative follows Das, a middle-aged kidnapper who operates under a strict rule: never abduct people with political connections. However, the plot takes a sharp turn when Das is hired to kidnap Arumai Pragasam, the son of a politician named Nambikkai Kannan, as an act of revenge. The story features a trio of unemployed men who decide to assist Das. This group includes Kesavan, Sekar, and Pagalavan.
The complexity of the plot deepens when it is revealed that Arumai had staged his own kidnapping to extort money from his father. This deception leads to a series of twists, including a failed ransom exchange where a bag intended for the kidnappers is replaced with newspapers. Ultimately, the film's protagonist, Arumai, uses his shrewdness to win a general election, transitioning from a criminal element to a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) with a ministerial post. The tension escalates when a ruthless policeman named Bramma begins hunting the gang. This encounter specialist uses an illegal, homemade firearm during the pursuit.
The film's success was both critical and commercial. Despite an initial disappointing performance in the United States, the movie grossed ₹12 crore in India against a budget of under ₹5 crore. Nalan's first directorial effort proved highly successful, securing the 2nd South Indian International Movie Awards' Best Film – Tamil prize and the 8th Vijay Awards' Jury Award for Best Film. Its impact was felt internationally, being screened at the Zurich Film Festival in 2014 and the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2018. The film's soundtrack was composed by Santhosh Narayanan. It was officially released in March 2013 at Sathyam Cinemas.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Soodhu Kavvum
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