80s Buildup
| 80s Buildup | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Kalyaan |
| Written by | Kalyaan |
| Produced by | K. E. Gnanavel Raja |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Jacob Rathinaraj |
| Edited by | M. S. Bharathi |
| Music by | Ghibran |
Production company | |
Release date |
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| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
80s Buildup, or more simply as Buildup, is a 2023 Indian Tamil-language period supernatural comedy film written and directed by Kalyaan. Produced by K. E. Gnanavel Raja under the production banner Studio Green, the film stars Santhanam and Radhika Preethi in the lead roles, and R. Sundarrajan and K. S. Ravikumar in supporting roles. The film was released theatrically on 24 November 2023 and received negative reviews from critics and became a box office bomb.
Plot
[edit]Kathir and Manja kili are siblings from a wealthy Zamin family. Their grandfather, Naathamuni, dies after swallowing diamonds that smugglers were trying to steal, along with a sword that has a treasure map. Kathir and Manja kili make a bet: Kathir must make their distant cousin, Devi, fall in love with him before their grandfather’s final rites. While they compete, the smugglers are trying to get back the diamonds and the treasure map.
Cast
[edit]- Santhanam as Kathir
- Radhika Preethi as Devi
- R. Sundarrajan as Nathamuni Thevan, Kathir’s grandfather
- K. S. Ravikumar as Lord Yama Dharma Raja
- Sangeetha as Manja Kili
- Anandaraj as Gopal, Mortuary worker
- Aadukalam Naren as Kathir’s Father
- Munishkanth as Chitragupta
- Redin Kingsley as Vichitragupta
- Mansoor Ali Khan as a diamond thief
- Manobala as Parameshwaran (Paramu)
- Mottai Rajendran as a diamond thief
- Mayilswamy as Kaali
- Thangadurai as Thangam
- Swaminathan as Kathir’s uncle
- Kalairani as Arukkaani, Kathir’s grandmother
- Subhashini Kannan as Devi’s mother
- Ashwin Raja as Kathir’s friend
- Mippu Samy as Kathir’s friend
- Arjai as Idaivelai (Velai)
- Cool Suresh as English Thief
- Vinod Sagar as Baasha
- Roja Sholapur as Ammulu, Manohar’s wife
- Supergood Subramani as Constable Mani
- Lollu Sabha Seshu as Bangalore Manohar
- Soundar as Bujan Laal Seth
- Caroline Hiltrud as Velai’s wife
- Nikhila Sankar as Manja Killi’s friend
Production
[edit]The film was written by Kalyaan with Santhanam in mind during 2022, with production on the film beginning by the end of the year.[1] Produced by Studio Green, the film brought together a number of comedic actors including Manobala and Mayilswamy, who died before the release of the film. The film was first announced to the media in October 2023, only a month before the film's release.[2] Radhika Preethi, who had previously worked on films such as Raja Loves Radhe (2018) and Embiran (2019), appeared in the leading female role.[3] Kalyan revealed that the film would be set in the 1980s,and would feature Santhanam as huge fan of Kamal Haasan, while his grandfather would be a Rajinikanth fan.[4][5]
Release
[edit]The film had a theatrical release on 24 November 2023 across Tamil Nadu. A critic from Times of India noted that it was "a comedy with potential that misfires" and that "there is a laugh riot hiding within the plot of 80s Buildup, but unfortunately, director Kalyaan fails to find it".[6] A critic from The Hindu wrote "if you are looking for an activity to test your mental endurance to the maximum, well, this Santhanam film hits the mark", in a negative review.[7] Navein Darshan of Cinema Express wrote the film was "a lazy, offensive talkathon masquerading as comedy" and that "every scene in the film is a reminder that there has been very little to no work done on the writing front to entertain or respect its audience".[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Director Kalyaan: I can never write a film that everybody likes". Cinema Express.
- ^ "Santhanam's next titled 80s Buildup". Cinema Express.
- ^ "Poove Unakkaga fame Radhika Preethi to make her Tamil movie debut along with actor Santhanam". The Times of India. 25 October 2023.
- ^ "80s Buildup gets U certificate". Cinema Express.
- ^ "Santhanam's next titled '80s Buildup'". The New Indian Express. 19 October 2023.
- ^ "80s Buildup Movie Review : A comedy with potential that misfires". The Times of India.
- ^ Sudevan, Praveen (24 November 2023). "'80s Buildup' movie review: This Santhanam comedy is as fun as a funeral". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ "80s Build Up Movie Review: A lazy, offensive talkathon masquerading as comedy". Cinema Express.
External links
[edit]- 80s Buildup at IMDb