Aadukalam
Falling in love with Irene as well as refusing to obey his boss Pettaikaran in a rooster fight complicates Karuppu's life.
Directed by Vetrimaaran · Action · Drama · Romance · 160 min · 2011
Trailer
Director
Vetrimaaran
Writer
story = Vetrimaaran, {{Infobox, decat = yes, child = yes, label1= Dialogues by, data1 = Vetrimaaran, Vikram Sugumaran
Studio
Group Companys / Five Star Films
Release
14 Jan 2011
Runtime
160 min
Genres
Action, Drama, Romance
Full Plot
Rearing roosters, maintaining them and using them for fights are a way of life and a matter of honor and lifeline to many people. In such a tenement, Pettaikaaran (Jayabalan) leads a very respectable life with his key aides Durai (Kishore) and Karuppu (Dhanush) along with others. His main adversary in hen fights is Rathinam, the police inspector. Pettaikaarar is known to have an impeccable track record of successes when it comes to fowl fights especially with Rathinam's. In an unexpected situation, Pettaikaaran challenges Rathinam to a fowl contest which witnesses Karuppu violating his mentor Pettaikaarar's word but emerging successfully with enviable proceeds. This results in the swelling of his status among his folks which plants the seeds of animosity in the minds of Pettaikaaran. What follows is an interesting and unexpected path with twists and turns highlighting on the way the multiple layers of human emotions with sense playing truant.
Cast & Characters
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $4.0M, Aadukalam has grossed $6.0M worldwide — about 1.5x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Vetrimaaran has directed 6 films in our catalog, including Viduthalai Part 2, Vada Chennai.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
Dhanush appears in 44 films in our catalog, including Maryan, 3.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
A lot of research went into the script.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-09-09
I went to Madurai with a script in mind, but I had to change it to accommodate reality.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-09-09
Vetrimaaran spent two years in Madurai to understand the local dialect and lifestyle of the people living there.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-09-09
The cockfight sequences were filmed using computer-generated imagery (CGI).
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-09-09
Critical Assessment
Audience Breakdown (Einthusan)
Aadukalam holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (7,389 votes).
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of August 11, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.1/10 on IMDb (7,389 votes)), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Aadukalam's IMDb rating?+
Aadukalam has a 8.1/10 rating on IMDb from 7,389 votes.
Is Aadukalam good? What are critics saying?+
Aadukalam holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (7,389 votes).
How long is Aadukalam?+
Aadukalam has a runtime of 160 min.
Who directed Aadukalam?+
Aadukalam was directed by Vetrimaaran.
Where can I watch Aadukalam?+
Aadukalam is available to stream, rent, or buy on Sun Nxt.
