Thaen (transl. Honey) is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by Ganesh Vinayakan. Tharun and Abarnathi feature in the lead role, while Aruldoss and Bava Lakshmanan among others play supporting roles.
| Thaen | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ganesh Vinayakan |
| Written by | Rasi Thangadurai |
| Starring | Tharun Kumar Abarnathi Aruldoss |
| Cinematography | M. Sukumar |
| Music by | Sanath Bharadwaj |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
The film narrates the tale of an uneducated young rural beekeeper facing seemingly unsurmountable challenges when his wife is diagnosed with a rare disease. The film was released on 19 March 2021 and received critical acclaim for its direction, theme and realistic performances by the lead actors .[1][2][3]
Alongside Asuran (2019), the film was the only other Tamil film screened at the Indian Panorama 2020 event in Goa.[4][5] In 2021 it was also shown at the Pune International Film Festival and the Cinequest Film And Creativity Festival.[6][7][8][9]
Soundtrack was composed by Sanath Bharathwaj.[10]
The film opened on 19 March 2021 across Tamil Nadu. A reviewer from Times of India wrote "the hard-hitting dialogues about the government identifying its citizens are engaging enough in the film which has an overdose of melodrama."[11]
A reviewer from The New Indian Express noted "Despite having able lead actors, because of issues with the direction, there is a disconnect between the audience and the film". The critic added "Though Ganesh Vinayakan's Thaen aims to weave a hard-hitting backstory inspired by this tragic event, all the impact it leaves us with is that of a passing news scroll".[12] A reviewer from Film Companion noted "at the center of Thaen is the question of nature versus civilization. It makes a forceful argument for the preservation of our hills, but it's missing nuance and depth."[13][14] Sify.com called the film a "hard-hitting emotional drama".[15] This movie is now streaming on SonyLiv.