Thiagarajan Kumararaja’s debut is the ultimate cult artifact. It was India’s first "Neo-Western" set in the Chennai underworld, with a nonlinear narrative and stylized violence. Upon release, it was a commercial disaster. No stars, no songs (in the traditional sense), no hero worship. But film festivals and hardcore cinephiles championed it. Today, it is worshipped for its raw dialogue, Jackie Shroff’s menacing performance, and its artistic audacity.