Pugaippadam

Pugaippadam (English: Photograph) is a 2010 Indian Tamil-language memoir-drama film written and directed by newcomer Rajesh Lingam, starring Priya Anand of Vaamanan fame along with 6 newcomers, namely Amjad, Harish, Sivam, Nandha, Mrinalini and Yamini, in lead roles. The film was released on 1 January 2010.^[1]

Cast

• Amjad as Krishna
• Priya Anand as Shiney George
• Harish as Bala
• Sivam as Guru
• Nandha as Nandha
• Mrinalini as Gowri
• Yamini as Krithika Rao (KK)
• Venkat
• Vinu Chakravarthy
• Shanmuga Sundaram
• G. Gnanasambandam
• Neelima Rani

Production

The film was announced in May 2008, with the director being an associate of Selvaraghavan. The cast was almost entirely newcomers with the male lead, Amjad, being associated with Radio One. Priya Anand, whose second film Vaamanan released before Pugaippadam, was also introduced. Noted orator and professor G. Gnanasambandam was announced to don an important role in this film, whilst Gangai Amaran, was chosen to score the music.^[2]

Release

Reception

The film opened in only a few centres across Chennai, Tamil Nadu to a below average opening. The film which grossed 1,70,670 in the opening weekend, failed commercially at the box-office.^[3]

Reviews

Upon release, the film received mixed reviews. A reviewer from Behindwoods.com claimed that the overall the film "does manage to live up to the liveliness and energy that we associate with a campus movie" with the first half being "colorful and enjoyable with humor mixed at places", also giving praise to the "touching" climax.^[4] However, the reviewer goes on to claim that the "entire movie appears episodic and fragmented" with the flow is "definitely missing at many places, which is a sore point". The cast also received mixed reviews with Shanmugasundaram’s role being criticized whilst Venkat, appearing as a professor, "fits the bill" whilst the young debut stars "have done their parts well".^[4]

The crew of the film was adjudged by Behindwoods to have handled the camera "very well, capturing the scenic beauty of the landscape". Whilst the director, Rajesh Lingam, has "proved that he has the right stuff in him to make good movies if he gets the right material". Music by Gangai Amaran was also appreciated, with the song Oru Kudaiyil, being singled out by the reviewer.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by music director Gangai Amaran.

References