User reviews

I was pleasantly surprised and full of emotions after watching Aadukalam. Initially centered around rooster fights and a love story, I wondered what this movie could tell. But masterful direction by Vetrimaran and a wonderful performance from Dhanush and other actors puts this movie alongside the best in Tamil.

Dhanush has displayed a myriad of emotions in this movie and has proved to be a great actor. The story seems to be long but it stays in your mind. The darkness of the Pettaikaran character may irk you a bit. Aadukalam has trust, betrayal, angst, happiness, sorrow and what not? The Behind-the-screen departments have performed a tremendous job. The rooster-fight graphics was awesome.

Overall I'd say, it's one of a kind movie! Go for Aadukalam at once!!

Once we know, Tamil cinema is filled with actors and directors, who concentrate on movies, which concentrated on unbelievable fight scenes and songs in unusual circumstances. But i can see that it is slowly moving into the other side of the cinema, which touches the heart of normal people and in the mean time giving what they need. The movie must have been a complete drama or power packed actions, but the director he brilliantly made this movie in neither of the genre but mixes several genre like action, drama, romance, thriller etc in a single movie but concentrating more on the thrill in the drama, which is very rare in world movies. The songs are beautiful and he used it at right times. Brilliant performance by dhanush, haven't seen him doing a believable performance in many of his movies. In this movie, he was perfect in most of the scenes with his dialogues. But the best part is the movie is not just concentrated on a single character of the movie(99% of Tamil movies will have a story centers around a single character) but it focuses on multiple characters. The other actors performed equally and some better than dhanush. the movie deserves many awards and for sure it is a path breaking movie in Tamil cinema.

Let me try to break down my scoring criteria.....

1) Casting is nothing short of perfection. Not a character out of place and every character is perfectly suited for the movie. No one tries to stand out or any over the top heroism or villain.

2) Dialog is exactly how it needs to be. Again not a word out of place. No "punch" dialogues as such.

3) Songs - Too good. No silly duets in some eye candy place. Songs are placed at the exact moments it needs to be in the movie.

4) Theme - Not often we see such themes on movies and its very hard to make a movie that is interesting and gripping out of such themes. Very well done.

5) Last but not the least - Thanush had made a killer of a performance here. Doesn't try to overact or try to be a "mass" hero. He fits in exactly how the movie needs him to be. My respect for him as a actor has grown many folds after I watched this movie.

Im 100% satisfied with this movie. Top class stuff in every department.

I wanted to watch Amores perros for a long time and thanks to vetrimaran for giving credits at the end of this film. Innaritu's one deals with the human emotions with the Dog fighting in the background while vetrimaran's is Rooster fight. But they are totally different. Only thing which bugs me is why they had to reprise a particular soundtrack from the film. Except for that it isn't a rip off. The director's research about Rooster fight,Madurai(location where the film takes place) and the people are all sure for a great applause keeping in mind that the director hails from northern part of Tamilnadu. CG part involving the rooster fight were mediocre. But they killed it with an amazing screenplay.

In the league of Devar Magan, Paruthiveeran yet another movie that portrays the life of people as it is in the reality. Aadukalam is a movie based on the life of rooster-fighters, their passion, love, emotions and everything.

After success of Polladhavan, Dhanush and Vetrimaaran have tagged again for this classical venture and have succeeded too, making it both commercial and critically acclaimed movie.

Plot: Pettaikaran and Rathnasamy are the rivals in the rooster fight. Karuppu, the jockey of Pettaikaran team, goes to win the best rooster award and a ransom price money in a tournament despite Pettaikaran denial to compete with his rooster. Rest of the movie depicts how situations go bad as people change after Karuppu gaining popularity.

Yet another brilliant acting from the lead, Dhanush and excellent acting from the support casts Jayabalan, Kishore, and Narien. Tapsee who does the love interest of Dhanush, has done a recent job as well.

Music is done by G.V Prakash Kumar has delivered exactly what it is supposed to.

Full credits to Vetrimaaran for this excellent direction and superlative screenplay.

No wonder that this movie has bagged six National awards including best actor, best director and best screenplay.

For those who are looking for an honest and a quality movie, I would highly recommend this.

Vetrimaaran is a Gem of Tamil Cinema .. This one is a cult classic film.. It reflects the life of Rural Madurai .. Their slang .. their lifestyle.. If you involve in the movie , you experience a beautiful lifestyle... Emotional... Pain last for days after watching movies

Another masterpiece from Vetrimaaran... great characterization.. stunning dialogues, marvelous acting, again dhanush is just an character every one is important characters in this movie...music is also awesome.. climax little disappointed at that time but now it's need for that movie

This was the masterpiece by the director vetrimaaran. It portrays how a sense of jealousy can turn a good man. Acting and the slang they speak was realistic.

i was really impressed with the level of sophistication in the movie's plot. this is definitely among the better performances dhanush has given in his career, and he really captures the imagination of the audience. he really gels with his character, giving a realistic feel that stayed in my mind long enough to give this movie a review.

the integrated songs are also a welcome change from the typical cut and migrate to different country kind of songs that tamil viewers are so used to. and viewers will certainly enjoy the dance sequences:)

the masterful capture of emotions in the second part of the movie and the parallels drawn to rooster fighting are a treat to movie fans who expect more from their movie experience. all in all, a must see for all, for the casual entertainment seeker, or the serious movie buff.

alright, the reason that compelled me to review Adukalam(2010) is the fact that it won 6 national awards this season. Whilst the movie speaks for itself in the departments of entertainment and dialog, one glance at the list of previous winners is sufficient to put a frown on your face.

Vetrimaran, the director and Dhanush, the actor are good at what they do but DO NOT deserve nationwide recognition, oh, and definitely not for this movie. But i guess, there is another way to look at this result - Indian movies in the year 2010 (specifically) were only as good as Aadukalam or lesser...?? Is that the answer ? Hmmm, by all means possible...but not very likely.

Anyway, I am, in a sense happy that a Tamil actor, director and film have been recognized as being competitive, but on the other hand, i feel sad that the appreciation has gone overboard. Now, about the movie - it deals with the novel subject of rooster fights and related issues in Madurai. Once again Tamil's madness for Madurai is out in the open - what with typical accents, suggestive language, behavior, etc etc. Phew ! Enough of the temple town and its people ! But what catches the viewer is the interesting human sub-plot that is well woven into the rooster battle. It flows with ease and poise, surprising us and delighting us at the same time. Dhanush's expressions are honest and true which in turn makes Tapsee's seem all the more fake. Nice ensemble of capable actors. GV Prakash's music may not be too bad but seems a tad inspired (uh..the real word should be copied) from Raaja and Rahman, the latter being his uncle.

Personally, i thought Leader (2010) should have won for original screenplay, but nonetheless Aadukalam's screenplay deserves mention. We have seen many unbearable "Entertainers" and "Adhiradi Movies", we have cried in agony and bankruptcy afterward. We have seen movies that insult our intelligence and twist the laws of human existence, we have seen some of the most irritating actors and actresses to have ever come on film, and we have survived. Aadukalam causes no such trouble, survival at the end of the film is guaranteed, if not natural. But the National Awards Panel needs to get its act together.

Great movie deserves a 10 for dhanush acting and another 10 for other character importantance. A 9 for vetrimaaran's screenplay and direction and another 9 for music and songs.

Overral 9.5/10.

very raw and stunning screenplay by the director..actors and technicians supports the mood of the film...climax of the movie is criticized among the people but other than that nothing would have shown the loyalty of K.P.karupu..editing of the movie is a big strength specially in the interval sequence. G.v.prakash does a good job.. fight sequence between dhanush and kishore conveys the rooster fight superbly and it is well conceived by the people ..the slang of madurai Tamil is worked without any flaws or artificial .. highlights of the movie are dhanush(k.p.karupu ) kishore , pettai karan and DOP, editing ,story line ,and the dialogues during the rooster fight makes the situation more real.

Aadukalam (2011) : Brief Review -

A sheer brilliance of Vetrimaaran in a classic drama of traditional pride, ego, friendship, betrayal, jealousy and sacrifice. Aadukalam may feel over the top for non-india audience because it uses the regional topic like cockfight as the main vitamin of the body. But Indian audience who are aware of such traditions especially Tamil audience will find convincing and far more connective. In a village in South India, rearing roosters, maintaining them and using them for fights are a way of life and a matter of honor and lifeline to many people and Aadukalam revolves around this thing. Aadulalam is not an extraordinary story to look from neutral point of view but the way Vetrimaan has directed it and made us believe in whenever he shows is simply remarkable. Like i said, a sheer brilliance of Vettimaaran. Why? Because just look how he has shot those scenes of cockfights and how gripping, tensed and engaging he made all the situations. It was far more superior than human fights we see in films. Keeping the suspense intact even with inhuman elements is a rare thing and that's what Vetrimaaran has done and that too without using artificial elements like sci-fi stuff we see in Hollywood films. Dhanush and Jayapalan's chemistry is fantastic in both positive and negative ways. One more speciality of Aadukalam comes with Jayapalan's character because till the intermission point we are fooled that the negative character is the main villian but in the second half this positive and respected character of Jayapalan turns into negative which is the best trick played by the writer. The Supporting cast, cinematography, dialogues, music everything is well balanced in this terrific film. In a nutshell, Aadukalam is a big nice break from typical films with great use of regional traditions and pride. A rich cock-tail of multiple contents.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Envy justifies conduct as long as envy is justifiable by conduct to keep wherewithal harnessed in rustic ecologies out of love of nature as opposed to theses on evolution to keep wisdom on the front seat and insouciance a backbencher. When that is not possible to be put down as not tenable hidden gems of mercy and camouflaged nuances of business nous as undercurrents of sociology become licenses to the peddling of business as long as insouciant becomes insouciant still over business undertaken towards the preservation of mercies as mercies as mercies under duress of business excavable as genuine mercies only with a call to cash to keep business unheard of under cultural motifs and cross-cultural motives international in the geo-politics of cities and local in the sparkle of cash that deems thereby and therein cross-cultural artifacts are artifacts of undercurrents tides in the calendar, and high tide at the expense of geo-politics thus, to keep business of cocks local where bulls made empires to keep dogs over snakes in the battle for The King's mercy, King still with snakes out in the open, with an office in the open, with an office to open, and with offices unopened.

Recently got to watch Aadukalam, as I was introduced to Vetri Maaran's way of filmmaking in the year 2018 with Vada Chennai. Aadukalam is one of the finest movies I have ever seen and even in the year 2024, this film has aged very well.

The plot is very simple, with the main thing in focus being ego clashes of individuals, especially when an experienced person faces threats from an upcoming talent. This was shown very well and the direction and storytelling is top notch.

Casting wise, Dhanush excelled as Karuppu, while the supporting cast - Kishore as Durai, Jayapalan as Pettaikaaran, Naren as Rathinaswamy and Taapsee as Irene were also great in their roles. There were many other characters, who did their part exceptionally well.

The directorial brilliance of Vetri Maaran is clearly visible here as his story telling is brilliant and the way he writes his characters - a master class for all filmmakers.

Even with G V Prakash's music - Yathe Yathe and Ayyayyo were stand outs.

Overall a great watch and highly recommended.

The movie was very good. Songs and BGM in the movie was good. Dhanush acted very well in the movie. But the 2nd half in the movie lagged very much.