Kadaisi Ulaga Por (transl. The Last World War) is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language dystopian science fiction action thriller film written, directed and produced by Hiphop Tamizha Aadhi under Hiphop Tamizha Entertainment. The film stars Aadhi, alongside Nassar, Natarajan Subramaniam, Anagha, N. Azhagam Perumal, Harish Uthaman, Munishkanth, Singampuli, Kalyan Master, Elango Kumaravel, Thalaivaasal Vijay and Mahanadi Shankar. It is the first production of the studio and the third directorial venture of Aadhi. The film, set in the year 2028, revolves around the war in India after it refused to alliance with the neighbouring country. The flim didn’t receive mixed reviews and low attention during its theatrical run and performed weak at its box office but was appreciated significantly after its OTT release as it made back the money with overall business.
The film was officially announced in February 2023 under the tentative title Hiphop Tamizha 8, as it is the actor's eighth film as a lead actor, and the official title was announced in July 2024. Principal photography commenced the same month and occurred mostly in Chennai, before wrapping by February 2024. The film has music composed by Hiphop Tamizha, cinematography handled by Arjunraja D. F. Tech and editing by Pradeep E. Ragav.
Kadaisi Ulaga Por was released worldwide on 20 September 2024 in theatres, where it received mixed reviews from critics.
Plot
In 2028, China forms the 'Republic,' an international organization to challenge the United Nations, in ally with Russia and 72 countries, including India's neighbors, with an objective of "One Nation One Republic". They impose economic sanctions on countries refusing to join, leading to a halt in oil supply from Russia and the Middle East. India's foreign exchange reserves plummeted, triggering internal unrest and riots. In the Pacific Ocean, at NATO's camp, a bombing attack is launched by 'Republic' on USA ships, causing petrol prices to skyrocket to Rs.500 per liter.
Kingmaker Natarajan "Nataraj", a benefactor and brother-in-law of bedridden Chief Minister GNR compels GNR's daughter, Keerthana, to enter politics and eventually makes her the Education Minister, despite her reluctance. Keerthana had earlier met Thamizharasan "Thamizh", an orphan, during a trek and fallen in love. Thamizh guides her in making informed political decisions and helps propose a new education policy, gaining her widespread support. However, Nataraj, irritated with Keerthana, orders his friend, Commissioner Prakash Amudhavanan, to uncover the mastermind behind her political moves. Amidst this chaos, the Government of India investigates the Republic-Money Laundering scam.
However, Tamil Nadu police arrests the state's opposition leader before the CBI could apprehend him, as orchestrated by Nataraj and Union Finance Minister Ramakrishnan "Central Ramki," who had allegedly shared black money earned through scams during Central Ramki's tenure as Defence Minister. Since the black money is denominated in Republic currency, it is stored in containers at the Chennai Harbour. To prevent the opposition leader from turning approver to the CBI, Nataraj plans to temporarily detain under the state police and later release him. Nataraj also orchestrates a riot at Puratchi Veeran Pulipandi's meeting, aiming to bring the state under police control, thereby restricting CBI's probe, and using the time to relocate those containers. Keerthana and Thamizh are caught in the riot, and Thamizh tries to escape with Keerthana, but his friend gets killed in a nearby bomb blast, and Thamizh is framed as a terrorist.
The riot spreads across Tamil Nadu, garnering support against Pulipandi's arrest. Paramilitary force takes control over the city, and an emergency is soon expected to be declared. Nataraj exploits actor Revolution Star Rishikanth's fan base by having him state against Pulipandi. An urgent Defence Council meeting addressing the intrusion of Republic warships into India's territorial waters near Vishakapatnam is held making the army get mobilized to Chennai Harbour. Despite Central Ramki's resistance, an emergency is declared, and the army takes control of Tamil Nadu's security, custodying the opposition leader. Nataraj discovers through Prakash Amudhavanan that Thamizh was a special gun marshal in the UN anti-poaching squad and orders his killing. However, Major Prabhjoth Singh arrests Nataraj regarding the squandered black money.
On February 15, 2029, air attacks commence over Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai, even disrupting ISRO's space station connection due to nuclear radiation. Chennai faces severe bombings and from the Madras Regiment office, Thamizharasan, Kingmaker Nataraj, Prabhjoth Singh, Inspector Encounter Dass, Constable Perumal and the opposition leader are seen fleeing the Army Madras Regiment Office amidst bombings. Also, the 'Republic' troops from Sri Lanka, led by Army General of Srilankan base, Priyanka Perriera, infiltrated into Tamil Nadu. The Indian army surrenders after the Republic army's guerrilla warfare and GNR is announced as Prime Minister of the Southern Province. General Tso and the espionage agent
Chu Khoy Sheng establishes eight concentration camps. As supplies dwindle, they target the elderly and injured.
Meanwhile, in Masinagudi, the escaped Thamizh leads a secluded camp, hiding from the 'Republic' forces. Nataraj awakens from a coma and finds Pulipandi, Prabhjoth, Dass, Perumal, and others united under Thamizh. Nataraj attempts to seize control of the camp but fails. Nataraj reforms after witnessing a pregnant woman's tragic death and joins Thamizh. They witness Republic troops arriving nearby for bauxite mining. Nataraj and a few others infiltrate the camp, meet Prakash Amudhavanan and Rishikanth, and with their aid discover the aluminum is for communication antennas. Thamizh devises a strategy to capture Priyanka and negotiate with General Tso. Thamizh, Dass, and Prabhjoth form three teams: Thamizh attacks the maintenance room, Dass and Perumal infiltrate through the loading dock, and Prabhjoth enters the mines. They intoxicate the Republic soldiers using mad honey in their food.
Tamizh fights Priyanka and holds him captive, thereby releasing the captives, but Constable Perumal is killed. However, Pulipandi accidentally shoots Priyanka, foiling the negotiation plans. So, Thamizh devises a new plan to send Priyanka's and other soldiers' bodies to Chennai, threatening to kill the remaining 'Republic' soldiers. Meanwhile, Thamizh infiltrates the torture camp in disguise, Nataraj reunites GNR and Keerthana with Thamizh but Nataraj betrays them, allowing the Republic army to capture them. It is then revealed, that it was a trap set by Thamizh and Nataraj to kill the Republic army soldiers attacking Masinagudi camp and those dead bodies brought from Masinagudi are actually Prabhjoth and his team. They detonate throughout the torture camp building and Pulipandi diverts some soldiers to the TV Station, only to be arrested by Prakash. Thamizh kills General Tso, and GNR is rescued. However, Chu Khoy Sheng triggers the metro train bomb, thereby destroying their own camp and ultimately meeting his demise in the building collapse.
With the Republic army weakened, the people now unite to fight back bravely, dubbing it the 2nd War of Indian Independence. Finally, despite political differences, Pulipandi and GNR greet each other, Nataraj hugs Prakash, and Thamizh reunites with Keerthana. Recognizing Thamizh's leadership, Nataraj resolves to be his kingmaker.
Cast
Production
= Development
=
On 21 February 2023, coinciding the occasion of his birthday, Hiphop Tamizha Aadhi officially announced a project starring himself; however, he did not reveal any further details, including the cast nor crew. Following a year, the film's official title,
Kadaisi Ulaga Por, was announced on 19 July 2024, in addition to the cast and crew. The technical crew includes cinematographer Arjunraja D. F. Tech, editor Pradeep E. Ragav, stunt choreographer Mahesh Mathew and art director R. K. Nagu.
= Filming
=
Principal photography commenced on 21 February 2023. It was predominantly shot in Chennai throughout a single schedule before wrapping exactly a year later, 21 February 2024.
Music
The music and background score is composed by Hiphop Tamizha. The audio rights were acquired by Think Music. The first single titled "Boombastic" was released on 9 August 2024. The second single titled "Suthanthira Swasam" was released on 15 August 2024, coinciding India's Independence Day. The third single titled "Unakaaga" was released on 22 August 2024. The entire soundtrack album was released on 20 September 2024, after the film's release.
Release
= Theatrical
=
Kadaisi Ulaga Por was released worldwide on 20 September 2024.
= Home media
=
The film began streaming on Amazon Prime Video from 24 October 2024.
Reception
Roopa Radhakrishnan of The Times of India rated the film three-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote that "
Kadaisi Ulaga Por deserves appreciation for what it set out to do and how the film has managed to attain it. Of course, the film is not without flaws and there are occasional slumps in between that aren't exactly engaging, but as an overall feature, this Hiphop Tamizha Aadhi directorial is an experience to cherish." Anusha Sundar of OTTplay gave it two-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote that "
Kadaisi Ulaga Por has a solid premise and with someone like Adhi at the front of it, has immense potential to become a dystopian war drama that Tamil cinema has never seen. But with its boggling screenplay and disjointed narrative, the film appears to be less ambitious than it set out to be."
Jayabhuvaneshwari B of The New Indian Express wrote that "the film constantly manages to make you laugh and keep you entertained. Initially, you would expect the film to offer a heavy dose of political sermons with a side of science fiction. While it did offer these things, the action and thriller portions turned out to be the most entertaining." Gopinath Rajendran of The Hindu wrote, "Hiphop Tamizha Adhi’s
Kadaisi Ulaga Por is a mishmash of interesting ideas wrecked by its crude treatment".
References
External links
Kadaisi Ulaga Por at IMDb
