Iyarkai

Marudhu (Shaam), a Tamil man is an orphaned ship mechanic and sailor and works on ships. After multiple years he fulfills his desire of returning to TamilNadu as his Ship reaches Rameshwaram and halts 90 days for repair and reloading. Marudhu wants to give up his sailing life and settle down there. He develops a liking for Nancy (Kutty Radhika), who sells fruits and other items to sailors on ships that have arrived at the port, but she still holds a candle for the captain of a ship Mukundan (Arun) that docked there three years ago. Though Nancy had proposed to him three years ago, he declined stating that 17 was a very young age to marry. He told her to wait for him or marry someone else at her will. before leaving, He had promised her that he would return in a year, but three years later, Nancy has still not given up hope. Marudhu befriends and helps Nancy search for Mukundan, but when he reveals that he loves Nancy, she distances herself from him. They reconcile and become friends. All hope is lost to find Mukundan as they see the captain junior, now as the first officer of another ship. The captain junior reveals that the captain's ship was destroyed in a blast. Soon, Marudhu's ship is scheduled to leave to Africa on Christmas night. Marudhu can decide to re-join the ship or leave work by then. All of them pressurize Nancy to leave her ideas about Mukundan and marry Marudhu. After a very long thought, she agrees by the night of Christmas Eve, and arrangements are made for the wedding next day, but Mukundan returns, surprises Nancy and Marudhu, and finds him kissing her hand in the crowd. He decides that he is the best for her. She is in a dilemma whether to choose Mukundan or Marudhu, and finally selects the former, leaving mixed feelings of joy and sorrow. Marudhu leaves India in his ship, seeking more journeys and promising never to return to his home of Tamil Nadu.

In 2001, debutant S. P. Jananathan selected Shaam to be the lead actor in his first film titled Iyarkai after watching his performance in the film 12B before the film had even released. Shaam joined the film while he was filming for Girivalam.[5] In an interview with Rediff, Jananathan revealed that the reason the backdrop of the sea was chosen was because he was attached to the sea as he "grew up on the sea shore". The story of the film was also influenced by his own life: his friend's uncle boat sunk in the Mediterranean Sea and his uncle was never found.[2] Jananathan told the story to Ramkumar Ganesan, whose cousin, Kumar, became the producer after liking the story.[6] Arun Kumar, who was last seen in Pandavar Bhoomi, was roped in to play a cameo as a ship officer.[4] The film was mainly shot on the Tuticorin harbour.[5]

The music was composed by Vidyasagar and lyrics written by Vairamuthu.[4]

It enjoyed little success in the Kollywood box office, but did not lose money the film was produced on a low budget.[6] Upon release, the films's cinematographer, Ekambaram, sent the film to the National Awards committee. Much to Jananathan's surprise, the film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for 2003, competing with Virumaandi and Pithamagan as that year's submissions.[2] The National Film Award was the first award that Jananathan had received in his career.[6][5][8] S. P. Jananathan collaborated with Shaam again for the latter's 25th film titled Purampokku Engira Podhuvudamai in 2015.[7][9]

• Iyarkai on IMDb