Perazhagan

Perazhagan
DVD Cover
Directed by	Sasi Shanker
Produced by	M. Saravanan M. Balasubramanian M. S. Guhan B. Gurunath
Written by	D. P. Singampuli (dialogues)
Screenplay by	Sasi Shankar
Story by	Benny P. Nayarambalam
Starring	Suriya Jyothika Vivek Manorama Thalaivasal Vijay Manobala
Music by	Yuvan Shankar Raja
Cinematography	R. Rathnavelu
Edited by	Anthony
Production company	AVM Productions
Release date	7 May 2004 (2004-05-07)
Running time	148 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Perazhagan is a 2004 Indian Tamil comedy drama film directed by Sasi Shanker, starring Suriya and Jyothika with both playing dual roles. The supporting cast includes Vivek, Manorama and Manobala. The movie's score and soundtrack were composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. The film, which is a remake of the 2002 Malayalam film Kunjikoonan, which starred Dileep and Navya Nair in the lead, was released in May 2004. It is later dubbed into Telugu as Sundarangudu.

Plot

The story revolves around Chinna (Suriya), a village youth who receives sympathy because he is a hunchback and is lauded for selfless service to others. He covers up his handicap with humor. Unmindful of his looks, Chinna goes around looking for a suitable bride with the help of his friend Kuzhandhaisamy (Vivek). Brushing aside many insults hurled at him, he carries on.

In contrast is Karthik (Surya), a violent college student who madly loves his classmate Priya (Jyothika). She meets Chinna, who assures her that he would get her married to the man of her dreams. However, she is killed in a fracas involving Varadhan (Bobby), a gangster, where she was hit and kicked brutally as Varadhan wanted to take revenge against Priya's father DCP Nair (Devan), who arrested him. Karthik and Chinna saw this but Varadhan told him that he will get killed if he tells anyone what he saw. Karthik is framed as Priya's killer and gets arrested, but Chinna pleads Nair and tells the truth behind Priya's murder. Meanwhile, Chinna comes across an orphaned, poor, blind girl Shenbagam (Jyothika). He wins over her heart by helping her out when her brother (Thalaivasal Vijay) died.

Thanks to his efforts, she gains her vision (Priya's eyes are transplanted to her). This results in a tussle between Chinna and Karthik as to whom Shenbagam now belongs. However, fearing his looks, Chinna decides to give way to Karthik and ends up staying in a temple where Kuzhandhaiasamy finds him and brings him to Shenbagam. Shenbagam doesn't care of looks and accepts him. Before their marriage, Varadhan returns to avenge Chinna. Karthik remembers Priya and avenges her death by killing Varadhan. Karthik approves Chinna and Shenbagam's wedding before being sent to jail. The film ends with the couple spending their honeymoon in Ooty.

Cast

• Suriya as Chinna (Prem Kumar)/Karthik
• Jyothika as Priya/Shenbagam
• Vivek as Marriage assembler Kuzhandhaisamy "Kuzhandha", Chinna's best friend
• Manorama as Pattamma, Chinna's grandmother
• Thalaivasal Vijay as Shenbagam's brother
• Manobala as Kuzhandhaisamy's father
• Devan as DSP Nair, Priya's father
• Manicka Vinayagam as Karthik's father
• Sukumari as Priya's grandmother
• Kalairani as Karthik's mother
• Bobby as Varadhan
• Chaams as Groom
• Malavika in a cameo role as Chinna's dream wife in the song "Ambuli Mama"

Crew

• Screenplay, Direction: Sasi Shanker
• Production: M. Saravanan, M. Balasubramanian, M. S. Guhan and B. Gurunath
• Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
• Cinematography: R. Rathnavelu
• Editing: Anthony
• Dialogue: D. P. Singappuli
• Story: Benny P. Nayarambalam
• Art direction: Thotta Tharani
• Stunts: Stun Siva and B. Thiyagarajan
• Choreography: Brindha and Santhi Srihari
• Stills: 'Theni' Selvam
• Costumes: V. Prasad, Nalini Sriram and Anu Sundaram
• Lyrics: Pazhani Bharathi, Kabilan, Pa. Vijay, Thamarai and Snehan
• Co-direction: Raj Kannan
• Executive production: Sathya Moorthy
• Banner: AVM Productions

Release

The satellite rights of the film were sold to Sun TV.^[1]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack, released on 15 April 2004, has six songs composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja with Pazhani Bharathi, Kabilan, Pa. Vijay, Thamarai and Snehan writing the lyrics of each one song.^[2]

Awards

Filmfare Awards South

• Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Suriya
• Filmfare Award for Best Comedian - Vivek
• Nominated - Filmfare Best Actress Award in Tamil - Jyothika
• 2004 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress – Jyothika ^[3]
• 2004 – Dinakaran Best Actress – Jyothika

Reception

Sify wrote, "The film makes you laugh and cry at the same time. However the highlight of the film is Surya as Chinna and he is extraordinary. Here is one of his most lovable performances as the handicap, though as the morose Karthik, he just passes muster. Jyothika is a revelation (also in her first dual role) as the bubbly Priya and the blind Shenbagham. In her first de-glamorised role as Shenbagham she has proved her histrionics. Vivek for a change has a full length role and he brings the house down with his one-liners. Music by Yuvan is average but the background score is good. Director Sasi Sankar has to be applauded for making a feel-good film without any violence, vulgarity or even bad words.".^[4]

Indiaglitz wrote, "Surya deserves appreciation for his astounding performance. He is at his best, be it humor or action. The actor has scored a hat trick with Perazhagan now following his Kaakha Kaakha and Pithamagan last year. After a long gap, Vivek has succeeded in evoking laughter. A tailor-made role for Vivek in which he really excels. Actress Malavika appear for a number. Also in the cast includes Manorama, Devan, T P Gajendran, a debutant Bobby and Muthukalai."^[5]

References

External links

• Perazhagan on IMDb