Dasavathaaram () is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language science fiction action film directed by K. S. Ravikumar. It stars Kamal Haasan, who also wrote the script, in ten distinct roles. Asin appears in two roles and Mallika Sherawat plays a subsidiary role. The plot of the film revolves around bringing together the lives of several individuals beginning with the 12th century and ending with the 21st century; the main person being a research scientist who develops a bio-weapon and makes sure that it is not acquired by a terrorist nation. Several other people also get involved in the process and all their stories connect after the striking of 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, thus bringing philosophical views into the picture. The film, which had been under production for nearly three years, was produced and primarily distributed by V. Ravichandran. Primary filming locations included the United States and across Tamil Nadu in India. The soundtrack to the film was composed by Himesh Reshammiya and the background score was by Devi Sri Prasad. After delays in post-production, the film was released on 13 June 2008 in around 1300 prints worldwide with praise directed at Haasan's multiple-role performance, the cinematography, and the editing, while criticism was directed at the prosthetics, writing and the addition of unnecessary characters portrayed by Haasan. Plot Biotechnologist Govindarajan Ramaswamy speaks at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and explains about chaos theory and the butterfly effect. He begins by reciting events from the 12th century Chidambaram, when Chola Emperor Kulothunga II, a Shaivite, persecutes Vaishnavites and intends to destroy an idol of Vishnu. Rangarajan Nambi, a Vaishnavite, protects it and offends the king, who orders Rangarajan to be executed by being pierced, stoned, submerged into the sea with the idol. Nambi's wife Kodhai is shocked by this and she kills herself in front of the king. The scene shifts to 20 December 2004, where a nanobiotechnology lab in the United States designs a vector-virus intended as a bio-weapon following the September 11 attacks to defend further terrorist attacks on US soil. While the team members are watching a news programme, Govindarajan aka Govind notices from the CCTV visuals of his lab, a monkey named Hanu breaks out of his cage and retrieves a sample of the test virus. The monkey takes the vial, thinking it to be the usual chocolate Govind feeds him and swallows the sample of the virus.