# Osthe

Osthe (The Best) is a 2011 Indian Tamil-language action comedy film directed by S. Dharani, a remake of the 2010 Bollywood film Dabangg. It stars Silambarasan, Richa Gangopadhyay, Sonu Sood, Jithan Ramesh, Santhanam, VTV Ganesh, Nassar and Revathi. Osthe tells the story of a fearless police officer, "Osthi" Velan (Silambarasan), and his troubled relationship with his stepfather and half-brother as he embarks on a mission to take down a corrupt politician. Sonu Sood reprised his role from Dabangg.
Produced by Balaji Real Media, Renny Johnson and distributed by Reliance Entertainment, the film was launched at AVM Studios in Chennai in May 2011; principal photography began in Mysore the following month. Its music was composed by Sai Thaman, with cinematography by Gopinath and editing by V. T. Vijayan. The film was released worldwide on 8 December 2011 to mixed reviews from critics. It was a lukewarm box-office hit.

## Plot

The film begins with Velan, a young boy living with his mother, stepbrother, Balan, and stepfather, Subbaiah Pillai, whom he despises. Fifteen years later, Boxer Daniel, a politician, attempts to bribe the residents of 14 villages to win the by-election. When Daniel's goons try to distribute the money, Velan, now a police officer named Osthe Velan, confronts them and seizes the funds. Velan still harbours hatred towards his stepfamily. Balan falls in love with Nirmala, but his father disapproves due to a loan he took to start an oil mill, which he can only repay if Balan marries a wealthy woman.
Meanwhile, Boxer Daniel becomes enraged when he learns the money has not been distributed and attempts to contact his goons. The goons mistakenly go to the Kattupakkam Police Station while searching for Osthe Velan's house, leading to a chase between them and the police team. During the pursuit, Osthe Velan falls in love with Neduvalli, whose father is a drunk. Daniel tries to retrieve the money with the collector's support, but Osthe Velan refuses to return it and mocks him instead. Daniel confronts Osthe Velan at the check post, but Osthe Velan displays his attitude, irritating Daniel. Daniel hires a contract killer to eliminate Osthe Velan.
Balan steals the money from Velan to marry Nirmala and gives it to her father, who accepts their marriage. Osthe Velan asks for Neduvalli's hand in marriage, but she declines, citing her need to care for her ailing father. Upon returning home, Osthe Velan discovers his mother's lifeless body. At her funeral, he urges his stepfather and brother to reconcile, but they refuse. A fight ensues between the contract killer's goons and Osthe Velan at the railway station, resulting in the contract killer's death. Osthe Velan deceives the Police Commissioner, claiming the contract killer was hiding to assassinate Daniel.
Daniel devises a plan to make Osthe Velan his bodyguard, but it fails. Osthe Velan asks Neduvalli's father to allow him to marry her, and he agrees, sacrificing himself since his daughter wouldn't accept. At the same time, he's alive. Osthe Velan then takes Neduvalli to Balan's wedding, interrupts the ceremony, and marries her instead. Osthe Velan's father is now ashamed of him, but Osthe Velan confronts his father aggressively. Daniel requests the minister to suspend Osthe Velan, but the minister requires a valid reason. Balan assaults an employee at his father's factory, leading to an altercation with Osthe Velan. The people of Kattupakam demand Osthe Velan's suspension, prompting him to apologize to Balan.
The minister informs Osthe Velan of his suspension, but Osthe Velan aligns himself with the minister, leading to the revocation of the suspension order. Osthe Velan poisons Daniel's adulterated alcohol and raids the location where Daniel is present, confiscating the additional money. In retaliation, Daniel sets fire to Subbaiah Pillai's factory, resulting in a heart attack. Daniel recruits Balan as his henchman and plants a bomb in a fruit basket destined for the minister's house, framing Balan. Daniel instructs Balan to kill Osthe Velan, but Balan refuses, and Osthe Velan fakes his death. The next day, Osthe Velan visits his father in the hospital and pays for his operation. Daniel praises Balan but reveals that he murdered Osthe Velan's mother, takes Balan hostage, and engages in a chase with Osthe Velan. Osthe Velan rescues Balan and kills Daniel. Ultimately, Balan marries Nirmala.

## Cast

* Silambarasan as Inspector Osthi Velan
* Richa Gangopadhyay as Neduvaali Velan
* Revathi as Velan and Balan's mother
* Sonu Sood as Boxer Daniel, main antagonist
* Jithan Ramesh as Balan, Velan's stepbrother
* Saranya Mohan as Nirmala, Balan's love interest
* Santhanam as Constable Selvam
* Nassar as Subbaiah Pillai, Velan's adopted father and Balan's father
* VTV Ganesh as Neduvaali's father
* Nizhalgal Ravi as Thangaperumal, Nirmala's father
* Vijayakumar as Minister Kalaipandian
* Thambi Ramaiah as Constable Maasaana Moorthi
* Mayilsamy as Constable Sennamadan
* Vaiyapuri as Constable Seethapathi
* Aadukalam Naren as Police Commissioner Alexander
* Azhagam Perumal as Shankaralingam
* Bava Lakshmanan as Veeralingam, Selvam's sidekick
* Karate Raja as Boxer Daniel's henchman
* Bala Singh as District Collector
* Senthi Kumari as Masana Moorthy's wife
* John Kokken as Local Don
* Rithu Mangal as Journalist
* Nagesh Krishnamoorthy as Astrologer
* Bonda Mani
* Kottachi
* J. Ram as Boxer Daniel's henchman, who asked Selvam to tell him the directions to Velan's house.
* Chaplin Balu
* Robert (in the song "Neduvaali")
* S. Dharani as himself (in the song "Osthe Maamey")
* Mallika Sherawat as herself (in the song "Kalasala")

## Production
### Casting

After considering Bollywood actresses Sonakshi Sinha and Sonam Kapoor, Bengali actress Richa Gangopadhyay (who had starred in a number of Telugu films) was cast as Osthe's love interest. Jithan Ramesh was cast as Balan, and Sonu Sood reprised his role in the original film. Reports that Madhu Shalini had been signed to play Balan's girlfriend were dismissed by Silambarasan, who said that Saranya Mohan was cast in the role. Producer-turned-actor VTV Ganesh, after collaborations with Silambarasan in Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa and Vaanam was signed to play Nirmala's father (played by Mahesh Manjrekar in the original film). The production team took some time to finalise the actress for the film's item number. Nayantara, Shriya Saran, Zarine Khan, Katrina Kaif, Bipasha Basu, Deepika Padukone, Mallika Sherawat and Vidya Balan were reportedly considered, and Sherawat was eventually cast.

### Filming

The project was launched with a pooja at AVM Productions in Chennai on 10 May 2011, and filming began on 26 June in Mysore. Nearly all of the film was shot in and around Mysore in a single shooting schedule, which was finished by mid-August. Silambarasan began a fitness regime with workouts at the gym, unlike Salman Khan (who went on a special diet to lose his six-pack abs). The film's final shooting schedule was a song filmed in Dubai. Mallika Sherawat shot the item number "Kalasala" in late September and the first week of October in Chennai.

## Music

The soundtrack was initially planned to be released on 6 October 2011 (coinciding with Vijayadashami), but the release ceremony was held on 28 October in Chennai. The event was attended by the film's cast and crew, and other celebrities. Vijay, who had worked with Dharani in Ghilli (2004) and Kuruvi (2008), was the guest of honour and unveiled the film's soundtrack CD.
The soundtrack album contains five songs, with lyrics by Vaali and Yugabharathi; Silambarasan wrote the lyrics for "Pondaati". About the song, Silambarasan said that it revolves around a "husband's praise for his wife." "Pondaati" and "Neduvaali" (sung by Rahul Nambiar and Mahathi) are reminiscent of Thaman's compositions for the Telugu film Mirapakaay (2011), and "Kalasala" resembles the song "Munni Badnaam Hui" from Dabangg. Although Shruti Haasan was rumoured to have sung "Kalasala", veteran singer L. R. Eswari provided the vocal. Elements of "Kalasala Kalasala" were sampled in "Don't Sell Out" by rapper Tinie Tempah.

## Release

The film's satellite rights were secured by Sun TV for ₹4.50 crore (US$520,000). Osthe was released on 8 December 2011, which coincided with Karthikai Deepam. The film, released on over 110 screens overseas, was the largest-ever overseas release in Silambarasan's career; the actor called it the "biggest action film that he has done so far". A Telugu-dubbed version was planned to be released in April 2015 but was cancelled due to plans of remaking this in Telugu.

## Reception
### Critical reception

Osthe opened to mixed reviews. A New Indian Express reviewer said, "Unfortunately it's unable to recreate the same magic of the earlier version, the film a passable routine masala entertainer" and the film lacked the punch in original. A Deccan Chronicle reviewer gave the film three stars and said, "Osthe is worth watching once." Malathi Rangarajan of thehindu.com said, "If Dabangg could make it, Osthe should! And if Salman could do it, so can STR." Pavithra Srinivasan of Rediff rated the film two out of five: "Osthe lacks the magic that made Dabangg work." According to an IndiaGlitz.com reviewer, "Osthe ends up as an entertainer." Behindwoods rated the film 2.5 out of five, calling it entertaining; Sify also called it a "time-pass entertainer." Rohit Ramachandran of Nowrunning.com rated the film two out of five, calling it "a snoozefest."

### Box office

Osthi earned ₹ 3 crore worldwide on its opening day, and was reported as having a "flying start at the box office".