# Veera Sivaji
**Veera Sivaji** is a 2016 Indian Tamil-language action comedy drama directed by Ganesh Vinayak, starring [Vikram Prabhu](https://www.edgepedia.org/vikram-prabhu) as Sivaji, a taxi driver in Puducherry who must raise money for his niece's brain surgery and becomes entangled with a conman who has swindled the public[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/veera_sivaji) • [2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/veera-sivaji-movie-review-nothing-works-in-this-vikram-prabhu-starrer-4430453/). The film marked Shamili's debut as a female lead in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema)[3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veera-sivaji/veera-sivaji-review.html).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | December 16, 2016 (India); an earlier planned date of September 23, 2016 was postponed[4](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/17695/tamil/veera-sivaji/) • [5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vikram-prabhus-veera-sivaji-release-date-postponed/articleshow/54601876.cms) |
| Director and writer | Ganesh Vinayak (story, screenplay, dialogue)[3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veera-sivaji/veera-sivaji-review.html) |
| Lead cast | Vikram Prabhu (Sivaji), Shamili (Anjali), John Vijay, Rajendran, Robo Shankar, Yogi Babu[3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veera-sivaji/veera-sivaji-review.html) |
| Music | D Imman; album released August 31, 2016[3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veera-sivaji/veera-sivaji-review.html) |
| Runtime and censor rating | 133 minutes (2h 13m); certified U[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6127254) • [3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veera-sivaji/veera-sivaji-review.html) |
| Production | S Nandha Gopal for Madras Enterprises[3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veera-sivaji/veera-sivaji-review.html) |
| Reception | IMDb 4.2/10 from about 156 votes; Behindwoods 2.0/5; The Indian Express 1/5[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6127254) • [3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veera-sivaji/veera-sivaji-review.html) • [2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/veera-sivaji-movie-review-nothing-works-in-this-vikram-prabhu-starrer-4430453/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Sivaji (Vikram Prabhu) is an orphan who works as a call taxi driver in Puducherry and shares a close bond with a neighbor (Vinodhini) and her young daughter Yazhini[7](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/171216/veera-sivaji-review-a-fine-blend-of-everything-partially-entertaining.html). He meets Anjali (Shamili) in a road accident, and the two fall in love[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/veera-sivaji-movie-review-nothing-works-in-this-vikram-prabhu-starrer-4430453/).
The turning point comes when Sivaji learns that Yazhini has a brain tumor requiring urgent surgery costing Rs 2.5 million (Rs 25 lakh)[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/veera-sivaji-movie-review-nothing-works-in-this-vikram-prabhu-starrer-4430453/). When a financier offers to multiply deposited money fourfold, Sivaji invests everything and falls prey to a scheme run by a conman (John Vijay) who dreams of becoming chief minister of [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu) with money swindled from the public[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/veera-sivaji-movie-review-nothing-works-in-this-vikram-prabhu-starrer-4430453/). Just before the interval, Sivaji tracks down the conman and robs him of the scammed wealth; after an accident he loses his memory, including where he hid the money[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/veera-sivaji-movie-review-nothing-works-in-this-vikram-prabhu-starrer-4430453/).
## Production and release
The film began production in July 2015[8](https://filmanic.com/movies/veera-sivaji/10298087.film). It was scheduled for September 23, 2016, but did not release on that date; reports stated that director Ganesh Vinayak pushed the release to avoid the Diwali rush, and the film reached theaters on December 16, 2016[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vikram-prabhus-veera-sivaji-release-date-postponed/articleshow/54601876.cms) • [4](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/17695/tamil/veera-sivaji/). It was Vikram Prabhu's second release of 2016 after *Wagah*[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vikram-prabhus-veera-sivaji-release-date-postponed/articleshow/54601876.cms). The team shot schedules in [Pondicherry](https://www.edgepedia.org/pondicherry) and Georgia[3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veera-sivaji/veera-sivaji-review.html).
## Music
D Imman composed the songs and background score. The album, released August 31, 2016, includes "Thaarumaaru Thakkalisoru" sung by Simbu, "Adada Adada" with Sriram Parthasarathy and [Shreya Ghoshal](https://www.edgepedia.org/shreya-ghoshal), "Soppanasundari" by [Vaikom Vijayalakshmi](https://www.edgepedia.org/vaikom-vijayalakshmi) with lyrics by [Arunraja Kamaraj](https://www.edgepedia.org/arunraja-kamaraj), and "Thavazhnthidum Thangapoove" by Bombay Jayashri[3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veera-sivaji/veera-sivaji-review.html). Behindwoods rated the album 2.75/5, calling it "a typical Imman treat"[3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veera-sivaji/veera-sivaji-review.html).
## Reception
Critical response was negative. Behindwoods gave 2.0/5, with the verdict "an interesting plot falls flat with a loose screenplay", while crediting M Sukumar's cinematography and Imman's background score[3](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veera-sivaji/veera-sivaji-review.html). [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) rated it 1/5, calling the film "deeply formulaic" and criticizing the amnesia turn after the interval, though it noted the comic characters of Robo Shankar and [Yogi Babu](https://www.edgepedia.org/yogi-babu), inspired by the Suresh and Ramesh advertisement commercials, as the film's main source of entertainment[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/veera-sivaji-movie-review-nothing-works-in-this-vikram-prabhu-starrer-4430453/). The News Minute described it as a lukewarm thriller in which the romance, comedy, and action portions do not join hands[9](https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/review-vikram-prabhu-s-veera-sivaji-lukewarm-thriller-54372). On IMDb the film holds a 4.2/10 rating from about 156 users[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6127254).
## References
1. [Veera Sivaji, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/veera_sivaji)
2. [Veera Sivaji movie review: Nothing works in this Vikram Prabhu-starrer, The Indian Express (December 16, 2016)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/veera-sivaji-movie-review-nothing-works-in-this-vikram-prabhu-starrer-4430453/)
3. [Veera Sivaji review, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veera-sivaji/veera-sivaji-review.html)
4. [Veera Sivaji Tamil Movie, Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/17695/tamil/veera-sivaji/)
5. [Vikram Prabhu's 'Veera Sivaji' release date postponed, Times of India (September 30, 2016)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vikram-prabhus-veera-sivaji-release-date-postponed/articleshow/54601876.cms)
6. [Veera Sivaji (2016), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6127254)
7. [Veera Sivaji review: A fine blend of everything; partially entertaining, Deccan Chronicle (December 17, 2016)](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/171216/veera-sivaji-review-a-fine-blend-of-everything-partially-entertaining.html)
8. [Veera Sivaji (2016), Filmanic](https://filmanic.com/movies/veera-sivaji/10298087.film)
9. [Review: Vikram Prabhu's Veera Sivaji is a lukewarm thriller, The News Minute (December 16, 2016)](https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/review-vikram-prabhu-s-veera-sivaji-lukewarm-thriller-54372)
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*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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