Kick (2023 film)

2023 Indian film

Kick

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Prashant Raj
Written by| Prashant Raj
Produced by| Naveen Raj
Starring|

* Santhanam
* Tanya Hope

Cinematography| Sudhakar S. Raj
Edited by| Nagooran Ramachandran
Music by| Arjun Janya

Production
company

Fortune Films

Release date

* 1 September 2023 (2023-09-01)

Country| India
Language| Tamil

Kick is a 2023 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Prashant Raj. It is produced by Naveen Raj under the production banner Fortune Films. A remake of the director's Kannada film Zoom (2016) which itself is a remake of Lover Come Back (1961),[1] the film stars Santhanam and Tanya Hope in the lead roles, Ragini Dwivedi, Brahmanandam, Mansoor Ali Khan, Senthil, Thambi Ramaiah, Kovai Sarala, and Manobala in supporting roles.

The film was announced in January 2022 under the tentative title Santa15,[2] while the official title Kick was revealed in August.[3] Principal photography commenced in April 2022,[4] and wrapped in July.[5] The music is composed by Arjun Janya, while the cinematography and editing are handled by Sudhakar S. Raj and Nagooran Ramachandran, respectively.[6] The film was released theatrically on 1 September 2023 and received negative reviews from critics.

## Cast

[edit]

* Santhanam as Santhosh
* Tanya Hope as Shivani
* Thambi Ramaiah as Michael Jackson "MJ"
* Brahmanandam as Scientist Vaali
* Senthil as Man in bar
* Kovai Sarala as Pushpa, Shivani's boss's sister
* Mansoor Ali Khan as Ganesh
* Manobala as Shivani's boss
* Sadhu Kokila as Judge
* Y. G. Mahendran as MJ's father
* Shakeela as Ad Council member
* Vaiyapuri as Ad Council member
* Crane Manohar as Ad Council member
* King Kong as Shooting spot crew member
* Muthukaalai as Ganesh's PA
* Cool Suresh as Shooting spot crew member
* Madhan Bob as Litterer
* Anthony
* Ragini Dwivedi as Sheela (special appearance)
* Prashant Raj in a cameo appearance
* Siddharth Abhimanyu in a cameo appearance

## Production

[edit]

### Development

[edit]

On 20 January 2022, Sandalwood director Prashant Raj, via Twitter, said that he was doing a Tamil film for the first time starring Santhanam in the lead role. He further said that the film was produced by Naveen Raj under Fortune Films.[7] Tanya Hope, in March, announced her commitments to the film as the lead female role.[8] A muhurat puja was held on 22 April in Chennai.[4] On 31 August, coinciding with Ganesh Chaturthi, the official title Kick was revealed.[3]

### Filming

[edit]

Principal photography commenced on 22 April 2022,[4] with the first schedule in Bangalore.[9] A song sequence was shot at the start of the schedule.[4] The film was shot in Chennai, Bangkok and London before the principal photography wrapped in July.[9][5]

## Music

[edit]

Kick

Soundtrack album by

Arjun Janya

Released| 2022–2023
Recorded| 2022–2023
Genre| Film soundtrack
Length| 10:21
Language| Tamil
Label| Saregama Music
Producer| Arjun Janya
Arjun Janya chronology
| Love Birds
(2022)  | Kick
(2023)  | Rajamarthanda
(2023)

|
|

The music is composed by Arjun Janya, in his Tamil debut. The film marks his first collaboration with both Prashant and Santhanam.[10]

## Release

[edit]

### Theatrical

[edit]

Kick was released on 1 September 2023,[11] clashing with Amitash's Paramporul, Samantha's Kushi and Hamaresh's Rangoli.[12]

## Reception

[edit]

A Srinivasa Ramanujam of The Hindu stated that "Santhanam’s film is yawn-inducing and terrible"[13].Avinash Ramachandran of Cinema Express gave 1 star out of 5 and noted that "we see the cast and crew laughing their hearts out while filming Kick, one can’t help but think why didn’t these laughs translate onscreen, only to realise the actual joke was on us."[14]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Kick Trailer Out: Santhanam's Comedy Flick Promises Healthy Dose Of Laughter". News18. 23 January 2023. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
2. ^ "Filmmaker Prashant Raj teams up with Santhanam". The Times of India. 21 January 2022. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
3. ^ a b "Santhanam's next with director Prashant Raj titled 'Kick'". The Times of India. 31 August 2022. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
4. ^ a b c d "Santhanam's bilingual film with Prashant Raj starts rolling". The Times of India. 23 April 2022. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
5. ^ a b "It's a wrap for Prashanth Raj's directorial starring Santhanam". The Times of India. 1 July 2022. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
6. ^ "Kick". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
7. ^ "Actor Santhanam signs his next with Kannada director Prashanth Raj". The Times of India. 20 January 2022. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
8. ^ "Tanya Hope to team up with Santhanam for a comedy film". The Times of India. 11 March 2022. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
9. ^ a b "Santhanam and Tanya play ad professionals in this trilingual". The Times of India. 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
10. ^ "Santhanam's Kick will be an entertaining film that will make you laugh and forgot all sorrows: Prashanth Raj". The Times of India. 30 September 2022. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
11. ^ "Santhanam starrer 'Kick' to release in September". The Times of India. 11 August 2023. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
12. ^ "Paramporul To Kushi, 5 Tamil Films Releasing On September 1". Newsd.in. 31 August 2023. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
13. ^ Ramanujam, Srinivasa (1 September 2023). "'Kick' movie review: Santhanam's film is yawn-inducing and terrible". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
14. ^ Ramachandran, Avinash (1 September 2023). "Kick Movie Review: An unfunny and trite Santhanam-starrer that is also vile and boring". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Kick at IMDb