Viduthalai Part 1
Viduthalai Part 1 () is a 2023 Indian Tamil-language period crime thriller film written and directed by Vetrimaaran, and produced by Elred Kumar under the banners of RS Infotainment. It is adapted from the short story "Thunaivan" () written by B. Jeyamohan. The film stars Soori, Vijay Sethupathi, Bhavani Sre, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Rajiv Menon and Ilavarasu. It was presented by RS Infotainment. Viduthalai: Part 1 was released worldwide theatrically on the 31st March, 2023. The film was a critical and commercial success, receiving praise for its characterisation, cast performances, plot, technical aspects, background music and cinematography. The sequel Viduthalai Part 2 is scheduled for a release in early 2024. Plot 
In 1987, a train accident occurs in rural Tamil Nadu, leaving many people severely injured or dead. Emergency responders and government officials arrive at the scene, where the State and Union ministers are visibly disturbed by the loss of life. Investigations reveal that the extremist group, Makkal Padai (), caused the incident to protest against the state government's decision to allow a mining company to take over their hilltop village for a project. Due to this, the government announces "Operation Ghosthunt" to capture the group's leader "Vaathiyar" Perumal, a "ghost" whom nobody has ever seen. Kumaresan, a newly-recruited constable, is recruited for the operation. He undergoes police training and joins E Company as a new driver. Kumaresan learns about the complicated alliances and conflicts between Makkal Padai and the government, and also discovers that following orders is essential, and that he cannot always help the locals, which conflicts with his helpful nature. He also discovers about the intricacies of bureaucracy and the difficulties of professional life, especially as a newly recruited officer. Kumaresan also falls in love with Tamilarasi "Pappa", the granddaughter of a woman he once rescued, and they begin to spend time together. Due to a brutal incident orchestrated by E Company's Officer-in-charge (OC) Ragavendar, the government assigns DSP Sunil Menon as the head of the operation. The police decide to turn the residents of the hill village against Perumal. Sunil interrogates a villager and manages to sketch Perumal's face, causing Kumaresan to that to realise that the people he helped during his duty hours were actually Perumal and his men. He relays this information to Head Constable Chandran, unaware that Chandran is actually a part of "Makkal Padai" and Perumal's mole. Chandran secretly informs Perumal about Kumaresan. Makkal Padai attempts to assassinate Sunil, but he manages to escape unscathed. Sunil orders some of his officers to disguise themselves as members of Makkal Padai, to earn the trust of the villagers. Kumaresan learns from Pappa that Perumal has actually been targeting police officers who are committing atrocities against innocents in the name of police interrogation. She also reveals that officers were involved in the death of her father, and her mother subsequently having a mental breakdown. Kumaresan realises the extent of police brutality against the villagers, and how he is contributing to it by working for the police. On the day that construction begins in the hilltop village, Makkal Padai attacks the inauguration ceremony, shooting four officers dead. Enraged, Sunil orders the police to arrest any villagers who are suspected to be involved with Makkal Padai. The police drag the villagers away for interrogation, and Pappa's grandmother is killed during torture. Days later, Pappa herself is arrested and tortured naked along with other women and men from her village by E company, as the police believe that one of them is a close relative of a leader of Makkal Padai. Wracked with guilt, Kumaresan meets and tells Sunil about Perumal's hideout and is assigned along with 10 other officers to arrest him. After a massive shootout, Kumaresan manages to arrest Perumal, while Pappa draws police attention away to save others, and she is taken away. Perumal is interrogated in custody, while Kumaresan is unable to find Pappa in any cells. In the mid-credits scene, Ragavendar suspends Kumaresan on the same night, for not filing an act-of-subordination memo and also declares he will take credit for  Kumaresan's effort to arrest Perumal. A daring photographer breaks into the camp, photographs an imprisoned woman and records the brutal atrocities by the police department. After getting arrested, Perumal is interrogated and insulted by Sunil. Later, Perumal somehow manages to escape, and meets with Kumaresan in the forest. He tells some important information about the train attack to Kumaresan, and bids him and the police to find the truth behind the attack. 