| Saattai | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | M. Anbazhagan |
| Written by | M. Anbazhagan |
| Produced by | John Max Prabhu Solomon |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | M. Jeevan |
| Edited by | R. Nirmal |
| Music by | D. Imman |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Photo Factory (P). Ltd |
Release date |
|
Running time | 2hrs 30mins |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Saattai (transl. Whip) is a 2012 IndianTamil-languagedrama film written and directed byM. Anbazhagan. The film featuresSamuthirakani,Yuvan,Mahima Nambiar andThambi Ramaiah in pivotal roles.[1] The film's soundtrack and background score were composed byD. Imman. The shooting took place in NLC andThiruvannamalai. The film is the first installment of the film series and was followed by a spin-off,Appa (2016), and a sequelAdutha Saattai (2019).[2] The movie was officially remade in Kannada in 2020 asDrona.[3]
Dayalan is a newly appointed teacher of a government school in Vanthaarangudi village near Thiruvannamalai city. He is unhappy with the education system and is also worried about the pitiable condition of education of government schools. After joining the school, he tries to change the school's environment. This is not welcome by Singaperumal, who is Assistant Head Master (AHM). Dayalan's decision for the change does not go well with the other teachers and students, but his good moves were slowly noticed by Pandian, the Head Master (HM), who is Singaperumal's senior. Slowly, Dayalan gets popular among the class students. In between, there is love between Pazhanimuthu "Pazhani" and Arivazhagi. Pazhani's father is also a teacher in the same school. Singaperumal was waiting for a turn to take revenge on Dayalan. In this situation, Arivazhagi was sexually abused by a teacher and she tries committing suicide by consuming poison. Singaperumal files a case against Dayalan as the culprit. After Arivazhagi opens the statement to the police that a teacher abused her, Dayalan was released. Dayalan organizes an inter-school competition between schools. Dayalan's school gets first place because of Arivazhagi's and Pazhani's hard work. After that, Dayalan gets attacked by mobs arranged by Singaperumal. Dayalan gets admitted in the hospital. All of the students and teachers go to the hospital to see him and they were denied to see him by the hospital authorities as he is in very critical condition. Then arrives his wife and inspires the students to study for the coming exams. Students study well and they top their district, and the movie ends with Dayalan giving the responsibility of HM to Singaperumal, who reforms and apologizes to him. The movie ends with Dayalan going to the next village to reform another government school.
| Saattai | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 14 January 2012 | |||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
| Language | Tamil | |||
| Label | Sony Music India | |||
| Producer | D. Imman | |||
| D. Imman chronology | ||||
| ||||
The music for the film is byD. Imman.Yugabharathi has penned the lyrics.[4]
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Jada Jada Jaada" | Ramesh Vinayagam, Sai Venkat, Haripriya | 04:08 |
| 2. | "Sahaayane" | Shreya Ghoshal | 04:16 |
| 3. | "Andhurundai Kannazhagi" | Chitty, Thanjai Radhika, Srik | 04:32 |
| 4. | "Adi Raangi" | Santhosh Hariharan,Anitha Karthikeyan | 04:22 |
| 5. | "Nanbaa Vaa Nanbaa" | Saisharan | 04:02 |
| 6. | "Dayas Insight" | Elisabeth Mani | 03:25 |
| 7. | "Serene Grace" | Priya Himesh | 04:01 |
| 8. | "Sahaayane (Karaoke Version)" | Instrumental | 04:16 |
| 9. | "Adi Raangi (Karaoke Version)" | Instrumental | 04:16 |
The satellite rights of the film were sold toSTAR Vijay.[5]
Sify's critic described the film as a "decent entertainer which harps loudly on the message it wants to convey", noting that director M Anbazhgan "has neatly worked the film around [Samuthira]kani’s character but at times it becomes too preachy and sentimental".[6] M. Suganth fromThe Times of India gave it 4 out of 5 and claimed thatSaattai was a "commercial potboiler dressed up as arty fare". The reviewer further wrote: "Anbazhagan's intentions are quite commendable [...] but the sad thing is that he goes about this task with less subtlety and more sermonizing, with the result that the scenes where he wishes to make a point come across as totally preachy".[7] Similarly, Malathi Rangarajan fromThe Hindu wrote: "The aim is lofty, the theme, noble. It is in execution that director Anbazhagan falters a little". She concluded that the film was "at times obviously sermonising" but "still [...] worthy of notice".[8]
In September 2015,Samuthirakani chose to postpone the production of hisKitna, after the lead actressDhansika got an offer to appear inPa. Ranjith'sKabali (2016). He chose instead to use his time directing and producing a sequel to his earlier film,Saattai (2012), and revealed that the film would be titledAppa.[9] He revealed that the film would bear no resemblance to the first film, but would be a spiritual sequel and would revolve around the education system like the previous film. He initially approached Anbazhagan to direct the film, but the director's commitments to makingRupai produced byPrabhu Solomon, meant that Samuthirakani directed the film himself. Samuthirakani also revealed that the film's plot line had been taken from a real-life incident, which happened when choosing a school for his son.[10]
| Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Thambi Ramaiah | Nominated |
| Tamil Nadu State Film Awards | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film[11] | Shalom Studios | Won |
