# Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum

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

* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.