Por Thozhil

}}

}}

'''''Por Thozhil''''' ({{translation|The Art of War}}) is a 2023 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[crime thriller film]] directed by Vignesh Raja in his directorial debut and written by Alfred Prakash. The film stars [[R. Sarathkumar]], [[Ashok Selvan]] and [[Nikhila Vimal]], with [[Sarath Babu]], [[Nizhalgal Ravi]], [[Sunil Sukhada]] and [[Santhosh Keezhattoor]] in supporting roles. The music was composed by [[Jakes Bejoy]], while the cinematography and editing were handled by Kalaiselvan Sivaji and Sreejith Sarang.

'''''Por Thozhil''''' ({{translation|The Art of War}}) is a 2023 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[crime thriller film]] directed by Vignesh Raja in his directorial debut and co-written by Alfred Prakash. The film stars [[R. Sarathkumar]], [[Ashok Selvan]] and [[Nikhila Vimal]], with [[Sarath Babu]], [[Nizhalgal Ravi]], [[Sunil Sukhada]] and [[Santhosh Keezhattoor]] in supporting roles. It follows two police officers seeking to apprehend a mysterious serial killer targeting adolescent women.

''Por Thozhil'' was released theatrically on 9 June 2023 to positive reviews from critics and became a commercial success at the box office.

The music was composed by [[Jakes Bejoy]], while the cinematography and editing were handled by Kalaiselvan Sivaji and Sreejith Sarang. ''Por Thozhil'' was released theatrically on 9 June 2023 to positive reviews from critics and became a commercial success.

== Plot ==

== Plot ==

In 2010, Prakash, a newly appointed [[Deputy superintendent of police|DSP]] trainee, is assigned to work with [[Superintendent of police (India)|SP]] Loganathan by [[Additional director general of police|ADGP]] Mahendran. Loganathan reluctantly agrees to mentor him, along with the new technical assistant Veena. From [[Chennai]], the trio set off to [[Tiruchirappalli]] to investigate the gruesome murder of a young girl in deep woods. The doctor concludes that the victim was strangulated from the front with an iron wire, kneeling, with her hair pulled back and tied to the hand. A [[hematoma]] on her neck reveals that the victim was knocked at specific [[pressure point]]s on her to make her unconscious, following which she was kidnapped. The peculiarity of the case makes Loganathan anticipate a series of murders.

In 2010, Prakash, a newly appointed [[Deputy superintendent of police|DSP]] trainee, is assigned to work with [[Superintendent of police (India)|SP]] Loganathan by [[Additional director general of police|ADGP]] Mahendran. Loganathan reluctantly agrees to mentor him, along with the new technical assistant Veena. From [[Chennai]], the trio set off to [[Tiruchirappalli]] to investigate the gruesome murder of a young girl in deep woods. The doctor concludes that the victim was strangulated from the front with an iron wire, kneeling, with her hair pulled back and tied to the hand. A [[hematoma]] on her neck reveals that the victim was knocked at specific [[pressure point]]s on her to make her unconscious, following which she was kidnapped. The peculiarity of the case makes Loganathan anticipate a series of murders.

As predicted, a few more young women are killed in the same manner and their corpses are left in the woods with one of them being the daughter of a police constable. None of the victims had any connection or similarity except their ages (early-mid 20s) and the fact that they were killed in the same manner and abandoned. Over the course of their investigation, Loganathan infers from the modus operandi and the killer's choice of random women, that he must be a psychopath with inferiority complex, who compensates his low self-esteem by putting his victims in a submissive position with their eyes gazing right into his eyes.

As predicted, a few more young women are killed in the same manner, and their corpses are left in the woods with one of them being the daughter of a police constable. None of the victims had any connection or similarity except their adolescent age range and the fact that they were killed in the same manner and abandoned. Over the course of their investigation, Loganathan infers from the modus operandi and the killer's choice of random women, that he must be a psychopath with inferiority complex, who compensates his low self-esteem by putting his victims in a submissive position with their eyes gazing right into his eyes.

Upon further investigation, they arrive at the conclusion that the murders are [[Copycat crime|copycat serial killings]] of women that happened between 1973 and 1979. In disguise, Loganathan visits the house of [[Inspector]] John Sebastian as his acquaintance, who investigated the initial murders in the 1970s, while Prakash visits the district library to find out the patrons who read books on pressure points as books must have been the only source of knowledge for pressure points in the 1970s for a layman. Loganathan is received by John's son Kennedy instead, who reveals that his father died long ago. He also tells him that he has a son Freddy, who studies in [[New Delhi]] and that his wife died recently. While Kennedy prepares tea, Loganathan observes that Kennedy has [[obsessive–compulsive disorder]] as he demands perfection and order. His physique and obsession to keep things in his house neat and organised raise suspicion that Kennedy must be the serial killer.

Upon further investigation, they arrive at the conclusion that the murders are [[Copycat crime|copycat serial killings]] of women that happened between 1973 and 1979. In disguise, Loganathan visits the house of [[Inspector]] John Sebastian as his acquaintance, who investigated the initial murders in the 1970s, while Prakash visits the district library to find out the patrons who read books on pressure points as books must have been the only source of knowledge for pressure points in the 1970s for a layman. Loganathan is received by John's son Kennedy instead, who reveals that his father died long ago. He also tells him that he has a son Freddy, who studies in [[New Delhi]] and that his wife died recently. While Kennedy prepares tea, Loganathan observes that Kennedy has [[obsessive–compulsive disorder]] as he demands perfection and order. His physique and obsession to keep things in his house neat and organised raise suspicion that Kennedy must be the serial killer.

* [[O. A. K. Sundar]] as Ramkumar

* [[O. A. K. Sundar]] as Ramkumar

* [[Santhosh Keezhattoor]] as Inspector John Sebastian

* [[Santhosh Keezhattoor]] as Inspector John Sebastian

* [[Sunil Sukhada]] as NGO worker Muthu Selvan

* [[Sunil Sukhada]] as Muthu Selvan

* Lisha Chinnu as Uma, Muthu Selvan's estranged wife

* Lisha Chinnu as Muthu Selvan's estranged wife

* Mullai Arasi as Maarimuthu's daughter

* Mullai Arasi as Maarimuthu's daughter

}}

}}

== Production ==

== Production ==

''Por Thozhil'' is the directorial debut of Vignesh Raja, who co-wrote the script with Alfred Prakash.{{Cite web |last=Rajendran |first=Sowmya |author-link=Sowmya Rajendran |date=16 June 2023 |title='Por Thozhil' director Vignesh Raja on the making of his Tamil serial-killer blockbuster film |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/entertainment/por-thozhil-director-vignesh-raja-on-the-making-of-his-tamil-serial-killer-blockbuster-film-10804701.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617023449/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/entertainment/por-thozhil-director-vignesh-raja-on-the-making-of-his-tamil-serial-killer-blockbuster-film-10804701.html |archive-date=17 June 2023 |access-date=16 October 2023 |website=[[Moneycontrol]]}} Vignesh initially planned a film where an aspiring filmmaker teams up with a senior police officer to research ideas for a crime thriller film. However, following the release of ''[[Jigarthanda (2014 film)|Jigarthanda]]'' (2014), Vignesh and Alfred made changes to the story to avoid similarities, and completed the first draft. After the release of ''[[Ratsasan]]'' (2018), which Vignesh also felt was too similar, the duo made further changes and completed the script.{{Cite web |last=S V |first=Harshini |date=14 June 2023 |title=If It Were Just Up to Me, Por Thozhil's Ending Would've Been Different: Director Vignesh Raja |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/interviews/tamil-interview/if-it-were-just-up-to-me-por-thozhils-ending-wouldve-been-different-director-vignesh-raja-ashok-selvan-sarath-kumar |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615210540/https://www.filmcompanion.in/interviews/tamil-interview/if-it-were-just-up-to-me-por-thozhils-ending-wouldve-been-different-director-vignesh-raja-ashok-selvan-sarath-kumar |archive-date=15 June 2023 |access-date=16 October 2023 |website=[[Film Companion]]}} The film's title "Por Thozhil" was derived from the line "Por Thozhil Pazhagu" ({{Translation|Learn the art of war}}) from [[Subramania Bharati]]'s poem, "Puthiya Aathi Chuvadi".{{Cite web |last=Purushothaman |first=Kirubhakar |date=8 June 2023 |title=Por Thozhil review: Debutant Vignesh Raja delivers an engaging buddy cop film |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/por-thozhil-review-debutant-vignesh-raja-delivers-an-engaging-buddy-cop-film-8652356/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608124642/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/por-thozhil-review-debutant-vignesh-raja-delivers-an-engaging-buddy-cop-film-8652356/ |archive-date=8 June 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=[[The Indian Express]]}} The film was produced by [[Sameer Nair]] and Deepak Segal under the banner of [[Applause Entertainment]], while it was co-produced by Mukesh R. Mehta, C. V. Sarathi, Poonam Mehra, and Sandeep Mehra.{{Cite web |date=18 April 2023 |title=Know everything about new Tamil thriller 'Por Thozhil' |url=https://theprint.in/feature/know-everything-about-new-tamil-thriller-por-thozhil/1526564/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528085122/https://theprint.in/feature/know-everything-about-new-tamil-thriller-por-thozhil/1526564/ |archive-date=28 May 2023 |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=[[ThePrint]]}} Cinematography was done by Kalaiselvan Sivaji, and Sreejith Sarang handled the editing.{{Cite web |date=16 May 2023 |title=Ashok Selvan's Por Thozhil first look to be out on this date |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/may/16/ashok-selvans-por-thozhil-first-look-to-be-out-on-this-date-43506.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528084651/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/may/16/ashok-selvans-por-thozhil-first-look-to-be-out-on-this-date-43506.html |archive-date=28 May 2023 |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=[[Cinema Express]]}} The film has no songs, and the background score was composed by [[Jakes Bejoy]].{{Cite web |last=Darshan |first=Navein |date=17 May 2023 |title=Director Vignesh Raja: Por Thozhil is a coming-of-age investigative thriller |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/may/17/director-vignesh-raja-por-thozhil-is-a-coming-of-age-investigative-thriller-43544.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528091140/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/may/17/director-vignesh-raja-por-thozhil-is-a-coming-of-age-investigative-thriller-43544.html |archive-date=28 May 2023 |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=[[Cinema Express]]}} The film was shot mostly at night; filming for the night scenes lasted 36 working days.{{Cite web |date=18 May 2023 |title=36 நாட்கள் இரவில் நடந்த போர் தொழில் படப்பிடிப்பு |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/992043-36-days-of-night-shooting-por-thozhil.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624043802/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/992043-36-days-of-night-shooting-por-thozhil.html |archive-date=24 June 2024 |access-date=24 June 2024 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}

''Por Thozhil'' is the directorial debut of Vignesh Raja, who co-wrote the script with Alfred Prakash.{{Cite web |last=Rajendran |first=Sowmya |author-link=Sowmya Rajendran |date=16 June 2023 |title='Por Thozhil' director Vignesh Raja on the making of his Tamil serial-killer blockbuster film |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/entertainment/por-thozhil-director-vignesh-raja-on-the-making-of-his-tamil-serial-killer-blockbuster-film-10804701.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617023449/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/entertainment/por-thozhil-director-vignesh-raja-on-the-making-of-his-tamil-serial-killer-blockbuster-film-10804701.html |archive-date=17 June 2023 |access-date=16 October 2023 |website=[[Moneycontrol]]}} Vignesh initially planned a film where an aspiring filmmaker teams up with a senior police officer to research ideas for a crime thriller film. However, following the release of ''[[Jigarthanda (2014 film)|Jigarthanda]]'' (2014), Vignesh and Alfred made changes to the story to avoid similarities, and completed the first draft. After the release of ''[[Ratsasan]]'' (2018), which Vignesh also felt was too similar, the duo made further changes and completed the script.{{Cite web |last=S V |first=Harshini |date=14 June 2023 |title=If It Were Just Up to Me, Por Thozhil's Ending Would've Been Different: Director Vignesh Raja |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/interviews/tamil-interview/if-it-were-just-up-to-me-por-thozhils-ending-wouldve-been-different-director-vignesh-raja-ashok-selvan-sarath-kumar |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615210540/https://www.filmcompanion.in/interviews/tamil-interview/if-it-were-just-up-to-me-por-thozhils-ending-wouldve-been-different-director-vignesh-raja-ashok-selvan-sarath-kumar |archive-date=15 June 2023 |access-date=16 October 2023 |website=[[Film Companion]]}} The film's title "Por Thozhil" was derived from the line "Por Thozhil Pazhagu" ({{Translation|Learn the art of war}}) from [[Subramania Bharati]]'s poem, "Puthiya Aathi Chuvadi".{{Cite web |last=Purushothaman |first=Kirubhakar |date=8 June 2023 |title=Por Thozhil review: Debutant Vignesh Raja delivers an engaging buddy cop film |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/por-thozhil-review-debutant-vignesh-raja-delivers-an-engaging-buddy-cop-film-8652356/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608124642/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/por-thozhil-review-debutant-vignesh-raja-delivers-an-engaging-buddy-cop-film-8652356/ |archive-date=8 June 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=[[The Indian Express]]}} The film was produced by [[Sameer Nair]] and Deepak Segal under the banner of [[Applause Entertainment]], while it was co-produced by Mukesh R. Mehta, C. V. Sarathi, Poonam Mehra, and Sandeep Mehra.{{Cite web |date=18 April 2023 |title=Know everything about new Tamil thriller 'Por Thozhil' |url=https://theprint.in/feature/know-everything-about-new-tamil-thriller-por-thozhil/1526564/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528085122/https://theprint.in/feature/know-everything-about-new-tamil-thriller-por-thozhil/1526564/ |archive-date=28 May 2023 |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=[[ThePrint]]}} Cinematography was done by Kalaiselvan Sivaji, and Sreejith Sarang handled the editing.{{Cite web |date=16 May 2023 |title=Ashok Selvan's Por Thozhil first look to be out on this date |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/may/16/ashok-selvans-por-thozhil-first-look-to-be-out-on-this-date-43506.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528084651/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/may/16/ashok-selvans-por-thozhil-first-look-to-be-out-on-this-date-43506.html |archive-date=28 May 2023 |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=[[Cinema Express]]}} The film has no songs, and the background score was composed by [[Jakes Bejoy]].{{Cite web |last=Darshan |first=Navein |date=17 May 2023 |title=Director Vignesh Raja: Por Thozhil is a coming-of-age investigative thriller |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/may/17/director-vignesh-raja-por-thozhil-is-a-coming-of-age-investigative-thriller-43544.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528091140/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/may/17/director-vignesh-raja-por-thozhil-is-a-coming-of-age-investigative-thriller-43544.html |archive-date=28 May 2023 |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=[[Cinema Express]]}} The film was shot mostly at night; filming for the night scenes lasted 36 working days.{{Cite web |date=18 May 2023 |title=36 நாட்கள் இரவில் நடந்த போர் தொழில் படப்பிடிப்பு |trans-title=The filming of ''Por Thozhil'' took place over 36 nights |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/992043-36-days-of-night-shooting-por-thozhil.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624043802/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/992043-36-days-of-night-shooting-por-thozhil.html |archive-date=24 June 2024 |access-date=24 June 2024 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}

== Release ==

== Release ==