# Vaanam (வானம்)
**Vaanam** (வானம், transl. Sky) is a 2011 Indian Tamil-language hyperlink action drama film written and directed by Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi, known as Krish, and is a remake of his own Telugu film *[Vedam](https://www.edgepedia.org/vedam-film)* (2010). It stars [Silambarasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/silambarasan), Bharath, Anushka Shetty, Prakash Raj, and [Saranya Ponvannan](https://www.edgepedia.org/saranya-ponvannan) in leading roles, and follows five unrelated people whose lives converge in a Chennai hospital during a terrorist attack.[1](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/vaanam.html) • [2](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/66207-vaanam)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 29 April 2011, in Tamil; certified U/A in India[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1712057/) • [4](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/vaanam/cast-crew.html) |
| Director | Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi (Krish), who also wrote the story and screenplay[2](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/66207-vaanam) |
| Source | Tamil remake of Krish's Telugu film *Vedam* (2010)[1](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/vaanam.html) |
| Lead cast | Silambarasan as Cable Raja, Bharath as Bharath Chakravarthy, Anushka Shetty as Saroja, Prakash Raj as Rahim, Saranya Ponvannan as Lakshmi[2](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/66207-vaanam) |
| Music | Yuvan Shankar Raja; the song "Evan Di Unna Pethan" was released as a single to promote the film[5](https://www.moviebuff.com/vaanam) |
| Structure | Five story strands from different places converge at one point, transforming the characters' personas and purposes[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1712057/) |
| Reception | IMDb rating 7.4/10 from about 2,200 users; Rediff.com and The Times of India each rated it 3 out of 5[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1712057/) • [6](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-movie-review-vaanam/20110429.htm) • [7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Vaanam/movie-review/12109650.cms) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and structure
The film uses a multi-narrative, or hyperlink, format that follows five principal characters from different strata of society before their paths meet.[11](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/apr-11-05/vaanam-review.html) Cable Raja (Silambarasan) is a slum-dwelling cable operator who wants to escape poverty by marrying his wealthy girlfriend Priya ([Jasmin Bhasin](https://www.edgepedia.org/jasmin-bhasin)). Saroja ([Anushka Shetty](https://www.edgepedia.org/anushka-shetty)) is a sex worker who has escaped a brothel and wants to live on her own terms. Bharath Chakravarthy (Bharath), from an army family, refuses to join the military and wants to become a rock musician with his band, which includes his girlfriend Laasya (Vega Tamotia). Rahim ([Prakash Raj](https://www.edgepedia.org/prakash-raj)) and his pregnant wife Zara (Sonia Agarwal), an inter-religious couple facing discrimination, come to Chennai after a riot cost the life of Rahim's younger brother. Lakshmi (Saranya Ponvannan) comes to the city from Thoothukudi to sell a kidney to pay a moneylender and fund her son's education.[2](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/66207-vaanam) • [7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Vaanam/movie-review/12109650.cms)
All five end up in the same private hospital at the moment it is attacked by terrorists, who take the occupants hostage; how their lives interweave and change each other forms the story.[2](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/66207-vaanam) In the climax, Raja sacrifices himself by pulling the bomber through a window as the building explodes, and Bharath loses a hand but is honored for his bravery.[12](https://www.plotexplained.com/movie/vaanam-2011/timeline)
## Origin and production
Krish had directed *Vedam* in Telugu, an ensemble film that earned him critical standing in the Telugu industry. In an interview published in August 2025, he said that Silambarasan watched *Vedam*, telephoned him, and asked to remake it in Tamil, after which the film was made; [VTV Ganesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/vtv-ganesh) produced it.[8](https://lr-cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/132115/cinema/Kollywood/How-did-the-Tamil-film-Vaanam-come-about-Director-explains%21.htm) • [9](https://wiki1.tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%AE%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) Anushka Shetty, who had played the female lead in the Telugu version, reprised her role in the Tamil remake.[10](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2010/vaanam-release-valentine-weekend-251210.html)
**Casting change.** Telugu actor Manoj was initially in talks for another lead role, but after he was injured in a road accident and was undergoing hospital treatment, Bharath took the part.[9](https://wiki1.tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%AE%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 script underwent small changes to suit Tamil audiences.[10](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2010/vaanam-release-valentine-weekend-251210.html)
The technical crew included cinematographers [Nirav Shah](https://www.edgepedia.org/nirav-shah) and Gnanashekar, editor Anthony, and composer [Yuvan Shankar Raja](https://www.edgepedia.org/yuvan-shankar-raja).[5](https://www.moviebuff.com/vaanam)
## Release and box office
A Chennai box-office chart in late June 2011 placed it fourth for the week with collections of ₹355,000 (₹3.55 lakh), bringing its Chennai total to ₹45 million (₹4.5 crore).[13](https://tamil.webdunia.com/article/tamil-cinema-news-movie-film/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%88-%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B8%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%86%E0%AE%83%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B8%E0%AF%8D-111062300040_1.htm) [Behindwoods](https://www.edgepedia.org/behindwoods)' half-yearly report for 2011 listed Vaanam among the twelve films that created an impact that year, citing STR's performance, the music, Santhanam's comedy, and the unusual handling of the plot.[14](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-slide-shows/movie-4/half-yearly-report/vaanam.html) The film is currently available for streaming on Sun NXT.[15](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/vaanam)
Reported running times differ between databases: IMDb lists 2 hours 20 minutes, while TMDB and [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) list 2 hours 33 minutes (153 minutes).[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1712057/) • [2](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/66207-vaanam) • [15](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/vaanam)
## Critical reception
Reviewers generally treated the film as a successful transplant of the hyperlink format into [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema). Pavithra Srinivasan of Rediff.com rated it three out of five and called it "engaging", noting a reasonably engaging story and a moving climax.[6](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-movie-review-vaanam/20110429.htm) The Times of India gave it 3 out of 5, writing that the film largely works because Krish does not deviate much from his original script and because of the cast's work.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Vaanam/movie-review/12109650.cms)
## Accolades and legacy
The film was later noted as an early Tamil example of hyperlink cinema, a format the Times of India traced to [Mani Ratnam](https://www.edgepedia.org/mani-ratnam)'s *Aayitha Ezhuthu/Yuva* and Nishikant Kamath's *Mumbai Meri Jaan* before Krish's *Vedam* and *Vaanam*.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Vaanam/movie-review/12109650.cms)
## References
1. [வானம் (2011) Movie, Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/vaanam.html)
2. [Vaanam (2011), The Movie Database](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/66207-vaanam)
3. [Vaanam (2011), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1712057/)
4. [Vaanam Cast & Crew, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/vaanam/cast-crew.html)
5. [Vaanam, Moviebuff](https://www.moviebuff.com/vaanam)
6. [Review: Vaanam is engaging, Rediff.com Movies](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-movie-review-vaanam/20110429.htm)
7. [Vaanam Movie Review {3/5}, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Vaanam/movie-review/12109650.cms)
8. [தமிழில் 'வானம்' படம் உருவானது எப்படி? இயக்குனர் விளக்கம்!, Dinamalar](https://lr-cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/132115/cinema/Kollywood/How-did-the-Tamil-film-Vaanam-come-about-Director-explains%21.htm)
9. [வானம் (திரைப்படம்), தமிழர்விக்கி](https://wiki1.tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%AE%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. [Vaanam set to release during Valentine's weekend, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2010/vaanam-release-valentine-weekend-251210.html)
11. [Vaanam Movie Review, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/apr-11-05/vaanam-review.html)
12. [Vaanam (2011) Timeline, Plot Explained](https://www.plotexplained.com/movie/vaanam-2011/timeline)
13. [Chennai Box Office, Webdunia Tamil](https://tamil.webdunia.com/article/tamil-cinema-news-movie-film/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%88-%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B8%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%86%E0%AE%83%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B8%E0%AF%8D-111062300040_1.htm)
14. [12 movies which created an impact in 2011, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-slide-shows/movie-4/half-yearly-report/vaanam.html)
15. [Vaanam streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/vaanam)
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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 drama films of the 2010s*
*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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