Thalaivaa is a 2013 Tamil action thriller film directed by A. L. Vijay. It stars Vijay with Amala Paul, Abhimanyu Singh and Ponvannan. Music by G. V. Prakash Kumar. It was released on 9 August 2013 (Eid-ul-Fitr release overseas; Tamil Nadu release delayed to 20 August 2013).
In 1988 Dharavi, Ramadurai, a migrant from Tirunelveli, rises to lead the Tamil community after a gang boss dies, but loses his wife to a rival's attack and sends his young son Vishwa away to Australia for safety. Twenty-five years later, Vishwa is a carefree dancer in Sydney who believes his father is a businessman, and falls in love with Meera, who joins his dance troupe. A trip to Mumbai to seek his father's blessing reveals the truth: Ramadurai heads a vigilante syndicate, and Meera is an undercover police officer sent to trap him. When tragedy strikes, the reluctant Vishwa must decide whether to take up his father's mantle and face the rival don Bhima Bhai.
Vijay plays Vishwa, a Sydney dancer who reluctantly inherits his father's role as leader of Mumbai's Tamils. With its politically loaded title, the film's blocked Tamil Nadu release became an early flashpoint between Vijay and the state's ruling party, years before his entry into politics.
Figures are trade estimates reported at the time and may vary.
Its Tamil Nadu release was delayed from 9 to 20 August 2013 amid opposition reportedly linked to the ruling AIADMK government, hurting its home-state collections.
Released overseas on the Eid-ul-Fitr weekend.
Vijay agreed after A. L. Vijay narrated the story, having been impressed by Madrasapattinam (2010).
Samantha, Priya Anand and Yami Gautam were considered for the heroine before Amala Paul was cast.
Vijay sang 'Vaanganna Vanakkanganna' with Santhanam.
The title song was shot in Mumbai with 500 junior artists; filming began there on 23 November 2012.
Major portions were shot in Australia, including Bondi Beach; the final Australian schedule wrapped by April 2013.
Vijay plays the leader of a dance troupe that performs tap dance among other styles.
Satellite rights reportedly sold to Sun TV for a record ₹15 crore.
In Malaysia it became one of the highest-grossing films there, earning about ₹8.34 crore in 10 days; it beat Singam 2's UK opening.
G. V. Prakash Kumar's fifth film with A. L. Vijay; all lyrics by Na. Muthukumar.
Remade in Punjabi as Sardar Saab (2017) and screened in Japan in 2020.
Reviews were mostly positive, with frequent comparisons to The Godfather. The Hindu's Baradwaj Rangan appreciated its restraint and lack of dream songs, The Times of India (3/5) praised Vijay and Sathyaraj and said Santhanam's humour provided relief, while MovieCrow (2.5/5) liked the first half but not the second; Ananda Vikatan rated it 42/100.
Remembered for the political controversy around its delayed Tamil Nadu release, now seen as a precursor to Vijay's political career; it was remade in Punjabi and screened in Japan.