Vaathi: A Movie That Celebrates Education and Social Justice
Vaathi is a 2023 Indian period action drama film written and directed by Venky Atluri. The film was shot simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu with the latter titled as Sir and produced by Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas. The film features Dhanush and Samyuktha in the lead roles. The film released on 17 February 2023 and received mixed reviews from critics.
The film tells the story of Balamurugan ‘Bala’ (Dhanush), a private school teacher who is assigned to a neglected public school in a remote village called Sozhavaram. He faces various challenges and obstacles from the local politicians, private college owners, and caste-based discrimination. He also falls in love with Meenakshi (Samyuktha), the biology teacher at the school. Bala strives to make a difference in the lives of his students and the community by inspiring them to pursue higher education and social justice.
In this blog post, I will share some interesting or surprising information about the making of the movie, the cast and crew, the locations, the references, or the behind-the-scenes stories.
The Making of the Vaathi
Vaathi was inspired by the real-life story of Anand Kumar, a mathematician and educator who founded the Super 30 program in Bihar, India. The program selects 30 meritorious students from economically backward sections of the society and provides them free coaching for the IIT-JEE entrance exam. Kumar has helped many students achieve their dreams of studying at the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology.
The director Venky Atluri said that he wanted to make a movie that would highlight the importance of education and the problems faced by the government schools in India. He said that he was impressed by the work of Anand Kumar and decided to base his protagonist on him. He also said that he wanted to show the contrast between the urban and rural settings and the different aspirations of the students.
The movie was shot in various locations in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, including Chennai, Tirupati, Kanchipuram, and Nellore. The village of Sozhavaram was created on a set in Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad. The director said that he wanted to recreate the authentic atmosphere of a rural government school and the lifestyle of the villagers. He said that he used real students and teachers from the nearby schools as extras in the movie.
This movie also features some references to the history and culture of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. For instance, the name of the protagonist Balamurugan is derived from the Tamil god Murugan, who is also known as Bala. The name of the village Sozhavaram is a tribute to the ancient Chola capital of Uraiyur, which was also called Sozhapuram. The movie also shows some scenes of the famous Tirupati temple and the Kanchipuram silk sarees.
The Cast and Crew of Vaathi
Vaathi stars Dhanush, one of the most popular and versatile actors in the Indian film industry. He has won several awards, including the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Aadukalam (2011). He is also a singer, producer, and director. He made his directorial debut with Pa Paandi (2017), which was also a commercial and critical success. He is the son-in-law of the legendary actor Rajinikanth.
The movie also marks the debut of Samyuktha, a model and actress who hails from Kerala. She was crowned Miss India South in 2019 and was a finalist in the Femina Miss India 2019 pageant. She said that she was thrilled to work with Dhanush and Venky Atluri in her first movie. She said that she learned a lot from them and enjoyed playing the role of Meenakshi, a strong and independent woman who supports Bala in his mission.
Vaathi also features some talented actors in supporting roles, such as Samuthirakani, Tanikella Bharani, Sai Kumar, and Ilavarasu. They play the roles of the antagonists who try to stop Bala from achieving his goals. The movie also has some comic relief from actors like Hyper Aadi, Sha Ra, and Bittu Bhupathi. The music of the movie is composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, who is also a singer and actor. He has composed music for many hit movies, such as Raja Rani (2013), Theri (2016), and Asuran (2019). He is the nephew of the renowned composer A. R. Rahman.
The Behind-the-Scenes Stories of Vaathi
Vaathi has some interesting stories from the behind-the-scenes. For instance, Dhanush had to undergo a physical transformation to play the role of Bala. He had to lose weight and grow a beard to look like a young and energetic teacher. He also had to learn the local dialects of Tamil and Telugu to deliver his dialogues convincingly. He said that he enjoyed the challenge and was happy with the outcome.
Another story is that Samyuktha had to face some difficulties while shooting for the movie. She said that she had to cope with the extreme weather conditions and the long working hours. She also had to deal with some injuries and allergies during the shoot. She said that she was bitten by a snake on the sets and had to be rushed to the hospital. She also had an allergic reaction to the makeup and had to take medication. She said that she was grateful for the support and care of the team and that she was proud of her work.
The movie also had some fun moments on the sets. The director said that he had a great rapport with the cast and crew and that they had a lot of fun while making the movie. He said that they used to play games, crack jokes, and sing songs during the breaks. He also said that they celebrated some festivals and birthdays on the sets and that they became like a family. He said that he was happy with the final product and that he hoped that the audience would enjoy the movie.
Conclusion
Vaathi is a movie that celebrates education and social justice. It is a movie that showcases the talent and passion of the cast and crew. It is a movie that has some interesting and surprising information about its making, its references, and its stories. It is a movie that is worth watching and appreciating. I hope you liked this blog post and that you will watch the movie soon. Thank you for reading.