Kuruvi is a 2008 Tamil action thriller film directed by Dharani. It stars Vijay with Trisha, Suman, Ashish Vidyarthi and Pawan. Music by Vidyasagar. It was released on 3 May 2008.
Velu is a racer in Chennai who supports a large family; his father Singamuthu went to Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh for quarry work years ago and never returned, and is presumed dead. Velu learns that a Malaysia-based crime boss, Gocha, owes his father a large sum of money. Posing as 'kuruvis' (couriers carrying goods abroad), Velu and his friend Aaps travel to Malaysia to recover the debt. There Velu meets Gocha's sister Devi, and his search for the money pulls him into Gocha's illegal diamond-quarry empire and the mystery of his father's fate.
Vijay plays Velu, a racer who poses as a courier to recover his father's money from a Malaysian crime lord. The film reunited him with Ghilli director Dharani and Trisha in a big-budget action entertainer.
Figures are trade estimates reported at the time and may vary.
First production of Udhayanidhi Stalin's Red Giant Movies, announced in June 2007; Udhayanidhi is the son of M. K. Stalin and grandson of M. Karunanidhi.
Reunited Vijay with Ghilli (2004) director Dharani and co-star Trisha.
Nayanthara was first approached for the heroine role before Trisha was chosen.
Suman replaced Prakash Raj as the main antagonist.
Shot mainly in Chennai and Malaysia, with one song filmed in New Zealand.
Nivetha Thomas made her Tamil debut as a child artist.
The Kerala theatrical rights were reported to have sold for a record ₹1.50 crore before release.
The audio launch was held on 16 April 2008 at Little Flower Convent, Chennai.
The song 'Mozha Mozhannu' drew controversy for mentioning freedom fighter Thillaiaadi Valliammai.
Completed a 150-day theatrical run.
Grossed about $1 million overseas and was among the top Tamil grossers of 2008 in the UK.
Re-released in Kerala in 2021.
Reviews were mixed. Rediff said it had everything for Vijay fans but got lost in fights and broad comedy, Sify felt it lacked a basic story over nearly three hours, and The Hindu found it falling short of Ghilli; Ananda Vikatan rated it 39/100.
Notable as the launch of Red Giant Movies, which went on to become a major Tamil production and distribution house; the film was re-released in Kerala in 2021.