Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam
Poster
Directed byBalu Mahendra
Written byBalu Mahendra
Produced bySai Suresh
StarringDhanush
Priyamani
CinematographyBalu Mahendra
Edited byBalu Mahendra
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Release date
  • 2 November 2005 (2005-11-02)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam (transl. That was a period of dream) is a 2005 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by Balu Mahendra. The film featured Dhanush and Priyamani , while Karunas and Delhi Ganesh played supporting roles. The music for the film was scored by Ilaiyaraaja, while Sai Suresh produced the venture. The film is a remake of the director's own Malayalam film Yathra. The film was released on 2 November 2005, coinciding with Diwali, and received a below average response commercially.

Plot

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Srinivasan, a convict, escapes from jail and hitches a ride on a truck to meet his love Thulasi. He reveals his flashback to the lorry driver, telling him of the disputes between his ambitious father and himself. When the parents leave home for a week, Srinivasan is left in the maid's care. Soon, he meets the maid's daughter, Thulasi, his childhood playmate, and they fall in love. But his father objects to his son falling in love with Thulasi. One day, Srinivasan and his friends land up in prison for crashing their car on a police vehicle. While at the police station, Srinivasan locks horns with an inmate in jail and when he pushes him in a fit of rage, he sustains a serious head injury subsequently killing him. Eventually Srinivasan gets convicted for 10-year-rigorous imprisonment. His mother dies, and Thulasi's family goes bankrupt and leaves to their native village in Ooty. A dejected Srinivasan escapes from prison to meet Thulasi. Whether the two join forms the rest of the story.

Cast

Production

Following the success of Kadhal Kondein (2003), Balu Mahendra signed on Dhanush to appear in his next film in July 2003.[1] Initially the director revealed that the film titled Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam would be an extension to his 1979 film Azhiyadha Kolangal stating that Dhanush would play a teenager infatuated by a woman who is fifteen years older than him to be played by Ramya Krishnan.[2] However he opted against doing that story and decided to build his film around his 1985 film Yathra, and the title of the film was subsequently changed to Unakkae Uyiranaen.[3] It was later changed back to the original title before release.

The shoot for the film began in December 2003 with scenes featuring the lead pair shot in Chennai.[4] The film was shot in Hogenakkal Falls in November 2004, with Dhanush marrying Aishwarya Rajinikanth in between schedules.[5] He consequently also delayed his honeymoon, to commit to a fifteen-day schedule for the film in December 2004.[6] During the making of the film, Dhanush also struck up a friendship with assistant director Vetrimaaran, and the pair have since come together for four films. The film was delayed through late 2004 after the director fell ill.[7]

In August 2005, the film faced criticism for a promotional hoarding put up in Chennai which featured photographs of Priyamani and Dhanush in a compromising position. It became the second such film during the period, where they were forced to remove the hoardings due to public protest after Silambarasan's Vallavan.[8] Further trouble occurred in October 2005, Balu Mahendra approached the police seeking action to secure a sum of Rs 3.75 lakh, an outstanding amount of his salary for directing the movie, from the producer Sai Suresh and matters were resolved quickly.[9][10] Although early reports suggested that Dhanush would be the distributor, producer Vishwas Sundar, bought the distribution rights and subsequently released the film in the Diwali season of 2005.[11][12]

After the film's release, members of the regional censor board complained that the promos of Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam were being shown on television without mentioning that the film had an "adult" certificate. At the time of censoring, Balu Mahendra was not willing to cut the deep lip-to-lip kissing scenes between the lead pair of Dhanush and Priya Mani and opted for an "A" certificate, which he subsequently refused to note down in the promotions.[13]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[citation needed]

Song Singer(s) Lyrics
"Antha Naal" Shreya Ghoshal, Vijay Yesudas Vaali
"Ennada Ninaichae" Ranjith, Vijay Yesudas Muthulingam
"Kaatu Vazhi" Ilaiyaraaja Ilaiyaraaja
"Killi Thattu" Bhavatharini, Jothi Mu. Metha
"Unnale Thookam" Malathi, Ranjith Na. Muthukumar

Release and reception

Shobha Warrier of Rediff.com stated that the film "disappointed", criticising the film in comparison to Mahendra's earlier work, Yathra.[14][15] The Hindu's critic noted that "excelling in technical aspects, the film falls short in the area of storyline."[16] In comparison, IndiaGlitz.com noted that "Balu Mahendra's direction is from the heart. Yet, there is a cerebral touch. He takes up subjects that are every-day, but infuses in them a special meaning. He gives his own interpretation". The critic also proceeded to praise the performances of the lead pair.[17] Lajjavathi of Kalki praised Dhanush's acting and added moderate story line and melodious music can both please the fans with quality taste like peacock feathers.[18]

Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam opened alongside other big films like Vijay-starrer Sivakasi and the Vikram-starrer Majaa. The film was described by trade pundits as a "complete wash-out".[19]

References

  1. ^ Warrier, Shobha (6 August 2003). "Target Dhanush!". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  2. ^ Warrier, Shobha (18 August 2003). "Sex and teenage fantasies". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Changing Titles". triple101.tripod.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  4. ^ Rozario, Rayan (19 January 2004). "Graceful debut". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 January 2004. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Dhanush hopes for an award". IndiaGlitz. 3 November 2004. Archived from the original on 3 November 2004. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  6. ^ "Dhanush postpones honeymoon!". Sify. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  7. ^ "An Exclusive Interview With Dhanush". All Indian Site. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  8. ^ "Poster problem". IndiaGlitz. 6 August 2005. Archived from the original on 16 May 2006. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  9. ^ "Courting controversy again". IndiaGlitz. 4 October 2005. Archived from the original on 10 December 2005. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  10. ^ "Controversies galore!". Sify. 17 September 2013. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  11. ^ "Troubles over for Dhanush". IndiaGlitz. 3 October 2005. Archived from the original on 4 February 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  12. ^ "Dhanush as distributor". IndiaGlitz. 28 October 2005. Archived from the original on 4 February 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  13. ^ "Censors crackdown on 'Athu Oru...'!". Sify. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  14. ^ "Athu Oru Kana Kalam". Sify. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  15. ^ Warrier, Shobha (8 November 2005). "Athu Oru Kana Kaalam disappoints". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  16. ^ SRA (6 November 2005). "The dream continues". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 November 2005. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  17. ^ "Athu Oru Kanaa Kaalam — Dreamy desires". IndiaGlitz. 2 November 2005. Archived from the original on 4 November 2005. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  18. ^ லஜ்ஜாவதி (11 December 2005). "அது ஒரு கனாக் காலம்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 12. Retrieved 28 April 2005.
  19. ^ "'Sivakasi' super, 'Majaa' miserable!". Sify. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2022.

External links

Films directed by Balu Mahendra
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