Virunnu (transl. Feast) is a 2024 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed by Kannan Thamarakkulam and written by Dinesh Pallath. The film stars Arjun Sarja and Nikki Galrani in lead roles,[1] with Mukesh, Sona Nair, Aju Varghese, Baiju Santhosh, Hareesh Peradi, Dharmajan Bolgatty, and Gireesh Neyyar portraying supporting roles.

Virunnu
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKannan Thamarakkulam
Written byDinesh Pallath
Produced byGireesh Neyyar
Starring
Cinematography
  • Ravi Chandran
  • Pradeep Nair
Edited byV. T. Sreejith
Music by
  • Songs:
  • Ratheesh Vega
  • Saanand George Grace
  • Score:
  • Ronnie Raphael
Production
company
Neyyar Films
Release date
  • 29 August 2024 (2024-08-29)
CountryIndia
Languages
  • Malayalam
  • Tamil

It was simultaneously shot in Tamil under the title Virundhu.[2][3][4]

Plot

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The movie opens with the mysterious death of a businessman named John Kalathil. As the investigation into John’s death unfolds, his wife Elizabeth also meets a tragic end in a car accident. In her final moments, Elizabeth sees Hemanth and implores him to meet a man named Balan. What follows is a mishmash of events as Hemanth embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind the deaths of John and Elizabeth.

Cast

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Production

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In April 2021, it was reported that Arjun Sarja would play the lead role in the film.[5] The principal photography commenced on 3 May 2021,[6] but was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8][9] Filming resumed on 19 July 2021,[10][11][12][13] and the second schedule began on 21 January 2022.[14][15][16][17] The film was shot in Peermade, Thiruvananthapuram, Erattupetta and Thodupuzha.[18][19][20] The cinematography was by Ravi Chandran and Pradeep Nair. The editing was handled by VT Sreejith.[21]

Soundtrack

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The soundtrack consists of the songs composed by Ratheesh Vega and Saanand George Grace,[22][23] while the background score was by Ronnie Raphael.

Track listing - Malayalam
No.TitleLyricsMusicSinger(s)Length
1."Kalyanapattu"B. K. HarinarayananRatheesh VeghaVineeth Sreenivasan3:41
2."Nila Nilavithal"Rafeeq AhamedRatheesh VeghaGouri Lakshmi4:17
3."Sakka Podu Podu"Mohan RajanSaanand George GraceJagatheesh2:30
Total length:10:28
Track listing - Tamil
No.TitleLyricsMusicSinger(s)Length
1."Kottu Kottu Getti Melam"B. K. HarinarayananRatheesh VeghaRahul Nambiar, Anjali Warrier3:43
2."Kana Kana Vizhiyoram"Mohan RajanRatheesh VeghaSharanya Srinivas4:17
3."Kottu Kottu Getti Melam (Male version)"B. K. HarinarayananRatheesh VeghaRahul Nambiar3:43
4."Sakka Podu Podu"Mohan RajanSaanand George GraceJagatheesh2:30
Total length:14:13

Release

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The film was originally scheduled for release on 23 August 2024,[24][25][26] but was delayed. It subsequently released theatrically on 29 August 2024.[27] It was also released in OTT via Simplysouth.com

Reception

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Abishek Balaji of Cinema Express rated the film two out of five stars and wrote that "Arjun has a solid screen presence, and there are some gripping scenes. But the overdose of background music and quick cutaways gets exhausting".[28] Harshini SV of The Times of India rated the film one-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote that "Barring Arjun's Style, This Wannabe Thriller Is Messed Up".[29]

References

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  1. ^ "Arjun Sarja and Nikki Galrani team up for 'Virunnu"". The Times of India. 8 June 2023.
  2. ^ "'Virunnu' release date: Arjun Sarja starrer to hit the big screens on THIS date". The Times of India. 8 August 2024.
  3. ^ "New poster from Arjun's Virundhu out". Cinema Express. 8 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Arjun Sarja's Virundhu gets a release date". Cinema Express. 5 August 2024.
  5. ^ "തമിഴ് സൂപ്പർ താരം അർജുൻ നായകനാകുന്ന 'വിരുന്ന്' വരുന്നു; സംവിധാനം കണ്ണൻ താമരക്കുളം". Samayam Malayalam (in Malayalam). 24 April 2021.
  6. ^ "അർജ്ജുൻ സർജ്ജ നായകനാകുന്ന കണ്ണൻ താമരക്കുളം ചിത്രം; 'വിരുന്ന്' ടൈറ്റിൽ ലുക്ക് പോസ്റ്റർ!". Samayam Malayalam (in Malayalam). 7 August 2021.
  7. ^ B, Shibu (11 July 2021). "Film shooting in Kerala restarts Tuesday, movies that need wider canvas to wait". The New Indian Express.
  8. ^ "Asha Sharath to play mysterious character in a family action thriller". The Times of India. 17 May 2021.
  9. ^ "മമ്മൂട്ടിക്കൊപ്പം 'സിബിഐ 5', അര്‍ജ്ജുനോടൊപ്പം 'വിരുന്ന്'; സന്തോഷം പങ്കിട്ട് ആശ ശരത്ത്". Samayam Malayalam (in Malayalam). 26 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Malayalam film shoots resume: Kannan Thamarakkulam's movie 'Virunnu' goes on floors in Peermedu". The Times of India. 18 July 2024.
  11. ^ "കണ്ണൻതാമരക്കുളത്തിന്റെ വിരുന്ന് തുടങ്ങി". Mathrubhumi. 20 July 2021. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  12. ^ "കണ്ണൻ താമരക്കുളത്തിന്റെ 'വിരുന്നി'ന്റെ ചിത്രീകരണം താത്കാലികമായി നിർത്തിവച്ചു". Mathrubhumi. 18 July 2021.
  13. ^ "കണ്ണൻ താമരക്കുളം 'വിരുന്ന്' പുനരാരംഭിച്ചു - Malabar News - Most Reliable & Dependable News Portal". www.malabarnews.com. 20 July 2021. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Arjun Sarja continues Virunnu's shooting in Thodupuzha". The PrimeTime News. 19 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Arjun Sarja starrer 'Virunnu' to resume shoot in Thodupuzha". The Times of India. 19 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Exclusive! Nikki Galrani to resume shooting for Malayalam mystery-thriller Virunnu after Pongal". www.ottplay.com. 7 January 2022.
  17. ^ "കേരളത്തിൽ സിനിമാ ചിത്രീകരണത്തിന് തുടക്കം; ആദ്യമായി ഷൂട്ടിംഗ് ആരംഭിച്ചത് 'വിരുന്ന്'". Samayam Malayalam (in Malayalam). 20 July 2021. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  18. ^ "South Star Arjun Sarja Visits Kerala's Padmanabhaswamy Temple". News18. 12 April 2022. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  19. ^ "ചെങ്കല്‍ചൂള രാജാജി നഗറിലെ കുട്ടികൾ ഇനി സിനിമയിൽ, അർജുൻ സർജയോടൊപ്പം 'വിരുന്നി'ൽ!". Samayam Malayalam (in Malayalam). 31 July 2021.
  20. ^ "'വിരുന്നി'ന്റെ ടൈറ്റിൽ പോസ്റ്റർ റിലീസ് ചെയ്തു". Mathrubhumi. 9 August 2021. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  21. ^ "അർജുൻ സിനിമ വിരുന്നിന്റെ ആദ്യ ഷെഡ്യൂൾ പൂർത്തിയായി". Mathrubhumi. 5 August 2021.
  22. ^ "Virunnu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Songs: Virunnu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) MP3 Malayalam Songs by Ratheesh Vegha Online on Gaana.com". Gaana. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Virundhu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Songs: Virundhu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) MP3 Tamil Songs by Ratheesh Vegha Online on Gaana.com". Gaana. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  24. ^ "Action King Arjun's Malayalam Film Virunnu Gets A Release Date". Times Now. 8 August 2024.
  25. ^ "Release Date Of Arjun Sarja's Malayalam Movie Virunnu Announced". News18. 8 August 2024. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Watch: New Teaser Of Arjun Sarja Starrer Virunnu Raises The Intrigue". Times Now. 10 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Action King Arjun's Virunnu Gets A New Release Date". Times Now. 20 August 2024.
  28. ^ Balaji, Abishek (31 August 2024). "Virundhu Movie Review: This action flick has its moments but is hampered by chaotic treatment". Cinema Express.
  29. ^ "Virundhu Movie Review : Barring Arjun's Style, This Wannabe Thriller Is Messed Up". The Times of India. 31 August 2024.
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