Friends (2001 film)

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Friends

DVD Cover
Directed by Siddique
Produced by Appachan
Written by Siddique
Gokul Krishna
Starring Vijay
Suriya
Ramesh Khanna
Devayani
Vijayalakshmi
Music by Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography Anandakuttan
Editing by T. R. Shekar
K. R. Gowrishankar
Studio Swargachitra
Release dates January 14, 2001
Running time 167 minutes
Country India
Language Tamil
Budget INR5 crore

Friends is a 2001 Tamil comedy film directed by Siddique and produced by Appachan. The film featured Vijay, Suriya and Ramesh Khanna, in the title roles, while Devayani, Abhinyashree, Vijayalakshmi, Sriman and Vadivelu amongst others play supporting roles. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, while Anandakuttan handled cinematography. The film is a remake of the Siddique's own Malayalam film by the same name with actors Mukesh, Sreenivasan, and Jayaram. The film released in January 2001, receiving mixed to positive reviews and completed a 200-day run at the box office.

Plot

Aravindhan (Vijay) , Chandru (Surya), and Krishnamurthy (Ramesh Khanna) value friendship over everything else, even family, and for this reason, Chandru resists the advances of Aravindan's sister Amutha (Vijayalakshmi). When the trio take up a painter's job at a mansion, Aravindan falls in love with Padmini (Devayani), who lives there. Padmini's jealous cousin Abhirami (Abinayasri) makes him believe that his overtures are reciprocated. When the truth is revealed and Padmini rejects him outright, Chandru stands up for his friend and speaks ill of her. This makes her swear to separate the friends.

After the marriage, Aravindan realises the hand of Abhinaya behind all the mishaps and Padmini too realises Chandru is innocent. Then the marriage of Chandru and Amutha is arranged. The cousin of Aravindan who is in love with Amutha from his young age tries to separate the pair. He makes Chandru believe that Padmini is trying to kill Amutha. Padmini is now angry with Chandru. At last Aravindan tells the truth that in their young ages Chandru's mentally challenged brother was unknowingly killed by Aravindan. The cousin of Aravindan records this and makes this to be heard by Chandru. Chandru and Aravindan go by their ways. Aravindan tries to convince Chandru but he falls from the top of a mountain. Chandru believes that Aravindan is dead and feels very much for him. But after five years later, he comes to meet Aravindan's family, only to find out that Aravindan is not dead, but has ended up in coma. The cousin of him is now torturing his family a lot. When he comes to know that Chandru has come back, he goes and starts to beat him up. After hearing his beloved friend Chandru's cry of pain, Aravindan gets his memory back. Aravindan beats up the cousin and they all rejoin and live happily.

Jyothika and Suvalakshmi were cast first as the heroines, but later the roles went to Devayani and Vijayalakshmi respectively.

Cast

Crew

  • Story, Screenplay and Directed by: Siddique
  • Dialogue: Gokulakrishnan
  • Produced by: Appachan
  • Music: Ilaiyaraaja
  • Cinematography: Anandakuttan
  • Editing: T. R. Shekar and K. R. Gowrishankar
  • Art: Mani Suchithra
  • Fights: Kanal Kannan
  • Lyrics: Pazhani Bharathi
  • Choreography: Raju Sundaram, L. L. Cool Jayanth and Ravidev
  • Costumes: T. K. Velayudham
  • Banner: Swargachitra

Production

After their teaming in Nerukku Ner, Vijay and Suriya came together again in this film, a remake of a successful Malayalam film of the same name that was produced by actress Sarita, and had her husband Mukesh co-starring with Jairam. Siddique who directed the original has directed the Tamil version too. Ramesh Khanna was selected to play the role which was enacted by Srinivasan in original. First Jyothika was signed, with Suvalakshmi to play the lead actresses in the film but soon Simran replaced Jothika. Both Simran and Suvalakshmi also then too backed out, and were replaced by Devayani and new girl Vijayalakshmi from Mysore. Shooting was held in a fast pace on location in Ooty, Pollachi, Pazhani and Udumalaipettai.[1]

Release

The film received mixed reviews from critics upon release in 2001. Bizhat wrote: "It is a fairly engaging entertainer with the first part moving at a fast pace with ribtickling humour and slapstick comedy thrown in. The second half has a jerky narration, the smooth transition of the original somehow missing in the remake".[2] Balaji B wrote: "The movie follows the now-familiar trajectory of a first half where comedy is predominant, and a sentimental second half. While the idea is right and the premise is strong, the movie is not completely effective due to the less-than-hilarious comedy in the first half and the overdose of sentiments in the second half. While there are some funny scenes in the beginning, there are also periods of comic drought which are tough to sit through. And once the story takes a serious turn, we are overwhelmed by the twists and turns the story takes and the convoluted logic the characters base their acts on. So, first there is a dearth of consistent laughs and then an overkill with sentiments. And it is all capped off by a silly, cinematic climax".[3]

Soundtrack

"Friends" was Ilayaraja's fifth and last collaboration with Vijay.

Friends
Soundtrack album by Ilaiyaraaja
Released 2001
Genre Feature film soundtrack

Box office

The film took a big opening at the box office despite being released with Ajith Kumar's Dheena. With a 1000 days theatrical run among the screens of Tamil Nadu, Friends was one among the most commercially successful films of that year. more then 200 days running in 20 theaters.

References

  1. ↑ http://cinematoday2.itgo.com/friends.htm
  2. ↑ http://movies.bizhat.com/review_friends.php
  3. ↑ http://www.bbthots.com/reviews/2001/friends.html

External links

Films directed by Siddique
Directed alone
Directed with Lal
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