Samurai (2002 film)

The film starts with Thiyagarajan (Vikram), a young doctor going to visit his childhood friend. In his way,he met Deiva (Anita Hassanandani) a schoolgirl with kind hearted school girl but a naughty girl. She was the daughter of Sandana pandiyan a police officer and staying with her grandmother.Then he had a misunderstanding with Sandana pandiyan (Nassar).Later he identifies him as a good personality. When thiyagu met his friend he found that Sandana pandiyan and his wife (bindu panicker) are his friend's neighbours. And they behaved as good friends. When a dirty politician was kidnapped,Sandana pandiyan was appointed to investigate the case. It was really Thiyagu who kidnapped him with his four friends.It is showing that Thiyagu is taking training to make his body and mind fit with his friends. He had kidnapped other five people for their dirty doings. Sandana pandian was unable to find the culprit as he only got a body tissue of the murderer. In between she had a bad experience from his friend Nisha's friends as they tried to moleste her. Unable to bear the tension,She returned to her parents. But in the tension of investigation, pandian is not ready to hear her problems . At that time, Thiyagu helped her to get rid of her problems and told her that take it as a good thing as she understands her wrong doings. From there she starts loving him without knowing his true identity. A flashback is shown that Kavitha(Jaya seal) his classmate who is always interested in studying will write her thoughts in her diary about the things she want to tell Thiyagu but never conveyed anything to him. He seemed as iritated in her doings but still loves her. In the medical collage she discovered the medicines of a pharma company is dangerous to health.A boy died because of it. But when she tried to expose it no one including her friends and thiyagu didn't support her. He asked her who is the boy to her. She was very upseted and tried to comit suicide.Before her death she asked him who is her to him. It make him think very deeply. He got her diary and after reading it along with his friends he did this all. He selected the people who use the loophole in law enjoying in guest houses and hospitals.

Sandana pandian discovered that his next target is a minister ( who is behind the pharma crime for which Kavitha committed suicide) and he tried to protect him. But the minister was kidnapped. Later he found that Thiyagu is the man behind it. Knowing Pandian is behind him,he tried to escape,Deiva conveyed her love but he tell his story to his childhood friend and Deiva. Pandian captured him and submitted before an open court with people and many magistrates. They asked him to leave the people who are kidnapped. But Thiyagu argued he only release them after giving them death punishment. But the magistrates denied it as there is no law to give them such a punishment. When the 7 people are submitted there,people who heard all the words of Thiyagu make protest and killed all of them.Sandana Pandian took the Thiyagu and friends in a van. On the way,he released them. He said that Thiyagu is right and there is a need of such a law which give the culprits punishment of death. When he started to leave,there comes Deiva,he feels it as kavitha.She told him that Kavitha is always with him as Deiva. The film ends with Thiyagu and friends leaving with Deiva.

Vikram signed the film in May 2000 and it became the first venture he committed to after the blockbuster success of Bala's Sethu.[2] North Indian model Anita Hassanandani was selected to make her debut through the film, though another film, Varushamellam Vasantham, ended up releasing before Samurai.[3] Simran was approached to play a pivotal role in the movie, but Jaya Seel, who appeared alongside Prabhu Deva in Pennin Manathai Thottu, was roped in to play a medical student.[4] Malayalam actor Kollam Thulasi was signed up to play a negative role in the film and thus made his debut in Tamil films.[5]

Vikram went to yoga classes to prepare for the opening scene for Samurai, where he poses in the Mayura asanam posture.[6] In an interview in 2002, the actor stated that when he first met Balaji "he was a very enthusiastic, charged person" and was able to convince Vikram to star in the film, and he also compared him with director Shankar.[7] Shooting commenced at Chennai and the unit then moved on to locations in Kuttralam, Ooty, Andhra, U.P. and Bihar, Some scenes were shot on the lead pair in the forest areas of Kerala which was also the location for a song shot on Vikram. Again, a lavish set was erected at the AVM Studios where Vikram, Anita, and new-face Shreya took part.[8] The film was heavily shot in Orissa, while songs were canned in Syria.[9]

Samurai opened in July 2002 to mixed reviews from critics. The Hindu's critic noted that "Samurai will satisfy action lovers but for those looking for innovation in story and screenplay, the soldier leaves you yearning". About performances, the critic added that "with an admirably well-maintained physique and powerful eyes Vikram is all geared up for action", and that "Anita is more of an essential prop, but Jayaseel in a cameo has scope to perform, which she does well".[10] Rediff.com wrote that "the net result is disappointing due to the worn out theme that is very reminiscent of recent films". The reviewer however continued that "Vikram, though, is convincing in his portrayal and the 'training' scenes where he gains expertise and invulnerability is thrilling and the stunt scenes draw applause".[11] A critic from Nowrunning.com felt that "Vikram has done an excellent job as the revolutionary in Samurai and he has ably used his physique and emoting capabilities to lift the film to an above average action thriller." The critic also noted that "the few flaws in the screenplay and a similar climax from an earlier Ajith-starrer (Citizen) has marred the otherwise technically well-made film."[12] The director himself later labelled the film a "damp squib", mentioning he made serious errors with the film's screenplay.[13]

The film successfully runs 100 days in theatres, ending a string of consecutive successful Vikram films in Dhill, Kasi and Gemini.[14] However, despite this it was reported that Balaji Sakthivel was keen to make Vikram star in his next film, though the director next went on to make the successful low-budget film Kaadhal (2004).[15] Samurai was later dubbed and released under the same name in Telugu in late 2004 to capitalise on Vikram's star potential.[16][17] The film was also later dubbed into Hindi as Samurai: Ek Yodha in 2012 by Wide Angle Media Pvt. Ltd.

The music and background score were composed by Harris Jayaraj.

All tracks are written by Vairamuthu.

• Samurai at IMDb