# Vaalee (வாலி) (1999 film)
**Vaalee** (வாலி) is a 1999 Indian Tamil-language romantic psychological thriller written and directed by [S. J. Suryah](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-j-suryah) in his directorial debut, starring [Ajith Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/ajith-kumar) in a dual role as the identical twins Shiva and Deva, with Simran and Jyothika in the female leads. Deva, who has a hearing and speech impairment, secretly loves his twin brother's new bride Priya and tries to separate the couple, following them even on their honeymoon.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vaalee_1999)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 30 April 1999 (Tamil language, India)[2](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/vaali.html) |
| Dual lead | Ajith Kumar as twins Shiva and Deva; Deva is deaf-mute[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368400) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vaalee_1999) |
| Music | Composed by Deva, with lyrics by Vairamuthu; cinematography by Jeeva[4](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF_%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) |
| Major awards | Filmfare Award South Best Actor 2000 (Ajith Kumar) and Best Debut Actress (Jyothika); Cinema Express Best Actor and Best Actress 1999[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368400/awards/) |
| Box office | Ran over 100 days across centers and 270 days in a single theater; reported worldwide gross up to ₹200 million (₹20 crore)[6](https://www.maalaimalar.com/vaali-157980) |
| Afterlife | Kannada remake released in 2001; digitally restored re-release in February 2024[4](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF_%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) • [7](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1207446-vaali-releasing-in-digital.html) |
## Spoilers
### Title and story
The title refers to Vali, a character from the Hindu epic Ramayana who kept his brother Sugriva's wife, and the film transposes that fraternal conflict to a contemporary setting.[4](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF_%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 story centers on identical twins: Shiva marries Priya (Simran), while Deva, unable to hear or speak, secretly loves her and works to separate the couple, going so far as to follow them on their honeymoon.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vaalee_1999)
## Production
Ajith Kumar, who had worked with S. J. Suryah as an assistant director on *Aasai* (1995) and *Ullasam*, asked Suryah to prepare a story for him. Suryah completed the script of Vaalee in 60 days, and the two approached S. S. Chakravarthy, who produced the film under his banner NIC Arts.[8](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/unknown-facts-about-ajithkumar-vaalee-movie/articleshow/109723867.cms/)
**Casting.** [Keerthi Reddy](https://www.edgepedia.org/keerthi-reddy) was announced as the lead actress in December 1997 but was replaced by Simran before filming began; Roja and Meena were also approached but could not allocate dates. Ajith decided to play both the hero and the villain in a dual role; word that he was taking a double role so early in his career drew negative comment in the industry, with many telling him it was too great a risk and that playing a villain would not work. Ajith went ahead regardless, telling producers who approached him that his salary would rise severalfold after Vaalee's release.[8](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/unknown-facts-about-ajithkumar-vaalee-movie/articleshow/109723867.cms/)
The crew included Jeeva as cinematographer, B. Lenin and V. T. Vijayan as editors, Thotta Tharani as art director, and A. R. Murugadoss and [G. Marimuthu](https://www.edgepedia.org/g-marimuthu) as assistant directors. The comedy track was credited to Vivek, who plays Vicky.[9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368400/fullcredits/)
## Music
Deva composed the soundtrack and [Vairamuthu](https://www.edgepedia.org/vairamuthu) wrote the lyrics. Playback singers included [S. P. Balasubrahmanyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-p-balasubrahmanyam), Hariharan, Swarnalatha, Anuradha Sriram, P. Unnikrishnan, Mano, Harini, and Febi Mani. Songs listed on streaming platforms include "Sona Sona", "Oh Sona", "Gee Priya", "Nilavai Konduva", "Vaanil Kaayuthae", and "April Maathathil".[9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368400/fullcredits/) • [10](https://www.digit.in/digit-binge/movies/vaali-129199.html)
## Reception and box office
The film opened on 30 April 1999 and was immediately successful; contemporary accounts state that its success was evident from the first day, with Suryah's story and direction, Ajith's intense performance, and Deva's music all singled out.[2](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/vaali.html) • [8](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/unknown-facts-about-ajithkumar-vaalee-movie/articleshow/109723867.cms/) Maalai Malar reports that the film ran for more than 100 days at all centers, ran 270 days in a single theater, and collected up to ₹200 million (₹20 crore) worldwide.[6](https://www.maalaimalar.com/vaali-157980) The British Board of Film Classification passed the film '15' for "sexual theme and some violence", with a classified runtime of 166m 31s.[11](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/vaalee-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmduxnzm)
## Awards
Vaalee received 4 wins and 2 nominations per IMDb's awards summary.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368400/awards/) At the [Filmfare Awards South](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards-south) for 1999, Ajith Kumar won Best Actor and Jyothika won a Special Award for Best Debut Actress, while [Simran](https://www.edgepedia.org/simran-actress) was nominated for Best Actress (shared with *[Thulladha Manamum Thullum](https://www.edgepedia.org/thulladha-manamum-thullum)*) and the film was nominated for Best Film.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368400/awards/) At the Cinema Express Awards, Ajith won Best Actor (shared with *Amarkalam*) and Simran won Best Actress.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368400/awards/) Behindwoods later called Ajith's work in the film the most intense performance of his career to that point and credited the scheming negative role with shooting him to superstardom.[12](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-slide-shows/movie-4/filmfare/vaali.html)
## Legacy
The film made S. J. Suryah a director and marked a step change in Ajith's career, following his first success with *Aasai*.[8](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/unknown-facts-about-ajithkumar-vaalee-movie/articleshow/109723867.cms/) A Kannada remake with Deva's music was released in [Karnataka](https://www.edgepedia.org/karnataka) in 2001 and ran for 100 days in [Bangalore](https://www.edgepedia.org/bangalore).[4](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF_%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) In July 2020, reports that the Bollywood producer [Boney Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/boney-kapoor) had acquired the remake rights to Vaali and *Varalaaru* were denied by a source close to Kapoor, who said he held no such rights.[13](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ajith-starrers-vaali-and-varalaarus-remake-rights-not-acquired-by-boney-kapoor/articleshow/77266068.cms) In February 2024, 24 years after release, the film was digitally restored and re-released by K. Krishnan of Nandhini Devi Films, and it was well received by audiences; some theaters added shows as ticket demand rose.[7](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1207446-vaali-releasing-in-digital.html) • [14](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/ajith-reaction-for-vaalee-reerelease-response/articleshow/107961076.cms) The film streams on Prime Video.[10](https://www.digit.in/digit-binge/movies/vaali-129199.html)
## References
1. [Vaalee (1999), Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vaalee_1999)
2. [வாலி, Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/vaali.html)
3. [Vaalee (1999), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368400)
4. [வாலி (திரைப்படம்), தமிழர்விக்கி](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF_%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)
5. [Vaalee (1999) - Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368400/awards/)
6. [Vaali, Maalai Malar](https://www.maalaimalar.com/vaali-157980)
7. [டிஜிட்டலில் மீண்டும் வெளியான 'வாலி', Hindu Tamil Thisai](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1207446-vaali-releasing-in-digital.html)
8. [Unknown facts about Ajithkumar's Vaalee, Samayam Tamil](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/unknown-facts-about-ajithkumar-vaalee-movie/articleshow/109723867.cms/)
9. [Vaalee (1999) - Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368400/fullcredits/)
10. [Vaali Movie (1999), Digit Binge](https://www.digit.in/digit-binge/movies/vaali-129199.html)
11. [VAALEE, British Board of Film Classification](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/vaalee-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmduxnzm)
12. [Filmfare Heroes: The Last Decade - Vaali, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-slide-shows/movie-4/filmfare/vaali.html)
13. [Ajith-starrers Vaali and Varalaaru's remake rights not acquired by Boney Kapoor, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ajith-starrers-vaali-and-varalaarus-remake-rights-not-acquired-by-boney-kapoor/articleshow/77266068.cms)
14. [Vaalee rerelease response, Samayam Tamil](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/ajith-reaction-for-vaalee-reerelease-response/articleshow/107961076.cms)
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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 before 2000 › Released 1992 to 1999*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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