Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram (transl. Azhagu Sundaram alias Parattai) is a 2007 Indian Tamil-language crime action film directed by Suresh Krissna. The film stars Dhanush, Meera Jasmine and Archana. It is a remake of the 2005 Kannada film Jogi. It revolves around a woman who comes to the city from her village in search of her presumably lost son. The film was released on 27 April 2007 and unlike its original version was declared a box-office bomb.[1]
| Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Suresh Krissna |
| Written by | Rajkannan (dialogues) |
| Screenplay by | A. V. Durai Sahib Sai Ramani |
| Story by | Prem |
| Produced by | Yogesh K R Keyaar |
| Starring | Dhanush Meera Jasmine Archana |
| Cinematography | Velraj |
| Edited by | Suraj Kavee |
| Music by | Gurukiran |
Production company | KR Infotainment Pvt. Ltd. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 157 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
editThis article needs an improved plot summary. (May 2022) |
Azhagu Sundaram is a village bumpkin who comes from Tirunelveli to Chennai to earn money to buy gold bangles for his beloved mother Meenakshi. He gets entangled in the big bad world of dons and goondas and is unable to get back home to see his mother. On the other hand, Meenakshi lands up in Chennai in search of her son without even knowing his address or whereabouts. Meenakshi bumps into Shwetha, a journalism student who takes pity on her, takes her home, and promises to help her find her son. Azhagu is now known as Parattai in Chennai and is taken under the wings of Khader Bhai, a tea shop owner. Parattai is forced to take the aruval as gang wars erupt and single-handedly he wipes out Deva, Kesavan and Suri, all dreaded criminals in the city. On parallel lines, he never sees his mother and finally accompanies her dead body to the crematorium, thinking it is an orphan's corpse. He dances with others, offers flowers, and finally after her body is charred, he realises that it was his mother.
Cast
edit- Dhanush as Azhagu Sundaram (Parattai)
- Meera Jasmine as Shwetha
- Archana as Meenakshi, Azhagu Sundaram's mother
- Nassar as Khader Bhai
- Santhanam as Sannasi/Santosh
- Livingston as Azhagu Sundaram's father
- Adithya as Deva
- Kadhal Dhandapani as Kesavan
- Aryan as Suri
- Vidharth as Parattai's friend
- Kadhal Arun Kumar as Chitti
- Monisha Ravishankar as Shwetha's friend
- Ajay Rathnam
- Crane Manohar
- Manobala
- K. Natraj
- Riyaz Khan
- Mumaith Khan as item number ('Nee Rasthali')
Production
editRajinikanth, who had watched the preview show of Kannada film Jogi, expressed his interest to remake the film in Tamil with his son-in-law, actor Dhanush. The film director Keyaar bought the remake rights of this film.[2] Prem, the director of the original, was approached to direct the remake, but declined as he did not want to pander to the lead actor's "larger-than-life stature" at the cost of realism.[3] Dance choreographer Raju Sundaram was selected to direct the film but later he was replaced by Suresh Krissna.[4] Sundaram opted out of the film due to his assignments as choreographer.[5] The film was launched in 31 August 2006 and the function was attended by director Shankar, Vijay, Asin, Rajathi Ammal, wife of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Rama Narayanan, Director Association chief S A Chandrasekhar and the honchos of Theatres Owners Association among others took part in the celebrations.[6][7][8] Archana, who was part of the films directed by Balu Mahendra agreed to play the mother of Dhanush.[9] To portray his role in the film, Dhanush grew his hair out.[10] The film was titled as "Parattai" with prefix Azhagu Sundaram being his character name in the film. Incidentally, Parattai was the famous character played by Rajinikanth in the film 16 Vayathinile (1977).[11] One of the songs were shot at Senji fort.[12]
Soundtrack
editThe music was composed by Gurukiran.[13] Yuvan Shankar Raja who initially agreed to compose the music, later backed out owing to commitments. He was later replaced by Gurukiran who composed the original film making his debut in Tamil films.[11] Gurukiran retained the soundtrack of Jogi for this version too.
| Song | Singer(s) | Lyrics | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Chikku Bukku" | Karthik, Priya Himesh | Viveka | 4:25 |
| "Engeda Azhagundhan" | Tippu, Rita | Na. Muthukumar | 5:19 |
| "Adithadi" | Chandran, Vijay Yesudas | 3:59 | |
| "Nee Rasthali" | Chandran, Roshini | Pa. Vijay | 4:15 |
| "Ezezhu Jenmam" | Mohammed Aslam | Na. Muthukumar | 4:59 |
| "Aaru Padai Veedu" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 2:00 |
Reception
editSify wrote, "Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram is a steamy sob story harping on mother-son sentiments' reminding you of 60's tearjerker's laced with lot of violence and Rajnikanth's favourite director Suresh Krishna's presentation and direction is old fashioned, to put it mildly".[14] Behindwoods said, "Mistakes do happen, let them not be repeated. Fate does not play havoc in anyone's life as shown in Parattai. Everyone controls his own destiny. So, Dhanush better control his own and choose stories carefully. Otherwise he will become the 'Polladavan' of the industry".[15] Sriram Iyer of Rediff wrote, "Director Suresh Krishna has relied on melodrama to make up for the story's deficiencies. Poor performances add to the film's low points".[16] Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote "`Parattai ... ' is remake of the Kannada `Jogi.' The original was a hit you hear, and that sets you wondering!"[17] Lajjavathi of Kalki praised the acting of Dhanush and Livingston, music and cinematography but felt Krishna's screenplay lacked speed and concluded the suspense of whether mother and child will meet up to a certain point starts to creep up. The director who offered the affection may have added a little ecstasy.[18]
References
edit- ^ Bhaskaran, Gautaman (27 March 2012). "Will Dhanush replace Rajinikanth as the new God?". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ "Dhanush sports different getups for Parattai". IndiaGlitz. 17 March 2007. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
- ^ "Before Jagame Thandhiram, Dhanush's crime films ranked, from Kaadhal Kondein to Vada Chennai". The Indian Express. 18 June 2021. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Parattai — Suresh Krishna steps in". IndiaGlitz. 10 October 2006. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
- ^ "Raju Sundaram removed from Dhanush's film!". Cinesouth. 10 October 2006. Archived from the original on 6 November 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "'Parattai' Movie Launch". IndiaGlitz. 11 September 2006. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
- ^ "Meera charms Dhanush but not his better half?". Behindwoods. 31 August 2006. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
- ^ "Parattai Engira Azhagusundaram pooja / with pics". Cinesouth. 31 August 2006. Archived from the original on 18 October 2006. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Archana happy with Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram". IndiaGlitz. 1 March 2007. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
- ^ Kumar, P.V. Sathish (1 September 2006). "Dhanush-starrer 'Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram launched". Nowrunning. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ a b "'Parattai' launch". Sify. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ "தனுஷின் தசாவதாரம்!". Kalki (in Tamil). 18 March 2007. pp. 30–31. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Spotify. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ "Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram". Sify. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
- ^ "Film Review: Parattai Engira Azhagusundaram". Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ Iyer, Sriram (27 April 2007). "Paratai is a letdown". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (4 May 2007). "Action dons a sentimental garb – Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ லஜ்ஜாவதி (20 May 2007). "பரட்டை என்கிற அழகு சுந்தரம்". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 28–29. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024 – via Internet Archive.