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Boys (2003 film)

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Boys
Poster
Directed byS. Shankar
Written byS. Shankar
Sujatha (uncredited)
Dialogues by
Produced byA. M. Rathnam
StarringSiddharth
Bharath
S.Thaman
Manikandan
Nakul
Genelia
CinematographyRavi K. Chandran
K.V. Anand (1 song)
V. Manikandan (1 song)
Edited byV. T. Vijayan
Music byA. R. Rahman
Production
company
Sri Surya Movies
Release date
  • 29 August 2003 (2003-08-29)
Running time
177 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Boys is a 2003 Indian Tamil-language coming-of-age comedy musical film directed by S. Shankar. It stars newcomers Siddharth, Bharath, Manikandan, S. Thaman, Nakkhul and Genelia, in her Tamil debut.The score and soundtrack are composed by A. R. Rahman. The story revolves around six youngsters, who experience the downfalls of adolescent life. The film was released on 29 August 2003.

Although initially controversial for its bold scenes, the film became a huge cult classic and is widely considered one of the best coming-of-age Indian movies ever. The film depicts the fashion, music and lifestyle widespread among the youth in the early 2000s.[1][2]

Plot

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Five college friends – Munna, Babu Kalyanam "Bob Gally", Juju, Krishna, and Kumar – are typical young adults who engage in reckless behavior – smoking, drinking, flirting with girls, etc. – much to their parents' chagrin. Amidst their lifestyle, the boys befriend a middle-aged man named Mangalam, and meet Harini and her friends. Munna and Harini eventually start a romantic relationship that infuriates their parents. When the parents collectively decide to separate the group, Munna and Harini decide to elope. With support from Mangalam and the boys, Munna and Harini hastily get married in Tirupati without their parents' consent. Consequently, a confrontation leads the parents to expel the boys and Harini, who vow to succeed independently.

The boys and Harini work odd jobs to earn money, and eventually form a band called Boys to raise funds for their education. After earning initial success with religious music, Boys are investigated and incarcerated under POTA for naively associating with Naxalites and making extremist songs. They are eventually rescued by Mangalam, who proves their innocence through great difficulty. Recognizing their natural talent, Mangalam encourages them to pursue music as a career, and joins them as their manager. Boys work hard to pursue opportunities and secure a contract to record an album with Sony. Before they can, however, an inebriated Krishna reveals to Harini that the boys hired a prostitute once, causing Harini to angrily leave Munna and return to her parents. The boys try to track the prostitute down to prove they did no wrong, but Kumar accidentally dies during the search, devastating everyone.

Determined to fulfill their contract to Sony, Mangalam and the boys try to persuade Harini’s parents to let her record an album with them. Despite initial disagreement, Harini's parents eventually agree on the condition that Harini and Munna divorce and never see each other again. Munna reluctantly accepts this arrangement for the sake of his friends. Boys soon record and release their album to great success and fame, and even perform live on MTV, dedicating their performance to Kumar. Despite their success, Munna and Harini proceed for their divorce. At the court, however, Mangalam hatches a plan to deliberately make Harini jealous and reconcile her with Munna before their divorce is finalized, which succeeds as Harini furiously and possessively reunites with Munna.

Cast

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Production

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Development

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In January 2002, it was announced that Shankar would make a film titled Boys featuring newcomers.[3] He had postponed the making of Robot starring Kamal Haasan and Preity Zinta to start this film, with the announcement prompting thousands of applications from youngsters who wanted to feature in it.[4] Shankar opted to introduce five debutants to play the lead characters and held auditions in 2002, with over 500 applicants being video tested.[5]

Siddharth had initially worked as an assistant director to Mani Ratnam in Kannathil Muthamittal, and the script writer of that film, Sujatha was insistent that Siddharth audition for Boys. After consulting with Mani Ratnam, he met Shankar, auditioned, and got the role of Munna.[6] Shankar had seen Bharath at a dance programme, Inspirations at the Music Academy by 'Swingers', and called him to appear in screen tests that included delivering dialogues and dancing before selecting him to do the role of Bob Galy.[6] Bharath was initially earmarked to play the lead role in the film before the team found Siddharth.[7] Sai Srinivas, a percussionist and a drummer, who had worked with leading music directors was added after a successful audition in which he had to play the drums and went on to help out with the background score.[8][9] Nakul, brother of actress Devayani, was a second-year college student who was also chosen. His family had sent some pictures of Nakul's elder brother Mayur to Shankar's office and, after seeing Nakul in one of the pictures, Shankar approached him.[7] Manikandan, a visual communications graduate who had featured in Kala master's dance troupe doing stage shows, was also selected.[6] Genelia D'Souza, who was shooting for Hindi film Tujhe Meri Kasam, was chosen among 300 girls after Shankar was impressed by her Parker Pen commercial alongside Amitabh Bachchan,[10] her voice was dubbed by Rathi of Solla Marandha Kadhai.[11] While finalising the lead cast, Shankar had also approached Bhagyaraj's son Shanthanu and Sarathkumar's daughter Varalaxmi, but their respective fathers turned down the opportunities.[12][13]

Ravi K. Chandran was the principal director of photography; he introduced the linking of 62 cameras for the first time and the use of time-freeze technology in Boys.[14][15] Cinematographers K. V. Anand and V. Manikandan were credited for filming two songs, while directors Gandhi Krishna and Balaji Sakthivel were a part of Shankar's assistant team.

Filming

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Boys was launched at the Kalaivaanar Arangam in Chennai with Rajinikanth attending the event as the chief guest of the function and the new cast was introduced to the media. Filming began later that day, and two days later a teaser trailer of the film was broadcast on television.[16]

The song "Ale Ale" was picturised at the Bridestowe Estate Lavender Farm in Scottsdale, Tasmania, Australia where cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran linked 62 cameras, using a new 'time-freeze' technique with the help of Australian cinematographer Mark Ruff's rig.[17] Mark Kobe, who had been a part of the teams of Godzilla and Independence Day, carried out the computer graphic effects for Boys and created a 3D female to feature in the song "Girlfriend". Another song, "Dating", was shot at a set created by Sabu Cyril on the Chennai seashore where he created a seaside swimming pool, restaurant, water volleyball, and discothèque for the song sequence.[18] For "Boom Boom", Cyril made a set out of waste materials like steel, tin sheets, bottles, used cans of Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Dalda (oil) and wood waste to create the backdrop, whilst the actors in the song were dressed by designer Arjun Fazil in matchsticks, film rolls, videotape, and crisps covers.[19] "Maro Maro" was picturised on 500 young dancers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi, while for "Secret of Success", the team were given permission to use the MTV logo as the scene saw the band performing at the MTV Awards.[20] The background score for both these songs were sung by Gulzar, Sherefa, Ranya and Sameera.

Soundtrack

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Boys
Soundtrack album by
A. R. Rahman
Released28 June 2003
15 August 2012 (Hindi)
RecordedPanchathan Record Inn
GenrePop, pop rock, dance music, world music
LabelStar Music (Tamil)
Ayngaran Music (Tamil)
An Ak Audio (Tamil)
Aditya Music (Telugu)
Pen Music (Hindi)
ProducerA. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman chronology
Parasuram
(2003) 		Boys
(2003) 		Warriors of Heaven and Earth
(2004)

The soundtrack, featuring seven songs composed by A. R. Rahman, was launched on 28 June 2003 at Devi Theatre.[21][22] It was the seventh collaboration of Shankar and Rahman, a combination that is one of the most successful in India.[21] On the song "Girlfriend", Shankar said, "I had told my crew and associates in the beginning itself that we had to think like an 18-year-old as the film is about youth and their desires. So when lyricist Pa.Vijay and Rahman sat together, we wanted a catchy number which the youth can relate to. At 18, every boy dreams of having a girlfriend. Rahman came up with a perfect fast paced peppy tune and Vijayan's lyrics fell into place as it establishes the yearning for a girlfriend. It sets the mood for the film as it appears in the first reel of Boys."[23]

Original Tamil track list

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Track list
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Girlfriend"Vaali, Pa. VijayKarthik, Tippu & Timmy5:00
2."Dating"Pa. VijayBlaaze, Vasundhara Das4:54
3."Ale Ale"KabilanKarthik, Chitra Sivaraman6:26
4."Secret of Success"Vaali, BlaazeLucky Ali, Clinton Cerejo, Blaaze Vasundhara Das6:07
5."Boom Boom"KabilanAdnan Sami, Sadhana Sargam5:06
6."Maro Maro ("Break The Rules")"VaaliKarthik, George, Kunal Ganjawala, Anupama, Sunitha Sarathy5:41
7."Please Sir"VaaliKunal Ganjawala, Clinton Cerejo, S. P. B. Charan, Chinmayi Sripaada1:58
8."Ayyappo"VaaliShankar Mahadevan, Chinmayi Sripaada1:32
Total length:36:52

Telugu track list

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All lyrics are written by A.M. Rathnam & Siva Ganesh

Track list
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Girlfriend"Karthik, Tippu & Timmy5:00
2."Dating"Blaaze & Vasundhara Das4:54
3."Ale Ale"Karthik & Chitra Sivaraman6:26
4."Sarigame" (Additional lyrics by Blaaze)Lucky Ali, Clinton Cerejo, Blaaze & Vasundhara Das6:07
5."Boom Boom"Udit Narayan & Sadhana Sargam5:06
6."Maro Maro ("Break The Rules")"Karthik, Kunal Ganjawala, George, Anupama & Sunitha Sarathy5:41
7."Please Sir"Kunal Ganjawala, Clinton Cerejo, SPB Charan & Chinmayi Sripaada1:58
Total length:35:20

Hindi track list

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(Released on 15 August 2012 by Pen Music Ltd.)

All lyrics are written by Abbas Tyrewala

Track list
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Girlfriend"Karthik5:00
2."Dating" (Additional lyrics by Blaaze)Blaaze & Vasundhara Das4:54
3."Ale Ale"Karthik & Madhushree6:28
4."Secret of Success" (Additional lyrics by Blaaze)Shiraz Uppal, Kunal Ganjawala, Blaaze & Vasundhara Das6:10
5."Boom Boom"Adnan Sami, Sadhana Sargam, Rashid Ali and A. R. Rahman,5:06
6."Maro Maro ("Break The Rules")"Karthik, Kunal Ganjawala, Anupama & Sunitha Sarathy5:45
7."Please Sir"Kunal Ganjawala, Clinton Cerejo, SPB Charan & Chinmayi Sripaada1:58
Total length:35:34

Critical reception

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The album was met with positive reviews upon release, but the sales were lagging initially.[1] Star Music, the company which had bought the rights of the soundtrack, was able to sell only 60,000 records in the first week.[21] However, in the following weeks, sales drastically increased and the soundtrack became the best-selling album of the year.[2] Rediff stated, "A R Rahman has helmed the scoring of what is certainly the best of Tamil music this year. Take note of Vaali's lyrics for "Secret of Success" and P. A. Vijay's "Dating".[1] Cinesouth wrote "In total, 'Boys' songs have increased the expectations for the movie more like Shankar's all other earlier movies that have rocked the Box Office. The album is worth the wait and Shankar-Rehman combination still remains a success. 'Boys' seems to be a new big bang theory altogether in the hearts of the music lovers".[24]

Release

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The film was released on 29 August 2003. It was also dubbed and released in Telugu with the same title. The Hindi soundtrack of the film was released in 2012, 9 years after its original release. The Hindi dubbed version of the film was released on ZEE5 on 1 March 2021, 17 years after the original release.[25]

Reception

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Siddhu Warrier of Rediff cited that the film "gets enmeshed in an intricate array of sub-plots. And somewhere along the way, the story begins to meander", adding that "college students, especially guys, might watch Boys more than once for the titillating scenes, the non-veg jokes, and, most importantly, the skimpy, transparent clothing sported by the heroine."[26] Guru Subramaniam, also from Rediff stated that "Shankar's overconfidence in selling situations to the audience has failed this time. Many scenes, including the climax, look ordinary without any build-up sequences."[27] Mokkarasu of Kalki gave a negative review calling it cultural murder without wasting our money, advising Vivek to continue as comedian and felt Ravi K. Chandran shouldn't have gave opportunity to others to handle camera and concluded by lamenting that such films should not increase sexual crime.[28]

Controversy

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Human Rights Commission issued notices against A. M. Rathnam and Shankar for depicting youth in poor light in the film.[29] All India Women's Association also expressed objection against the film for its vulgar content.[30]

Box office

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In Kerala, the film was bought by the distributor for ₹38 lakh, it collected more than ₹1.5 crore from the state.[31] Shankar blamed the film's underperformance to the fact that "only youngsters" came to watch as he failed to appeal to "other age groups" as well.[32] The movie under performed in both Tamil and Telugu version in Andhra Pradesh.[33]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Boys tells it like it is!". Rediff.com. 16 September 2003. Archived from the original on 7 December 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Tuning in to better times?". The Hindu. 9 July 2003. Archived from the original on 5 December 2003. Retrieved 9 July 2003.
  3. ^ "Yahoo! Groups". Groups.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  4. ^ "rediff.com, Movies: Boys zone". Rediff.com. 2 January 2002. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  5. ^ "Welcome to". Sify. 20 January 2007. Archived from the original on 24 October 2003. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  6. ^ a b c "Welcome to". Sify. 20 January 2007. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Boys: A Preview". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Boys: A Preview". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  9. ^ "'Boys' - The Cast & Crew". chennaionline.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2004.
  10. ^ "Genelia, the 'Uthamaputhiran' girl". The New Indian Express. 9 October 2010. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  11. ^ "சொல்ல மறந்த குரல்!". Kalki (in Tamil). 30 March 2003. p. 89. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Dad will not choose my films any more: Shanthnu". Thehindu.com. 9 September 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Varalaxmi Sarathkumar opens up about her movies before Podaa Podi". Behindwoods.com. 4 May 2020. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Welcome to". Sify. 20 January 2007. Archived from the original on 24 October 2003. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  15. ^ "'Koi Mil Gaya, India's first sci-fi film'". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  16. ^ "Yahoo! Groups". Groups.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  17. ^ "Boys: A Preview". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  18. ^ "Song picturisation of 'Boys'". chennaionline.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2003.
  19. ^ "Boys: A Preview". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  20. ^ "Boys: A Preview". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  21. ^ a b c "Singing a different tune". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 May 2004. Retrieved 3 July 2003.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. ^ "The 'Boys' are here". Chennai Online. 21 July 2003. Archived from the original on 14 February 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Boys' is a great entertainer: Shankar". Sify. Archived from the original on 24 October 2003.
  24. ^ "'Boys' - A Big bang theory!!". Cinesouth. 9 July 2003. Archived from the original on 11 October 2003. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Watch Boys Full HD Movie Online on ZEE5". Zee5.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Boys just wanna have fun!". Rediff.com. 30 August 2003. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  27. ^ "Shankar's landmark films before Endhiran/Robot". Movies.rediff.com. 27 September 2010. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  28. ^ மொக்கராசு (21 September 2003). "பாய்ஸ்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 17. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  29. ^ "Human Rights pulls 'Boys'!". Cinesouth. 20 September 2003. Archived from the original on 11 December 2003. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  30. ^ "'Boys' to face more hurdles!". Cinesouth. 30 September 2003. Archived from the original on 21 November 2003. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  31. ^ "2003- Malayalam Cinema Going Bust?". Sify. 24 December 2003. Archived from the original on 27 January 2004. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  32. ^ "Striking gold, Shankar style". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 22 December 2006. Archived from the original on 4 January 2007.
  33. ^ "Shankar now wants sci-fi with Vikram". Rediff.com. 24 November 2003. Retrieved 16 May 2022. Boys, his latest venture, ran foul of public opinion in Tamil Nadu, with many protesting that the dialogues and some scenes were too 'vulgar' for public consumption. The film – produced by Shankar's regular producer A M Rathnam – did enormous business in Telugu.
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