# Vadakkupatti Ramasamy
**Vadakkupatti Ramasamy** (வடக்குப்பட்டி ராமசாமி) is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language period comedy-drama film written and directed by Karthik Yogi, starring Santhanam and Megha Akash, about an atheist who builds a temple in his village and profits from the villagers' superstition.[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/7153/2024-vadakkupatti-ramasamy) It was produced by T. G. Vishwa Prasad under the banner People Media Factory and released in theaters on 2 February 2024.[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/jan/12/santhanams-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-trailer-out-51165.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Film | Tamil period comedy-drama, written and directed by Karthik Yogi[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/7153/2024-vadakkupatti-ramasamy) |
| Release | 2 February 2024, theatrical[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/jan/12/santhanams-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-trailer-out-51165.html) |
| Setting | The fictional village of Vadakkupatti in northern Tamil Nadu, in 1974[3](https://www.dinamalar.com/cinemareview/3390) |
| Lead cast | Santhanam as Ramasamy; Megha Akash as Kayalvizhi, a doctor from Madras[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/jan/12/santhanams-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-trailer-out-51165.html) • [4](https://www.cinemaspeak.in/2024/02/movie-review-vadakkupatti-ramasamy.html) |
| Key crew | Music Sean Roldan; cinematography Deepak; editing Shiva Nandeeswaran[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/jan/12/santhanams-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-trailer-out-51165.html) |
| Running time / certificate | About 2 hours 26 minutes; certified U in India[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/7153/2024-vadakkupatti-ramasamy) |
| Reception | Critic ratings from 2/5 (India Today) to 3.5/5 (Filmibeat Tamil); BookMyShow user score 8.1/10 from over 12,500 votes[5](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/regional-cinema/story/vadakkupatti-ramasamy-review-santhanams-silly-comedy-film-fails-to-entertain-2496833-2024-02-02) • [6](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/chennai/vadakkupatti-ramasamy/ET00385176) |
| Streaming | Aha Tamil (satellite rights Zee TV; digital Amazon Prime and Aha)[7](https://tamil.gadgets360.com/others/vadakkupatti-ramaswamy-out-on-ott-know-where-to-stream-this-tamil-comedy-drama-online-features-11331699) • [8](https://tfapa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/trade-guide-jan-2025_07.01.25_compressed-1.pdf) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and setting
The story is set in 1974 in Vadakkupatti, a village in northern [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu).[3](https://www.dinamalar.com/cinemareview/3390) Ramasamy, an atheist who does not believe in God, builds a temple on his own land and earns money by exploiting the villagers' faith.[3](https://www.dinamalar.com/cinemareview/3390) According to the film's backstory, the village had lost its deity in a flood years earlier, and villagers later come to believe their god has returned in the form of a mud pot belonging to Ramasamy.[10](https://www.ottplay.com/review/vadakkupatti-ramasamy-movie-review-few-quips-here-and-there-cannot-compensate-for-certain-problematic-portrayals-the-santhanam-starrer-indulges-in/24af2a48cc908)
**Conflict with the tahsildar.** A greedy tahsildar (a revenue official), played by Tamizh, arrives in the area and suggests that the temple's land could be leased out for profit; when Ramasamy refuses to share the temple's income, the official has the temple shut down.[3](https://www.dinamalar.com/cinemareview/3390) To reopen it, Ramasamy spreads word among villagers unfamiliar with Madras Eye that the eye disease is a punishment from the deity, and uses the resulting fear in his campaign to reopen the temple.[3](https://www.dinamalar.com/cinemareview/3390) Kayalvizhi (Megha Akash), a doctor in Madras, returns to the village and joins forces with the tahsildar.[4](https://www.cinemaspeak.in/2024/02/movie-review-vadakkupatti-ramasamy.html)
The film also features [Nizhalgal Ravi](https://www.edgepedia.org/nizhalgal-ravi) as a military major, [M. S. Bhaskar](https://www.edgepedia.org/m-s-bhaskar), John Vijay, Rajendran, Seshu, Ravi Mariya, and Maaran, with the Lollu Sabha comedy troupe members among the supporting cast.[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/jan/12/santhanams-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-trailer-out-51165.html) • [11](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2024/Feb/03/vadakkupatti-ramasamy-movie-review-enough-laughs-to-make-you-forget-the-flaws)
## Production and title
The film was the second collaboration between actor Santhanam and director Karthik Yogi after *Dikkiloona*.[9](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/santhanam-karthik-to-reunite-forvadakupatti-ramasamy) Yogi told DT Next that the title was a tribute to the comedian [Goundamani](https://www.edgepedia.org/goundamani), that the story takes place in the village of Vadakupatti, and that Santhanam's character is named Ramasamy in the film.[9](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/santhanam-karthik-to-reunite-forvadakupatti-ramasamy) He said he had done intense research for the story, with six months of pre-production, and that shooting would begin on 25 January 2023 near Pollachi.[9](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/santhanam-karthik-to-reunite-forvadakupatti-ramasamy) In an earlier conversation with Cinema Express, the director said the film deals with a real-life incident that happened in a village in the 1960s-70s, and that "Ramaswamy is an iconic Tamil name that continues to create waves, and we have explored layers and meanings behind that name."[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/jan/12/santhanams-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-trailer-out-51165.html)
The makers released the film's trailer on 12 January 2024.[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/jan/12/santhanams-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-trailer-out-51165.html) The trailer establishes the setting as a "strange" village in 1974 and shows Santhanam as the titular Ramasamy, described as a kleptomaniac when it comes to money, with a possible outbreak of Madras Eye (conjunctivitis) forming the central plot.[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/jan/12/santhanams-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-trailer-out-51165.html)
## Themes and style
Although not an outright satire, the film pokes fun at superstition, religious fanaticism, fake godmen, and blind faith, and includes what one review described as a meta commentary on the Covid years; the same review noted that the satire comes through a self-critical theist lens rather than a rationalist point of view.[11](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2024/Feb/03/vadakkupatti-ramasamy-movie-review-enough-laughs-to-make-you-forget-the-flaws) A Dinamalar review compared the premise to the 1985 film *Udayageetham*, in which Goundamani played a fake holy man who profits from people's faith, adapted here into a full film with Santhanam as the temple administrator.[3](https://www.dinamalar.com/cinemareview/3390)
## Release and reception
The film was released in theaters on 2 February 2024.[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/jan/12/santhanams-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-trailer-out-51165.html) The British Board of Film Classification certified it on 30 January 2024 with a running time of 143 minutes 35 seconds, noting moderate violence and threat, for UK distribution by Big Films limited.[12](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/vadakkupatti-ramasamy-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmde5mdmy)
**Critical response.** Reviews were mixed. India Today gave 2/5, calling it a silly comedy that offers sporadic laughs and criticizing its insult humor.[5](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/regional-cinema/story/vadakkupatti-ramasamy-review-santhanams-silly-comedy-film-fails-to-entertain-2496833-2024-02-02) Ottplay also gave 2/5, writing that a few quips could not compensate for problematic portrayals.[10](https://www.ottplay.com/review/vadakkupatti-ramasamy-movie-review-few-quips-here-and-there-cannot-compensate-for-certain-problematic-portrayals-the-santhanam-starrer-indulges-in/24af2a48cc908) The New Indian Express gave 3/5, praising the writing and the supporting cast, with Santhanam taking a restrained approach and letting the supporting actors carry the comedy.[11](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2024/Feb/03/vadakkupatti-ramasamy-movie-review-enough-laughs-to-make-you-forget-the-flaws) Dinamalar rated it 2.75/5 and Samayam Tamil 2.5/5, while Filmibeat Tamil gave 3.5/5.[3](https://www.dinamalar.com/cinemareview/3390) • [13](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-review/santhanam-starrer-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-movie-review-and-rating/moviereview/107345888.cms) • [14](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/reviews/santhanams-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-review-in-tamil-126277.html) On BookMyShow the film held a user rating of 8.1/10 from more than 12,500 votes.[6](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/chennai/vadakkupatti-ramasamy/ET00385176)
**Controversy.** After the trailer's release, objections circulated on social media claiming the film contained scenes concerning Periyar.[15](https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/story/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1187372-controversy-scenes-in-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-director-s-explanation.html) Director Karthik Yogi responded that the film is a full comedy set in 1974 in a fictional village, that it contains no controversial scenes and nothing intended to hurt anyone's sentiments, and that the film was completed in 63 days of shooting.[15](https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/story/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1187372-controversy-scenes-in-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-director-s-explanation.html)
**Home media.** The film later began streaming on Aha Tamil; a trade guide lists its satellite rights with [Zee TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/zee-tv) and digital rights with [Amazon Prime](https://www.edgepedia.org/amazon-prime) and Aha.[7](https://tamil.gadgets360.com/others/vadakkupatti-ramaswamy-out-on-ott-know-where-to-stream-this-tamil-comedy-drama-online-features-11331699) • [8](https://tfapa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/trade-guide-jan-2025_07.01.25_compressed-1.pdf)
## References
1. [Vadakkupatti Ramasamy (2024), TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/7153/2024-vadakkupatti-ramasamy)
2. [Santhanam's Vadakkupatti Ramasamy trailer out, Cinema Express (12 January 2024)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/jan/12/santhanams-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-trailer-out-51165.html)
3. [வடக்குப்பட்டி ராமசாமி விமர்சனம், Dinamalar](https://www.dinamalar.com/cinemareview/3390)
4. [Movie Review: Vadakkupatti Ramasamy, Cinema Speak](https://www.cinemaspeak.in/2024/02/movie-review-vadakkupatti-ramasamy.html)
5. ['Vadakkupatti Ramasamy' review, India Today (2 February 2024)](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/regional-cinema/story/vadakkupatti-ramasamy-review-santhanams-silly-comedy-film-fails-to-entertain-2496833-2024-02-02)
6. [Vadakkupatti Ramasamy, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/chennai/vadakkupatti-ramasamy/ET00385176)
7. [வடக்குப்பட்டி ராமசாமி ஓடிடியில் வெளியீடு, Gadgets360 Tamil](https://tamil.gadgets360.com/others/vadakkupatti-ramaswamy-out-on-ott-know-where-to-stream-this-tamil-comedy-drama-online-features-11331699)
8. [New Tamil Film Releases During 2024: Complete List, TFAPA Trade Guide](https://tfapa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/trade-guide-jan-2025_07.01.25_compressed-1.pdf)
9. [Santhanam-Karthik to reunite for Vadakupatti Ramasamy, DT Next (23 January 2023)](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/santhanam-karthik-to-reunite-forvadakupatti-ramasamy)
10. [Vadakkupatti Ramasamy Movie Review, Ottplay (2 February 2024)](https://www.ottplay.com/review/vadakkupatti-ramasamy-movie-review-few-quips-here-and-there-cannot-compensate-for-certain-problematic-portrayals-the-santhanam-starrer-indulges-in/24af2a48cc908)
11. ['Vadakkupatti Ramasamy' movie review: Enough laughs to make you forget the flaws, The New Indian Express (3 February 2024)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2024/Feb/03/vadakkupatti-ramasamy-movie-review-enough-laughs-to-make-you-forget-the-flaws)
12. [Vadakkupatti Ramasamy, British Board of Film Classification](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/vadakkupatti-ramasamy-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmde5mdmy)
13. [வடக்குப்பட்டி ராமசாமி விமர்சனம், Samayam Tamil](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-review/santhanam-starrer-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-movie-review-and-rating/moviereview/107345888.cms)
14. [Vadakkupatti Ramasamy Review, Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/reviews/santhanams-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-review-in-tamil-126277.html)
15. [வடக்குப்பட்டி ராமசாமியில் சர்ச்சை காட்சிகளா?: இயக்குநர் விளக்கம், Hindu Tamil Thisai (23 January 2024)](https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/story/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1187372-controversy-scenes-in-vadakkupatti-ramasamy-director-s-explanation.html)
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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 2020s › Tamil films of 2024*
*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*
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