Avvai Shanmughi

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Avvai Shanmugi
Avvai-Shanmughi.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by K. S. Ravikumar
Written by Crazy Mohan
Produced byR. Ravindran
K. P. Hari
Starring
CinematographyS. Murthy
Edited byK. Thanikachalam
Music by Deva
Production
company
Sree Mahalakshmi Combines
Release date
  • 10 November 1996 (1996-11-10)
Running time
161 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Avvai Shanmugi is a 1996 Indian Tamil-language comedy film inspired by the American film Mrs Doubtfire . [1] [2] It was directed by K. S. Ravikumar and written by Crazy Mohan. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Meena, with Gemini Ganesan, Nagesh, Heera, Manivannan and Nassar in supporting roles. The film's score and soundtrack were composed by Deva, while the film was produced by Ravindran and Hari. Avvai Shanmughi received high positive reviews and became a box office success. [3] This film was remade in Hindi as Chachi 420 , released the following year and met with the same success.

Contents

Plot

Janaki, a married woman who lives separated from her husband Pandian, applies for divorce. She offers various reasons for wanting a divorce. She has married Pandian against the wishes of her rich father Vishwanathan Iyer. But she is not able to come to terms with living in Pandian's small house without amenities. Pandian is an assistant dance choreographer with a modest income and is not able to spend much time with the family. All this accumulates and Janaki decides to apply for divorce, which is granted. The court orders that Pandian can meet his daughter Barathi, once a week and this is his only solace. Barathi, however, loves him a lot and dislikes the arrangement.

Basha, Pandian's Muslim friend, advises him to steal his daughter from Janaki. Pandian assents, but in doing so, he is discovered; now he cannot meet her at all. Pandian later learns that Vishwanathan has advertised for a woman to look after his granddaughter. In conversation with Joseph, a makeup artist, Pandian gets the idea of playing an old woman, so that he can be with his child and ex-wife without them knowing. Joseph agrees to this plan and the transformation is done from Pandian to "Avvai Shanmugi", a dignified, elderly Iyer woman.

Shanmugi applies for the job, but is rejected as another woman had been chosen. But when Barathi is hurt shooting fireworks and catches fire, Shanmugi throws her into the swimming pool against the wishes of the household, who believe that wrapping in woollens is the proper way to put out a fire. When a doctor comes to take a look at Barathi's wound, he praises Shanmugi for administering the right treatment, which causes Vishwanathan to reject the earlier hired nanny and hire Shanmugi. Soon after that, all the family members start to become closer to Shanmugi, including Janaki and Barathi. When Barathi gets to properly meet Shanmugi, she recognises her father almost immediately, but agrees not to reveal his secret.

Rathna is a girl who is in love with Pandian, but is constantly rebuffed. Basha takes up the role of a mute Iyer cook and is admitted into Vishwanathan's house on the recommendation of Shanmugi. However, Basha is caught later while doing his namaz, thereby blowing his cover. Hilarious circumstances follow and slowly Shanmugi manages to convince the household of her sincerity. So much so that Vishwanathan begins to develop a liking for Shanmugi and in fact proposes to her too. Around the same time, Mudaliyar, the house-owner of the place where Pandian lives, happens to bump into Shanmugi and sympathises with her for being a widow. Eventually, Mudaliyar too begins to develop a liking for her.

Meanwhile, Pandian slowly begins to realise that Janaki has not totally forgotten him. Shanmugi rebuffs Vishwanathan's proposals by saying that her husband is alive. Adding to the chaos, she tells Vishwanathan that Joseph is her husband; while Pandian tells Sethuramar, Vishwanathan's secretary, that Mudaliyar is Shanmugi's husband. There is much confusion after this, but it is resolved at last. Avvai Shanmugi convinces Vishwanathan that Janaki's right place is by her husband. While Viswanathan goes off to talk to his estranged son-in-law, Shanmugi reveals her true self as Pandian to Basha by removing her blouse. This is seen by Janaki, who misunderstands the scene and believes Shanmugi to be a seductress.

Janaki goes to Pandian's house to reclaim him, but upon seeing Rathna waiting there, and Shanmugi's clothes lying around, thinks that her husband, too, is promiscuous. Janaki leaves and attempts suicide by trying to jump into a river, but Shanmugi stops her. Shanmugi reveals her identity as Pandian. Janaki and Pandian reconcile, while Pandian "kills off" Shanmugi by attributing her "death" to drowning while attempting to save Janaki from committing suicide.

Cast

Production

Jijo Punnoose wanted to make a film starring Kamal Haasan as a man dressed as a woman, but Haasan refused as the role was an adolescent woman whereas he wanted to play an elderly woman. Haasan later desired to do a " Kramer Versus Kramer -meets- Tootsie " kind of film, [4] which became Avvai Shanmughi. [5] He began production on the film after his project with director Balachandra Menon's Kanden Seethaiyai failed to get completed. The team initially approached Sivaji Ganesan to play the lead actress's father in the film, but his ill health meant that the film was launched with Meena and Gemini Ganesan as part of the cast and schedules were held in Kerala and Goa. A debutant Sri Durga was roped in to play the character Rathna and Sanghavi was also considered, but was ultimately replaced by Heera. [6] Ann was introduced as the girl who played the lead character's daughter, after Haasan's daughter Akshara opted against being a part of the project. [7] [8] Stunt master Kanal Kannan appeared in a small role of a street rogue. [9]

Kamal dedicated this film to his mentor stage actor 'Avvai' T. K. Shanmugam, who was known for playing female roles in stage plays. [10] The make-up artist Michael Westmore provided advice for the film alongside K. M. Sarathkumar. [11] The padding and foundation used gave Haasan an allergic reaction beneath his eyes. The make-up took five hours to put on and lasts for only five more hours. [12] Haasan wore a nine-yard saree in the film for the female character. [13]

Release

The film won positive reviews and performed well at the box office.[ citation needed ] The Hindu praised the film claiming "turns out to be entertainer, mouthful from start to finish". The source praises Kamal Haasan's portrayal of a woman by claiming that "few peers to Kamal Hassan who can do the female role with such perfection". [14] [15] The film won three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards with K. M. Sarathkumar winning Best Make-up Artist, Ann Anra winning Best Child actor and Sujatha Mohan winning Best Playback Female Singer.[ citation needed ]

In 1997, Kamal Haasan made his directorial debut by remaking the film in Hindi as Chachi 420 , and reprised his role. [16]

Soundtrack

The music composed by Deva and the lyrics were penned by Vaali. The song "Rukku Rukku" is based on Sahana (raga). [17] The song Kadhala Kadhala was reused as Gham Hai Kyon in the Hindi movie Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000). [18]

#SongSinger(s)LyricsDuration
1"Rukku Rukku" Kamal Haasan, Sujatha Vaali 5:55
2"Kadhala Kadhala" Hariharan, Sujatha5:46
3"Kalyanam Katcheri" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 5:30
4"Velai Velai"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam5:26
5"Kadhali Kadhali"Hariharan5:44

Legacy

The scene where Pandiyan looks for a sign board to think of a name for his elderly woman getup is recreated in Remo (2016) where Siva Kartikeyan looks at sign board for his nurse getup. [19]

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References

  1. ↑ Sunder, Gautam; S, Srivatsan (10 June 2019). "Best of 'Crazy' Mohan in Tamil cinema". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  2. ↑ "Let's take a look at Kollywood's several attempts in remaking foreign films".
  3. ↑ Srinivasan, V S (19 December 1997). "Chachi comes a-visiting". Rediff.com . Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  4. ↑ Jha, Subhash K (13 August 2014). "Kamal Haasan: Robin Williams brought dignity to male tears". Rediff.com . Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "Kamal Haasan to play middle-aged lady in his next film, Avvai Shanmukhi". India Today . 15 November 1996. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  6. ↑ Sitaraman, Sandya (19 July 1996). "Tamil Movie News(Cont.)". Tamil Movie News--Pudhu Edition 3. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  7. ↑ Kumar, Divya (16 June 2007). "The countdown begins". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  8. ↑ BehindwoodsTV (26 July 2017). Vivegam : Akshara Haasan Reveals about her Looks & Character | Ajith Kumar | MY 123. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021– via YouTube.
  9. ↑ Ashok Kumar, S. R. (13 February 2009). "Grill mill". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  10. ↑ Kolappan, B. (29 April 2012). "Avvai Shanmugam's centenary passes off without fanfare". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 3 December 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  11. ↑ "Behind the Scenes". Screen . 13 February 1997. Archived from the original on 6 June 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
  12. ↑ Verma, Suparn (4 April 1997). "Kamal Hasan returns to Bollywood". Rediff.com . Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  13. ↑ "Ayyo Rama". The Hindu . 25 June 2013. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  14. ↑ "Avvai Shanmughi". The Hindu . 15 November 1996. Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  15. ↑ Ramanujam, D.S. (14 February 1997). "Not a good year". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  16. ↑ "Mudslinging turns Chikni Chachi into Stree 420". The Indian Express . 17 June 1997. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  17. ↑ Mani, Charulatha (27 April 2012). "A Raga's Journey — Soothing Sahana". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  18. ↑ "25 years of Avvai Shanmugi: Interesting facts about the Kamal Haasan-starrer". The Times of India . 6 November 2021. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  19. ↑ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (25 November 2016). "Content doesn't match the effort". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
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