The story of Settai: Three friends, one catastrophic mistake
Settai (transl. Mischief) follows three roommates who find themselves tangled up in something far darker than they bargained for. The premise is deceptively simple: three ordinary guys, living their lives, completely unaware that they're about to stumble into a criminal underworld involving smuggling and contraband. What starts as just another day spirals into what the film itself describes as a "shitty mess"—and honestly, that's the whole appeal. The story doesn't ask you to believe in coincidence or fate; it asks you to sit back and watch three men panic their way through circumstances they can't control, each moment pulling them deeper into trouble. The genius, if you can call it that, is watching them scramble to get out before the roof caves in entirely.
Behind the making of Settai: A Tamil remake with star power
Settai arrived in April 2013 as a Tamil-language adaptation of the 2011 Hindi-English film Delhi Belly, directed by R. Kannan. The film's production began in Chennai on July 7, 2012, and the audio launch happened on January 30, 2013—a fairly standard release cycle for Tamil cinema at the time. The cast reads like a who's-who of Tamil comedy and action: Arya carries the lead, joined by Santhanam (a reliable comedic presence), Premji Amaran, Hansika Motwani, and Anjali. Nassar and Manobala round out the ensemble, lending weight to what could have been a thin premise. What's worth noting is that Movie OTT tracks films like this across multiple streaming platforms, so even a modest theatrical release can find new audiences years later. The box office numbers tell part of the story—$87,838 worldwide—which suggests the film found its niche rather than dominating multiplexes. It wasn't a blockbuster, but it wasn't a flop either. It was exactly what it set out to be: a genre exercise, a comedy-crime romp made for people who wanted to laugh without thinking too hard.
What makes Settai stand out: Commitment to chaos over logic
Here's what strikes me about Settai: it doesn't pretend to be smarter than it is. The film knows it's built on a premise that only works if you accept that three guys can be this spectacularly unlucky, and it leans into that wholeheartedly. Santhanam's comedic timing—which has anchored countless Tamil films—becomes the emotional core here; when the plot threatens to collapse under its own absurdity, his reactions ground the chaos just enough to keep you watching. The performances aren't subtle. They're broad, they're loud, they're committed to the bit in a way that either works for you or it doesn't. Arya brings a kind of bewildered sincerity to his role as one of the three, playing a man who genuinely can't believe this is happening to him. That's the tonal sweet spot the film finds: not comedy so dark it stops being funny, but comedy so earnest about its own ridiculousness that you can't help but go along for the ride. The screenplay doesn't waste time on exposition or character development—it just throws these men into escalating situations and lets their personalities clash against the mounting pressure. Hansika Motwani and Anjali provide counterweight to the male chaos, though their roles feel more functional than fully realized. What Movie OTT's editorial team often notices about remakes is whether they justify their existence by adapting rather than copying—and Settai does enough to feel like its own film, even if it's working from a proven blueprint.
Where to stream Settai online
Settai is currently available on Prime Video, making it accessible to anyone with an Amazon subscription. If you're hunting for where to watch, the streaming-availability widget at the top of this page will show you the most up-to-date platforms carrying the film right now. Prime Video's catalog of Indian cinema has expanded significantly since 2013, and older films like this one often benefit from that expanded distribution—they might not get theatrical rereleases, but they find new life on streaming. It's a solid option for a weekend watch if you're in the mood for something light and don't mind a film that prioritizes laughs over logic. The 118-minute runtime means it won't eat up your whole evening, either.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is Settai a remake, and if so, what's it based on?
Yes. Settai is a Tamil adaptation of Delhi Belly, a 2011 Hindi-English film. R. Kannan directed this version, relocating the story to Chennai and recasting it with Tamil-language actors, which gives it a distinct flavor despite working from the same basic premise.
Q: Who stars in Settai?
The ensemble includes Arya in the lead role, alongside Santhanam, Premji Amaran, Hansika Motwani, Anjali, Nassar, and Manobala. Santhanam in particular carries much of the comedic weight throughout the film.
Q: What's the plot of Settai about?
Three roommates get caught up in a smuggling situation they never saw coming. The film follows their attempts to escape the chaos and consequences that spiral out of control—it's a crime-comedy that prioritizes humor and momentum over realism.
Q: How long is Settai?
The film runs 118 minutes, making it a fairly standard length for a Tamil comedy-action film from that era.
Q: What did critics think of Settai?
The film holds a 4.6/10 rating on IMDb based on 575 votes, which reflects a mixed-to-negative critical response. It's the kind of film that works better if you're not expecting high art—it's entertainment, pure and simple.
Final thoughts on Settai
Settai isn't going to change your life or make you rethink cinema. What it will do is give you two hours of committed, unironic chaos from a cast that knows exactly what kind of movie they're making. If you like your comedies loud, your plots propulsive, and your stakes ridiculous, this one's worth the time. The film doesn't apologize for being exactly what it is, and there's something refreshing about that kind of honesty in filmmaking. It's the kind of movie you'd recommend to a friend with a very specific caveat: "Don't think about it too hard, just watch it."
