Kaithi (2019) Tamil Movie – Full Cast, Crew & Plot Details
Kaithi is an Indian Tamil action thriller movie directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj in 2019. This movie manages the practical and financial aspects of creating a film by Dream Warrior Pictures.
This movie stars Karthi in the main role, alongside Narain and Arjun Das, with George Maryan, Dheena, Harish Uthaman, and Hareesh Peradi as the supporting cast.
It revolves around a recently released prisoner and his efforts to take down a drug syndicate while getting the seized drugs to the police station, all for the opportunity to finally meet his daughter for the first time.
Movie Summary: Kaithi (2019)
| Title | Kaithi |
| Directed by | Lokesh Kanagaraj |
| Written by | Lokesh Kanagaraj, Pon Parthiban |
| Produced by | S. R. Prakashbabu, S. R. Prabhu, Thiruppur Vivek |
| Starring | Karthi, Narain, Arjun Das, George Maryan, Dheena |
| Music by | Sam C. S. |
| Cinematography | Sathyan Sooryan |
| Edited by | Philomin Raj |
| Production Company | Dream Warrior Pictures, Vivekananda Pictures |
| Distributed by | Dream Warrior Pictures |
| Release Date | 25 October 2019 |
| Running Time | 146 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
| Budget | est. ₹25 crore |
| Box Office | est. ₹105 crore |
| OTT Release | Disney+ Hotstar |
| IMDb Rating ⭐ | 8.4/10⭐ |
| Genres | Action, Thriller |
| Official Website | N/A |
| Post Credits Scene | Yes |
| Based on | Original story by Lokesh Kanagaraj |
Cast & Crew in Kaithi (2019)
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Karthi | Dilli |
| Narain | Inspector Bejoy |
| Arjun Das | Anbu |
| George Maryan | Napoleon, a constable |
| Dheena | Kamatchi |
| Harish Uthaman | Adaikalam |
| Hareesh Peradi | Stephen Raj |
| Ramana | Tips |
| Amzath Khan | Ram |
| Kanna Ravi | Ajhas Ahmed / Sampath |
| Arun Alexander | Paalpandi |
| Baby Monika Siva | Amudha (Dilli’s daughter) |
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director | Lokesh Kanagaraj |
| Writer | Lokesh Kanagaraj, Pon Parthiban |
| Producers | S. R. Prakashbabu, S. R. Prabhu |
| Music Director | Sam C. S. |
| Cinematographer | Sathyan Sooryan |
| Editor | Philomin Raj |
| Stunt Directors | Anbariv |
| Production Companies | Dream Warrior Pictures, Vivekananda Pictures |
Director Info
| Full Name | Lokesh Kanagaraj |
| Occupation | Film Director, Screenwriter, Producer |
| Known For | Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) |
| Notable Films | Maanagaram, Kaithi, Master, Vikram, Leo, Coolie |
| Awards | Vijay Award for Best Debut Director (Maanagaram), Zee Cine Awards Tamil for Favourite Director (Kaithi), South Indian International Movie Awards for Best Director (Master, Vikram) |
Producer
- S. R. Prabhu
- S. R. Prakashbabu
Character Profiles
- Dilli – Karthi
- Inspector Bejoy – Narain
- Anbu – Arjun Das
- Napoleon – George Maryan
- Kamatchi – Dheena
- Adaikalam – Harish Uthaman
- Stephen Raj – Hareesh Peradi
- Amudha – Baby Monika Siva
Production Timeline
| Project Announcement | September 2020 |
| Title Teaser Release | November 7, 2020 |
| Pre-production Begins | April 2021 |
| Principal Photography Begins | July 2021 |
| Filming Wraps | Late-February 2022 |
| Release of First Single | May 11, 2022 |
| Worldwide Theatrical Release | June 3, 2022 |
Filming Locations
- Tirunelveli
- Tenkasi
- Chennai
Release timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| First Look Poster Released | March 6, 2019 |
| Official Teaser Release | May 30, 2019 |
| Official Trailer Release | October 7, 2019 |
| Worldwide Theatrical Release | October 25, 2019 |
| OTT Streaming Release (Disney+ Hotstar) | November 25, 2019 |
Plot Summary
Budget
| Budget | est. ₹25 crore |
| Box Office | est. ₹105 crore |
| Verdict | Blockbuster |
Budget Breakdown (Estimated)
| Category | Estimated Cost (in ₹ crores) |
| Production Cost (Total Budget) | ~₹25 crore |
| Cast & Crew Salaries | Not publicly disclosed, but Karthi’s remuneration is a significant portion. |
| Production (Excluding Salaries) | Includes costs for filming, locations, equipment, sets, etc. |
| Post-production | Includes editing, visual effects (VFX), sound design, etc. |
| Music & Background Score | Composer Sam C. S.’s fee and music rights. |
| Promotions & Marketing | Advertising, trailer release, publicity campaigns. |
Box Office Collection
| India Gross Collection | est. ₹86.80 crore |
| India Net Collection | est. ₹74.46 crore |
| Tamil Nadu Gross | est. ₹56.50 crore |
| Andhra Pradesh & Telangana Gross | est. ₹15.10 crore |
| Karnataka Gross | est. ₹7.43 crore |
| Kerala Gross | est. ₹6.20 crore |
| Rest of India Gross | est. ₹1.87 crore |
Worldwide Box Office Collection
| Worldwide Gross | est. ₹105 crore – ₹110.50 crore |
| India Gross | est. ₹86.80 crore |
| Overseas Gross | est. ₹20 crore – ₹22 crore |
| Verdict | Blockbuster |
OTT Release Info
| Category | Details |
| Original Language OTT Platform | Disney+ Hotstar |
| Original Language Release Date | November 25, 2019 |
| Other Platforms | SonyLIV (Hindi dub) and aha (Telugu dub). |
| Satellite Rights | Star Vijay |
Nominations
Nominations for Kaithi (2019) (not won)
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) |
| Critics’ Choice Film Awards | Best Actor – Male | Karthi |
| South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) | Best Director – Tamil | Lokesh Kanagaraj |
| South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) | Best Actor – Tamil | Karthi |
| South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) | Best Supporting Actor – Tamil | Narain |
| South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) | Best Actor in a Comedian – Tamil | Dheena |
| South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) | Best Cinematographer – Tamil | Sathyan Sooryan |
Awards
- Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards
- Best Supporting Actor – Male: George Maryan
- Best Stunt Director: Anbariv
- Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards
- Best Actor: Karthi
- Best Villain: Arjun Das
- Best Editor: Philomin Raj
- South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA)
- Best Film – Tamil: Dream Warrior Pictures
- Best Supporting Actor – Tamil: George Maryan
- Best Actor in a Negative Role – Tamil: Arjun Das
- Zee Cine Awards Tamil
- Favourite Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj
- Best Stunt Director: Anbariv
- Best Villain: Arjun Das
- Best Supporting Actor – Male: George Maryan
Award Timeline
| Award Ceremony | Category | Recipient/Nominee |
| Zee Cine Awards Tamil | Favourite Director | Lokesh Kanagaraj |
| Best Stunt Director | Anbariv | |
| Best Villain | Arjun Das | |
| Best Supporting Actor – Male | George Maryan | |
| Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Male | George Maryan |
| Best Stunt Director | Anbariv | |
| Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards | Best Actor | Karthi |
| Best Villain | Arjun Das | |
| Best Editor | Philomin Raj | |
| Critics’ Choice Film Awards | Best Actor – Male | Karthi |
| South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) | Best Film – Tamil | Dream Warrior Pictures |
| Best Supporting Actor – Tamil | George Maryan | |
| Best Actor in a Negative Role – Tamil | Arjun Das | |
| Best Director – Tamil | Lokesh Kanagaraj | |
| Best Actor – Tamil | Karthi | |
| Best Supporting Actor – Tamil | Narain | |
| Best Actor in a Comedian – Tamil | Dheena | |
| Best Cinematographer – Tamil | Sathyan Sooryan |
Behind the Scenes
Trivia
- The story takes place over a single, high-stakes night, a narrative technique that enhances the film’s tense, real-time atmosphere.
- This film is a foundational part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), a shared cinematic world created by director Lokesh Kanagaraj. The LCU also includes films like Vikram and Leo.
- Karthi, the lead actor, performed all his action sequences himself, opting not to use a stunt double.
- Notably, the film does not feature any songs or a romantic lead. Its soundtrack is composed solely of an impactful background score that drives the narrative.
- The original concept pitched to Karthi by director Lokesh Kanagaraj was different, but the actor was drawn to the gritty, action-heavy script of this movie instead.
- The main character, Dilli, shares his name with a character from the 2004 film Kaakha Kaakha, which starred Karthi’s cousin, Suriya, and was also a major action thriller.
- The success of the film led to both a planned sequel, Kaithi 2, and a Hindi remake titled Bholaa, starring Ajay Devgn.
- A memorable moment in the film, the “biriyani scene,” was added late in the scripting process to offer a short, humorous break and to further develop the bond between Dilli and the police officers.
Controversies
Controversies
- Plagiarism Allegations: A man from Kerala, who had been incarcerated in Chennai’s Puzhal Central Prison, filed a legal case against the makers of the film. He claimed that the story of Kaithi was based on his life experiences and that he had narrated his story to producer S. R. Prabhu, who had allegedly paid him an advance of ₹10,000 for it. The petitioner sought compensation of ₹4 crore. The production company, Dream Warrior Pictures, issued a statement saying they had a clean record and were prepared to face any legal action. Ultimately, a Kerala court dismissed the case after investigation, ruling that the film’s story belonged to director Lokesh Kanagaraj.
- Gender Representation Critique: Some film critics pointed out that while the film was a brilliant thriller, it had a notable lack of meaningful female characters. Women were primarily used as emotional anchors or plot devices—Dilli’s motivation to meet his daughter or his late wife’s influence on his life. This critique suggested that in the world of Kaithi, women are often present but without agency, serving mainly to drive the male characters’ actions. This was a point of discussion, though it didn’t significantly impact the film’s box office success or critical reception.
Songs & Soundtrack
Songs – Songless and Tracks are below
| Title | Performer(s) | Length |
| “Kill and Destroy” | Sharanya Gopinath | 3:19 |
| “Dilli’s Swag” | Instrumental | 0:50 |
| “Grief of Dilli” | Instrumental | 3:44 |
| “Rise of Dilli” | Instrumental | 1:19 |
| “Nepolean Theme” | Instrumental | 2:25 |
| “Nee Eppo Varuva Appa” | Instrumental | 1:14 |
| “The Hot Biriyani” | Sam C. S. | 1:50 |
| “The Battle of Cop and Killer” | Instrumental | 1:30 |
| “Kaithi Main Theme” | Instrumental | 0:28 |
| “Beginning of the War” | Instrumental | 2:11 |
| “The Phase of Deathcall” | Instrumental | 0:34 |
| “Eternal Love of Father” | Sam C. S. | 3:14 |
| “Arrival of the Ruffian” | Instrumental | 0:48 |
| “Neel Iravil” | Sam C. S. | 1:21 |
| “The Emotion Hustler” | Instrumental | 0:42 |
| “The Maze” | Instrumental | 0:58 |
| “Night Is Dark” | Sam C. S., Sharanya Gopinath | 1:53 |
Songs & Soundtrack Embed
“Kill and Destroy”
“Dilli’s Swag”
“Grief of Dilli”
“Rise of Dilli”
“Nepolean Theme”
“Nee Eppo Varuva Appa”
“The Hot Biriyani”
“The Battle of Cop and Killer”
“Kaithi Main Theme”
“Beginning of the War”
“The Phase of Deathcall”
“Eternal Love of Father”
“Arrival of the Ruffian”
“Neel Iravil”
“The Emotion Hustler”
“The Maze”
“Night Is Dark”
Trailer & Teaser Embed
Public & Audience Review
Kaithi was a massive hit with viewers, who praised its raw energy and commitment to being a pure action-thriller. Its success was driven by several key elements that resonated strongly with the audience.
- A Unique and Gripping Narrative: People loved the film’s unconventional storytelling, which unfolds entirely over a single night. This “real-time” narrative style created a sense of urgency and tension that captivated audiences from start to finish. The absence of a traditional heroine, songs, and comedy was seen as a bold and refreshing choice that kept the focus squarely on the plot.
- Karthi’s Powerhouse Performance: Karthi’s portrayal of Dilli was widely considered one of the best of his career. Viewers appreciated his ability to deliver a gritty, powerful performance as a character with a deeply emotional motivation. His physical presence and the raw intensity he brought to the action sequences were a major highlight.
- Masterful Direction: Lokesh Kanagaraj earned immense praise for his tight, no-nonsense direction. Audiences applauded his ability to weave together multiple storylines and characters into a cohesive and exhilarating narrative. His cinematic vision was a key factor in the film’s success, and it solidified his reputation as a director to watch.
- Technical Brilliance: The film’s technical aspects were celebrated for enhancing the viewing experience. The dark, atmospheric cinematography by Sathyan Sooryan perfectly captured the mood of the night, while Sam C. S.’s pulsating, songless background score was a character in itself. The action choreography by Anbariv was also a fan favourite, lauded for its realism and intensity.
- Minimalist Storytelling: While the film received overwhelming praise, some audience members noted that the focus on action meant that certain side characters could have been more developed. This minor critique, however, did little to dampen the overall enthusiasm for a movie that delivered exactly what it promised: a high-octane, unforgettable cinematic experience.
This video shows a review of Kaithi and an analysis of its cinematic quality.
First time watching Kaithi movie reaction
IMDB Ratings & Others
| Platform / Source | Rating |
| IMDb | 8.4/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 100% |
| The Times of India | 3.5/5 |
| India Today | 3.5/5 |
| Audience Score | 94% |
| General Consensus | Highly Positive |
Related Movies
Related Movies
Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU)
Kaithi is the inaugural film of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe, a series of interconnected action films.
- Vikram (2022): This film, starring Kamal Haasan, directly follows the events of Kaithi. It delves deeper into the drug mafia and features characters and plot points that expand on the original movie’s universe.
- Leo (2023): Starring Vijay, this movie is another instalment in the LCU, with subtle references and connections that tie into the larger narrative.
- Kaithi 2 (Upcoming): A direct sequel to Kaithi has been announced and is expected to continue the story of Dilli and his ongoing conflict with the drug cartels. As of now, the film does not have a confirmed release date.
Remake
- Bholaa (2023): This is the official Hindi-language remake of Kaithi, directed by and starring Ajay Devgn. The plot follows a recently released prisoner on his way to meet his daughter, who gets caught in a night of conflict with a drug cartel.
Similar Genre Films
These films share a similar style of gritty action, a single-night timeline, or a hyperlink narrative, which are hallmarks of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s work.
- Maanagaram (2017): Lokesh Kanagaraj’s directorial debut. The film is a hyperlink action thriller that connects the lives of several strangers throughout a single night in Chennai.
- Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru (2017): Also starring Karthi, this H. Vinoth-directed film is a critically acclaimed action thriller based on a true story. It’s known for its realistic and intense police procedural narrative and action sequences, a style that audiences found in Kaithi.
- Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru (2016): Directed by Karthick Naren, this neo-noir crime thriller is praised for its non-linear storytelling, dark tone, and a gripping mystery that unfolds over a single night.
Posters
Video Embed
Image Embed
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Kaithi an original film or a remake?
Kaithi is an original story written and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj.1 Its success, however, led to an official Hindi-language remake titled Bholaa, starring Ajay Devgn.2
2. Why does the movie have no songs?
Director Lokesh Kanagaraj made a conscious decision to not include any traditional song sequences. His goal was to maintain a continuous, high-tension narrative without breaks. The film’s entire musical score is a pulsating and atmospheric background track composed by Sam C. S., which serves to drive the pace and emotion of the story.3
3. What is the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU)?
The Lokesh Cinematic Universe is a shared universe of films created by director Lokesh Kanagaraj.4 Kaithi is the first instalment, which was followed by Vikram (2022) and Leo (2023).5 These films feature interconnected plots and recurring characters, creating a larger, sprawling narrative that focuses on a battle against powerful drug cartels.6
4. How does the movie end, and what does the post-credits scene mean?
The film concludes with Dilli successfully destroying the seized drugs and defeating the gang. He is finally on his way to meet his daughter, Amudha. The post-credits scene shows the villain Adaikalam from a jail cell on a phone call, revealing that he knows Dilli from his past.7 This scene served as a direct hint for a potential sequel, Kaithi 2, and a larger plot that would later be explored in the LCU.
5. What is the connection between Kaithi and Vikram?
Vikram is a direct continuation of the LCU, taking place after the events of Kaithi. The characters of Inspector Bejoy and Constable Napoleon from Kaithi reappear in Vikram.8 The massive drug bust in Kaithi becomes a central plot point in Vikram, as the latter film’s heroes investigate the powerful crime syndicate behind the drugs. Dilli is also mentioned by name, and his voice can be heard in a pivotal scene, solidifying the connection.
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