Gethu

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Gethu
Directed byKrish Thirukumaran
Written byKrish Thirukumaran
Produced byUdhayanidhi Stalin
StarringUdhayanidhi Stalin
Amy Jackson
Sathyaraj
Vikranth
CinematographyM. Sukumar
Edited byDinesh Ponraj
Music byHarris Jayaraj
Production
company
Distributed byRed Giant Movies
Release date
  • 14 January 2016 (2016-01-14)
Running time
118 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Gethu (transl. Swag) is a 2016 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written and directed by Krish Thirukumaran. Produced by Udhayanidhi Stalin, the film features himself in the lead role along with Amy Jackson, Sathyaraj in a supporting role, and Vikranth as the main antagonist. Featuring music composed by Harris Jayaraj and cinematography by Sukumar, the film was released on 14 January 2016. It received mixed reviews.[1] Critics praised the cinematography and music of the film but heavily criticized the screenplay and the misleading title of the film.[2]

Plot[edit]

The film opens with a renegade sniper named Craig, who assassinates an army officer from a long distance and is given a new assignment by a traitor to finish off an ISRO scientist named Abdul Kamaal within 30 days. The story then shifts to Kumily, where a PT teacher named Thulasi Raman leads a peaceful life with his son Sethu, wife, and daughter. Sethu, who works as a librarian to retired Colonel Matthews, meets a kleptomaniac named Nandhini, who steals books from the library. After a few altercations, the two fall in love. Craig, for some unknown reasons, lands in the hill town and is seen wandering and taking photographs of Matthews. Meanwhile, Thulasi Raman complaints about a political based bar owner named Kandhan, and in an ensuing fight, Sethu comes to his rescue by bashing up the goons. Mysteriously, the corpse of Kandhan is pulled out of a waterfall, and a ring belonging to Thulasi Raman is found in his hands. The police then arrests Thulasi Raman. Sethu takes it upon himself to clear his father's name and set out to find the real killer.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

In July 2014, Udhayanidhi Stalin revealed that he would collaborate with director Thirukumaran of Maan Karate (2014) fame for his next production.[3] Gethu was revealed to be the title in September 2014, with Harris Jayaraj and Sukumar signed on as music composer and cinematographer respectively.[4] Actor Vikranth, previously only seen in leading roles, signed on to appear in the film as an antagonist.[5][6][7] Sathyaraj was chosen to play the father of Udhayanidhi's character and was given top billing in the credits.[8] The film was revealed to be half complete by April 2015, and a first look poster was released to the public.[9] The team began a second schedule in Kodaikanal later that month.[10] Gethu also marks the first major appearance of Udhayanidhi in a non-comedy film.[11] He stated that he chose to work on the film due to having grown bored of working in comedy films, and his desire to "experiment, try something different".[12]

Release[edit]

The satellite rights of the film were sold to Sun TV.[13] The film was released on 14 January 2016, coinciding with Pongal,[14] and received negative critical response.[1] M Suganth of The Times of India rated it 2.5 out of 5, commenting, "Thirukumaran has the essentials for a high-concept thriller — a determined hitman, an ordinary man who stumbles into a nefarious plot by accident, a sub-plot that provides some mystery, and a bit of family drama. It is in his execution that he falters. For a thriller clocking in at under two hours, Gethu moves at a pace that is as sleepy as the hill station where the action happens. The director's choice of slow motion shots as a device to make the action stylish and prolong the tension in the plot works against the film."[8] Sudhir Srinivasan of The Hindu stated, "The whole movie bears the flavour of a short-story adaptation, and at a little over two hours, there isn't too much duration in which to flood the story with masala elements and thoroughly destroy it, although, to its discredit, Gethu certainly does try."[15]

The entertainment tax exemption request for the film was denied on the basis that the filmmakers misspelled the English title as "Gethu" instead of "Kethu", the latter being the correct transliteration of a Tamil word.[16] Government officials argued that since films released using Tamil words are entitled to an entertainment tax, and that "Gethu" is not a Tamil word, the film would not be entitled to an exemption.[16] The matter was heard by the Madras State Court, which ruled that the film was entitled to the entertainment tax exemption.[14]

Music[edit]

Gethu
Soundtrack album by
Harris Jayaraj
Released25 December 2015
Recorded2015
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length22:19
LanguageTamil
LabelDivo
ProducerHarris Jayaraj
Harris Jayaraj chronology
Nannbenda
(2015) 		Gethu
(2015) 		Iru Mugan
(2016)

The film's soundtrack album and background score was composed by Harris Jayaraj. The soundtrack album consists of five tracks, and Harris is collaborating with Udhayanidhi Stalin for the fourth time in this project. The music rights were purchased by Divo. The soundtrack's track list was released by Red Giant Movies on 23 December 2015.[17] The track list was unveiled on YouTube using an innovative motion poster technique.[18] The album was released on 25 December 2015, coinciding with Christmas celebrations.[19]

No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Thillu Mullu"V Padmavathy, Sirkali Sirpi, Gana VinothNaresh Iyer, Ranina Reddy6:02
2."Thaen Kaatru"ThamaraiHaricharan, Shashaa Tirupati5:06
3."Yevanda Ivan"MC VickeyMC Vickey, Sharmila4:36
4."Adiyae Adiyae"ThamaraiKarthik, Pop Shalini3:23
5."Mutta Bajji"Gana Vinoth, G PrabaGana Vinoth, Anthony Daasan, Marana Gana Viji, Ebisa3:12
Total length:22:19

Reception[edit]

Sudhir Srinivasan critic of The Hindu wrote that "A beautifully shot thriller that isn’t particularly thrilling".[20] S Saraswathi critic of Rediff.com gave 2 stars out of 5 and stated that "Director Thirukumaran’s Gethu fails to live up to its interesting premise; the film is all show and no substance.".[21]Samayam critic gave 2.5 stars out of 5.[22]

A critic from Dinamalar noted that "Decent watch".[23]Ananda Vikatan critic gave mixed review[24]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "First Day Box office collection: Rajini Murugan gets good opening, Tharai Thappattai, Kathakali, Gethu take decent start". International Business Times, India Edition. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016. Gethu and Tharai Thappattai have got [sic] mixed reviews.
  2. ^ "What is Udhay's 'Gethu' is all about?". Sify. 26 May 2015. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  3. ^ "Thirukumaran's next — Chennai". The Hindu. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Udhayanidhi's next film titled 'Gethu'". Sify. 8 September 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  5. ^ "Vikranth plays baddie in Udhay's 'Gethu'!". Sify. 21 May 2015. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  6. ^ "Vikranth is the main villain in the Udhayanidhi Stalin — Amy Jackson starrer Gethu". Behindwoods. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Its Gethu for Udhayanidhi Stalin". Behindwoods. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Gethu Movie Review, Trailer, & Show timings at Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Udhayanidhi's 'Gethu' first look out". Sify. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  10. ^ "Tamil film Gethu begins its 2nd schedule in Kodaikanal today, 22nd April". Behindwoods. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  11. ^ "'Gethu' trailer released on Udhayanidhi Stalin's birthday [VIDEO]". International Business Times, India Edition. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  12. ^ "'Manithan' more emotional, funnier than original: Udhayanidhi Stalin". The Indian Express. IANS. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  13. ^ "No1 Tamil Tv Satellite Rights Here". June 2016.
  14. ^ a b Staff Reporter (6 February 2016). "HC directs government to extend tax exemption for Gethu". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  15. ^ "Gethu: A beautifully shot thriller that isn't particularly thrilling". The Hindu. 14 January 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  16. ^ a b Sureshkumar, Udhav Naig (28 January 2016). "It should have been 'Kethu', not 'Gethu': Govt. tells High Court". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  17. ^ Gethu follows VIP innovation[usurped]. Top10 Cinema (23 December 2015). Retrieved on 2016-02-20.
  18. ^ Gethu – Official Track list | Udhayanidhi Stalin, Amy Jackson | Harris Jayaraj | K Thirukumaran. YouTube (22 December 2015). Retrieved on 2016-02-20.
  19. ^ Kiran, Sai. (23 December 2015) Gethu Songs Tracklist and Audio Release date – Udhayanidhi Stalin, Amy Jackson Archived 26 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Belvoireagle.com. Retrieved on 2016-02-20.
  20. ^ "Gethu: A beautifully shot thriller that isn't particularly thrilling". The Hindu. 14 January 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  21. ^ Saraswathi, S. "Review: Gethu is all show and no substance". Rediff. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  22. ^ "'கெத்து' திரை விமர்சனம்". Samayam Tamil (in Tamil). Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  23. ^ "கெத்து - விமர்சனம்". cinema.dinamalar.com. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  24. ^ Correspondent, Vikatan (18 January 2016). "உதயநிதிக்கு ஆக்‌ஷன் கெத்து ஓ.கேவா? - கெத்து விமர்சனம்". www.vikatan.com/ (in Tamil). Retrieved 3 May 2023.

External links[edit]

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