Last updated: 5 May 2026

Tamil · Action, Comedy, Crime
2h 16m · 5 Apr 2013
DOP: P. G. Muthiah | Writer: John Mahendran
Ratings
Our Rating
2
Settai is a Tamil comedy film that revolves around the life of a struggling writer who gets entangled in a series of humorous and chaotic events. The story follows his attempts to navigate through misunderstandings, romantic pursuits, and the interference of quirky characters around him. The narrative is light-hearted and aims to deliver laughs through situational comedy and witty dialogues.
Settai attempts to blend comedy with a simple storyline, relying heavily on the performances of its lead actors and comedic timing. The screenplay is straightforward but lacks depth, focusing more on slapstick humor and situational gags rather than a strong narrative arc. The pacing in the first half is relatively brisk, setting up the characters and comedic situations effectively, but the second half tends to drag with repetitive jokes and predictable plot developments.
The film's songs and music, though composed by a noted music director, do not particularly stand out and serve more as fillers than highlights. The background score supports the comedic tone but does not add significant value to the overall experience. Cinematography by P. G. Muthiah is competent, capturing the urban settings well but without any remarkable visual flair.
Overall, Settai works as a light entertainer for audiences seeking casual comedy, but it falls short of delivering a memorable or engaging cinematic experience due to its weak screenplay and uneven pacing.
Arya: Delivers a decent performance with good comic timing, though limited by the script.
Anjali: Offers a restrained and pleasant presence, but with minimal scope.
Hansika Motwani: Brings charm and energy, adding to the film's lighter moments.
Santhanam: Steals the show with his comedy, providing most of the film's laughs.
Premji Amaran: Supports well with his quirky character portrayal.
Nassar: Adequate in a supporting role, lending some gravitas.
Strengths
Weaknesses
R. Kannan’s direction focuses on delivering a commercial comedy but struggles with maintaining narrative engagement. The writing is simplistic and relies heavily on formulaic humor, which limits the film’s overall appeal.
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Our Rating
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| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 40% |
| Neutral | 35% |
| Negative | 25% |
Critics generally found Settai to be a mediocre comedy with some entertaining moments, mostly due to Santhanam’s performance. However, the film was criticized for its lack of originality and weak screenplay.
Final Box-Office Result
Settai released on 5 April 2013 (2013).
Settai is declared a DISASTER at the box office.
Budget of Settai is approximately ₹87838 Crore.
Settai is available on Sun NXT, JioHotstar. OTT date will be updated soon.
Settai directed by R. Kannan. Produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Siddharth Roy Kapur.
Settai stars Arya, Anjali, Hansika Motwani, Santhanam, Premji Amaran.
Tollybo rates Settai 2/5. Verdict: DISASTER.
Settai — Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Runtime: 136 minutes, Language: Tamil.