Chennaiyil Oru Naal (Eng: A Day In Chennai) is a 2013 Indian Tamil-language thriller film written by brothers Bobby and Sanjay and directed by Shaheed Kader. The film has an ensemble cast including R. Sarathkumar, Prakash Raj, Cheran, Devan, Prasanna, Raadhika Sarathkumar, Aishwarya Devan, Gabriella Charlton, Parvathy Thiruvothu and Iniya. The film is the remake of the 2011 Malayalam thriller film Traffic. A multi-narrative thriller that intertwines multiple stories around one particular incident, the film is inspired from an actual event in Chennai. It was titled Naangu Vazhi Saalai earlier. The film opened on 29 March 2013 to positive reviews. The film was a blockbuster at the box office. A sequel titled Chennaiyil Oru Naal 2 was released on 2017.
On 16 September, superstar Gautham Krishna gets ready for the release of his new film. On the same day, Traffic Constable Satyamoorthy returns to duty after his suspension for taking bribes. The day is also special for Dr. Robin Joseph, a cardiologist who is celebrating his first wedding anniversary. Karthik Vishwanathan, an aspiring TV journalist, starts his first job with an interview with Gautham. On the same day, at a crowded traffic junction, Karthik, who was set to interview Gautham, and Ajmal, traveling on a bike, is hit by a speeding car and is rushed to Global Hospital. Also at the junction, in another car, was Robin. Karthik goes into a coma and is declared brain dead, although he is kept alive on a ventilator.
Meanwhile, Gautham’s ailing daughter Ria’s heart condition worsens, and she urgently needs a heart transplant. At first, Karthik’s parents do not agree to donate their son’s heart, but Ajmal and Karthik’s girlfriend Aditi persuade them. Now that the heart is available, the problem is how to transport it to Vellore. No chartered flights or helicopters were available, and so the heart must be taken by road. Someone had to drive 150 kilometers in under two hours during rush hour.
City Police Commissioner Sundara Pandian IPS is asked to carry out the mission. He initially refuses, considering the complexity and risk involved, but finally succumbs to the persuasion of Dr. Arumainayagam. Accompanying him on the mission are Robin and Ajmal. At some point, they lose connection and the vehicle mysteriously disappears. Under pressure and stress, Satyamoorthy trusts his own instincts and takes his own route. Sundara Pandian loses patience and hope that he will be able to transport the heart in time, resulting in cancelling the mission. Just in time, Satyamoorthy manages to get connection, which motivates everyone to deliver the heart safely in time.
As the mission proceeds, it is discovered that before Robin committed to accompany Satyamoorthy on this mission, he had attempted to kill his wife Swetha, due to her affair with his best friend. To escape from the police, Robin tries to sabotage the mission, but Gautham’s wife convinces him to save her daughter’s life. They reach the hospital in time to save Ria’s life just as Karthik’s father and mother prepare to cremate their son.
Directed by Shaheed Kader
Screenplay by Bobby–Sanjay & Ajayan Bala
Story by Bobby–Sanjay
Based on Traffic by Bobby-Sanjay
Produced by Raadhika & Listin Stephen
Starring R. Sarathkumar, Prakash Raj, Cheran, Prasanna, Raadhika Sarathkumar, Gabriella Charlton, Parvathy, Iniya
Cinematography Shehnad Jalal
Edited by Mahesh Narayanan
Music by Mejo Joseph
Production I Pictures & Magic Frames
Release date 29 March 2013
Running time 119 minutes
Country India
Language Tamil
Visitor Rating: 5 Stars