Vettaikaran (transl. "The Hunter") is a 2009 Indian Tamil-language action-masala film that stars (in his 49th film) alongside Anushka Shetty . Directed by debutant B. Babusivan and produced by the prestigious AVM Productions
, the film was a significant commercial hit, grossing approximately ₹48.80 crore worldwide. Plot Overview The story follows
(Vijay), a young man from Tuticorin who moves to Chennai with a singular dream: to become a police officer like his role model, DCP Devaraj
(Srihari). His life takes a sharp turn when he falls in love with (Anushka Shetty) and crosses paths with , the son of a ruthless gangster named Vedhanayagam (Salim Ghouse).
After Ravi's friend is victimized by Chella, Ravi intervenes, eventually finding himself targeted by the entire criminal empire and a corrupt police officer, Kattabomman
(Sayaji Shinde). Abandoning his formal aspirations, Ravi adopts the vigilante persona "Police Ravi" to dismantle Vedhanayagam's network from the outside. Box Office Mojo Key Cast & Crew Protagonist: Vijay as Ravi ("Police Ravi"). Female Lead: Anushka Shetty as Susheela. Antagonists: Salim Ghouse as Vedhanayagam and P. Ravi Shankar as Chella. Supporting Roles: Srihari as Devaraj IPS and Sayaji Shinde as Kattabomman. Music Director: Vijay Antony , whose soundtrack—featuring hits like "En Uchimandai" "Puli Urumudhu" —was a major factor in the film's success. Production Highlights Title Origin:
The title was borrowed from the 1964 M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) classic of the same name. Notable Cameo: Vijay's son, Jason Sanjay , made a special appearance during the opening song, "Naan Adicha Thangamata" Vijay's Look:
The film is known for Vijay's experimental styles in songs, including a long-hair wig in "Oru Chinna Thamarai" and a half-male, half-female costume in "Karigalan"
Vettaikaran is a 2009 Tamil action-masala film that stars Anushka Shetty
. Released on December 18, 2009, it was directed by debutant B. Babusivan and produced by the prestigious AVM Productions Plot Summary The story follows
(Vijay), a youth from Tuticorin who travels to Chennai with the lifelong dream of becoming a police officer like his idol, ACP Devaraj
(Srihari). While working as an auto-rickshaw driver to support his studies, he falls in love with (Anushka Shetty). His life takes a turn when his classmate (Sanchita Padukone) is harassed by
(P. Ravi Shankar), the son of a powerful and ruthless criminal, Vedanayagam
(Salim Ghouse). When the corrupt system fails to provide justice, Ravi takes the law into his own hands as a vigilante known as "Police Ravi" to dismantle Vedanayagam’s empire. Key Cast and Crew Ravi ("Police" Ravi) Susheela (Susi) Anushka Shetty ACP Devaraj IPS Vedanayagam (Villain) Salim Ghouse Chella Vedanayagam P. Ravi Shankar ACP Kattabomman Sayaji Shinde Sugu (Ravi’s friend) Sanchita Padukone B. Babusivan Vijay Antony Cinematography: S. Gopinath Production: AVM Productions (distributed by Sun Pictures Music and Highlights The soundtrack by Vijay Antony Vettaikaran Tamil Full Movie Vijay 2009
was a massive success and played a major role in the film's commercial performance.
Released on December 18, 2009, Vettaikaaran (translated as The Hunter) is a hallmark Tamil-language action-masala film that solidified Thalapathy Vijay's standing as a dominant mass entertainer. Directed by debutant B. Babusivan and produced by the prestigious AVM Productions, the film arrived at a critical juncture in Vijay's career, following a string of experimental projects. Plot Overview: From Idealist to Vigilante
The story follows "Police" Ravi (Vijay), a Tuticorin-based youth who moves to Chennai with a single-minded ambition: to become a police officer like his role model, ACP Devaraj (Srihari). While balancing his studies and working as an auto-rickshaw driver, Ravi crosses paths with Susheela (Anushka Shetty), and a romance blossoms.
The narrative shifts when Ravi intervenes to help a friend, Uma, from the clutches of Chella, the ruthless son of crime boss Vedhanayagam (Salim Ghouse). This act of bravery turns Ravi into a target, as Vedhanayagam uses his political influence and corrupt police officers like ACP Kattabomman (Sayaji Shinde) to frame and eliminate him. Forced into a corner, the hunted becomes the hunter. Ravi adopts the persona of a vigilante "Police Ravi" to dismantle Vedhanayagam’s empire and secure justice, leading to a high-octane showdown. Cast and Crew
The film featured a star-studded ensemble that contributed to its "mass" appeal:
(The Hunter) marked Vijay’s 49th film and was released amidst high expectations to bring him back into the commercial success game. Directed by debutant Babu Sivan, the film is an unapologetic "mass" masala flick designed to appease fans, providing a high-octane entertainer that sticks strictly to the formula of "no-risk" commercial cinema. The Storyline
Ravi (Vijay) is a happy-go-lucky youngster from Thoothukudi who moves to Chennai with the ambition of becoming a police officer, inspired by an encounter specialist. Along the way, he falls for Suseela (Anushka Shetty) and joins a local college. When he tries to protect a classmate from a wicked gangster's son, he incurs the wrath of a dreaded villain, Devanayakam (Salim Ghouse). The movie then becomes a cat-and-mouse game between the "police-in-training" student and the ruthless villain, leading to a typical, action-packed revenge climax. What Works (Pros) Vijay's Charisma:
Vijay shines in his typical style, carrying the film with his dancing, energetic acting, and commanding action scenes. After a couple of dull outings, fans found this a "comeback" of sorts in terms of mass appeal. Music and BGM: Vijay Antony’s music was a major highlight. Tracks like "Karikalan," "Puli Urumudhu," "Chinna Thamarai" were big hits and kept the momentum high. First Half:
The initial 90 minutes are breezy and engrossing, featuring entertaining comedy (mostly with Sathyan) and a decent romantic angle. Action Sequences:
Kanal Kannan’s action choreography is tailored for the audience to cheer, featuring stylized fights. What Doesn't Work (Cons)
The story of Vettaikaran (The Hunter) centers on Ravi, a pulse-pounding tribute to the classic "hero’s journey" in Tamil commercial cinema.
Ravi is a carefree youth from Tuticorin with a singular, burning ambition: to become a police officer just like his idol, Devaraj IPS. His life is defined by high-energy dance moves, a deep respect for his parents, and a moral compass that points toward justice.
When Ravi moves to Chennai to pursue his degree and his dream, the city’s vibrant rhythm hides a dark undercurrent. He falls in love with Susheela, but his path to happiness is blocked by Chella, the spoiled and violent son of a powerful local gangster named Vedanayagam. Vettaikaran (transl
The turning point occurs when Ravi witnesses Chella’s brutality firsthand. While others turn a blind eye out of fear, Ravi’s "hunter" instinct kicks in. He intervenes to save a fellow student, inadvertently placing a target on his own back. The conflict escalates quickly, shifting from a student brawl to a life-or-death struggle against a criminal empire that has the police in its pocket.
Ravi soon discovers a crushing reality: his idol, Devaraj, was dismissed from the force and broken by the very villains Ravi is now fighting. This revelation doesn't stop him; it fuels him. He realizes that to clean up the streets, he cannot wait for a badge.
Adopting the mantle of a vigilante hunter, Ravi uses wit, strength, and the support of the oppressed public to dismantle Vedanayagam’s reign. The story culminates in a high-stakes showdown where Ravi proves that a true "Vettaikaran" doesn't need a uniform to protect his people—only the courage to stand up when no one else will. Key Highlights
Iconic Soundtrack: Featuring the massive hit "En Uchi Mandai."
Heroism: Explores the transition from an aspiring cop to a vigilante.
Star Power: Marks a significant "Mass" entry for Vijay in the late 2000s. 💡 To dive deeper into the film's legacy: Full Cast & Crew (Who played the iconic villains?)
Box Office Performance (How did it fare against 2009's competition?) Streaming Platforms (Where can you watch it legally today?)
If you tell me what interests you most, I can pull those specific details!
Here is the text content organized as a movie profile for "Vettaikaran".
If you haven’t experienced the Vettaikaran Tamil full movie Vijay 2009, you are missing a formative piece of "Thalapathy" history. It is a film that understands assignment: give the fans a hero who is strong, smart, and sentimental. Vijay delivers on all three fronts, backed by a dangerous villain and a foot-tapping soundtrack.
Whether you are revisiting it for the nostalgia of 2009 or watching it for the first time, Vettaikaran stands as a testament to why Vijay remains one of the most beloved stars in Indian cinema. So, grab your popcorn, find it on your favorite legal streaming service, and watch the hunter become the hunted.
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5) – A solid, entertaining mass action drama that has only gotten better with time.
Have you watched Vettaikaran recently? Which scene is your favorite—the pre-interval fight or the climax rain battle? Let us know in the comments below (if viewing on a blog) or share your thoughts on social media! Conclusion: A Must-Watch for Every Vijay Fan If
A Cinematic Anatomy of the "Mass" Formula: A Deep Analysis of Vettaikaran (2009)
Abstract Released in 2009, Vettaikaran (The Hunter), directed by Babu Sivan and starring Joseph Vijay, stands as a fascinating artifact of late-2000s Tamil commercial cinema. While critically panned upon release for its ostensibly derivative plot and logical liberties, the film was a monumental box-office success. This paper argues that Vettaikaran is not merely an assemblage of cinematic clichés, but a highly calculated, almost algorithmic execution of the "Mass" template. By examining the film’s socio-economic subtext, its subversion of the traditional "rags-to-riches" trajectory, its reliance on hyper-real violence, and Vijay’s meta-star persona, we can understand how Vettaikaran functions as an immersive cinematic ritual rather than a conventional narrative.
Tamil cinema’s "Mass" genre—characterized by an invincible protagonist, stylized action, and a subjugation of realism to star power—reached a zenith in the late 2000s. Vettaikaran arrived at a crucial juncture in Vijay’s career. Following the relative underperformance of Kuruvi (2008), Vijay needed a definitive return to form. Rather than experimenting with narrative structure, Vettaikaran doubled down on the core tenets of the star vehicle. The film asks its audience to suspend not just disbelief, but the very demand for psychological realism, replacing it with a spectacle of wish-fulfillment.
The role of the female lead in mass cinema is often relegated to that of a decorative appendage. However, Anushka Shetty’s character, Suseela, serves a precise structural function in Vettaikaran. Suseela is the daughter of a Police Commissioner (a symbol of state authority and upper-class respectability).
By romancing Suseela, Ravi is not just winning a love interest; he is breaching the gates of the elite establishment that traditionally excludes the lower-middle-class protagonist. The famous song sequence "Naa Adichaa" literally takes place in a police academy, showcasing the hero dominating the physical space of the law. The romantic subplot is therefore an assertion of class mobility, with the heroine acting as the legitimizing agent for the hero’s violence.
Caption:
🔥 Thalaiva’s 2009 Mass Entertainer! 🔥
From the streets of North Chennai to the ultimate face-off with a ruthless baddie, #Vettaikaran is pure Vijay swag from start to finish! 🕶️🎯
✅ Vijay as the fearless cop ✅ Anushka Shetty’s grace ✅ Salim Ghouse as the iconic villain ‘Kabul Basha’ ✅ Bangers by Vijay Antony – "Chinna Thamarai" still on loop! 🎶
Relive the action, comedy, and emotions. Who remembers the “Oru Kuppai Kadhai” dialogue? 👇
Watch the full movie now (link in bio) 🎬
#Vijay #Thalapathy #Vettaikaran #TamilCinema #VijayFans #AnushkaShetty #TamilMovie #Kollywood #Nostalgia #ThalapathyVijay
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