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"
The 2009 Tamil film Vettaikaaran , starring Vijay and Anushka Shetty, follows the journey of Ravi, a determined young man who moves from Thoothukudi to Chennai with a singular dream: becoming a police officer like his idol, Encounter Specialist DCP Devaraj IPS. Plot Summary
Ravi earns his living as an auto-rickshaw driver while pursuing his studies in Chennai. His life takes a romantic turn when he meets Suseela, an IT professional, and eventually wins her heart.
However, the story shifts into intense action when Ravi defends his friend from the local gangster Chella, the womanizing son of a powerful don named Vedanayagam. This act of bravery turns Ravi into a target: Vettaikaran Tamil Full Movie Vijay 2009
The Conflict: Vedanayagam, using his influence and a corrupt police officer named Kattabomman, begins systematically destroying Ravi’s life.
False Accusations: Ravi is framed for drug smuggling, thrown into jail, and expelled from his college.
The Transformation: Realizing that the system is rigged against him, Ravi decides to take justice into his own hands. He transforms into a vigilante, often referred to as "Police Ravi," to dismantle Vedanayagam's criminal empire and secure his future.
Watch the high-octane action and key scenes from Vettaikaaran through these curated clips:
No article about Vettaikaran Tamil full movie Vijay 2009 is complete without discussing its soundtrack. Devi Sri Prasad (DSP) was at the peak of his creative partnership with Vijay.
| Song Title | Singers | Legacy | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Chinna Thamarai | K.K., Suchitra | A folk-based romantic track that became a chartbuster overnight. The choreography between Vijay and Anushka is iconic. | | Puli Urumudhu | Vijay, Shankar Mahadevan | An aggressive, mass anthem. Vijay’s rap portions and the “Karuththu” beats are legendary in fan meet-ups. | | En Uchi Mandaiyil | Ranjith, Suchitra | A high-energy club song that showcased Vijay’s dance prowess. | | Oru Chinna Thamarai (Sad) | K.K. | The heartbreaking reprise that plays during the emotional climax. |
The background score, also by DSP, elevates every action sequence, particularly the pre-interval block where Vijay single-handedly fights a gang at a construction site.
Title: Vettaikaran (The Hunter) Language: Tamil Release Year: 2009 Genre: Action / Masala Director: Babu Sivan Producer: AVM Productions
Starring:
Synopsis: The story follows Ravi (Vijay), a young man from a village who aspires to become a police officer like his role model, Encounter Specialist Devaraj IPS (Srihari). To pursue his dream, he moves to Chennai for education. Vettaikaran (transl
In the city, Ravi crosses paths with Chella (Salim Ghouse), a rowdy and the son of a powerful gangster. Their conflict escalates when Ravi inadvertently humiliates Chella, leading to a rivalry that threatens his life and his career goals. The film revolves around how Ravi tackles the corrupt system and the villains to achieve his dream of wearing the police uniform, while also romancing his neighbor Suseela (Anushka Shetty).
Music: The soundtrack and background score were composed by Vijay Antony. The album was a major commercial success, featuring popular tracks such as:
Box Office & Reception: Released during the Diwali festival of 2009, Vettaikaran received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success at the box office, completing a 100-day run in many centers. It is considered a typical "Mass" entertainer catering specifically to Vijay's fan base.
(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)
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 Vettaikaran (2009) – Tamil Full Movie Profile Title:
(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
was a massive success and played a major role in the film's commercial performance.
Director Babu Sivan, who previously worked as a story writer for films like Ghilli, knew exactly what Vijay fans wanted. The action choreography by Stunt Silva is raw and violent. Unlike the polished fights of Vijay’s later films (Thuppakki, Kaththi), the fights in Vettaikaran are bloody and grounded.
The film’s slow-motion shots of Vijay walking through fire, smashing dozens of goons with a coconut thresher, and his final confrontation with Prakash Raj are pure adrenaline for mass audience fans.
The narrative of Vettaikaran follows the classic commercial formula of the 2000s but with a few unique twists. Vijay plays Ravi, a compassionate yet fearless young man from a humble background who dreams of becoming a police officer. However, fate has other plans. He lives with his doting mother (Saranya Ponvannan) and falls in love with Susheela (Anushka Shetty), a straightforward village girl who initially mistakes him for a police officer.
The plot thickens with the entry of the antagonist, Devarajan (Prakash Raj), a ruthless and powerful village chieftain who runs a parallel government. Devarajan is the quintessential Prakash Raj villain—sadistic, manipulative, and seemingly invincible. When Ravi’s friend and the local community are crushed under Devarajan’s tyranny, Ravi transforms from a playful lover into a violent hunter. The cat-and-mouse game between Ravi and Devarajan forms the crux of the second half, leading to a bloody, rain-soaked climax where Ravi finally delivers justice.