Seval
Seval (transl. Rooster) is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language romantic action drama film written and directed by Hari.[1] The film stars Bharath as the protagonist Murugesan, a wayward and carefree young man from a rural village, alongside Poonam Bajwa as Parijatham, the woman he falls in love with, while Simran appears in an extended cameo as Parijatham's widowed sister Gayathri.[2] Produced by M. A. Jinnah under Jinnah Creations and featuring music composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, Seval was released on 27 October 2008.[1] The story unfolds in a flashback after Murugesan is released from prison after serving 17 years, recounting his tumultuous journey from reckless youth to redemption.[2] Murugesan, known for his unruly behavior including fights and selling family land, is disowned by his father and becomes a postman, where he meets and falls in love with Parijatham, the daughter of a conservative Brahmin temple priest opposed to their relationship.[3] Parallel narratives involve Gayathri's struggles as a widow pressured into marrying her brother-in-law, intertwining themes of family honor, love, and conflict that lead to Murugesan's imprisonment for defending his beloved.[4] Critically received for its blend of action, romance, and rural drama but noted for some melodramatic elements, Seval marked an early collaboration for G. V. Prakash Kumar with director Hari and contributed to Bharath's portfolio of mass entertainers.[3] The soundtrack, featuring songs like "Odamarathi Mulla Pola," became popular, enhancing the film's commercial appeal in Tamil cinema.[1]Synopsis
Plot summary
The film opens in 2008 with Murugesan walking out of the Central Jail in Palayamkottai after serving a 17-year sentence, before flashing back to 1991 in the rural village of Sivasailam near Tenkasi. There, Murugesan leads an unruly life as the son of local flower sellers, frequently getting into fights, drinking heavily, and roaming aimlessly without regard for his family's concerns. His recklessness peaks when he sells his grandfather's ancestral land to fund his indulgences, provoking intense wrath from his father, who disowns him and banishes him from home.[3][4][5] During his wanderings, Murugesan encounters and falls deeply in love with Parijatham, a young Brahmin woman living in the village's Agraharam, raised by her elder sister Gayathri and their widowed father, the local temple priest. Their romance blossoms through stolen moments and mutual affection, but faces strong opposition due to their inter-caste differences and societal norms. Complicating matters, the village's powerful tyrant Periyavar—a respected landlord who conceals his domineering and lecherous nature—develops an obsessive desire for Parijatham, sparking repeated clashes with Murugesan, who begins reforming his wild ways to shield her from harm.[6][7][3] In a parallel storyline, Gayathri marries a suitable Brahmin man named Prem, but she soon falls ill with cancer and dies shortly after giving birth to a son, leaving Parijatham to care for the infant. Under intense pressure from their orthodox Agraharam relatives, who invoke traditional customs to preserve the family lineage, Parijatham is coerced into marrying the widowed Prem, forcing her to suppress her feelings for Murugesan and accept the union. Devastated, Murugesan withdraws but remains protective; later, Prem is accidentally killed by Periyavar's henchmen during a confrontation, prompting Murugesan to renew his proposal to Parijatham and vow to raise the child as his own, though she hesitates amid ongoing threats from Periyavar and a lecherous relative.[6][7][4] Tensions escalate when Parijatham is lured into a trap and nearly assaulted by Periyavar, who attempts to force himself upon her. Murugesan rushes to her rescue, leading to a fierce struggle where the two men nearly kill each other multiple times, but circumstances repeatedly intervene to prevent outright violence. Through a series of calculated twists orchestrated by Periyavar's allies, including an entrapment scheme that frames Murugesan for a serious crime—likely tied to the protection of Parijatham—he is convicted and sentenced to 17 years in prison, enduring the hardship while Parijatham raises the child alone. The narrative returns to the present upon his release, revealing the full extent of his sacrifices and the enduring bond with Parijatham, culminating in their reconciliation and a hopeful resolution.[3][4][6]Themes
Seval explores the central theme of inter-caste romance set against the backdrop of rural Tamil Nadu, where the protagonist's relationship with a woman from a higher caste faces intense societal opposition. This narrative highlights the rigid caste hierarchies that prohibit unions across social divides, portraying the emotional and physical barriers imposed by community norms.[8] The film contrasts Brahmin orthodoxy with local customs, depicting the Brahmin family's adherence to traditional rituals and endogamy against the more fluid rural practices, which exacerbates the conflict in the inter-caste love story. Societal opposition manifests through familial interventions and village pressures, underscoring the clash between individual desires and collective expectations in conservative settings.[8] Family honor emerges as a pivotal motif, driving characters to extreme measures to uphold social standing, including arranged unions to avert scandal. Redemption through suffering is embodied in the protagonist's arc, where enduring 17 years of imprisonment serves as atonement for past transgressions, symbolizing personal growth amid adversity. Village tyranny illustrates power dynamics, with local authorities wielding influence to enforce conformity and suppress dissent.[8][4] The story incorporates motifs of male chauvinism, evident in patriarchal control over women's choices, and emotional melodrama that amplifies familial and romantic tensions through heightened sentiments. Rural life challenges, such as land disputes and forced marriages, are woven in to depict the harsh realities of village existence, where economic pressures and social obligations perpetuate cycles of conflict.[8]Production
Development
The development of Seval began with director Hari conceiving an original story as a period romantic action drama set in 1991, emphasizing rural life in a southern Tamil Nadu village, which he wrote entirely as the screenplay, dialogue, and narrative framework.[9] This vision drew from Hari's signature style of blending high-energy action with emotional family dynamics in a rustic setting, tailored for a mass audience.[4] Production was announced in 2007 by M. A. Jinnah under his banner Jinnah Creations, a prominent distributor from Tiruchirappalli, marking their entry into film production with Hari at the helm.[10] Jinnah selected Hari following the success of his previous rural-themed films, aiming to capitalize on the director's track record for quick, budget-conscious shoots. G. V. Prakash Kumar was brought on as composer, providing melodic support to underscore the film's 1990s village ambiance and action sequences.[11] Pre-production faced a minor challenge over title rights when actor Vijay expressed interest in using "Seval" for his own project under Hari's initial consideration, but Hari declined, insisting the title and larger-than-life hero role better suited Bharath, whom he ultimately cast as the lead.[9] Script refinements focused on authentic rural dialogues and period-specific elements, ensuring the story's emotional core resonated without veering into urban tropes.Filming
Principal photography for Seval commenced in 2007 and continued through 2008, with over 60 percent of the film completed by July 2008.[12] The production primarily took place in rural locations near Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu, including key sequences shot in Sivasailam village near Tirunelveli to evoke the film's 1991 village setting.[12] Cinematography was handled by Priyan, who captured the film's action-packed sequences and romantic elements using dynamic visuals suited to the period drama.[13] Editing duties fell to V. T. Vijayan, ensuring tight pacing across the film's approximately 157-minute runtime. Under director Hari's oversight, the on-set production emphasized elaborate action choreography for fight scenes, coordinated by stunt master Rocky Rajesh.[14] No major delays or incidents were reported during the shoot, allowing the film to wrap up ahead of its October 2008 release.Cast and characters
Principal cast
Bharath as MurugesanBharath portrays Murugesan, an unruly and carefree village youth known for his vagabond lifestyle and rebellious antics in the rural setting.[3][6] Poonam Bajwa as Parijatham
Poonam Bajwa makes her debut in Tamil cinema as Parijatham, a demure and fair-complexioned Iyer girl from a traditional Brahmin family, central to a forbidden romance.[3][10] Simran as Gayathri
Simran plays Gayathri, the elder sister of Parijatham, who takes on a nurturing role in raising her sibling within their conservative household, marking a significant return for the actress in a key supporting lead.[15][6] Sampath Raj as Periyavar
Sampath Raj embodies Periyavar, the influential village antagonist who wields considerable power in the community.[16]
Supporting cast
The supporting cast of Seval features a ensemble of actors portraying key secondary characters in the rural village setting, enhancing the film's depiction of family dynamics and community interactions. Vadivelu, a frequent collaborator with director Hari in earlier films such as Thamizh (2002) and Arul (2004), plays Thapaal Thangavelu, the postman who delivers comic relief through his humorous antics amid the village's daily life.[3] Rajesh portrays Murugesan's father, a dedicated flower seller whose strict demeanor underscores family tensions in the story's rural backdrop.[16] Y. G. Mahendran appears as Panjami Iyer, the orthodox patriarch of an Iyer family, representing traditional values in the ensemble.[3] Yuvasri plays Murugesan's mother, complementing Rajesh's role as part of the hardworking parental duo in the village.[16] Other notable supporting performers include Prem as Gayathri's husband, contributing to the familial layers; Madhan Bob as Pasudesan, a local figure in the community; and Shanmugarajan in a village ensemble role.[16][13] Additional credited actors such as Manivannan as the judge, Manobala as a supporting villager, and Singamuthu in a minor comic part round out the ensemble, with many drawing from Hari's recurring pool of collaborators to populate the film's rustic world.[17][13]Music
Soundtrack composition
The soundtrack for Seval was composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, marking one of his early major projects following his debut with Veyil in 2006. His score blended folk elements with romantic and action-oriented cues to evoke the rural Tamil Nadu setting of 1991, incorporating native rhythms and earthy tones that reflected the film's village life and emotional depth.[18] Prakash's approach emphasized situational melodies, using live percussions for energetic tracks and haunting flutes with strings for introspective moments, thereby enhancing the themes of love and interpersonal conflict without overpowering the narrative.[18] The lyrics were penned by Na. Muthukumar, who crafted verses that complemented the rustic and emotional palette, such as in "Paarvaiyile Oru Yaekkam," a Kapi raga-based duet sung by Hariharan and Deepa Mariam that underscored the film's central romantic tension.[19] Emotional ballads like "Paarvaiyile Oru Yaekkam" and "Kannamma Kannamma," set to the Kiravani raga, highlighted themes of loneliness and sacrifice through gentle beats and melodic progressions.[18] The audio was released on September 24, 2008, ahead of the film's theatrical debut, allowing the soundtrack to build anticipation with its mix of fun, folk-infused numbers like "Odamarathi Mulla Pola" and "Namma Ooru Nallaarukku," which captured the vibrant, gossipy essence of rural communities.[20] While specific details on the recording process remain limited, Prakash's instinctive selection of playback singers, including Benny Dayal and Anuradha Sriram, contributed to the album's dynamic integration of traditional and contemporary sounds.[18]Track listing
The soundtrack of Seval comprises six songs, all composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar and released by Ayngaran in 2008.[21] The lyrics were written mainly by Na. Muthukumar, with one track by Hari.[22]| No. | Title | Singers | Lyricist | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Kannamma Kannamma" | Vijay Yesudas, S. Gayathri | Na. Muthukumar | 3:50 | Romantic duet[23] |
| 2 | "Namma Ooru Nallaarukku" | Tippu, Manikka Vinayagam, Anuradha Sriram, Mahathi, Shreya Ghoshal, Prashanthini | Na. Muthukumar | 5:04 | Folk ensemble[20] |
| 3 | "Odamarathu Mullapola" | Benny Dayal | Na. Muthukumar | 4:01 | Upbeat romantic number |
| 4 | "Paarvaile Oru Yekkam" | Naresh Iyer | Na. Muthukumar | 5:39 | Melancholic ballad[20] |
| 5 | "Thaayaramma Thaayaaru" | Karthik, Vadivelu | Hari | 4:36 | Humorous folk track[24] |
| 6 | "Thulasi Chediyum Aralipoovum" | Hariharan, Deepa Miriam | Hari | 5:50 | Devotional melody[25] |