Vaayai Moodi Pesavum

The following plot focuses on the Tamil version only.

The story takes place in Panimalai, a hill city, during the spring season. The film begins with RJ Balaji coming to Panimalai to be a guest of a live radio show. In the middle of the show, he starts coughing severely and suddenly loses his voice. He is diagnosed with a new type of virus called the mute flu that causes sudden muteness and sometimes even death.

Aravind is a sales representative working with a glue company. His dream is to become a radio jockey, and he even attends interviews with an FM station. As the mute flu spreads across the city, the state government sends Health Minister Sundaralingam to Panimalai to take care of the situation. The people are asked to undergo a medical checkup to check whether they are affected by the virus or not. Aravind goes to the hospital and meets Anjana, a junior doctor and attends the check up. While Anjana is testing Aravind, some young boys waiting for the test tease Anjana and in frustration, Anjana pokes a cotton bud into Aravinds' nose with which he starts choking and feels like vomiting, but is comforted by Anjana and they both start talking and here we learn more about Anjana, who believes that talking is the only cause of all the problems in the world and if people keep things to themselves, then things will be very fine. Anjana is in a relationship with Vinodh, a possessive guy who always commands her on what she should do and what she should wear. Anjana lives with her father and stepmother Vidhya. Since Anjana lost her mother at a young age, she is reluctant to accept Vidhya as her mother, though she is a sweet and caring woman and always maintains a distance from her. Vidhya is an award winning writer who is trying to get her husband's attention and support to write her third book. Her husband finds no time to talk to her as he is too busy with his work.

Panimalai comes into the news for another issue, where "Nuclear Star" Bhoomesh, a film superstar who has gone to shoot one of his films, is being opposed by Mattai Ravi, a drunkard who is President of the Drinkers Association, over the issue of Bhoomesh showing drunkards in a bad light in his films. The Drinkers Association and Bhoomesh's fans, led by Ganesh, form groups to fight over this issue.

Aravind and Anjana begin a friendship, and he insists to her that if everything is spoken directly from the heart, then there would be no problem between anyone. He asks her to speak openly with Vinodh and sort out the difference of opinion between them. She does not agree to this, and Aravind challenges her that if he successfully stops the feud between Bhoomesh and Ravi just by means of speaking, Anjana should talk openly with Vinodh to sort out their issues. However Aravind hates Bhoomesh to core, even the photo of him makes Aravind feel nauseous & disgusting. They both agree on the challenge and mark a deadline day. Aravind tries so many ways to stop the feud between Bhoomesh's fans and the Drinkers Association, but it ends up in an even bitter fight. As time goes by, Aravind falls in love with Anjana, not knowing that she is engaged to Vinodh.

Aravind is brought up in an orphanage that belongs to Adhikesavan, a stubborn old man who is constantly asking the orphanage to be vacated so that he can rent it to richer tenants. Though Aravind helps the children in the orphanage by donating some of his money, it is not enough to save the orphanage. Aravind tries to speak to Adhikesavan and sort the issue, but the latter is too hesitant to speak with him. Aravind and his friend Sathish kidnap Adhikesavan and leave him in his son's house, making a close relationship.

The final report by the health organisation says that the dumb flu spreads only by means of speaking, and issues a speaking ban in the town. Everyone in the town tries to adjust to living with not speaking. Aravind conducts the meeting with the Drinkers Association and Bhoomesh's fans, and they reconcile. A cure for the illness is invented, but if the virus has already infected but has not removed the voice of a person, the cure has a 50% probability of a side effect that the patient might lose the ability to speak. The film ends with everyone getting cured, but Sundaralingam, who has been faking the illness being given cure medicine on the stage for a photo op, loses his voice for real.

Tamil version

• Mime Gopi as Politician
• RJ Balaji as himself, who is the first person to contract the mute flu
• Balaji Mohan as TV News Reporter for News Prime

Malayalam version

• Vijayan as Thomas Kuzhuvelikunnel
• Vineeth Sreenivasan (voice role)

In June 2013, the Radiance Group, led by Varun Manian entered a five-film deal with S. Sashikanth's YNOT Studios and venture into film production with a new entertainment company called Radiance Media.[3] Varun stated that the company will be producing their first film with director Balaji Mohan for a bilingual film and plan to launch Dulquer Salman as the male lead, thus making his feature film debut in Tamil.[4][5] Nazriya Nazim was signed as the heroine. About her role Nazriya said, "Anjana, my character, is somebody I haven't played in my career yet".[1] Anirudh Ravichander, who was reported to be the film's music director,[5] later opted out,[6] and independent musician Ragahvendra, known under his stage name Sean Roldan, replaced him as music composer, thus making his debut.[7] Soundararajan was signed up as the cinematographer.[8] Abhinav Sunder Nayak was signed in as the Editor.[9]

The film started filming in Munnar on 4 November 2013, with Madhoo joining the cast of the film, making her comeback in the Tamil and Malayalam film industries.[7][10] Dulquer Salmaan dubbed himself in Tamil for this film.[11]

Balaji Mohan described Vaayai Moodi Pesavum as a "sort of social and political satire. It presents a critique of our country’s political and social setup." He described the fictional flu, which renders people incapable of speaking, as a "metaphor for society’s refusal to communicate freely, which, I believe, is the root cause of all problems — personal, social and political."[12]

The soundtrack and score for the film was composed by newcomer Sean Roldan. The album features eight tracks with lyrics written by Balaji Mohan, Muthamil and Madhan Karky, whereas lyrics for the Malayalam dubbed version Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram, were written by Anu Elizabeth Jose and Santhosh Varma. Both the soundtracks use the same set of singers. The album of the Tamil version was released on 4 April 2014,[13] at the film's audio launch event held at Sathyam Cinemas in Chennai, with Mani Ratnam being the chief guest along with the film's cast and crew.[14][15] The soundtrack for the Malayalam version was released on 18 April 2014.[16]

The soundtrack album received positive reviews from critics. Behindwoods gave the album 3 out of 5 stating it as "A highly original and competent debut from Sean Roldan."[17] Milliblog summarises it as "Sean Roldan's musical debut is as eclectic and interesting as the man’s diverse musical sensibilities!"[18] Sify gave 3.25 out of 5 stars to the album stating "Sean Roldan strikes the right chord with a very youthful, jolly and breezy album. We are sure the songs are going to add value to the entertainment sector of the movie."[19]

The title poster of the film, with its logo was released on 23 January 2014,[20] followed by the first look which was released on 25 January 2014.[21] The official teaser of the film was released on 27 February 2014.[22] The theatrical trailer was launched on 4 April 2014 at the film's audio launch.[23]

Vaayai Moodi Pesavum along with its Malayalam version, Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram was released worldwide on 25 April 2014.[24] Its release was expected to be clashed with Jigarthanda (2014), which was postponed to July.[25] Udhayanidhi Stalin's Red Giant Movies, acquired the theatrical rights.[26] The film was cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification on 21 April 2014.[27]

As a part of the film's marketing strategy, the multiplex partner SPI Cinemas showcased exclusive game kiosks for audiences on 23 April 2014, where people will participate in the game and win exclusive tickets for the film on 25 April. The kiosks were showcased in their multiplex chains Escape Cinemas, Luxe and Sathyam Cinemas.[28]

• Vaayai Moodi Pesavum at IMDb