# Jaggubhai

Jaggubhai is a 2010 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by K. S. Ravikumar. The film stars R. Sarathkumar, Shriya Saran and debutant Srisha; it is produced by Sarathkumar's wife Radhika, and Punit Goenka. The film has music composed by Rafee, whilst cinematography is handled by R. D. Rajasekhar and the film is edited by Don Max. The film is a remake of the 2001 French film Wasabi.
The plot follows the journey of an Indian police officer, fondly known as "Jaggubhai", who is sent to Australia on an important mission to deal with anti-social elements there. The film, originally launched as a Rajinikanth-starrer in 2004, resurfaced in 2008 with a new cast with changes to the story. Shooting started months later, and took place in various locations: Melbourne, Australia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Bangkok, Thailand and Chennai, India being primary locations. Most scenes portraying Australia were shot in Malaysia.
Prior to release, the film was controversially leaked online and printed as DVDs, with subsequent actions causing a media uproar in the film industry. The film then re-shot the climax and premiered in Chennai to the most-well attended Tamil film premiere to that point on 27 January 2010.

## Plot

Jagannathan, fondly known as Jaggubhai, is an upright, straightforward, and tough Indian police officer with sharp methods. His way of dealing with the criminals strikes terror in the underground world. Jaggubhai is sent to Australia on an important mission to deal with antisocial elements there. In Australia, he meets Ilavarasi, and they fall in love with each other. Jaggubhai fails in his mission for which he came to Australia, and the brief romance with Ilavarasi also ends abruptly. Jaggubhai returns to India as a dejected officer, failing in both his official duty and personal life. However, fate had something in store for him. 20 years later, or as he says it 21 years later, he gets a call from Australia stating that Ilavarasi is dead and has left him a will. He reaches Australia and is shocked to know that the brief encounter with Ilavarasi had resulted in a daughter named Monisha, who is now a teenager. Jaggubhai realises that he has left behind his daughter and her wish that he should protect her. Monisha thinks he is her mother's friend and tries to act cranky. The threat comes in the form of some antisocial elements who want to eliminate Monisha. These thugs were the same ones who had tricked Jaggubhai 21 years earlier and who had killed Ilavarasi. Now, it is Jaggubhai's duty to save his only daughter and settle old scores with the thugs. He now meets his former colleague Kaaliyappan or MIB. With his help, he kills the thugs and their leader Hamid Ansari (Richard Raj). Monisha then accepts Jaggubhai as her father.

## Cast

* Sarath Kumar as Jagannathan (Jaggubhai)
* Shriya Saran as Monisha Jagannathan
* Srisha as Ilavarasi Jagannathan
* Kiran Rathod as Sumathi
* Goundamani as Kaaliyappan (MIB)
* Richard Raj as Hamid Ansari
* Vijayakumar as Sathyamoorthy, Police Commissioner and Jagannathan's father
* S. V. S. Kumar as Ilavarasan, Ilavarasi's father
* Manimaran Thorasamy as Manimaran
* Neelima Rani as Priya
* Mahendran as Mohan, Monisha's boyfriend
* Ganesh Babu as kidnapped girl's father
* K. S. Ravikumar in a special appearance

## Production

In mid-2004, K. S. Ravikumar planned a film under the title Jaggubhai with the proposed cast including Rajinikanth in the lead role playing a terrorist, and Aishwarya Rai was finalised to play the female lead role. The film had a photoshoot and was touted to be Rajinikanth's comeback film after the debacle of Baba in 2002. Shortly after filming began, however, due to creative differences between Rajinikanth and Ravikumar, Jaggubhai was delayed and subsequently shelved. Ravikumar revived the project in 2008 with R. Sarathkumar as the lead actor. Jacki was signed as the art director while Sarathkumar's home production company Radaan Mediaworks and Zee Motion Pictures collaborated to produce the film.
Sneha, who was picked to portray the mother in the film, opted out due to her discontent in being the mother of the heroine, played by Shriya Saran. After approaching Simran, Padmapriya Janakiraman, Kamalini Mukerji and Vimala Raman for the role, Bollywood actress Tabu agreed to do the mother's role, demanding a sum of 75 lakhs but later walked out of the role. Newcomer Srisha was later handed that certain role. Kiran Rathod was also handed a role in the film, which is touted to be the first of her comeback.

### Internet piracy

A full-length, unfinished version of Jaggubhai was discovered online in December 2009, far from the film's official release date. The leaked copy has some unfinished effects shots and does not contain any voice-overs or dubs. Radhika, Sarathkumar, and Ravikumar held a press meet condemning the film's piracy, in which the former two had become emotional during the discussion. The press meet was supported by Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Suriya among others.

## Soundtrack

The film soundtrack released on 27 September 2009 and was scored by newcomer, Rafee, a Singapore based musician and former assistant to A. R. Rahman. Rediff rated the album 2.5 out of 5 stars.
| Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length |
| "Apple Laptop" | Shankar Mahadevan, Chinmayi | Kabilan | 6:12 |
| "Thuru Thuru" | Maheshwari Rani | Kathal Mathi | 5:35 |
| "Yezhu Vannathil" | Hariharan, Maheshwari Rani | Kabilan | 5:37 |
| "Vaa... Dhinam Dhinam" | Sunitha Sarathy | Na. Muthukumar | 4:43 |
| "Anbulla Maan Vizhiyae (Remix)" | Rafi, Maheshwari Rani | Vaali | 3:20 |
| "Acham, Madam" | Suchitra | Kalyanji | 4:15 |
| "Thuru Thuru" (slow) | Maheshwari Rani | Kadhal Mathi | 4:32 |

## Release

Jaggubhai had a well-attended premiere on 27 January 2010 at a popular multiplex in Chennai, with the event being dubbed as the most well-attended film premiere of all time for a Tamil film. The film was theatrically released two days later.

### Reception

Rediff.com gave a very negative review of the film criticising all major aspects of the film from performance to production values labelling K. S. Ravikumar as "the biggest culprit" whilst mentioning that "the screenplay is silliness personified". Sarath Kumar is described as "a major disappointment, despite being given a role that would make any actor go green with envy", whilst Shriya Saran "gains brownie points by looking hot in various skimpy dresses" despite "not [being] successful in acting". Sify was relatively less critical describing the movie as "run of the mill" though citing that the "major plus point of the film is that it is only 2 hours, and the camera work of RD Rajasekhar is scintillating". Sarath Kumar with his "macho tough look carries the film on his shoulders", while Shriya Saran as the spoiled brat is "adequate". Srisha "can’t emote" while Goundamani is a "scream", continued the review.