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Joshua: Imai Pol Kaakha

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Joshua: Imai Pol Kaakha
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGautham Vasudev Menon
Written byGautham Vasudev Menon
Produced byIshari K. Ganesh
Starring
CinematographyS. R. Kathir
Edited byAnthony
Music byKarthik
Production
company
Vels Film International
Release date
  • 1 March 2024 (2024-03-01)
Running time
140 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Joshua: Imai Pol Kaakha (transl. Joshua: Protect like an Eyelid) is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon and produced by Ishari K. Ganesh. The film, the first instalment in a planned shared universe, stars Varun in the titular role, alongside Raahei, Dhivyadharshini, Mansoor Ali Khan and Krishna. It revolves around an assassin-turned bodyguard seeking to protect his ex-girlfriend from a Mexican drug cartel.

Filming began production in late 2019 but concluded only in 2021, following delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The music was composed by Karthik, while S. R. Kathir and Anthony handled the cinematography and editing of the film.

Joshua: Imai Pol Kaakha was released on 1 March 2024, and received mixed reviews from critics.[1]

Plot

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Joshua, an ex-assassin working for a private security agency in Chennai, is assigned to protect his ex-girlfriend Kundhavi Chidambaram, a lawyer based in New York City. It is revealed that Kundhavi is one of the members of a prosecution team hired to testifying against Leguiziamo alias El Chapo, the leader of a Mexican drug cartel. El Chapo placed a bounty on the team and had them killed, only Kundhavi survived the attack. Kundhavi soon became the main attorney to punish El Chapo, which resulted in El Chapo in hiring local thugs to finish her.

One night, a gang headed by Don Shiva and Koti, Joshua's childhood friend, arrives to kill Kundhavi at the hotel, but Joshua and his men take them down and Joshua gets injured in the process. Joshua learns about the persons behind the attack through his boss Madhavi. Kundhavi gets kidnapped again by Shiva and Koti, but Joshua saves her again and kills Shiva. Koti escapes again and learns that Joshua is his friend. Koti tells his men to leave Kundhavi, while secretly trying to kill her for money. However, Joshua knew about this and a fight ensues in which Joshua spares Koti due to their friendship.

Meanwhile, Kundhavi's father Chidambaram arrives to take Kundhavi to a safe place, but Madhavi realises that Chidambaram hired Koti and Shiva to kill Kundhavi as Chidambaram was involved in El Chapo's drug trade. Kundhavi and Joshua learn about this through Madhavi, where Joshua finishes Chidambaram's henchmen and Kundhavi kills Chidambaram in self-defense. Joshua promises Kundhavi that he will always be with her and will protect her from various dangers.

Cast

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Production

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Development

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In July 2019, Gautham Vasudev Menon was reported to have agreed to direct a film produced by Ishari K. Ganesh of Vels Film International, following the producer's sudden intervention to relieve Menon from financial constraints that he faced during the making of Enai Noki Paayum Thota (2019), with the film starring Ganesh's nephew Varun.[2][3][4] Menon said Suriya was considered for the lead role at one point, but declined as he found the script too similar to that of his other film Kaappaan (2019).[5] Varun, who was shooting for Seeru in which he had gained weight to 94 kilograms for the film, subsequently lost 22 kilograms in order to achieve a sportive look.[6] Some media reports initially suggested that the film would be based on the script of Yohan: Adhyayam Ondru, which was originally planned with Vijay in 2011,[7] but Menon denied this and claimed it was a separate story.[8]

To prepare for his role, Varun trained with Yannick Ben, a renowned Hollywood stunt director, in Paris for a month. Debutant actress Raahei was cast as the lead actress.[9] Darbuka Siva was initially announced as the music composer in November 2019 after working with Menon in Enai Noki Paayum Thota,[10] but was later replaced by playback singer Karthik in February 2020.[11] The antagonist of the film was not disclosed until July 2020, when it was announced that Krishna will play the main antagonist. Krishna trained stunt sequences under Yannick Ben, who also choreographed the action sequences for the film.[12][13]

Filming

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Principal photography began in October 2019.[14] By November 2019, 50% of the film was completed in a single stretch through a schedule in Chennai. The makers shot seven action sequences during January 2020, which include car fights and chasing sequences and later prepared to shoot scenes in the United Kingdom and United States.[6][15] As of June 2020, filming was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By April 2021, filming was complete. Varun began dubbing his lines in April 2022.[16][17][18]

Soundtrack

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The music was composed by Karthik in his third film as composer after Aravaan (2012) and Tamilselvanum Thaniyar Anjalum (2016).[11] The first single "Hey Love", was released on 29 February 2020.[19] The video of the second single "Naan Un Joshua" was released on 17 July 2020, along with the single in music platforms.[20][21] The third single "Tappasu Neram" was released on 11 December 2021.[22] The fourth single "Joshua Siru Paeraasai" was released on 29 February 2024.[23]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Hey Love"Vignesh ShivanShashaa Tirupati04:11
2."Naan Un Joshua"Vignesh ShivanKarthik03:35
3."Tappasu Neram"VivekKrishna K., Gana Guna03:51
4."Joshua Siru Paeraasai"Super SubuKeerthana Vaidyanathan, Niranja Ramanan, Karthik2:46
Total length:14:23

Release

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Joshua: Imai Pol Kaakha was released theatrically on 1 March 2024.[24] The film began streaming on Amazon Prime Video from 28 March 2024.[25]

Critical reception

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Manigandan KR of Times Now gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "Joshua is yet another typical Gautham Vasudev Menon film – one that has class stamped all over it!."[26] Sudhir Srinivasan of The New Indian Express gave 3/5 stars and wrote "At a time when filmmakers, especially the established ones, are going for bigger and bigger, it's a relief to see one aim for something modest, something simple, something with no fluff—and pretty much deliver."[27] Roopa Radhakrishnan of The Times of India gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Joshua: Imai Pol Kaakha works largely due to its action set pieces and music. Joshua, as a character, may be formidable but the same cannot be said about this film."[28]

Ranjani Krishnakumar of The News Minute gave 2/5 stars and wrote "Gautham Vasudev Menon's latest has got love, action, mystery and tension. Yet, none of it captures our emotion or imagination, independently or as a whole. In the end, it's as tiresome as it's tired."[29] Bhuvanesh Chandar of The Hindu wrote "In his most disappointing film yet, director Gautham Menon gives us a terribly weak lead protagonist who cannot hold afloat the emotionless narrative or the uninventive action set-pieces."[30] Harshini S V of Film Companion wrote, "You could like or dislike a Gautham Menon film, but Joshua is a film where you struggle to see the director's touch."[31]

Future

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Joshua: Imai Pol Kaakha is the first of a planned shared universe. Dhruva Natchathiram, which is the forthcoming sophomore instalment in the universe, has Dhivyadharshini reprising her role as Madhavi.[32]

References

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  1. ^ Manu, Hridyambika A (1 March 2024). "Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha Twitter review – Netizens are all for this 'GVM-style action' film despite its 'old story'". OTTPlay. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  2. ^ "ENPT and Dhruva Natchathiram yet to release,Gautham begins a new project?". Sify. 23 July 2019. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Gautham Menon's next to be produced by Isari Ganesh's Vels Films International?". Cinema Express. 20 July 2019. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  4. ^ Balu, Aparajitha (4 November 2019). "Gautham Vasudev Menon's Projects Receive A New Lease Of Life As Vels Steps In". Silverscreen.in. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Here is why Suriya turned down Gautham Vasudev Menon's Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha". The Times of India. 3 August 2020. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b Lakshmi, V (16 July 2020). "Right-handed Varun trains in southpaw stance for Joshua". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Gautham Menon revives Vijay's 'Yohan' with 'Puppy' hero Varun as lead". The Hindu. 16 October 2019. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  8. ^ K, Janani (3 November 2019). "Joshua Imai Pol Khaaka is not Yohan Adiyayam Ondru, confirms Gautham Menon". India Today. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  9. ^ Rajendran, Gopinath (4 November 2019). "Gautham Menon's next titled Joshua to star Varun as lead". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Darbuka Siva to score music for GVM's 'Joshua Imai Pol Kakka'". The Times of India. 26 November 2019. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Music director of 'Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha' changed!". The Times of India. 25 February 2020. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  12. ^ Lakshmi, V (3 August 2020). "Even the villains in Gautham Menon's films have mass appeal: Krishna". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha: Krishna to play antagonist in Gautham Menon film". India Today. 16 July 2020. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  14. ^ CR, Sharanya (19 October 2019). "Varun trains in Paris for GVM's spy thriller Joshua: Adhyayam Ondru". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  15. ^ "Gautham Menon-Varun film titled Joshua". Cinema Express. 3 November 2019. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  16. ^ Kumar, Pradeep (10 June 2020). "Release work on for Vikram's 'Dhruva Natchathiram', says Gautham Menon". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  17. ^ "'Be it for 60 seconds or two hours, we need to keep viewers hooked'". DT Next. 14 March 2021. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Varun starts dubbing for Gautham Vasudev Menon's 'Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha'". The Times of India. 6 April 2022. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  19. ^ Gauthamvasudevmenon [@menongautham] (29 February 2020). "#HeyLove #JOSHUAImaiPolKaakha #Joshua" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 23 December 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "Naan Un Joshua from Gautham Menon's next to be an action song". The New Indian Express. 16 July 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  21. ^ "'Naan Un Joshua': First video song from 'Joshua' promises captivating album from Karthik and Gautham Menon". The Hindu. 17 July 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  22. ^ Think Music India (11 December 2021). Tappasu Neram Lyric Video | JOSHUA Imai Pol Kaakha | Varun | Gautham Vasudev Menon | Karthik. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ "'Joshua Siru Paeraasai' song from Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha out". Cinema Express. 29 February 2024. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  24. ^ "Gautham Vasudev Menon's Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha gets release date". Cinema Express. 16 February 2024. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  25. ^ "Gautham Vasudev Menon's Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha gets OTT premiere". Cinema Express. 28 March 2024. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  26. ^ KR, Manigandan (1 March 2024). "Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha Movie Review: A typical Gautham Menon Film That Has Class Stamped All Over It". Times Now. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  27. ^ Srinivasan, Sudhir (2 March 2024). "'Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha' movie review: A no-frills actioner with good music and enjoyable urgency". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  28. ^ Radhakrishnan, Roopa (1 March 2024). "Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha Movie Review : This inauthentic but charming film fails to make you care for its characters". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  29. ^ Krishnakumar, Ranjani (2 March 2024). "Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha review: A GVM film that lacks punch or passion". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  30. ^ Chandar, Bhuvanesh (1 March 2024). "'Joshua: Imai Pol Kaakha' movie review: Gautham Menon loses the plot — hook, line and sinker — in this chaotic mess". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  31. ^ S V, Harshini (1 March 2024). "Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha Review: Without GVM's Usual Touch, The Flaws Are Glaring In This Action Film". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  32. ^ "Gautham Vasudev Menon says Joshua Imai Pol Kaakh is part of Dhruva Naticharam universe; says this about Simbu's sequel". Hindustan Times. 23 February 2024. Archived from the original on 12 April 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
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