Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi

Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Chimbu Deven
Produced by	S. Shankar
Written by	Chimbu Deven
Starring	Vadivelu Monica Tejashree
Music by	Sabesh-Murali
Cinematography	Arthur A. Wilson
Edited by	G. Sasikumar
Distributed by	S Pictures
Release date	8 July 2006 (2006-07-08)
Running time	142 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil
Budget	₹ 30—40 million

Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei (English: The King of Torture, Pulikecei the 23rd) is a 2006 Indian Tamil language historical-comedy film written and directed by Chimbu Deven. The film stars Vadivelu in his debut as a lead actor. Monica and Tejashree play the female leads, while Manorama, Nassar, Ilavarasu, Sreeman and Nagesh play supporting roles. Sabesh-Murali composed the soundtrack album and background score. S. Shankar produced and distributed the film under his production banner S Pictures.

Set in the late 18th century during the early stages of the British Raj, the film tells the story of twin brothers separated at birth. Pulikecei XXIII, the foolish elder brother, becomes a puppet of his uncle, the Chief Minister, while Ukraputhan, the wise younger brother, becomes a patriot intent on saving his land and his brother.

Principal photography began in November 2005 at Prasad Studios. Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei was released on 8 July 2006, and was the first historical Tamil film released since Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan (1978). The film received positive reviews, with critics praising the screenplay, the performances, and the dialogues. A box office success, the film won two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and one Filmfare Award. The film was dubbed into Telugu as Himsinche 23 Va Raju Pulikesi.

In the South Indian kingdom of Cholapuram Paalayam in the year 1771, Raja Mokkaiyappar and his queen, Rajamatha Bhavani Ammaiyar are desperate for a child, as all their previous twenty-two children have died at birth. Unknown to them, Bhavani's brother, Sangilimayan, who is also the Rajaguru (Chief Minister), is responsible for the death of their children. Sangilimayan is shocked to see that his sister has given birth to twins. Before informing the king about the birth, he calls the palace astrologer, Chinnavadayaan, who predicts that the elder twin will be incapable of making decisions on his own while the younger one will be smarter. Sangilimayan orders the palace doctor, Kailasakaruppan, to kill the younger one, but Chinnavadayaan tells Sangilimayan that his actions would not be good for the kingdom. Instead, Sangilimayan orders the palace doctor to abandon the child in a nearby river. The elder child is named Pulikecei XXIII. Maragathavalli, Kailasakaruppan's childless wife, rescues the abandoned child from the river, and the couple decides to raise him as their own, naming him Ukraputhan.