Plot
The film begins with Velan, a young boy living with his mother, stepbrother, Balan, and stepfather, Subbaiah Pillai, whom he despises. Fifteen years later, Boxer Daniel, a politician, attempts to bribe the residents of 14 villages to win the by-election. When Daniel's goons try to distribute the money, Velan, now a police officer named Osthe Velan, confronts them and seizes the funds. Velan still harbours hatred towards his stepfamily. Balan falls in love with Nirmala, but his father disapproves due to a loan he took to start an oil mill, which he can only repay if Balan marries a wealthy woman.
Meanwhile, Daniel becomes enraged when he learns the money has not been distributed and attempts to contact his goons. The goons mistakenly go to the Kattupakkam Police Station while searching for Osthe Velan's house, leading to a chase between them and the police team. During the pursuit, Velan falls in love with Neduvalli, whose father is a drunkard. Daniel tries to retrieve the money with the collector's support, but Velan refuses to return it and mocks him instead. Daniel confronts Velan at the check post, but Velan displays his attitude, irritating Daniel. Daniel hires a contract killer to eliminate Velan.
Balan steals the money from Velan to marry Nirmala and gives it to her father, who accepts their marriage. Velan asks for Neduvalli's hand in marriage, but she declines, citing her need to care for her ailing father. Upon returning home, Velan discovers his mother's lifeless body. At her funeral, he urges his stepfather and brother to reconcile, but they refuse. A fight ensues between the contract killer's goons and Velan at the railway station, resulting in the contract killer's death. Velan deceives the Police Commissioner, claiming the contract killer was hiding to assassinate Daniel.
Daniel devises a plan to make Velan his bodyguard, but it fails. Velan asks Neduvalli's father to allow him to marry her, and he agrees, sacrificing himself since his daughter wouldn't accept while he was alive. Velan then takes Neduvalli to Balan's wedding, interrupts the ceremony, and marries her instead. Osthe Velan's father is now ashamed of him, but Velan confronts his father aggressively. Daniel requests the minister to suspend Velan, but the minister requires a valid reason. Balan assaults an employee at his father's factory, leading to an altercation with Velan. The people of Kattupakam demand Osthe Velan's suspension, prompting him to apologize to Balan.
The minister informs Velan of his suspension, but Velan aligns himself with the minister, leading to the revocation of the suspension order. Velan poisons Daniel's adulterated alcohol and raids the location where Daniel is present, confiscating the additional money. In retaliation, Daniel sets fire to Subbaiah Pillai's factory, resulting in a heart attack. Daniel recruits Balan as his henchman and plants a bomb in a fruit basket destined for the minister's house, framing Balan. Daniel instructs Balan to kill Velan, but Balan refuses, and Velan fakes his death. The next day, Velan visits his father in the hospital and pays for his operation. Daniel praises Balan but reveals that he murdered Osthe Velan's mother, takes Balan hostage, and engages in a chase with Velan. Velan rescues Balan and kills Daniel with Balan's help. Ultimately, Balan marries Nirmala.
Production
By February 2011, the production company Balaji had acquired the rights to remake Dabangg in Tamil. [3] After considering Bollywood actresses Sonakshi Sinha and Sonam Kapoor, [4] Bengali actress Richa Gangopadhyay (who had starred in a number of Telugu films) was cast as the lead actress. Sonu Sood reprised his role in the original film. [5] Producer-turned-actor VTV Ganesh, after collaborations with Silambarasan in Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa and Vaanam was signed to play the role played by Mahesh Manjrekar in the original film. [6] The production team took some time to finalise the actress for the film's item number. Nayanthara, Shriya Saran, [7] Zareen Khan, [8] Katrina Kaif, Bipasha Basu, [9] Deepika Padukone, Mallika Sherawat and Vidya Balan [10] were reportedly considered, and Sherawat was eventually cast. [11]
The project was launched with a pooja at AVM Productions in Chennai on 10 May 2011, [5] and filming began on 26 June in Mysore. [12] Nearly all of the film was shot in and around Mysore in a single shooting schedule, [13] [14] which was finished by mid-August. [15] Silambarasan began a fitness regime with Sood serving as his coach. [16] The film's final shooting schedule was a song filmed in Dubai. [17] Sherawat shot the item number "Kalasala" in late September and the first week of October in Chennai. [18]
Music
The soundtrack was initially planned to be released on 6 October 2011 (coinciding with Vijayadashami), [19] but the release ceremony was held on 28 October [20] in Chennai. The event was attended by the film's cast and crew, and other celebrities. [21] Vijay, who had worked with Dharani in Ghilli (2004) and Kuruvi (2008), was the guest of honour and unveiled the film's soundtrack CD. [22]
The soundtrack album contains five songs, with lyrics by Vaali and Yugabharathi; Silambarasan wrote the lyrics for "Pondaati". About the song, Silambarasan said that it revolves around a "husband's praise for his wife." [23] "Pondaati" and "Neduvaali" (sung by Rahul Nambiar and Mahathi) are reminiscent of Thaman's compositions "Vaishali" and "Silakaa" for the Telugu film Mirapakaay (2011), respectively. Although Shruti Haasan was rumoured to have sung "Kalasala", [24] veteran singer L. R. Eswari provided the vocal. [25] Elements of "Kalasala Kalasala" were sampled in "Don't Sell Out" by rapper Tinie Tempah. [26]
