Virumaandi is a 2004 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written, co-edited, produced, and directed by Kamal Haasan, who also performed in the title role.
When she is about to leave, she is covertly told about the immoral practices of Deputy Jailer Peykkaman and his drug peddling racket by the death penalty convict Narayanan.
As she enters the prison for the second day, there is a sit-in protest, demanding the reason for the sudden death of Narayanan due to cardiac arrest.
Angela meets Kothala Thevar, who is serving a double life sentence for assisting in the murder of 24 people in Theni district.
Two years ago, Virumaandi had a large part of the land in Chinna Kolarupatti, their village, and high underground water levels, which are eyed by every other farmer.
Even after his father died, Virumandi still lived there, but at the age of 28, he was convicted for a small crime, whipped and sent back to India.
Virumaandi goes to Nayakkar's village to take revenge at night, and Kothala's gang is forced to save him, where 24 lives are taken.
His only close relation was his grandmother, who practices natural farming without artificial fertilizers and avoids deep bore wells.
He goes to apologize single-handedly at night to Nayakkar's village, but Kothala and his men, thinking he has gone to take revenge, come in groups and hack down innocents to death, despite his pleas.
Peykkaman also reveals that Virumaandi never killed anyone except Kottaisamy and a henchman of Kothala, but his explicit charge sheet got him a death sentence.
A revolt among the jail staff leads to a jailbreak, as Jayanth gets stabbed and Virumaandi saves the evidence and Angela from Peykkaman and his henchmen.
Angela applies for Virumaandi's clemency to the President of India, stating that the six-year prison sentence is enough as he did not commit any other offence other than the action of instant emotion, and to release him immediately.
Virumaandi, on TV, pleas for a quick judgement, either to reach Annalakshmi by hanging to death or to live life as a silent man, seeking retribution.
[4][5] K. Krishnasamy, the leader of Pudhiya Tamizhagam, a caste-based political organisation in Tamil Nadu protested against the title Sandiyar, citing that it might create problems.
[6] Kamal Haasan subsequently met then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa,[7] and the film was later retitled Virumaandi.
[9] For the scenes involving Jallikattu, real-life bulls were brought in and were recorded live and also Nuendo machine was kept at the shooting venue.
[12] Cinematographer Keshav Prakash, who was trained in India and the United States, was an assistant to Ravi K. Chandran in Marudhanayagam project.
Both Kamal Haasan and Keshav Prakash tried to make the film in high definition mode but had to abandon the project due to some technical snags.
Sify called it "vital, sardonic and disturbing brave attempt at good cinema with a provocative message.
"[21] Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote "Virumaandi"s case it [..] is backed by a strong story, astute screenplay, stirring dialogue and deft direction".
[22] Malini Mannath of Chennai Online wrote, "the film yet again reveals Kamal Haasan’s undying passion for cinema, his desire and boldness to experiment, irrespective of commercial viability.
"[23] G. Ulaganathan of Deccan Herald wrote, "It is a disturbing but brave attempt with a provocative message--It is an eloquent argument against capital punishment", but criticised the excessive violence.
[24] Visual Dasan of Kalki praised Haasan for screenplay and direction while also praising Prabhakar's work for recreating real prison set, Ilaiyaraaja for using songs and background score effectively in sync with the story and that their contributions lent helping hand to Haasan.