Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu

Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu (transl. The Scorched Forest), also known as Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu: Part I – The Kindling, is a 2022 Indian Tamil-language neo-noir crime drama film directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon and written by B. Jeyamohan. It is produced by Ishari K. Ganesh. The film stars Silambarasan and Siddhi Idnani, with Radhika Sarathkumar, Neeraj Madhav and Siddique in supporting roles. It revolves around a man who gets involved in the underworld when he leaves Thoothukudi for a better life.

Silambarasan and Menon initially worked on a romantic film titled Nadhigalile Neeradum Suriyan, under Ganesh's production, but upon the former's insistence of a rustic-toned script, he developed another storyline based on one of Jeyamohan's novels, and the film was officially announced with principal photography commencing in August 2021. The film, which was shot in Tiruchendur, Chennai and Mumbai, concluded its production in April 2022. The music is composed by A. R. Rahman, with cinematography handled by Siddhartha Nuni and edited by Anthony.

Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu was released theatrically on 15 September 2022. It received positive reviews from critics, with praise towards Silambarasan's performance, direction, screenwriting, cinematography, and music, but was criticized for the slow pace and rushed climax. A sequel was also announced and is in development.