Perazhagan

Perazhagan
Poster
Directed bySasi Shanker
Written byD. P. Singappuli (dialogues)
Screenplay bySasi Shankar
Story byBenny P. Nayarambalam
Produced byM. Saravanan
M. Balasubramanian
M. S. Guhan
B. Gurunath
StarringSuriya
Jyothika
CinematographyR. Rathnavelu
Edited byAnthony
Music byYuvan Shankar Raja
Production
company
Release date
  • 7 May 2004 (2004-05-07)
Running time
148 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Perazhagan[a] (pronounced [peːɾaɻaɡan] transl. Handsome man) is a 2004 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film directed by Sasi Shanker and produced by AVM Productions. It is a remake of the director's 2002 Malayalam film Kunjikoonan. The film stars Suriya and Jyothika, each in dual roles, while Vivek, Manorama, Bobby, Thalaivaasal Vijay, and Devan play supporting roles. The music was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja with cinematography by R. Rathnavelu and editing by Anthony. The film released on 7 May 2004. For his performance, Suriya won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil and Jyothika won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress.

Plot

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Karthik is a violent college student who madly loves his classmate Priya. In contrast to him is his lookalike Chinna alias Prem Kumar, who is a kindhearted village youth with a hunchback and is lauded for selfless service to others. He covers up his disability with humor and optimism. Unmindful of his looks, Chinna goes around looking for a suitable bride with the help of his friend Kuzhandhaisamy, a marriage assembler. Brushing aside many insults hurled at him, he carries on with his life. One day, Priya meets Chinna, who assures her that he will get her married to Karthik for sure.

Priya and Karthik plan to elope with Chinna's help, as her father rejects Karthik. However, she is killed in a fracas by Varadhan, a gangster, as revenge against Priya's father, DCP Nair, who arrested and assaulted him. She dies in Karthik's arms with Nair watching, and Nair arrests Karthik upon thinking that Karthik is responsible for Priya's murder. Chinna saw Varadhan killing Priya, but Varadhan says that he will be killed if he tells anyone what he saw. After Karthik is jailed as Priya's killer, Chinna pleads with Nair and tells the truth behind Priya's murder. Meanwhile, Chinna comes across an orphaned, poor, blind girl named Shenbagam, who is a lookalike of the dead Priya. He won over her heart by helping her out when her brother died.

After Chinna's efforts, Shenbagam gains her vision back. It is revealed that Priya's eyes were actually transplanted into her after her death. 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 Kuzhandhaisamy finds him and brings him to Shenbagam. Shenbagam does not care about Chinna's looks and accepts him wholeheartedly. Before their marriage, Varadhan returns to seek revenge from Chinna. Karthik arrives at the nick of time, remembering Priya's death; he seeks revenge by brutally beating and killing Varadhan. Karthik gives consent for Chinna and Shenbagam's wedding before being arrested. The film ends with the couple spending their honeymoon in Ooty.

Cast

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Production

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I knew if a film was remade one would not get a national award. But I wanted to do the remake of the Malayalam hit [Kunjikoonan] in Tamil. That was Perazhagan. But this was for my satisfaction. The hero of the film was much admired by people

 — Suriya on Perazhagan[1]

AVM decided to remake the Malayalam film Kunjikoonan and bought the remake rights after being impressed with it. Sasi Shankar, who made the Malayalam original, was chosen to direct the remake too. Unlike the Malayalam original, where two female characters were played by two different actresses, Jyothika enacted both the roles for the Tamil remake.[2] The film was launched on 26 January 2004.[3] This was the 166th film produced by AVM.[4] The film was shot at locations in Kerala, including Ernakulam, Thodupuzha, Kolappra and Kudaiyathur for 25 days.[4]

Soundtrack

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The soundtrack was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, with Palani Bharathi, Kabilan, Pa. Vijay, Thamarai and Snehan writing the lyrics of each one song.[5]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Ambuli Mama"Palani BharathiKarthik4:12
2."Orae Oru Piravi"SnehanHariharan3:58
3."Kadhalukku"KabilanPushpavanam Kuppusamy, Sri Vardhini5:18
4."Oru Azhagana"ThamaraiSuriya, Savitha Reddy, Ganga Sitharasu, Mathangi4:51
5."Kaatru Enbatha"Pa. VijayShankar Mahadevan, Mathangi4:33
Total length:22:52

Reception

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A critic from 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".[6]

Visual Dasan of Kalki praised Suriya for showing difference in dual roles and the story had unexpected twists. He concluded the review by appreciating AVM for making a film without including an item number.[7] Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote, "At no point are you allowed to feel that it is the same actor who is playing the physically challenged Chinna and the rough, ardently-in-love Karthik — therein lies [Perazhagan's] strength".[8]

Accolades

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Ceremony Category Recipient Result Ref.
52nd Filmfare Awards South Best Actor – Tamil Suriya Won [9]
[10]
Best Actress – Tamil Jyothika Nominated
Best Comedian – Tamil Vivek Won
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Best Actress Jyothika Won [11]
[12]
Best Lyricist Snehan Won

Dropped remake

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Upon release, NP Films bought the Telugu remake rights of the film. However, the remake was not made and the Tamil film was instead dubbed in Telugu as Sundarangadu, and released on 26 November 2004.[13][14]

Legacy

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Suriya briefly appears wearing Chinna's costume in the song "Palla Palla" in Ayan (2009).[15]

Notes

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  1. ^ Spelt as Peralagan on the CBFC certificate.

References

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  1. ^ Ashok Kumar, S.R. (17 October 2005). "I am careful in choosing my roles: Surya". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  2. ^ சரவணன், ஏவி.எம். (28 August 2005). "ஏவி.எம் – 167!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 44–47. Retrieved 2 March 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ "AVM's Perazhagan launched". Sify. 26 January 2004. Archived from the original on 10 March 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b Mannath, Malini (19 March 2004). "Perazhagan". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 16 October 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Perazhagan (2004)". Mio. Archived from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Peralagan". Sify. 7 May 2004. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  7. ^ தாசன், விஷுவல் (16 May 2004). "பேரழகன்". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 72–73. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (14 May 2004). "Paerazhagan". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 January 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Perazhagan (2003)". Rediff.com. 11 November 2008. Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Filmfare Awards 2005". Idlebrain.com. 23 July 2005. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  11. ^ "Tamilnadu State Film Awards – awards for Vikram, Jyotika". Cinesouth. 13 February 2006. Archived from the original on 31 January 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
  12. ^ AVM Productions [@avmproductions] (25 January 2022). "Did you know that for their performances in #Perazhagan @Suriya_offl and #Jyotika won the Filmfare Award and the Tamil Nadu State Award respectively? . #AVMProductions" (Tweet). Retrieved 7 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Kumar, G. Manjula (27 September 2004). "'Peralagan' in Telugu". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  14. ^ Jeevi. "Movie review – Sundarangudu". Idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  15. ^ Ayan (motion picture) (in Tamil). AVM Productions. 2009. From 17:51 to 17:52.
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