# Pokkiri
**Pokkiri** (Tamil: போக்கிரி; English: Rogue) is a 2007 Indian Tamil-language action film directed by [Prabhu Deva](https://www.edgepedia.org/prabhu-deva) and a remake of the 2006 Telugu film of the same name. It stars Vijay and [Asin](https://www.edgepedia.org/asin) in the lead roles, with [Prakash Raj](https://www.edgepedia.org/prakash-raj), Nassar, Vadivelu, Sriman, and Napoleon in supporting roles, and was released on 12 January 2007.[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4466/2007-pokkiri) • [2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQKgzJeSd98)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 12 January 2007, as a Pongal release[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4466/2007-pokkiri) • [3](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/vijay-starrer-pokkiri-tops-the-chart/9454/story.htm) |
| Basis | Tamil remake of the 2006 Telugu film Pokiri, with changes made for Tamil Nadu audiences[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4466/2007-pokkiri) • [4](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/shooting-begins-for-vijay-asin-starred-pokiri/7140/story.htm) |
| Lead cast | Vijay as Tamizh, an undercover IPS officer posing as a Chennai criminal; Asin as Shruthi, an aerobic teacher[5](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/pokkiri/umc.cmc.5pr4ir2fx8zgyxkmhjhrs8pxy) • [6](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Pokkiri?hl=en&id=oc4khDv0AeQ) |
| Principal crew | Director Prabhu Deva; music Mani Sharma; cinematography Nirav Shah; editing Kola Bhaskar; story Puri Jagannadh[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQKgzJeSd98) |
| Production | Kanagarathna Movies; music label Ayngaran International; filming in India and Australia[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQKgzJeSd98) • [1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4466/2007-pokkiri) |
| Running time | About 2 hours 40 minutes; listings give 2h 41m, 2h 39m, and 159 minutes[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4466/2007-pokkiri) • [7](https://www.zee5.com/global/movies/details/pokkiri/0-0-1z5465458) • [6](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Pokkiri?hl=en&id=oc4khDv0AeQ) |
| Reception | Topped the Tamil chart by February 2007 and was declared a super hit, though not as big a hit as the Telugu original[3](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/vijay-starrer-pokkiri-tops-the-chart/9454/story.htm) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
The film follows a young IPS officer who acts as a criminal in order to eliminate notorious criminals in a police operation, with the suspense of the hero's true identity maintained until the end.[5](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/pokkiri/umc.cmc.5pr4ir2fx8zgyxkmhjhrs8pxy) Vijay plays Tamizh, a ruthless, fearless hit man in the Chennai underworld who blends swiftly into the mafia, to the dislike of other gang members.[6](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Pokkiri?hl=en&id=oc4khDv0AeQ) He meets Shruthi, an aerobic teacher played by Asin, and falls for her.[6](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Pokkiri?hl=en&id=oc4khDv0AeQ)
Tamizh rubs the local mafia and is inducted into the crime syndicate of the international don Ali Bhai, played by Prakash Raj.[6](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Pokkiri?hl=en&id=oc4khDv0AeQ) During a meeting, Ali Bhai is arrested in a police raid conducted by the Police Commissioner, and his gang hatches a plan to secure his release.[8](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/pokkiri/cast/2000477445/) The climax turns on the kidnapping and rescue of the daughter of City Police Commissioner Mohideen Khan, who is played by Napoleon.[6](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Pokkiri?hl=en&id=oc4khDv0AeQ) • [10](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3230/tamil/pokkiri/1020/review.htm) The film mixes action and romance with a message about the duty and responsibility of the police force.[5](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/pokkiri/umc.cmc.5pr4ir2fx8zgyxkmhjhrs8pxy)
## Production
Shooting began on 6 July 2006 in Chennai. The inaugural function took place at AVM Studios after a pooja at the newly built Vinayaka temple on the studio premises at 8 a.m., attended by a large number of film personalities, and the first shot filmed was Vijay and Asin going in a lift.[4](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/shooting-begins-for-vijay-asin-starred-pokiri/7140/story.htm) Before shooting started, Vijay had visited [Andhra Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/andhra-pradesh) and seen the films Bangaram and Pokiri; the story of Pokiri impressed him, and he decided to make the film in Tamil.[4](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/shooting-begins-for-vijay-asin-starred-pokiri/7140/story.htm)
**Adaptation choices.** Vijay told reporters that the Tamil version was not an exact copy of the Telugu film: only some good portions were taken from the Telugu Pokiri, changes required for [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu) were made, and the song sequences and stunt scenes were different, with "Pepsi" Vijayan as stunt master.[4](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/shooting-begins-for-vijay-asin-starred-pokiri/7140/story.htm) He said he played a prank character as his fans would like, with punchy dialogues, and that he played only one role, not double action.[4](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/shooting-begins-for-vijay-asin-starred-pokiri/7140/story.htm) Filming took place in India and Australia.[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4466/2007-pokkiri)
## Cast and crew
The lead roles are Vijay and Asin, with Prakash Raj, Nassar, Vadivelu, Sriman, and Napoleon in supporting roles; Mukesh Tiwari also appears in a supporting part. [Mumaith Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/mumaith-khan) and Prabhu Deva make guest appearances.[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4466/2007-pokkiri) • [2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQKgzJeSd98) The film was produced by S. Sathyaramamoorthy for Kanagarathna Movies, with dialogues by V. Prabhakar and screenplay by Prabhu Deva from [Puri Jagannadh](https://www.edgepedia.org/puri-jagannadh)'s story.[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQKgzJeSd98) [Nirav Shah](https://www.edgepedia.org/nirav-shah) handled cinematography and Kola Bhaskar was the editor; Dinesh was the choreographer.[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQKgzJeSd98) • [1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4466/2007-pokkiri)
## Music
The music was composed by [Mani Sharma](https://www.edgepedia.org/mani-sharma), who had also scored the Telugu original's music, and the soundtrack was released on the Ayngaran International label.[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQKgzJeSd98) Vijay said the songs were made to the liking of the Tamil audience and differed from the Telugu film's sequences.[4](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/shooting-begins-for-vijay-asin-starred-pokiri/7140/story.htm)
## Release and reception
Pokkiri was released on 12 January 2007 as a Pongal film.[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4466/2007-pokkiri) • [3](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/vijay-starrer-pokkiri-tops-the-chart/9454/story.htm) By early February 2007, trade pundits had declared it a super hit, though not as big a hit as the Telugu Pokiri, and it topped the chart of Tamil films, ahead of Thiruvilayadal Arambham, Thamiraparani, Alwar, and Veyyil.[3](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/vijay-starrer-pokkiri-tops-the-chart/9454/story.htm) For Vijay, whose previous release had come a year earlier, the film was a big success and set a new high for a Vijay film at the box office.[3](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/vijay-starrer-pokkiri-tops-the-chart/9454/story.htm) • [9](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2007/prabhu-deva-directing-himself-140707.html)
At the Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards 2007, Vadivelu won Best Comedian (Male) and Dinesh won Best Choreography.[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4466/2007-pokkiri)
## Legacy
The film's success made Prabhu Deva one of the most wanted directors in the southern film world, and his next project was the Hindi version of Pokkiri, starring [Salman Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/salman-khan) and [Ayesha Takia](https://www.edgepedia.org/ayesha-takia).[9](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2007/prabhu-deva-directing-himself-140707.html) The film remains available on streaming platforms, including Zee5 and [Google Play](https://www.edgepedia.org/google-play), with a viewer rating of 4.3 stars from 593 reviews on Google Play.[7](https://www.zee5.com/global/movies/details/pokkiri/0-0-1z5465458) • [6](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Pokkiri?hl=en&id=oc4khDv0AeQ)
## References
1. [Pokkiri (2007), TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4466/2007-pokkiri)
2. [Pokkiri full movie upload with credits, Ayngaran International, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQKgzJeSd98)
3. [Vijay starrer 'Pokkiri' tops the chart, Nowrunning (IANS), 7 February 2007](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/vijay-starrer-pokkiri-tops-the-chart/9454/story.htm)
4. [Shooting begins for Vijay-Asin starred Pokiri, Nowrunning, 9 July 2006](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/shooting-begins-for-vijay-asin-starred-pokiri/7140/story.htm)
5. [Pokkiri, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/pokkiri/umc.cmc.5pr4ir2fx8zgyxkmhjhrs8pxy)
6. [Pokkiri, Google Play Movies](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Pokkiri?hl=en&id=oc4khDv0AeQ)
7. [Watch Pokkiri Full Movie Online, Zee5](https://www.zee5.com/global/movies/details/pokkiri/0-0-1z5465458)
8. [Pokkiri - Full Cast & Crew, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/pokkiri/cast/2000477445/)
9. [Prabhudeva seeks chance as hero, Filmibeat, 23 July 2007](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2007/prabhu-deva-directing-himself-140707.html)
10. [Pokkiri Review, Pokkiri Tamil Movie Review by PVS, nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3230/tamil/pokkiri/1020/review.htm)
---
*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*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license