{ "id": "ephmhvrqhw", "slug": "chithiram-pesuthadi", "title": "Chithiram Pesuthadi (சித்திரம் பேசுதடி)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s", "label": "Tamil films of the 2000s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s.tamil-films-of-the-late-2000s", "label": "Tamil films of the late 2000s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s.tamil-films-of-the-late-2000s" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Asia (other) · 2001 to 2020: Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "path": [ { "id": "geo.asia", "label": "Asia (other)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2001", "label": "Asia (other) · 2001 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2001.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Chithiram Pesuthadi (சித்திரம் பேசுதடி) is a 2006 Tamil drama-romance, Mysskin's directorial debut, starring Narain as henchman Thiru and Bhavana as Charu; it failed initially, was re-released by Oscar Ravichandran, ran 100 days, and won two 2007 Filmfare Awards South.", "snippet": "Chithiram Pesuthadi (சித்திரம் பேசுதடி) is a 2006 Tamil drama-romance, Mysskin's directorial debut, starring Narain as henchman Thiru and Bhavana as Charu; it failed initially, was re-released by Oscar Ravichandran, ran 100 days, and won two 2007 Filmfare Awards South.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s.tamil-films-of-the-late-2000s", "markdown": "# Chithiram Pesuthadi (சித்திரம் பேசுதடி)\n\n**Chithiram Pesuthadi** (சித்திரம் பேசுதடி) is a 2006 Tamil-language drama and romance film directed by Mysskin in his debut, starring Narain as the henchman Thiru and Bhavana as the social worker Charu. Released on 10 February 2006, the film failed in its first run, was withdrawn from theaters within weeks, and then became a commercial success after a publicity-backed re-release arranged by the producer and distributor Oscar Ravichandran.[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/Tamil/movie-details/Chithiram-Pesuthadi/movieshow/65052985.cms) • [2](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/narain/20060317.htm) • [3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2024/Oct/07/narain-mysskin-has-always-been-an-unconventional-storyteller)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | 10 February 2006, Tamil language, India[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/Tamil/movie-details/Chithiram-Pesuthadi/movieshow/65052985.cms) |\n| Director and writer | Mysskin, in his directorial debut; he also wrote the story, screenplay, and dialogue lyrics[4](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/88/chittiram-pesuthadi-tamil-movie-review/review) |\n| Lead cast | Narain as Thiru, Bhavana as Charu, Kadhal Dhandapani as the don Annachi[5](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/chithiram-pesuthadi/umc.cmc.1t53j3f4yfdmqrtr1uw5gsz7f) |\n| Key crew | Music by debutant Sundar C Babu; cinematography by Mahesh Muthuswami; editing by Mu. Kasi Viswanathan[6](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/chithiram-pesuthadi/cast/2000198137/) |\n| Box office arc | Withdrawn from theaters after its first weeks, then re-released with publicity by Oscar Ravichandran and ran for 100 days[2](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/narain/20060317.htm) • [3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2024/Oct/07/narain-mysskin-has-always-been-an-unconventional-storyteller) |\n| Awards | Two Filmfare Awards South in 2007: Best Actress (Bhavana) and Best Playback Singer, Male (Gana Ulaganathan, for \"Vaazha Meenu\")[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2325589/awards/) |\n| Reported finances | Budget of $440,000 and revenue of $2,800,000, per aggregated listings[8](https://mdblist.com/movie/421ve-chithiram-pesuthadi?cache=1) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nThiru (Narain) works as a henchman for the local don Annachi (Kadhal Dhandapani), who values him for his bravery and fighting ability. Thiru stumbles upon Charu (Bhavana), a social worker who fights injustice, and a quarrel between the two turns into attraction and love.[5](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/chithiram-pesuthadi/umc.cmc.1t53j3f4yfdmqrtr1uw5gsz7f) Charu's influence leads Thiru to abandon the gang's violent life; he and some fellow gang members take up roadside selling to lead a socially respectable life, and Charu decides to marry him with her father's consent.[9](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/2861/tamil/chithiram-pesuthadi/713/review.htm)\n\nThe marriage collapses when Charu sees Thiru being taken away in a police van from a brothel. She gives up the plan to marry him, and her father later commits suicide, for which she blames Thiru. Thiru returns to Annachi. When Annachi's son falls in love with Charu and Annachi deputes Thiru to bring her, Thiru works to thwart Annachi's plans and save her, and the couple ultimately reunites.[9](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/2861/tamil/chithiram-pesuthadi/713/review.htm)\n\n## Production and cast\n\n**A debut on both sides of the camera.** Mysskin, whose birth name is Raja (reported elsewhere as Shanmugha Raja), took his professional name from Prince Myshkin, the protagonist of [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://www.edgepedia.org/fyodor-dostoevsky)'s novel *[The Idiot](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-idiot)*.[10](https://www.behindwoods.com/features/Interviews/interview-5/director/mysskin.html) • [11](https://www.fipresci-india.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/27.-Viswanath-Compassion-as-Salve.pdf) The film paired him with a near-new cast, a first-time composer, and a lead actor making his Tamil debut.[4](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/88/chittiram-pesuthadi-tamil-movie-review/review)\n\nNarain was already a known name in [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema), having acted in [Adoor Gopalakrishnan](https://www.edgepedia.org/adoor-gopalakrishnan)'s *Nizhalkuthu* and Jayaraj's *4 the People*, and in *Achuvinte Amma* opposite [Meera Jasmine](https://www.edgepedia.org/meera-jasmine), all under his original screen name Sunil. He adopted the name Narain, a spelling he chose with reference to Swami Vivekananda's nickname Naren, when he entered Tamil cinema. Mysskin was initially unsure the clean-shaven, spectacle-wearing actor could play the rough Thiru; Narain grew a moustache and beard, dedicated eight to nine months to the film, and portrayed multiple looks for the role.[2](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/narain/20060317.htm)\n\nThe production applied a \"no make-up\" rule to show the artistes in a natural manner, according to a contemporary review.[4](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/88/chittiram-pesuthadi-tamil-movie-review/review) The supporting cast included Ravi Prakash, Mahadevan, Sathyapriya, and Vasantha Narayan, with Malavika and Gana Ulaganathan making special appearances in the song \"Vaazha Meenu\".[5](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/chithiram-pesuthadi/umc.cmc.1t53j3f4yfdmqrtr1uw5gsz7f) • [6](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/chithiram-pesuthadi/cast/2000198137/)\n\n## Release and box office\n\nThe film's release history is unusual. It opened on 10 February 2006 with little publicity and sank without a trace within its first week, according to a Rediff report from March 2006; Narain later recalled the film leaving theaters in two weeks, before word of mouth could build. The producer and distributor Oscar Ravichandran saw the film, was impressed, and re-released it with a large publicity campaign, after which it ran houseful and completed a 100-day run.[2](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/narain/20060317.htm) • [3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2024/Oct/07/narain-mysskin-has-always-been-an-unconventional-storyteller) Narain described the period between the withdrawal and the re-release as one in which he was heartbroken and on the verge of depression.[2](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/narain/20060317.htm)\n\nAggregated listings report a budget of $440,000 and revenue of $2,800,000.[8](https://mdblist.com/movie/421ve-chithiram-pesuthadi?cache=1) Sources differ on the runtime: Apple TV and Rotten Tomatoes list 2 hours 28 minutes, the Times of India lists 2 hours 46 minutes, and IMDbPro and mdblist list 148 minutes.[5](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/chithiram-pesuthadi/umc.cmc.1t53j3f4yfdmqrtr1uw5gsz7f) • [1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/Tamil/movie-details/Chithiram-Pesuthadi/movieshow/65052985.cms) • [12](https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt2325589/)\n\n## Music and awards\n\nSundar C Babu, a first-time composer, scored the film.[4](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/88/chittiram-pesuthadi-tamil-movie-review/review) The gaana-style song \"Vaazha Meenu\", sung by Gana Ulaganathan, became a hit and earned the Filmfare Award for Best Playback Singer, Male at the 2007 [Filmfare Awards South](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards-south), where Bhavana also won Best Actress.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2325589/awards/) A reviewer for Nowrunning singled out \"Vaazha Meenu\" as the outstanding number, and SearchIndia named \"Idam Porul Parthu\" and \"Pattam Poochi\" among the better songs.[9](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/2861/tamil/chithiram-pesuthadi/713/review.htm) • [13](https://www.searchindia.com/search/tamil-movies/chithiram-pesuthadi-movie-review.html)\n\n## Reception and legacy\n\nContemporary critics responded well to the film's treatment. Malathi Rangarajan of *The Hindu* wrote that there was nothing novel about the subject but that writer-director Mysskin's intelligent treatment made the difference, citing a well-conceived story, interesting twists, and subtle humor. The galatta.com review called the film refreshing and surprisingly mature, and [IndiaGlitz](https://www.edgepedia.org/indiaglitz) praised Mahesh Muthuswami's cinematography as spell-binding in places.[4](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/88/chittiram-pesuthadi-tamil-movie-review/review) The Nowrunning review found the narrative pace sluggish but credited Mysskin with giving a different treatment to the familiar story of a gangster transforming himself for love.[9](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/2861/tamil/chithiram-pesuthadi/713/review.htm)\n\nThe film established Mysskin's reputation. Behindwoods wrote that *Chithiram Pesuthadi* heralded the arrival of a genuinely original Tamil filmmaker, a judgment his second film *Anjathey* (2008) confirmed.[10](https://www.behindwoods.com/features/Interviews/interview-5/director/mysskin.html) The film critic S. Viswanath, writing in E-CineIndia in 2020, described the debut as trailblazing and noted that it earned critical commendation for Mysskin's narrative style and mise en scène.[11](https://www.fipresci-india.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/27.-Viswanath-Compassion-as-Salve.pdf) Mysskin himself said he was not fully satisfied with the film because he had to make some compromises during its making, a dissatisfaction that led him to write *Nandalala* and then *Anjathey*.[14](https://m.rediff.com/movies/2008/sep/15sli2.htm) In a 2018 conversation with the director Ram, Mysskin recalled that he had more freedom as a creator when he made the film in 2006 than he felt he had later.[15](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2018/Feb/14/mysskin-and-ram-two-visionaries-and-a-shared-vision-4537.html)\n\nNarain and Mysskin went on to collaborate on *[Anjathe](https://www.edgepedia.org/anjathe)* (2008) and *Mugamoodi* (2012), and reunited again for the film *Train*; Narain has said that *Chithiram Pesuthadi* remains close to his heart.[3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2024/Oct/07/narain-mysskin-has-always-been-an-unconventional-storyteller) A separate 2019 film titled *Chithiram Pesuthadi 2*, directed by Rajan Madhav and originally titled *Ula*, shares the title but not the story or the makers of the 2006 film.[16](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/tamil/2019/Feb/15/chithiram-pesuthadi-2-review-well-intentioned-but-crams-in-too-much-to-do-justice-10128.html)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Chithiram Pesuthadi, eTimes, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/Tamil/movie-details/Chithiram-Pesuthadi/movieshow/65052985.cms)\n2. [Narain: Tamil cinema's next big thing, Rediff.com (17 March 2006)](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/narain/20060317.htm)\n3. [Narain: Mysskin has always been an unconventional storyteller, Cinema Express (7 October 2024)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2024/Oct/07/narain-mysskin-has-always-been-an-unconventional-storyteller)\n4. [Chittiram Pesuthadi Tamil Movie, Critic Review, Moviecrow](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/88/chittiram-pesuthadi-tamil-movie-review/review)\n5. [Chithiram Pesuthadi, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/chithiram-pesuthadi/umc.cmc.1t53j3f4yfdmqrtr1uw5gsz7f)\n6. [Chithiram Pesuthadi, Full Cast & Crew, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/chithiram-pesuthadi/cast/2000198137/)\n7. [Chithiram Pesuthadi (2006), Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2325589/awards/)\n8. [Chithiram Pesuthadi (2006), mdblist.com](https://mdblist.com/movie/421ve-chithiram-pesuthadi?cache=1)\n9. [Chithiram Pesuthadi Movie Review by P.V. Sathish Kumar, Nowrunning (16 February 2006)](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/2861/tamil/chithiram-pesuthadi/713/review.htm)\n10. [Director Mysskin interview, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/features/Interviews/interview-5/director/mysskin.html)\n11. [S. Viswanath, Compassion as Salve for Vituperative Violence, E-CineIndia, Oct-Dec 2020](https://www.fipresci-india.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/27.-Viswanath-Compassion-as-Salve.pdf)\n12. [Chithiram Pesuthadi, Production Info, IMDbPro](https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt2325589/)\n13. [Chithiram Pesuthadi review, SearchIndia.com](https://www.searchindia.com/search/tamil-movies/chithiram-pesuthadi-movie-review.html)\n14. [Mysskin: Shooting straight from the heart, Rediff.com (September 2008)](https://m.rediff.com/movies/2008/sep/15sli2.htm)\n15. [Mysskin and Ram: Two visionaries and a shared vision, Cinema Express (14 February 2018)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2018/Feb/14/mysskin-and-ram-two-visionaries-and-a-shared-vision-4537.html)\n16. [Chithiram Pesuthadi 2 Review, Cinema Express (15 February 2019)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/tamil/2019/Feb/15/chithiram-pesuthadi-2-review-well-intentioned-but-crams-in-too-much-to-do-justice-10128.html)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Tamil films of the 2000s › Tamil films of the late 2000s*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/chithiram-pesuthadi", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/chithiram-pesuthadi.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Chithiram Pesuthadi (சித்திரம் பேசுதடி)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/chithiram-pesuthadi. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Chithiram Pesuthadi (சித்திரம் பேசுதடி)](https://www.edgepedia.org/chithiram-pesuthadi)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/chithiram-pesuthadi](https://www.edgepedia.org/chithiram-pesuthadi). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Chithiram Pesuthadi (சித்திரம் பேசுதடி)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/chithiram-pesuthadi. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Chithiram Pesuthadi is a 2006 Tamil drama-romance, Mysskin's directorial debut, starring Narain as henchman Thiru and Bhavana as Charu; it failed initially, was re-released by Oscar Ravichandran, ran 100 days, and won two 2007 Filmfare Awards South." }