Petta (film)

Petta ( transl. Hood) is a 2019 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by Karthik Subbaraj and produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures. The film stars Rajinikanth, alongside Vijay Sethupathi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sasikumar, Simran, Trisha, Megha Akash, Malavika Mohanan, Mahendran, Bobby Simha, Guru Somasundaram, Aadukalam Naren, Munishkanth, Sananth and Vivek Prasanna. It follows a hostel warden who gets dragged into war after his old nemesis resurfaces to exact revenge.

The film was officially announced in February 2018. Principal photography commenced in June 2018. It was shot in several locations including Darjeeling and Uttar Pradesh, and wrapped by late-October 2018. The film's music was composed by Anirudh Ravichander, while cinematography and editing were handled by Tirru and Vivek Harshan.

Petta was released on 10 January 2019, the week of Pongal. The film grossed ₹220–250 crore against a budget of ₹160 crore, thus becoming one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of all time and the second highest-grossing Tamil film of 2019.

Plot

Kaali, a mysterious and deceivingly aged person, takes up the job of a boys' hostel warden at a college in Ooty. He notices that a group of unruly final-year students, led by Michael, the spoiled son of a Gnanam, a local leader, dominate the hostel. Kaali puts a stop to Michael's antics, which leads to a rivalry between them. Kaali also forms a close bond with Anwar, an NRI hostelite, who is in a relationship with Anu, the daughter of Mangalam, a pranic healer.

Kaali convinces Mangalam to accept her daughter's relationship with Anwar, and they end up falling for each other. Michael, who lusts for Anu, is enraged on hearing about her relationship with Anwar and attempts to harass them, only to be stopped by Kaali. The college suspends Michael and his friends, and Anwar records and shares the humiliation of Michael and his gang. The video is noticed in Uttar Pradesh by Jithu, a local goon, and his father Singhaar Singh, a powerful politician.

On seeing Anwar in the video as well as in a photo with his mother Poongodi on Facebook, Singhaar sends his men to kill Anwar for unknown reasons. At the same time, Michael, who is humiliated at his suspension, sends his men to beat Kaali. Michael's plan backfires as he and his men get mixed in the fight between Kaali and Singhaar's men. Kaali subdues Singhaar's men, earning Michael and Gnanam's respect, following which Anwar meets Kaali's friend, who reveals Anwar's past. Anwar is the son of Kaali's best friend Abdul Maalik Marakkaayar, and Kaali's real name is Pettavelan, a respected person in Madras.

In the past, Maalik learns that Singhaar Singh, before being a politician, was a powerful gangster and his brother Devaram are involved in an illegal sand mafia, which leads to Maalik and Petta getting enough evidence for the police to arrest Devaram. Petta learns that Maalik is in love with Devaram and Singhaaram's sister Poongodi, who conceived with him even before wedlock. Though reluctant initially, Petta finally agrees, and he and his wife Sarojam "Saro", convince Poongodi's father, Rajapandi, to get Poongodi married to Maalik. Devaram and Singaaram vehemently oppose the alliance since Maalik was a Muslim. But marriage happens with the aid of Petta. Rajapandi out of love and affection transfers properties to Poongodi.

Devaram and Singhaaram kill Rajapandi. On learning this, Petta kills Devaram during Rajapandi's funeral and expels Singhaaram from the village. Enraged, Singhaaram orchestrates a bomb blast during Poongodi's seemantham, killing Maalik, Saro and seemingly Petta's son Chinnan. Petta finds Poongodi still alive and takes her to safety. Poongodi later gives birth to Anwar, and leaves for Australia with him to evade Singhaaram.

On learning about his past, Anwar, Petta and Michael's henchmen leave to kill Singhaaram, now known as Singhaar Singh. Petta and Anwar confront Jithu, who is determined to kill them after learning about them from Singhaaram. The duo manages to escape Jithu. Later, Petta meets Jithu privately and reveals him to be actually his son Chinnan, whom Singhaar adopted after finding him alive with injuries in the wreckage.

Jithu confronts Singhaar regarding his parentage, who is shocked and does not respond. Later, a group of men, apparently sent by Singhaar, arrive to kill Jithu but Petta and his crew rescue him. Petta, Anwar, Michael's henchmen and Jithu ambush Singhaar's mansion and decimate his guards. Petta confronts Singaar and has him shot dead. He then admits to Jithu that the latter is not Chinnan, but Singhaar's son since Chinnan really did die in the blast; the men sent to kill Jithu were actually Petta's men. Petta reveals that he used Jithu as a strategy to lead to Singhaar only to kill him. After debating whether to kill or spare Jithu, Petta holds him at gunpoint.

Cast

Production

Development

In early February 2018, after completing his filming commitments for Pa. Ranjith's Kaala (2018), Rajinikanth held final discussions with a group of young directors, including Arun Prabu, Atlee, and Karthik Subbaraj for his next project. On 23 February 2018, production house Sun Pictures announced that they would produce a film starring Rajinikanth to be directed by Karthik. To accommodate the film's shoot throughout the course of 2018, the director postponed the pre-production work of another proposed film starring Dhanush for YNOT Studios. Karthik revealed that he was confident about approaching Rajinikanth to work on his film, after the actor was impressed with his earlier project, Jigarthanda (2014) and expressed a desire to collaborate. The pair had first discussed the script in early 2017, but Rajinikanth did not take a final call until finishing his existing filming commitments to Kaala and 2.0 (2018). Talking about the project, Karthik initially revealed that the film would be an "action drama" which was "fictional" but "realistic".

Anirudh Ravichander was signed on to work as the film's music composer in early March 2018, in a move which saw him collaborate with his maternal uncle Rajinikanth, and Karthik, for the first time. Tirru and Vivek Harshan were selected to be the film's cinematographer and editor respectively, continuing their collaboration with Karthik following their work in Mercury (2018). Likewise, stunt choreographer Peter Hein also joined the team thereafter. In late May 2018, Karthik and Tirru went on a recce to scout locations in Nepal and North India to shoot the film. The film's title Petta was revealed on 7 September 2018.

Casting

Vijay Sethupathi was signed on to play a character in April 2018, and accordingly reworked his dates to fit the film into his busy schedule. The actor signed the film after a month of media speculation that he would portray a villainous role, and revealed that he signed the film as he had blind trust in Karthik, and initially did not request to listen to the script. Karthik had also been keen to sign Fahadh Faasil for a role in the film, but the actor's filming commitments for Varathan (2018) meant that he could not allot dates. Hindi film actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui joined the cast in July 2018, while two other regular collaborators of Karthik, actors Bobby Simha and Sananth, were also signed to play pivotal roles in the film. Other members of the cast included supporting actors Guru Somasundaram, Munishkanth, Shabeer Kallarakkal, Deepak Paramesh, Adithya Shivpink, and Manikandan R. Achari.

For leading female roles, the team held discussions throughout March 2018 with actresses Trisha, Deepika Padukone, and Anjali, but neither were signed immediately. In July 2018, the producers announced that Simran had joined the cast to play as pair of Rajinikanth. Trisha was eventually added to the cast in August 2018, while Malavika Mohanan was also signed to make her Tamil debut. Megha Akash was cast as Sananth's pair, and joined the shoot before the release of any of her initial Tamil films, Boomerang, Enai Noki Paayum Thota and Oru Pakka Kathai. In October, Sasikumar and Mahendran joined the cast.

Filming

Principal photography began in June 2018. The first shooting schedule began on 7 June at Eastern Forest Rangers College at St. Mary's Hill, Kurseong in Darjeeling, with the initial portions lasting nine days. The team then shot in other location across Darjeeling and the hill towns for a further month, in locations including St. Paul's and Mount Hermon School. To finish the first schedule, the team returned to Kurseong for six days. An audition to cast 150 local actors was also held in Charbagh, Lucknow during the first schedule. During the making of the schedule, Rajinikanth met with politician Gautam Deb, who helped the makers have a hassle free shoot in exchange for the promotion of tourism in the area. Principal photography wrapped in October 2018, fifteen days ahead of schedule.

Music

The soundtrack album and background score were composed by Anirudh Ravichander, marking his first collaboration with Rajinikanth and Karthik Subbaraj. The lyrics were penned by Vivek, Ku. Karthik, Dhanush and Karthik Subbaraj. The album consists of all eleven songs, 5 of which are theme songs. The first single, "Marana Mass" was released on 3 December 2018, followed by "Ullallaa" which released on 7 December 2018. The full album was released on 9 December 2018, under the Sony Music label.