Puli () is a 2015 Indian Tamil-language fantasy action adventure film written and directed by Chimbu Deven. It is produced by Shibu Thameens and P. T. Selvakumar under Thameens Films and SKT Studios. The film stars Vijay in a dual role, alongside Sridevi, Prabhu, Sudeep, Shruti Haasan, Hansika Motwani, and Nandita Swetha. It marks Sridevi's return to Tamil cinema and her final Tamil film before her death. The film revolves around the clash between humans and demons (Vedhalams) in a Kingdom ruled by demons, where the protagonist fights for justice, of the ruthless slaughtering of humans by demons, but his ancestry turns out to be a mystery.

Puli's original Tamil version was released worldwide on 1 October 2015 in theatres, whilst the dubbed versions of Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam were released the following day on 2 October 2015. The film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics who praised the cast performances especially from Vijay and Sudeep and visual effects while the screenplay and writing received criticism. Despite being a below average venture at the box office, it recovered the budget investment through profit in satellite and digital rights. The film was screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival, Japan.

Plot Marudheeran (half tiger-demon and half human) is the adopted son of a tribal village chief named Vembunathan. From a young age, he notices the atrocities regularly committed on the villagers by soldiers from the neighbouring kingdom of Vedhalapuram called the Vedhalams, who have supernatural powers. When he becomes an adult, Marudheeran starts to protect the villagers from the Vedhalams. As a result, the villagers respect him.

Marudheeran falls in love with Pavalamalli. And they both get married secretly and tell and take blessings from Vembunathan. Vembunathan tells them to visit the temple before announcing their marriage to everyone. When Marudheeran is in the temple, Pavalamalli is kidnapped by a group of Vedhalams, who then ransack the village and also kill Vembunathan. Marudheera and his close friends Kodangi and Sama begin a journey to Vedhalapuram. During the voyage, Marudheeran rescues Manthagini, the princess of Vedhalapuram, from a panther. That time, Princess Manthagini falls in love with Marudheeran. Thalapathy Jalatharangan, the evil-minded demon, Commander-in-Chief of Vedhalapuram, notices this. On the pretext of being medicine makers, Marudheeran, Kodangi, and Sama enter the Vedhalapuram palace, where they meet Yavanarani, the cruel Queen of Vedhalapuram and a sorceress. She allows them to stay at the palace, and Marudheeran wins the support of the Queen and the love of Manthagini with his fighting prowess and resilience. Yavanarani announces the engagement between Marudheeran and Manthagini.

Later, Marudheeran discovers he is a half-Vedhalam (half-demon). Marudheeran was the son of Pulivendhan (powerful tiger-demon) and Pushpa (human princess). Pulivendhan was the late prince of Vedhalapuram, Yavanarani's younger brother and Manthagini's uncle. When he stood up to Jalatharangan, who used to terrorise the citizens of Vedhalapuram with the help of his henchmen, Jalatharangan killed him and his wife, Pushpa. Marudheeran also discovers that Yavanarani is actually a puppet Queen under the influence of evil magical power emanating from Jalatharangan's ring. Due to the evil magical influence, Yavanarani developed magical powers and her tyrannical behaviour. She performs yearly Kanya Puja to boost her magical powers. After Yavanarani performs the Kanya Puja for the 18th consecutive year (this time on Pavalamalli), Jalatharangan has planned to eliminate her and take over the throne.

Marudheeran also discovers that he will transform into a Vedhalam (demon) if he stops taking the demon power suppression medicinal leaf that he was consuming from his childhood. Marudheeran transforms into a demon, fights Jalatharangan and kills him, avenging his father's death. Still, before he dies, he opens his ring, releasing all the evil magical power so that Yavanarani can continue to rule Vedhalapuram as a tyrantess without his control after his death. Marudheeran realises that the Queen can be returned to normal only if her wand, which is the source of her magical power, is destroyed. Marudheeran and Manthagini find her performing the Kanya Puja on Pavalamalli. After a bitter sword fight with the Queen, he manages to smash the wand, thus restoring the Queen to herself. In gratitude for releasing her from the evil magical influence, Yavanarani makes Marudheeran heir to the throne of Vedhalapuram.

Cast

Production

Pre-production Chimbu Deven was reported to be working on a "fantasy film set in contemporary times" in January 2011 for UTV Motion Pictures, and Dhanush was subsequently signed on to play the leading role.Dhanush, Chimbudevan team up. The Times of India (29 January 2011). Retrieved on 24 June 2015. The film was titled as Maareesan, with G. V. Prakash Kumar and Kathir signed on as composer and cinematographer respectively. At the same time, the team revealed filming would start in late 2011. Hansika Motwani was confirmed to play the leading female role in the film, while Vadivelu was also reported to be a part of the cast.Genelia, Hansika for Dhanush?. The Times of India (13 October 2011). Retrieved on 4 October 2015.Vadivelu's Re-entry With Dhanush's Film – Vadivelu – Dhanush – Simbu Devan – Tamil Movie News. Behindwoods.com (3 January 2012). Retrieved on 4 October 2015. However, in October 2011, UTV Motion Pictures left the project citing the escalating budget and Aascar Films replaced them as producers.Has Mareesan slipped out of UTV?. Sify.com (19 October 2011). Retrieved on 4 October 2015.Dhanush-Chimbudevan film titled Maarisan!. Sify.com (3 October 2011). Retrieved on 4 October 2015. The project later failed to take off, and the actor and director moved on to work on other ventures. During the production of his Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavaanikalum (2014) in late 2013, Chimbu Deven restarted preliminary work on the fantasy film and narrated the script to Vijay, who expressed interest in being a part of the project. Subsequently, the project found producers in P. T. Selvakumar, Vijay's press relations officer, and Shibu of Thameen Films, who have previously distributed several of Vijay's films across Kerala. The two producers came together to form a new production house, SKT Films and announced that production would begin after the completion of Vijay's work in AR Murugadoss's Kaththi (2014).Chimbudevan to direct Ilayathalapathy Vijay!. Sify.com (23 January 2014). Retrieved on 4 October 2015.

Development Although early reports suggested that A. R. Rahman would be the film's music composer, the team later confirmed Devi Sri Prasad had been signed. Natty Subramaniam chose to continue his work as a cinematographer with the film, despite his acting success in Sathuranga Vettai (2014), revealing he was excited to work alongside such an ensemble cast. T. Muthuraj was announced as the film's art director and began work alongside his commitments in Shankar's I (2014), while lyricist Vairamuthu also joined the crew.Shankar's Art director in Ilayathalapathy Vijay's next. Deccanchronicle.com (4 May 2014). Retrieved on 24 June 2015. The team also picked five costume designers to take care of clothing for the actors, with Manish Malhotra, Deepali Noor, Chaitanya Rao, Siva and Sai all brought on board. Furthermore, four stunt choreographers were selected to take care of action scenes with international technicians Sang Lin and Pradit Seeluem, brought in to work alongside Sunil Rodrigues and Dilip Subbarayan.5 costume designers and 4 stunt masters for Vijay 58!. Sify.com (24 November 2014). Retrieved on 24 June 2015. National Award winner, R.C Kamalakannan was signed on to be in charge of the film's animations and special effects, PhantomFx, a Chennai-based VFX company known for the movie Indru Netru Naalai, handled most of the VFX shots, and the rest were split among several studios. Chimbu Deven subsequently worked on finalising the script of the film between January and August 2014. Chimbu Deven and Natty scouted locations in Kerala in August 2014, finalising schedules in Chalakudi and Nelliyampathy.Vijay 58 shoot to start in Kerala!. Sify.com (20 August 2014). Retrieved on 24 June 2015.

Casting In April 2014, reports suggested Kannada actor Sudeep was approached to play a parallel leading role in the film, while contrasting reports noted he would play the lead antagonist.Sudeep in Vijay's Chimbudevan film?. Sify.com (23 April 2014). Retrieved on 24 June 2015. Sudeep later confirmed his participation in the film, adding it would see him in a "first of its kind" role.'Naan Ee' Sudeep on 'Vijay 58'. Behindwoods.com (22 April 2014). Retrieved on 24 June 2015. The team then successfully signed on actress Sridevi to portray a supporting role of a princess in the film, with the actress appearing in a Tamil film for the first time in 29 years. This was her final Tamil film before her death in 2018.Sridevi to play a princess in her next. The Indian Express (7 June 2014). Retrieved on 24 June 2015. Another senior actor, Prabhu, also signed on after being approached by the director to portray a character role.

Chimbu Deven revealed that the film would feature two leading female roles to appear alongside Vijay. Initial reports had linked Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone to the roles, but high remuneration subsequently meant neither were signed.Deepika or Priyanka Chopra for Vijay?. The Times of India (5 February 2014). Retrieved on 24 June 2015. Shruti Haasan confirmed that she had signed the film in July 2014, making a comeback to Tamil films after a two-year hiatus following 3 (2012).Shruti Haasan confirms film with Vijay . Sify.com (15 July 2014). Retrieved on 24 June 2015. Hansika Motwani was added to the cast after pairing up with Vijay in Velayudham. She portray a princess, the daughter of Sridevi's character.Hansika Motwani opposite Vijay?. Sify.com (31 May 2014). Retrieved on 24 June 2015.Two heroines for Ilayathalapathy Vijay. Deccanchronicle.com (1 June 2014). Retrieved on 24 June 2015. Thambi Ramaiah and Vidyullekha Raman were also selected to portray roles in the film, while comedians Sathyan, Robo Shankar and Imman Annachi joined the team in the first schedule. A press release in early January 2015 added actors Naren, Vijaykumar, Ali, Karunas and Joe Malloori to the film's cast. In April 2015, Nandita Swetha joined the cast to play a small and pivotal role, after Bhavana had turned down the offer.Nandita joins the cast of Puli. The Times of India (13 April 2015). Retrieved on 26 May 2015. Gayathri Raman stated that she had portrayed Shruti's mother in the film.Subramanian, Anupama (23 August 2015) New Kollywood mom on the block. Deccan Chronicle

Filming The team began filming on 10 November 2014 at the Aditya Ram Studios on the East Coast Road, Chennai, where a song featuring Vijay and Hansika Motwani was shot in a set replicating a castle put up by art director, T. Muthuraj.Vijay 58 to start from Nov 10. Sify.com (6 November 2014). Retrieved on 26 May 2015. The team then set up base in Pannaiyapuram for a forty-five-day stint, with hundreds of extras and technicians gathered from neighbouring states.Vijay's New film Goes on Floors. The New Indian Express (11 November 2014). Retrieved on 26 May 2015. A second schedule continued throughout December, after which it was reported that the film was twenty per cent complete. After a Christmas break, production restarted in early January 2015, and carried on in the outskirts of the city until mid-January. Reports which suggested that the team had secured permission to film at the Mysore Palace was dismissed by the makers as speculation.Vijay 58- Four titles in consideration!. Sify.com (2 January 2015). Retrieved on 26 May 2015.