Japan (2023 film)

Japan
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Raju Murugan
Written by	Raju Murugan
Produced by	S. R. Prakash Babu S. R. Prabhu
Starring	Karthi Anu Emmanuel
Cinematography	Ravi Varman
Edited by	Philomin Raj
Music by	G. V. Prakash Kumar
Production company	Dream Warrior Pictures
Release date	10 November 2023 (2023-11-10)[1]
Running time	154 minutes[2]
Country	India
Language	Tamil
Budget	₹80 crore
Box office	₹26 crore

Japan is a 2023 Indian Tamil-language heist action comedy film written and directed by Raju Murugan. It is produced by S. R. Prakash Babu and S. R. Prabhu under Dream Warrior Pictures. The film stars Karthi and Anu Emmanuel, alongside Sunil, Vijay Milton and Jithan Ramesh.

The film was officially announced in August 2022. Principal photography began in November, and wrapped by late-June 2023. The official title Japan was revealed in the same month. The film has music composed G. V. Prakash Kumar, cinematography handled by Ravi Varman and editing by Philomin Raj.

Japan was released on 10 November 2023, the week of Diwali. Despite high expectations, the film was panned by critics and audiences, criticising the screenplay, story, cast performances & some improper foul language being not censored properly, although Karthi's performance was praised. The film became a box-office bomb.

Plot

A notorious master thief steals a fortune in jewels at a jewellery shop, and a cat-and-mouse chase ensues between him and the police.

Cast

• Karthi as Japan Muni
• Anu Emmanuel as Sanju Kutty
• Sunil as Sridhar (Voice dubbed by Aruldoss)
• Vagai Chandrasekhar as Perinbam (Inbam)
• K. S. Ravikumar as Minister Pazhanisamy
• Jithan Ramesh as Gangadhar
• Vijay Milton as Karuppasamy
• Bava Chelladurai as Boomer
• Sridhar as himself
• Rajendran as Japan's aide (cameo appearance)
• Arunraja Kamaraj as a director
• C. V. Kumar as a film producer
• Sanal Aman as Eesu
• Rajesh Aggarwal as Mitesh
• Palakkad Sreeram as a doctor
• YouTuber Irfan's View as himself

Production

Development

In mid-March 2020, it was reported that Raju Murugan was to collaborate with Karthi for his next directional.^[3] In February 2022, the project's launch was reported to happen in May, as Karthi would have finished his commitments to Viruman (2022), Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022), Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023) and Sardar (2022). The project was reported to be funded by S. R. Prakash Babu and S. R. Prabhu under Dream Warrior Pictures.^[4] That May, Ravi Varman was reportedly roped in to handle the cinematography.^[5] In early August, Murugan, during a press meet for Viruman, officially announced the project.^[6] In late September, was it reported that the launch would happen in October and the music will be composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar.^[7] On 11 September, the producers S. R. Prakash Babu and S. R. Prabhu made a public announcement of the project. A muhurat puja was held in Chennai the same day. The crew were also announced the same day, which includes editor Ravi Varman, composer G. V. Prakash Kumar and editor Philomin Raj.^[8]

Casting

In February 2022, reports claimed that Vijay Sethupathi was approached to play the antagonist role.^[9] In June, Prabhu stated that they not had approached the actor.^[10] Karthi reportedly underwent immerse training for the film.^[11] In early-September, Sunil was reported to be a part of the cast.^[12] In November, Rashmika Mandanna was reported to play the lead female role, alongside Karthi for the second time after Sulthan (2021), but it turned to be false.^[13]

Filming

Principal photography commenced on 8 November 2022, with the first schedule in Thoothukudi.^[14] The schedule concluded in mid-December. The second schedule in Chennai started a week after the first concluded.^[15] Filming wrapped in late-June 2023.^[16]

Release

Theatrical

Japan was released on 10 November 2023, coinciding the week of Diwali, clashing with Jigarthanda DoubleX.^[17]

Home media

The digital rights were sold to Netflix, while the satellite rights were sold to Star Vijay. ^[18]

Reception

Japan was panned by critics.^[19][20]

Deccan Herald gave 3/5 stars and wrote "Celebrating the silver jubilee in Karthi's filmography, 'Japan' stands as an indelible project. Despite a few shortcomings in providing closure to supporting characters, the overall narrative still manages to keep the audience engaged."^[21] M. Suganth of The Times of India gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Despite such an idea looking good at the script level, they never hold us as they unfold on screen."^[1] Goutham S of Pinkvilla gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Japan is far from director Raju Murugan's best work from both a directing and writing standpoint. The sluggish screenplay and haphazard placement of songs purely to prop up the film as a Karthi star project fall short of Karthi's usual caliber."^[22]

Navein Darshan of Cinema Express gave 2/5 stars and wrote "Japan is Rajumurugan's weakest writing to date. This is a rude shock as his recently celebrated directorial Lalagunda Bommaigal, for Modern Love Chennai is still fresh in our minds for its novelty and wholesomeness."^[23] P. Sangeetha of OTTplay gave 2/5 stars and wrote "Karthi's 25th film Japan barely entertains and ends up as a damp squib.The Raju Murugan film is a complete misfire on all aspects."^[24] Priyanka Sundar of Firstpost gave 1.5/5 stars and wrote "Japan is anything but a well-made film despite the stunning cast and some beautiful visuals."^[25] Janani K of India Today gave 1.5/5 stars and wrote "Japan' is a completely underwhelming watch and does not add any value to Karthi's filmography."^[26]

Srinivasa Ramanujam of The Hindu wrote "Director Raju Murugan's 'Japan' starring Karthi suffers from poor execution of its core ideas."^[27] Harshini S V of Film Companion wrote "The story is predictable and the characters remain one-dimensional, but if you buy into the film's silliness, there's some fun to be had."^[28]

References

1. Suganth, M (10 November 2023). "Japan Movie Review: A Committed Karthi Can Save Predictably Plotted Japan Only To An Extent". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
2. "Japan". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
3. "Karthi to start shooting for his next with Raju Murugan in May". The Times of India. 14 March 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
4. "Karthi to start shooting for his next with Raju Murugan in May". The Times of India. 14 March 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
5. "Ravi Varman in Karthi's next with Raju Murugan". The Times of India. 11 May 2022. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
6. "Director Raju Murugan officially confirms his next with Karthi". The Times of India. 9 August 2022. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
7. "Karthi's film with director Raju Murugan to begin in October". The Times of India. 22 September 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
8. "Karthi's Japan with Raju Murugan goes on floors". The Times of India. 8 November 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
9. "Is Vijay Sethupathi planning to team up with Karthi?". The Times of India. 14 February 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
10. "Karthi-Raju Murugan film to go on floors in July". The Times of India. 27 June 2022. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
11. "Karthi to undergo immense training for Raju Murugan's film". The Times of India. 25 August 2022. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
12. "Is Karthi's next titled 'Japan'". The Times of India. 3 September 2022. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
13. "Rashmika Mandanna to pair up again with Karthi in Raju Murugan's directorial". The Times of India. 3 November 2022. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
14. "Karthi's Japan with Raju Murugan goes on floors". The Times of India. 8 November 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
15. "It's a schedule wrap for Karthi's 'Japan'". The Times of India. 16 December 2022. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
16. "Karthi wraps up shooting for Japan". Cinema Express. 24 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
17. "Karthi's 'Japan' will release in Diwali; the makers release a new character poster on the actor's birthday". The Times of India. 25 May 2023. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
18. "South Films Japan And Jigarthanda Double X To Release On Netflix On ..." News18. 6 December 2023. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
19. "Japan Twitter Review: Fans call Karthi and Raju Murugan's film, a huge disappointment". OTTPlay. 10 November 2023. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
20. "'Japan' And 'Jigarthanda Double X' Box Office Collection Day 6: Karthik Subbaraj's Directorial Nearly Makes Double Of The Karthi Starrer". The Times of India. 16 November 2023. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023. The two Tamil films 'Jigarthanda Double X' and 'Japan' were released in theaters on November 10, ahead of Diwali. Both films received decent responses from fans, and they received mixed reviews.
21. "'Japan' movie review: Karthi entertains in new avatar in comedy heist". Deccan Herald. 11 November 2023. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
22. S, Goutham (10 November 2023). "Japan Movie Review: Karthi starrer rides on his shoulder but doesn't offer much of anything else". Pinkvilla. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
23. Darshan, Navein (10 November 2023). "Japan Movie Review: A testing, rudderless concoction of genres". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
24. Sangeetha, P (10 November 2023). "Japan Review: Karthi and Raju Murugan's latest outing is underwhelming and riddled with misfires". OTTplay. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
25. Sundar, Priyanka (10 November 2023). "Japan movie review: Karthi-starrer is a farce that is just not funny or edgy". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
26. K, Janani (10 November 2023). "Japan Review: Karthi and Raju Murugan's film is a complete misfire". India Today. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
27. Ramanujam, Srinivasa (10 November 2023). "'Japan' movie review: Karthi's heist comedy is uninspired, dull and lengthy". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
28. S V, Harahini (10 November 2023). "Japan Review: Karthi Is Hilarious In This Mindless, Silly Film". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.

External links

• Japan at IMDb