There is a template that works not just in India but across the world. A situation arises for these heroes to embrace their old self as the past comes haunting them. Here are some instances in Tamil..

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From Baasha to Kaidhi, Tamil films ft. a hero with a 'past'

There is a template of films that seems to work not just in India but across the world. From John Wick to Shooter, Hollywood has its share of films with heroes who have had a different life and leaves it behind. But the situation arises for them to embrace their old self as the past comes haunting them. Here are some Tamil examples:

CE Features

Published:4th Jun, 2020 at 6:36 PM

Baasha: When we see Manikam, the autokaran, he is a kind and compassionate being, who avoids violence like plague. But there comes a time has to reveal his Baasha to protect his family

Petta: After reading the script of Petta, Rajini told Karthik that only he will be able to pull it off. That's true because the film is an updated version of Baasha.

Asuran: Though Vetri Maaran adapted Poomani's Vekkai for the big screen, the commercial success of Asuran should be credited to the 'Baasha twist'.

Kaidhi: 'Pathu varusham ulla irundhaen mattum thaanae sir theriyum... Ulla porathuku munaadi enna pannirut irundhaen nu theriyadhula,' says Dilli as he is about to let the bad guys fly up in the sky.

Ramanaa: Vijaykanth as a college professor organises a force to fight corruption. It is said that the second film of a director is more important than his debut and ARM couldn't have made done better

Vishwaroopam: The scene were the effeminate dancer transforms into the blood-hungry soldier is easily the best part of this Kamal Haasan film that's all about the past of the hero and the villain.

Citizen: A bike mechanic is not what he claims to be. He keeps telling, 'Naan thani aal illa.' We understand what he means towards the end of the film after a gut-wrenching flashback narration.

Sooriyan: When we first see Sarathkumar in this 1992 film, he homeless and is seen shivering on the roadside. He is rescued by an old lady and gets him a job as a daily labour. People call him Mottai.

Ghajini: It is sort of a converse of the Baasha template. We first see this hero as a violent murdered but as a police officer flips through his diary, we see this handsome Sanjay Ramasamy.

Yennai Arindhaal: Sathyadev IPS infiltrates a Madras crime gang as Sathya befriending Victor (Arun Vijay). He completes the mission by killing the gang leader but the past will haunt him.

Pokkiri: If Ajith has Yennai Arindhaal, Vijay has his. Another undercover cop story, directed by Prabhudheva, turned out to be a blockbuster and sealed his position as a successful director.

Madhurey: Even before Pokkiri, Vijay did a similar but underwhelming film called Madhurey, which is about an IAS officer going into hiding only to take down the enemy.

Vedhalam: This film has this typical 'transformation scene' where this innocent brother turns into a monster, who goes on a killing spree. A flashback reveals where the killing rage is coming from.

:P