Aayudham (2005 film)

Aayudham
Directed by	M. A. Murugesh
Produced by	Surya Rajkumar
Written by	M. A. Murugesh Kamaleshkumar (dialogues)
Starring	Prashanth Sneha Vadivelu Subbaraju
Music by	Dhina
Cinematography	Aravind
Edited by	A. K. Sankar
Production company	Mars Entertainment Group Motion Pictures Partners International
Release date	14 January 2005 (2005-01-14)
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Aayudham (English: Weapon) is a 2005 Tamil action film directed by Murugesh. It features Prashanth and Sneha in the lead roles, while Vadivelu and Subbaraju amongst others played supporting roles. Featuring music composed by Dhina, the film released in January 2005 to average reviews from film critics.

The film was directed by Murugesh, who had previously directed the film, Indru Mudhal (2003). Sneha was selected to play the lead female role and began work on the film in May 2004. A major portion of the film was shot at Chennai Trade Center at Nandambakkam near Chennai, while few songs were filmed in London. The first schedule of the film commenced in Chennai, where a dance number was shot at a lavish set costing Rs 40 lakh at the AVM Studios, where Prashanth and fifty dancers took part. The second schedule of forty days was held at locations in Madurai, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Nagercoil. Dance choreographer Dinesh choreographed two dance numbers - one in which Prashanth and Mumbai's Minal took part, the other where he danced with Rasna, a Mumbai model. Fifty girls from the musical, Bombay Dreams, were selected to feature in Sungadi saris during a song shoot at Trafalgar Square.

The film opened to mixed reviews in January 2005 alongside three other Tamil films. Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu noted that "it's all very fine if you are not looking for anything innovative in the entertainment offered", adding that "Prashanth is too experienced an actor to goof up the role. He plays Siva with ease. And as always he is more at home in action" and that "Sneha makes proper use of the couple of scenes that offer her a little scope to perform." Sify.com noted that film was "below average" and added "The film looks like a poor man’s Ghilli and the story is as old as the hills with no semblance of either style or substance."

The film performed poorly at the box office. The film's release was hampered by the Boxing Day Tsunami which also hit Chennai.