Giri (film)


Giri is a 2004 Indian Tamil language action drama film written and directed by Sundar C, starring Arjun in the lead role, with Vadivelu, Ramya, Reema Sen, Devayani and Prakash Raj among others enacting supporting roles. The film was released on 1 October 2004 and became a superhit. The movie was remade in Kannada in 2020 as Shivarjuna starring Chiranjeevi Sarja.

Plot

Two villages on either side of a river are always feuding, as the headmen Veerasamy and Sethupathy have personal enmity. Due to some misunderstanding, Sethupathy's children die, and the blame falls on Veerasamy. Sethupathy seeks revenge and tries to kill Veerasamy's son but is saved by his servant's son, but the boy disappears.
20 years later, Shiva is seen arriving in Kumbakonam, living with a bakery owner named Veerabagu. Shiva's mission is to protect Devayani and her son from all sorts of gangsters. Priya walks into the bakery. Though she dislikes and torments Veerabhagu, she falls for Shiva. Sooner, Shiva's true identity is revealed as he saves Devayani and her son from being murdered by Sethupathy's son.
When questioned about his identity, it is revealed in a flashback that Shiva is Giri, Veerasamy's hatchet man. Devayani's husband DSP Chandrashekhar is actually Suryaprakash, Veerasamy's long-lost son who was killed by Sethupathy. To protect the rest of the family, Giri was sent to bring them back to the village. In the village, Giri has another love interest named Devaki, who is Sethupathy's niece.
All this leads to a bloody climax during a boat race, and Sethupathy and his family are wiped out by Giri. The film ends with both girls clinging on to Giri.

Cast

Music and background score is handled by D. Imman. The song "Dai Kaiya Vechikitu Summa Iruda" was a hit number of all the tracks in the album.

Reception

The highlight of the movie was the comic sequences between Vadivelu and Arjun. Also the action sequences were notable, credits to Fefsi Vijayan. The film received mediocre reviews with Indiaglitz stating, "the story sinks in the quagmire of pulp and predictability". But yet the film managed decent returns.