Boy) is a 2010 Indian Tamil-language action-adventure film[1] directed by N. Lingusamy and produced by N. Subash Chandra Bose under the banner Thirrupathi Brothers.

[2][3][4] Following a lengthy pre-production phase, during which the film underwent major changes in its main cast and technical crew, it began shooting in December 2008 at various locations throughout South India, most notably in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

After unsuccessful efforts to reach the airport and railway station, Charu asks Shiva to take her to Mumbai.

[10] The following month, sources suggested that he was planning a bilingual project, filming simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu with Karthi and Ram Charan, respectively.

[11][12] However, in early November, reports claimed that Vishal would portray the protagonist after Lingusamy had considered Jayam Ravi for the lead character.

It was to feature the main crew members of Bheemaa, including music director Harris Jayaraj, cinematographer R. D. Rajasekhar and editor Anthony.

[20] Lingusamy disclosed later that he had written two scripts, out of which Karthi eventually chose Paiyaa,[21] because he wanted to do an "urban love story" after two successive roles as a ruffian.

[24] Karthi said he was " ... dying to start shooting for Paiyaa " and to " ... wear good clothes ... and he accepted the film because he " ... desperately wanted to play a cool dude on screen.

[35] However, plans were made to trim the film's budget due to the recession,[21] and discussions were held with Nayanthara to reduce her salary.

[37] Subsequently, Trisha Krishnan was reported to have won the role,[38] before Tamannaah Bhatia was finalised as the female lead, who was signed for ₹80 lakh.

[41] After Karthi had completed his film Aayirathil Oruvan, the principal photography for Paiyaa began on 24 December 2008 at a highway near Bangalore.

[44] In June 2009, after nearly six months of shooting, more than sixty-five percent of the project was completed, with a song and the climax sequences being the remaining parts to be filmed.

[49] The audio launch function was held on 12 February 2010 at the Sathyam Cinemas, Chennai which was attended by many prominent film personalities; director S. Shankar released the soundtrack.

[30][50] The album originally features five songs with vocals by singers Karthik, Benny Dayal, Haricharan, Rahul Nambiar and composer Yuvan Shankar Raja himself.

The album received highly positive reviews and responses from critics and audiences alike and the songs were considered to have played an important role for the film's success.

[53] A Telugu dubbed version of the film titled Awara was released on 21 May 2010 in Andhra Pradesh and also received positive response.

Sify described the film as a "road movie laced with mass elements and extraordinary songs", adding that it is a "jolly good ride".

He said that technically the film was N. Lingusamy's best, with R. Madhi's "eye-catching camera work", Antony's "crisp editing", Rajeevan's "exotic set designs", and praised composer Yuvan Shankar Raja, whose "foot-tapping" songs "scorch just like the desert sun" and were all "rocking", while his background score was a "perfect co-ordination with the narration".

[62] Regarding the technical crew, the reviewer cited that the camera work was "immaculate", while editor Anthony and stunt coordinator Kanal Kannan had done "an incredible and marvellous job".

[63] It too, like the other reviewers, cited that Karthi had brought out an "enjoyable performance", whilst describing Yuvan Shankar Raja as "the major backbone of Paiya".

Moreover, he cited that Brinda Sarathy's dialogues "evoke laughter", the car chasing sequence is "absolutely brilliant", the cinematographer "needs plaudits" and the "crisp editing" by Anthony as a "major plus point."

In contrast, Rediff's Pavithra Srinivasan cited that there was "[n]othing entertaining about Paiyya" and that film was worth a watch only for Karthi's screen presence, "pretty" Tamannaah and Yuvan's songs, despite giving 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Paiyaa was remade in Bengali in 2012 as Jaaneman, starring Soham Chakraborty and Koel Mallick,[71][72] and in Kannada in 2014 as Ajith, with Chiranjeevi Sarja playing the male lead.