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Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum
Promotional poster
Directed by	Mysskin
Written by	Mysskin
Produced by	Mysskin
Starring	Sri Mysskin Shaji Chen Adithya
Cinematography	Balaji V. Rangha
Edited by	Gopinath
Music by	Ilaiyaraaja
Production company	Lone Wolf Productions
Distributed by	Janus Pictures Vetrivel Creations
Release date	27 September 2013 (2013-09-27)
Running time	142 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum (English: The Wolf and The Lamb) is a 2013 Indian Tamil-language neo-noir thriller film written, directed, and produced by Mysskin. Sri of Vazhakku Enn 18/9 fame, Mysskin, and Shaji Chen play the lead roles in the film. The film score was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film had no heroine and no songs. Filming began on 11 March 2013 and the crew shot the entire film in and around Chennai city. Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum was released on 27 September 2013 and got universal acclaim. This film acquired cult status in Tamil cinema and inspired similar themes.

Plot

A man with a gunshot wound collapses on the side of a road, where passersby notice him but avoid taking any action. Chandru, a medical student, comes across the bleeding man and tries to get him medical help, but to no avail. Finally, he takes the stranger to his house and performs surgery to save his life. This act comes to haunt him, as the man, known as Wolf, actually escaped police that night. Chandru’s entire family is taken into police custody for aiding and abetting a criminal.

Meanwhile, at the police station, a police officer is seen giving information about Wolf’s whereabouts to Thamba, another criminal. Thamba wants to kill Wolf and his family. Chandru receives a phone call from Wolf, who wants to meet him at a train station. The police give Chandru a gun and ask him to kill Wolf, as they know Wolf will flee if he sees police nearby. However, Wolf kidnaps Chandru on a hijacked train. They go to a temple, where Wolf meets a blind woman. While waiting near a building, Chandru attacks Wolf with a rock and subdues him. As Chandru goes to call the police, Wolf escapes with the woman.

Chandru follows Wolf and sees him meeting another woman and a little girl who is also blind. Confronting Wolf again, Chandru threatens to shoot the girl and forces, Wolf, to the ground. They’re, however, kidnapped by Thamba’s men in a van. Wolf and Chandru gain control of the van after Wolf pushes out one of Thamba’s men. They go to Calvary Cemetery, where another blind man awaits. All of them are actually there to light candles in a memorial for the blind man and woman’s son, who was inadvertently killed by Wolf while working for Thamba. Since then, Wolf has been taking care of the family, and they, in turn, treat him like their own son. Wolf had also stopped working for Thamba, hence why Thamba wants to kill him. Just then, the police and one of Thamba’s men attacked them and killed the blind man and another lady.

Wolf carries the blind woman and little girl to a basement car park, where someone is supposed to fetch them. However, Thamba’s men ambush and kill the woman while Wolf was protecting the little girl. Chandru, realising Wolf is not as evil as depicted by the police, rushes to help Wolf kill Thamba’s men. Wolf, convinced that Chandru would take care of the girl, shoots himself in the stomach and surrenders to the police. The movie ends with Chandru walking away from a scene, carrying the girl.

Cast

• Sri as Chandru, Medical student treats wolf and aids him
• Mysskin as Wolf / Edward, Fugitive gun shot at spleen
• Shaji Chen as Lal, CBCID aids Wolf
• Adithya as Yuva
• Raj Bharath as Thamba, Wants to kill wolf
• Neelima Rani as Chandru's sister-in-law
• Baby Chaitanya as Karthi, daughter of lamb family
• Shaukat as father of lamb family
• Mona as Priscilla, mother of lamb family
• Sreeram as Isac
• Angel Glady as Bharati/Forest fairy, Care taker of Karthi
• Supergood Subramani as Police officer
• Gajaraj as Pitchai, Cob aids Thamba
• Ravi Venkatraman

Production

On 16 February 2013 Mysskin announced his new production company Lone Wolf Productions and two days later newspaper ads came out with the title of his new film, Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum, and its design. The film was started with a pooja launch at the producer and directors office where only his close associates were present. Young actor Sri of Vazhakku Enn 18/9 fame was roped in to do the lead.

The shooting happened in and around Chennai. Most of the shooting was happening at night because the story is set against the backdrop of darkness.

In June 2013, a trailer of Onaiyum Aatukuttiyum was released on YouTube, Though Ilaiyaraaja was signed as the composer, the trailer had Austrian composer Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5.

Themes and Interpretations

1. Moral Ambiguity and the Grayness of Good and Evil The film challenges conventional notions of morality by portraying Wolf, a criminal, as a complex character with redeeming qualities. His care for the blind family and ultimate sacrifice contrast with the unethical actions of the police and other criminals, showing that good and evil are not always clear-cut.
2. Redemption and Atonement Wolf’s journey reflects a desire for redemption. Despite his violent past, his actions to protect the blind family and the little girl signify his attempt to atone for his mistakes. His ultimate surrender and sacrifice highlight his transformation from a predator to a protector.
3. The Cost of Doing Good Chandru, an innocent medical student, becomes embroiled in chaos simply because he chooses to save a life. His act of compassion leads to unintended consequences, questioning whether doing the right thing is worth the cost when society punishes such actions.
4. Sacrifice and Selflessness Several characters exhibit selflessness, particularly Wolf, who sacrifices his freedom and eventually his life to ensure the safety of the blind girl. Chandru also risks his life to support Wolf and the girl, showing the profound impact of selfless choices.
5. Systemic Corruption The film critiques institutional corruption, with police officers depicted as being more interested in using Chandru to their advantage than upholding justice. Their collusion with criminals like Thamba exposes the rot within the system.
6. Blindness as a Metaphor The recurring motif of blindness symbolizes the inability of society to see the truth, both figuratively and literally. The blind family represents innocence and vulnerability, while society’s blind adherence to preconceived notions about right and wrong further complicates the narrative.
7. Human Connection in a Cynical World Despite its dark tones, the film underscores the importance of human connection. The bond between Wolf and the blind family, as well as the evolving relationship between Chandru and Wolf, showcases the resilience of empathy amidst violence and betrayal.
8. Neo-Noir Atmosphere The film’s dark, atmospheric tone and minimalist storytelling enhance its neo-noir themes, emphasizing fatalism, moral complexity, and the gritty underbelly of urban life.

Interpretation of the Title

The title Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum (The Wolf and the Lamb) is symbolic of the duality in human nature. Wolf represents the predator dangerous but with a capacity for love and sacrifice. The lamb, represented by Chandru and the blind family, symbolizes innocence and vulnerability. Yet, the roles blur throughout the film, as both predator and prey demonstrate unexpected strength and fragility.

Music

Ilaiyaraaja composed the film score. The film did not have any songs and Ilaiyaraaja after two decades composed the BGM only for a film. Instrumental pieces from the score were released before the film's release. Mysskin released the background score for free to download in his production website as a tribute to Ilaiyaraaja.

Release

The satellite rights of the film were secured by STAR Vijay. The film was given a "U/A" certificate by the Indian Censor Board

Reception

Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum opened to rave reviews. Sudhish Kamath wrote, "Mysskin has once again proved that he’s one of the most exciting, even if inconsistent, filmmakers of our times. The actor-director is in sparkling form as he returns with a career-best in this dark, gritty, moody, philosophical metaphor-infested chase film that’s mostly brilliant. Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum compares well with world cinema but with a little more restraint and understatement, Mysskin has every potential to breakout at the international festival circuit and make us proud someday". Sify wrote "Onayum Aatukuttiyum is a gripping edge of the seat emotional dark thriller which also entertains. Onayum Aatukuttiyum is a stylishly made thriller and a class act. Haricharan Pudipeddi of IANS gave 4 stars out of 5 and wrote "OA arrives sans fanfare, but it sweeps you off your feet with an engrossing narrative, told mostly through one night. OA is a cut above Mysskin`s previous works. He crushes all cinematic cliches with this effort and manages to gives us a film we deserve". The Times of India gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote "on the whole, Onaiyum Aatukuttiyum, while a rung below Anjathey in the filmography of Mysskin, is a tense thriller, one of the interesting films of the year, that is yet another showcase for its maker".

Rediff too gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote, "Mysskin has scripted a brilliant tale filled with human emotions and dark humour, cleverly maintaining the suspense element in the film until the very end". The New Indian Express wrote, "Mysskin’s wolf and the lamb saga is refreshing, exciting and offers a different viewing experience to Tamil audience". Behindwoods gave 3.5 out of 5 and wrote "Mysskin’s Onaayum Aattukuttiyum is marked by apt performances, engaging screen play, intelligent narration and a sincere execution accompanied by technical flashes of brilliance. Indiaglitz have 3.25 out of 5 and wrote, "OA has every desirable aspect of Myskin's previous thrillers viz. nail-biting narration, neat performances, riveting re-recording, natural lights and as an addition to these there is no songs spoiling the narration in the movie".

Sudish Kamath later picked it as one of five films that have redefined Tamil cinema, writing, "Mysskin hits peak form as a storyteller with the most evolved sense of visual grammar in this part of the world". It was also featured in the year-end top Tamil films lists of Sify and Rediff.

Box office

The film good opening at the box office and collected ₹ 2 crore rupees in 3 days. The film ran for more than 5 weeks in some movie halls.

The film was premiered on television on Diwali day (2 November 2013), while the film was still running in theaters.

Legacy

The movie has achieved cult status among audiences. Even though it performed fairly well at the box-office it didn't get the recognition at first, it has been called one of the best Tamil films of all time in several lists.

References

1. ^ "'Onaiyum Aatukuttiyum' teaser released!". The Times of India. TNN. 3 June 2013. Archived from the original on 19 September 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
2. ^ Gupta, Rinku (25 September 2013). "An edge-of-the-seat thriller". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
3. "Mysskin's film in news". The Times of India. TNN. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
4. "'Onayum Aatukuttiyum' Review Roundup: Don't Miss This Suspense Thriller — International Business Times". Ibtimes.co.in. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
5. "I want to die while I am behind the camera on the sets: Mysskin - The Hindu". The Hindu. 4 October 2013.
6. "Mysskin announces his new film". Sify. 18 February 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
7. "Mysskin to start 'Onaiyum Aatukuttiyum'". Sify. 21 February 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
8. ^ "Mysskin kicks starts". IndiaGlitz. 23 February 2013. Archived from the original on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
9. "Gustav Mahler's 'Symphony No.5' for 'Onayum Aatukuttiyu'". Sify. 8 June 2013. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
10. "Gustav Mahler's 'Symphony No.5' for 'Onayum Aatukuttiyu'". Business Standard India. Business Standard. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
11. "Ilayaraja to compose only BGM after two decades". IndiaGlitz. 8 June 2013. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
12. "As tribute to maestro Mysskin offers music free - The Hindu". The Hindu. 30 September 2013.
13. Sudhish Kamath (28 September 2013). "Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum: Wolf-whistle for Mysskin". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
14. "Movie Review : Onayum Aatukuttiyum". Sify. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
15. "'Onayum Aatukuttiyum' review: Edge-of-the-seat tale of redemption". Zeenews.india.com. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
16. "Onaiyum Aatukuttiyum movie review: Wallpaper, Story, Trailer at Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013.
17. "Review: Tamil film Onayum Aatukuttiyum is brilliant - Rediff.com".
18. Mannath, Malini. "Wolf and lamb saga, each entwined with the other". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
19. "Onayum Aatukuttiyum Movie Review Onayum Aatukuttiyum, Mysskin, Ilayaraja". Behindwoods. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
20. "Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum Tamil Movie Review". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
21. Kamath, Sudhish (28 December 2013). "A shot at standing out - The Hindu". The Hindu.
22. "Critics' choice- 10 best Tamil films of 2013". Sify. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
23. "The Top Tamil Films of 2013 - Rediff.com".
24. "Onayum Aatukuttiyum box office collection".
25. "Vijay TV to telecast Onayum Aatukuttiyum this Diwali".
26. "Top 10 Most Underrated Movies in Tamil | Latest Articles".
27. "Tamil Cinema is Great. Here Are 20 Tamil Movies You Must See". 20 June 2017.

External links

• Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum at IMDb

• 2013 films
• 2013 action thriller films
• 2013 crime thriller films
• 2010s chase films
• Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja
• Indian action thriller films
• Indian crime thriller films
• Indian chase films
• Films directed by Mysskin
• Films set in Chennai
• Films shot in Chennai
• Fictional portrayals of the Tamil Nadu Police
• Films about blind people in India