Azhagan

Azhagan
Poster
Directed byK. Balachander
Written byK. Balachander
Produced byKovai Chezhiyan
StarringMammootty
Bhanupriya
Geetha
Madhoo
Babloo Prithiveeraj
CinematographyR. Raghunatha Reddy
Edited byGanesh–Kumar
Music byMaragathamani
Production
company
K. C. Film Combines
Release date
  • 25 August 1991 (1991-08-25)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Azhagan (pronunciationⓘ) (transl. Handsome) is a 1991 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Balachander and produced by Kovai Chezhiyan. It stars Mammootty in the lead role with an ensemble supporting cast, including Bhanupriya, Geetha, Madhoo (in her Tamil debut), and Babloo Prithiveeraj. The film, released on 25 August 1991,[1] was critically and commercially successful.

Plot

Azhagappan, a successful hotelier and father of four small children, has lost his wife (whose face is not shown in the photo) in an accident. College student Swapna plays pranks on him and also falls in love with him, but Azhagappan refuses her love considering the age difference between them. After passing the matriculation exam, Azhagappan enrols in a tutorial centre where his teacher, Kanmani, is smitten by him, but Azhagappan, is not interested in her. Classical dancers Priya Ranjan and Azhagappan though, fall in love. After egos and differences crop up between them, Driver Santhanam blurts out the truth that the four children are orphans adopted by him. In the end, Swapna understands the situation and would love to call him "Daddy." With the help of Kanmani and Swapna, the four children devise a plan and play mediator between Azhagan and Priya by making them speak on the phone. In the end, both reveal their love through the phone and get united.

Cast

Production

Madhoo, the niece of actress Hema Malini, made her acting debut with this film.[3] The song "Kozhi Koovum" was choreographed by Kala and was picturised within two days.[4]

Soundtrack

The music was scored by Maragathamani.[5][6] The song "Thathithom" is set in Dharmavati raga,[7] "Sangeetha Swarangal" is set in Kharaharapriya,[8] and "Jaadhi Malli" is set in Maand.[9] The last portions of the song "Thathithom" were inspired from "Liberian Girl" by Michael Jackson.[10]

All lyrics are written by Pulamaipithan

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Avan Thaan Azhagan"Minmini2:24
2."Kozhi Koovum Neram"Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra, Seerkazhi Sivachidambaram,5:02
3."Thudikirathe Nenjam"K. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam4:07
4."Thathithom"K. S. Chithra5:11
5."Sangeetha Swarangal"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sandhya3:14
6."Sathi Malli Poocharame"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam4:14
7."Mazhaiyum Neeye"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam2:24
8."Nenjamadi Nenjam"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra2:37
Total length:29:13

Reception

The Indian Express wrote, "Balachander, while charting out a script bristles with very lifelike characters acting out their hopes and fears with much credibility, does not miss out on smaller details."[11] The film was both a critical and commercial success.[12] At the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, Maragathamani won the award for Best Music Director, while Raghunatha Reddy won for Best Cinematographer.[13]

References

  1. ^ "அழகன் / Azhagan (1991)". Screen 4 Screen. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  2. ^ யுவராஜ், லாவண்யா (13 May 2024). "பாட்டியோட முடிஞ்சுது.. பாக்யராஜ் சாரை பார்த்தேன்.. அழகன் துரை என்ன செய்கிறார்?". ABP Nadu (in Tamil). Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  3. ^ Rao, Subha (29 March 2014). "The Roja girl's back". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  4. ^ Umashanker, Sudha (6 October 2003). "In her footsteps". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Azhagan". JioSaavn. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Azhagan Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by Maragathamani". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  7. ^ Mani, Charulatha (9 November 2012). "Twice as nice". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  8. ^ Mani, Charulatha (13 April 2012). "A Raga's journey — Kinetic Kharaharapriya". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  9. ^ Mani, Charulatha (22 June 2012). "Mesmeric Maand". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  10. ^ S, Karthik. "Tamil [Other Composers]". ItwoFS. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  11. ^ Krishnaswamy, N. (30 August 1991). "Azhagan". The Indian Express. p. 7. Retrieved 8 January 2019 – via Google News Archive.
  12. ^ "5 Tamil hits of Mammootty as you await 'Peranbu'". Onmanorama. 18 July 2018. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  13. ^ "Chinnathambi bags six awards". The Indian Express. 30 October 1992. p. 3. Retrieved 28 October 2021 – via Google News Archive.