# Thirunaal
**Thirunaal** (திருநாள்) is a 2016 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by P. S. Ramnath, starring Jiiva and [Nayanthara](https://www.edgepedia.org/nayanthara), about a small-town rowdy who tries to give up crime after falling in love with a kindergarten teacher.[1](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/17386/tamil/thirunaal/) • [2](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/thirunaal) It was produced by M. Senthil Kumar under Kothandapani Films and released on 5 August 2016.[1](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/17386/tamil/thirunaal/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / writer | P. S. Ramnath, who also wrote the story, screenplay, and dialogues[1](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/17386/tamil/thirunaal/) |
| Lead cast | Jiiva as Blade, Nayanthara as Vidya, with Sharath Lohitashwa as Naaga[2](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/thirunaal) |
| Release | 5 August 2016 (India and United Arab Emirates); 4 August 2016 in Malaysia[2](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/thirunaal) |
| Runtime / certificate | About 2 hours 18 minutes; U/A in India[3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/thirunaal/thirunaal-review.html) |
| Music | Srikanth Deva; the song "Pazhaya Soru" was singled out by reviewers[1](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/17386/tamil/thirunaal/) • [3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/thirunaal/thirunaal-review.html) |
| Setting | Kumbakonam; a rural action drama about small-town rowdies[4](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2015/nov/18/when-you-choose-to-give-up-evil-that-day-is-thirunaal-844355.html) |
| Reception | Times of India 2/5, Behindwoods 1.75/5, Hindustan Times 1/5; IMDb user rating 4.2/10[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/thirunaal/movie-review/53569074.cms) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5495270/ratings/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Blade (Jiiva) is an orphan raised by the local rowdy Naaga (Sharath Lohitashwa) and works as his loyal henchman; Naaga is feared for having murdered a judge in a court premises.[7](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-thirunaal-has-nothing-new-to-offer/20160805.htm) Blade falls in love with Vidya (Nayanthara), a kindergarten teacher and the daughter of Naaga's business partner.[4](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2015/nov/18/when-you-choose-to-give-up-evil-that-day-is-thirunaal-844355.html) • [7](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-thirunaal-has-nothing-new-to-offer/20160805.htm) When Naaga cheats Vidya's father of twenty lakhs invested in their business, and the affair comes to light, Blade decides to turn over a new leaf for his ladylove and takes on Naaga and the gang.[8](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/060816/thirunaal-movie-review-jiiva-is-the-surviving-grace.html) • [5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/thirunaal/movie-review/53569074.cms) A new police officer in town, ASP Pugazhendi (Gopinath), is meanwhile waiting for a chance to take out Naaga.[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/thirunaal/movie-review/53569074.cms)
Director Ramnath explained the title as connected to the film's message: a thirunaal is not only a festival day but also the day a person chooses to give up evil ways and embrace good.[4](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2015/nov/18/when-you-choose-to-give-up-evil-that-day-is-thirunaal-844355.html)
## Production
Ramnath, whose debut was the 2010 comedy drama *Ambasamudram Ambani*, announced the project with Jiiva in November 2014; Nayanthara was signed in April 2015, and shooting began in May 2015 on a large agraharam set built at [Kumbakonam](https://www.edgepedia.org/kumbakonam).[7](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-thirunaal-has-nothing-new-to-offer/20160805.htm) • [9](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D_%28%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%29) The film was shot in a span of 65 days.[4](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2015/nov/18/when-you-choose-to-give-up-evil-that-day-is-thirunaal-844355.html) The first trailer was released on Diwali, and the film, initially scheduled for April 2016, went through several postponements before its 5 August 2016 release.[9](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D_%28%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%29) • [10](https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/news/jiiva-nayantharas-thirunaal-will-release-on-august-5/)
The film marked the return of the Jiiva and Nayanthara pairing after a ten-year gap; they had last appeared together in [S. P. Jananathan](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-p-jananathan)'s *E* (2006).[3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/thirunaal/thirunaal-review.html) • [10](https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/news/jiiva-nayantharas-thirunaal-will-release-on-august-5/) Jiiva described the role as a village-based commercial script he had not attempted since *Thenavattu* (2008), and said the film was completed with B and C center audiences in mind.[11](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2016/Aug/02/even-releasing-a-film-is-a-success-jiiva-1500949.html) During the shoot, Jiiva was caught in a real brawl with local rowdies, which the crew incorporated into the staged fight scenes.[10](https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/news/jiiva-nayantharas-thirunaal-will-release-on-august-5/)
The supporting cast includes Karunas, Joe Malloori, Meenakshi, Gopinath, the anchor of the reality show *Neeya Naana*, in the role of the police officer, and V. I. S. Jayapalan.[1](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/17386/tamil/thirunaal/) • [4](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2015/nov/18/when-you-choose-to-give-up-evil-that-day-is-thirunaal-844355.html) Mahesh Muthuswami handled cinematography, editing was by V. T. Vijayan and T. S. Jay, and Super Subbarayan choreographed the stunts.[1](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/17386/tamil/thirunaal/)
## Reception
Critics rated the film poorly. M Suganth of *The Times of India* gave it 2 out of 5, writing that despite the formulaic plot it could have been an undemanding action entertainer, but predictable scenes and leisurely narration kept letting it down, and that even a timely release would have made it feel like a film ten years too late.[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/thirunaal/movie-review/53569074.cms) The Behindwoods Review Board gave 1.75 out of 5, calling it a rural flick that fell into the age-old template of rural action films with masala elements.[3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/thirunaal/thirunaal-review.html) S Saraswathi of Rediff found the worn-out plot, excessive violence, and loud dramatic music made it a dark and unappealing tale, though she called it Jiiva's show and praised the subtlety of his performance.[7](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-thirunaal-has-nothing-new-to-offer/20160805.htm) A Hindustan Times review gave 1 out of 5, describing credible performances by both leads lost in vulgar dances and violence.[12](https://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/thirunaal-review-this-jiiva-nayanthara-starrer-is-a-romp-of-rowdies/story-5RVeLqugPXnHFJf2SNLeON.html)
Reviewers found some positives. Deccan [Chronicle](https://www.edgepedia.org/chronicle) called Jiiva's performance rock solid and praised his chemistry with Nayanthara, while faulting the clichéd rural theme and uneven screenplay.[8](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/060816/thirunaal-movie-review-jiiva-is-the-surviving-grace.html) [IndiaGlitz](https://www.edgepedia.org/indiaglitz) suggested Nayanthara fans could sit through the film for her uniformly good performance.[1](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/17386/tamil/thirunaal/) Baradwaj Rangan, film critic for *The Hindu*, wrote that the film was another "rowdy movie" but also a little more.[2](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/thirunaal) On IMDb, the film holds a user rating of 4.2 out of 10 from 294 votes.[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5495270/ratings/) The film later became available for streaming on ZEE5.[13](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/thirunaal/0-0-30058)
## References
1. [Thirunaal Tamil Movie, nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/17386/tamil/thirunaal/)
2. [Thirunaal on Moviebuff.com](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/thirunaal)
3. [Thirunaal (aka) Thirunaal review, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/thirunaal/thirunaal-review.html)
4. ['When You Choose to Give Up Evil, That Day is Thirunaal', The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2015/nov/18/when-you-choose-to-give-up-evil-that-day-is-thirunaal-844355.html)
5. [Thirunaal Movie Review {2/5}, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/thirunaal/movie-review/53569074.cms)
6. [Thirunaal (2016) – Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5495270/ratings/)
7. [Review: Thirunaal has nothing new to offer, Rediff.com](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-thirunaal-has-nothing-new-to-offer/20160805.htm)
8. [Thirunaal movie review: Jiiva is the surviving grace, Deccan Chronicle](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/060816/thirunaal-movie-review-jiiva-is-the-surviving-grace.html)
9. [திருநாள் (திரைப்படம்), தமிழர்விக்கி](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D_%28%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%29)
10. [Jiiva & Nayanthara's Thirunaal Will Release On August 5, Silverscreen India](https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/news/jiiva-nayantharas-thirunaal-will-release-on-august-5/)
11. [Even releasing a film is a success: Jiiva, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2016/Aug/02/even-releasing-a-film-is-a-success-jiiva-1500949.html)
12. [Thirunaal review: This Jiiva-Nayanthara starrer is a romp of rowdies, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/thirunaal-review-this-jiiva-nayanthara-starrer-is-a-romp-of-rowdies/story-5RVeLqugPXnHFJf2SNLeON.html)
13. [Watch Thirunaal on ZEE5](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/thirunaal/0-0-30058)
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*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 2010s › Tamil action and thriller films of the 2010s › Titles L to T*
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