Raam (2005 film)

Last updated

Raam
Raam 2005 poster.jpg
Poster
Directed by Ameer
Written byAmeer
Produced byAmeer
Starring Jiiva
Saranya Ponvannan
Gajala
Cinematography Ramji
Edited by Raja Mohammad
Music by Yuvan Shankar Raja
Production
company
Teamwork Production House
Release date
  • 4 March 2005 (2005-03-04)
Running time
131 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Raam is a 2005 Indian Tamil-language mystery thriller film written, produced and directed by Ameer. The film stars Jiiva, Gajala and Saranya Ponvannan, with Kunal Shah, Rahman, Ganja Karuppu and Murali playing supporting roles. The film was released on 4 March 2005 and became a sleeper hit. It was screened at the 2006 Cyprus International Film Festival, where it won two awards for Best Actor and Best Musical Score for Jiiva and Yuvan Shankar Raja, respectively. The film was critically acclaimed with praise for the performances of Jiiva and Saranya, screenplay, music and cinematography. The film was remade in Hindi as Bolo Raam (2009) and in Kannada as Huccha 2 (2018). [1] [2]

Contents

Plot

In the picturesque town of Kodaikanal, a haunting tale unfolds, centered around the intricate bond between a young man named Raam and his mother, Saradha. The narrative kicks off with a chilling scene – both Raam and his mother lying in a pool of blood. As the authorities discover Raam is still alive, they apprehend him for the alleged murder of his mother, setting the stage for a riveting investigation led by Police Inspector Umar.

The plot unravels through a gripping flashback, revealing Raam as a teenager grappling with mental challenges, later diagnosed as autistic. His deep, almost obsessive love for his mother inadvertently entangles her in a web of troubles. Raam, with a low tolerance for wrongdoing, becomes the prime suspect in Saradha's brutal murder. As Inspector Umar meticulously probes into the lives of Raam and those connected to him, a myriad of potential motives emerge.

Living next door is Karthikayeni, the daughter of Sub-Inspector Malaichamy, who finds herself drawn to Raam. However, Raam's response to her affection is blunt and uncompromising. The tension escalates when Saradha is discovered murdered, triggering a relentless pursuit of truth by Inspector Umar.

The investigation takes unexpected turns, revealing dark secrets and hidden connections. The police unravel a shocking revelation – it was Karthikayeni's brother, Satish, who committed the heinous act out of fear that Saradha would expose his drug addiction. Confronted by Umar, Satish inflicts fatal harm and escapes, leaving a trail of chaos.

Amidst the turmoil, Raam, driven by a thirst for justice, discovers Satish's hideout. A brutal confrontation ensues, culminating in Raam's triumph over the antagonist. The film concludes with the police closing in on the hideout, capturing the intensity of the moment as Raam meditates on a dilapidated rooftop.

Cast

Production

Ameer revealed while he was working in Nandha (2001), he got to witness an incident in a local news channel where a 20 year old man sitting near his mother's corpse, feeling remorse for murdering his mother. This triggered Ameer to make a film on that incident; however he changed the script by not portraying the son as murderer. [3] Jiiva who was in search of story for his third film met cinematographer Ramji who informed him that Ameer wanted to make a film with him which prompted Jiiva to meet him and agreed to act under his direction after hearing the script and character. [4] Ameer decided to produce the film on his own after the initial producers who produced Ameer's debut Mounam Pesiyadhe (2002) backed out. [4] To portray his character, Jiiva grew his hair long, had to remain blank and did a lot of recce and also met a person who had autism and observed his mannerisms. [5] The filming was primarily held at Kodaikanal where sets were built on the land belonging to Jiiva's family. [4] The scene where Jiiva meditates was shot at Dolphin Nose, Kodaikanal. [6] The film took nearly two years to complete. [7]

Soundtrack

The music was scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja. The soundtrack features seven tracks, including one instrumental. All lyrics were penned by Snehan. [8]

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Boom Boom" Yuvan Shankar Raja, Jyotsna, Premji Amaran, Tippu 4:36
2."Aarariraro" K. J. Yesudas 4:46
3."Vidigindra Pozhudhu" Srimathumitha 3:59
4."Yaaro Arivaal" Madhu Balakrishnan 2:26
5."Manidhan Solgindra"K. J. Yesudas, Vijay Yesudas, Ranjith 4:41
6."Nizhalinai Nijamum"Vijay Yesudas, Yuvan Shankar Raja5:21
Total length:25:49

Critical reception

Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote, "Crafted with care and treated with finesse, Raam is a luminous feather in the maker's cap". [9] Visual Dasan of Kalki called Raam a miracle cure for rotten taste. [10] M. Bharat Kumar of News Today wrote "Director Ameer needs to be applauded for coming up with a gripping emotional melodrama detailing the travails of an autistic boy, which is sure to impress movie buffs. Engrossing screenplay by the director himself, excellent cinematography by Ramjhi[ sic ] and good background score by Yuvan Shankar Raja add strength to the movie". [11]

Accolades

At the 2006 Cyprus International Film Festival, Jiiva won the award for Best Actor in a Feature Film, and Yuvan won for Best Musical Score in a Feature Film. [12] He remains the only Indian to have received that award to date. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuvan Shankar Raja</span> Indian composer and playback singer (born 1979)

Abdul Haliq is an Indian composer and playback singer, who continues to use his birth name professionally. He mainly scores music for Tamil films along with few Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi films. Considered a versatile composer, he is particularly known for his use of Western music elements and often credited with having introduced hip hop to the Tamil film and music industry and started the "era of remixes" in Tamil Nadu which included mixed EDM and jazz. He is frequently referred to as the "BGM King" and the "Young Maestro" of Tamil Film Music. Yuvan has won two Filmfare Awards South, five Mirchi Music Awards South, three Vijay Awards and two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.

<i>Thavamai Thavamirundhu</i> 2005 Indian film

Thavamai Thavamirundhu is a 2005 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by Cheran. The film stars Rajkiran, Cheran and Saranya Ponvannan, in lead roles while, Senthil Kumar, Padmapriya and Meenal portraying supporting roles. The music was composed by the duo Sabesh–Murali with cinematography by M. S. Prabhu and editing by B. Lenin. The film released on 2 December 2005.

<i>Sandakozhi</i> 2005 film by N. Lingusamy

Sandakozhi is a 2005 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by N. Linguswamy and produced by Vikram Krishna under the banner of G K Film Corporation. The film stars Vishal, Meera Jasmine, Rajkiran, and Lal, while Raja, Suman Setty and Ganja Karuppu play supporting roles. The music was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja and the cinematography was handled by Jeeva and Nirav Shah, while the editing was handled by G. Sasikumar.

<i>Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam</i> 2006 Indian film

Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam is a 2006 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Boopathy Pandian. The film stars Dhanush and Shriya Saran, while Prakash Raj, Karunas and Saranya Ponvannan play supporting roles. The film, which had music composed by D. Imman, was released on 17 December 2006. It was remade in Telugu as Takkari (2007), and in Kannada as Dhool (2011).

<i>Kalvanin Kadhali</i> (2006 film) 2006 Indian Tamil film directed by Tamilvanan

Kalvanin Kadhali is a 2006 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film written and directed by newcomer Tamilvannan, and produced by Lakshman. The film stars S. J. Suryah and Nayanthara, with Shraddha Arya, Pyramid Natarajan, Vivek and Ganja Karuppu playing supporting roles. It is notably, Suryah's first film as the hero, which hasn't been directed by himself. The film was a high-budget production, the soundtrack and film score of which were composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, which were considered the highlight and as a great hit, especially the soundtrack. This love story is set in the backdrop of a playboy's tricks. The film was released on 17 February 2006 enjoying relative success.

<i>Kattradhu Thamizh</i> 2007 Indian film

Kattradhu Thamizh is a 2007 Indian Tamil-language psychological thriller film written and directed by Ram, who directs his debut film. Produced by Salmara Mohammad Sharief, it stars Jiiva, Anjali and Karunas. The film was released on 6 October 2007, to unanimous critical acclaim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil</span>

The Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Tamil (Kollywood) films.

<i>Paruthiveeran</i> 2007 film by Ameer Sultan

Paruthiveeran is a 2007 Indian Tamil-language romantic action drama film written and directed by Ameer. The film stars Karthi in his feature film debut as the title character, with Priyamani as the female lead and Ponvannan, Saravanan, Ganja Karuppu, Sampath Raj, and Sujatha Sivakumar playing supporting roles. Produced by Ameer, it features a soundtrack and score composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, cinematograhy by Ramji and editing by Raja Mohammad.

<i>Vel</i> (film) 2007 film directed by Hari

Vel ( transl. Spear) is a 2007 Indian Tamil-language action comedy film directed by Hari and produced by M. Chinthamani under Sree Rajakaalaiamman Medias. It stars Suriya in dual lead roles, alongside Asin, Kalabhavan Mani, Vadivelu, Nassar, Charan Raj, Lakshmi, Saranya Ponvannan and Ambika. The music, cinematography and editing were handled by Yuvan Shankar Raja, Priyan and V. T. Vijayan.

<i>Pidichirukku</i> 2008 Indian film

Pidichirukku is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language romance film, produced by Kool Productions Chida Shenbaga Kumar, directed by Kanagu, starring Ashok Kumar, Vishakha Singh, Sampath Raj, Ganja Karuppu and Saranya Ponvannan. The cinematography is by D. V. Raameswaran and Manu Ramesan scored the music. 'Pidichirukku' was the title which N. Linguswamy was about to use for Run. Director Kanagu, who was working as an assistant director with N. Linguswamy, got the title from him. The film was released during Pongal 2008 to mixed reviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ameer Sultan</span> Indian film director and actor

Ameer Sultan is an Indian film director, film producer, screenwriter and actor, working in the Tamil film industry.

<i>Dindigul Sarathy</i> 2008 film by Siva Sanmukam

Dindigul Sarathy is a 2008 Indian Tamil language drama film directed by Siva Sanmukam, who earlier directed Thagapansamy. The film stars Karunas, Karthika, and Saranya Ponvannan, while Nassar, M. S. Baskar, Livingston, and Chitti Babu play supporting roles. The film has cinematography by S. Thaj and music by Dhina. The film was released on 19 December 2008. It is a remake of the Malayalam film Vadakkunokkiyantram (1989).

<i>Yogi</i> (2009 Tamil film) 2009 Indian film

Yogi is a 2009 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by Subramaniam Siva, starring director-turned-actor Ameer as the titular protagonist alongside Madhumitha, and Swathi, Vincent Asokan, Ponvannan, lyricist Snehan in his acting debut, and Ganja Karuppu. An uncredited remake of the 2005 South African Academy Award-winning film Tsotsi, the film was written and produced by Ameer himself, and features musical score composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja.

Raju Bhai is a 2007 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by Surya Kiran, starring Manoj Manchu and Sheela Kaur, with Kadhal Dhandapani, Tanikella Bharani and Brahmanandam in supporting roles. The film, a remake of the successful 2006 Tamil film Chithiram Pesuthadi, directed by Mysskin was produced by Manoj's father, Mohan Babu, and was released on 18 May 2007 and was critically and commercially universally unsuccessful.

<i>Thenavattu</i> 2008 Indian film

Thenavattu (transl.Courage) is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by V. V. Kathir, starring Jiiva and Poonam Bajwa, with Ganja Karuppu, Ravi Kale, Shafi, Saikumar, and Rajan P. Dev in supporting roles. The music of the film was composed by Srikanth Deva. The film was released on 21 November 2008 and received highly negative reviews from critics. It was a commercial failure in metros but performed well at B and C-centers, or lower class theatres.

<i>Mutrugai</i> 1993 Indian film

Mutrugai (transl. Siege) is a 1993 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film, directed by Manobala. The film stars Arun Pandian, Bhanupriya, Ranjitha and Geetha. It was released on 14 January 1993. The film was remade in Hindi as Janta Ki Adalat.

<i>Pirappu</i> 2007 Indian film

Pirappu is a 2007 Tamil language romantic drama film directed by L. V. Ilangovan. The film stars newcomer Prabha, Karthika and newcomer Priya Mohan, with Mahadevan, Saranya Ponvannan, Vijay Krishnaraj, Sulakshana, Shanmugarajan, Anjali Devi, Ganja Karuppu and George Maryan playing supporting roles. It was released on 1 June 2007.

<i>Naan Pudicha Mappillai</i> 1991 Indian film

Naan Pudicha Mappillai is a 1991 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film written and directed by V. Sekhar. The film stars Nizhalgal Ravi, Saranya Ponvannan and Aishwarya, with Janagaraj, Sumithra, Goundamani, Senthil, Vasu Vikram and Shanmugasundari in supporting roles. It was released on 21 February 1991. The film was remade in Telugu as Mamagaru, in Kannada as Muddina Maava and in Hindi as Meherbaan.

<i>Conjuring Kannappan</i> 2023 Indian film

Conjuring Kannappan is a 2023 Indian Tamil-language comedy-horror film that was written and directed by Selvin Raj Xavier in his directorial debut, and produced by AGS Entertainment. The film stars Sathish and Regina Cassandra alongside Nassar, Anandaraj, Saranya Ponvannan, VTV Ganesh, and Redin Kingsley.

<i>Yogi</i> (soundtrack) 2009 soundtrack album by Yuvan Shankar Raja

Yogi is the soundtrack album to the 2009 film of the same name directed by Subramaniam Siva starring director Ameer Sultan in his debut as a lead actor. Yuvan Shankar Raja composed the six-song soundtrack with lyrics written by Snehan. Recorded during September 2007 – 2008, the production of the soundtrack delayed for a year and was released on 13 September 2009 through the Sony Music India label to positive reviews from critics.

References

  1. Duara, Ajit (6 January 2010). "Bolo Raam". Open . Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  2. "Huchcha-2 cast and crew finalized". Sify . 4 December 2014. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  3. "ஹீரோக்களுக்கு வாலாட்டும் தமிழ் சினிமா!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). 10 April 2005. pp. 32–34. Retrieved 18 April 2024 via Internet Archive.
  4. 1 2 3 "ஈட் ட்ரிங்க் ஸ்லீப் ராம்..." (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). 25 March 2007. pp. 30–32. Retrieved 18 April 2024 via Internet Archive.
  5. Warrier, Shobha (1 February 2006). "Jeeva: I risked my life for Dishyum". Rediff.com . Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  6. "தீ பரவிய திகில் நிமிடங்கள்!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). 8 April 2007. pp. 26–28. Retrieved 29 April 2024 via Internet Archive.
  7. "'I believe in making a mark' – Jiiva". Deccan Chronicle . 31 January 2013.
  8. "Raam (2005)". Raaga.com . Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  9. Rangarajan, Malathi (11 March 2005). "Raam". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 5 September 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
  10. தாசன், விஷுவல் (20 March 2005). "ராம்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 16. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023 via Internet Archive.
  11. Bharat Kumar, M. "Impressive effort". News Today . Archived from the original on 12 March 2005. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  12. "Winners". Cyprus International Film Festival . Archived from the original on 17 April 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
  13. "Yuvan, the only Indian composer to win Cyprus International Film Award". The Times of India . 19 December 2014. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.