Priyamaana Thozhi
| Priyamaana Thozhi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Vikraman |
| Written by | Vikraman |
| Produced by | M. Saravanan M. Balasubramanian M. S. Guhan |
| Starring | Madhavan Jyothika Sridevi Vijayakumar |
| Cinematography | S. Saravanan |
| Edited by | V. Jaishankar |
| Music by | S. A. Rajkumar |
Production company | |
Release date | 11 July 2003 |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Priyamaana Thozhi (English: Lovable Female Friend) is a 2003 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by Vikraman and produced by AVM Productions. The film stars Madhavan, Jyothika and Sridevi Vijaykumar in the lead roles while Vineeth, Livingston and Manivannan playing other supporting roles. The film's music is composed by S. A. Rajkumar, while S. Saravanan handled the camera. The film opened simultaneously alongside the Telugu version of the film, Vasantham, in July 2003 to an average response critically and commercially. The movie was remade in Kannada in 2010 as Hoo.
Plot
Ashok (Madhavan) and Julie (Sridevi Vijaykumar) have been friends ever since childhood. There are living in ooty. They don't share any love interest. Ashok falls in love with Nandini (Jyothika), a rich girl with whom he marries, and although Julie's closeness to Ashok initially irritates Nandini, she subsequently accepts it. Julie falls in love with a guy called Michael D'Souza (Vineeth), a cricketer who's hoping for a place in the Indian cricket team and Ashok happens to be his main rival for a place in the Indian team.
When Ashok gets selected, Michael's father strikes a deal with Ashok that the marriage between his son and Julie will only take place if Ashok steps down and lets Michael substitute him and tells Ashok to cut his friendship with Julie so he doesn't interfere in Michael's and Julie's way, to which Ashok agrees. Ashok acts as an unwilling person to his friend Julie. Julie decides to quit staying at Ashok's house and plans to stay in Michael's house. Ashok plans to sell his property and give the amount to Julie. At last Ashok and his wife Nandini plan to go to Mumbai as Ashok's friend says that he can arrange a job for Ashok. Ashok and his wife vacate their house without informing to his friend Julie. Julie and Michael come to know the true reason why Ashok is leaving Chennai. Julie and Michael go to railway station to find Ashok and are not able to find him. To find Ashok easily, Julie sings a song and it is heard by Ashok causing them to reunite. Ashok finally plays for the Indian team and their children become friends too. The movie ends on a happy note.
Cast
- Madhavan as Ashok
- Jyothika as Nandini Ashok
- Sridevi Vijaykumar as Julie
- Vineeth as Michael D'Souza
- Manivannan as Peter, Julie's father
- Livingston as Kumar, Ashok's elder brother
- Ramesh Khanna as "Kaka" Ramesh
- Ramji as Mathi
- R. Sundarrajan as Sundarrajan, Ashok's father
- Subhalekha Sudhakar as Nandini's father
- Y. Vijaya as Nandini's mother
- Kumaresan as Ashok's friend
- Nirosha as Ashok's sister-in-law
- R. Neelakantan as Ashok's sister-in-law's father
- Madhan Bob
- Suresh as Ashok's younger brother
- Tharini as Nandini's elder sister
- Bharath as Ashok's nephew
- Sweatha Bharathi as Ashok's nephew
- Krishnamachari Srikkanth as himself (special appearance)
Production
AVM Productions had agreed a deal with Vikraman to make a film for them in the 1990s but date clashes meant that they were unable to work together until 2003.[1] Madhavan signed the film in September 2002, and it became the first time the actor had worked with the producers or the director.[2] Scenes for the film were shot in Ooty, Tamil Nadu with producer Guhan often cooking for the team. The songs were shot abroad, with places filmed where the team filmed including Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland.[3][4]
The film was also made in Telugu and released on the same date, but with a different cast. Venkatesh, Arthi Agarwal and Kaveri reprised the roles of Madhavan, Jyothika and Sridevi respectively; while V. V. S. Laxman appeared in the film in a cameo instead of Srikkanth.[5][6]
Release
The film received mixed reviews, with The Hindu's Malathi Rangarajan giving the film an average review concluding that "the dialogue sparkles in many a place, the direction is neat and song sequences have been inserted intelligently — but even with such a youthful team what the film lacks is pep and verve."[7] Another critic noted that the film "has predictable, cliched situations, stereotyped characters, and lack-lustre treatment. Half-way through the film, you realise which way the script is being steered."[8] Rediff.com noted that " the film lacks the freshness and grandeur of other films",[9] while Sify called it "a highly melodramatic and over-the-top movie with no logic". The critic however noted "If there is something nice about Priyamana Thozhi, it is Sridevi as Julie who looks like a dream, with her controlled and understated performance and steals the show."[10] New Straits Times wrote "wish Vikram had been as meticulous with the storyline and given us something new and more believable".[11] The actress was also nominated for the Filmfare Best Tamil Supporting Actress Award in 2004 for her performance as Julie.
Priyamaana Thozhi became an average grosser, the first of his career for director Vikraman. He has since struggled to recapture the success that he achieved before this film with his subsequent ventures.[12][13] The film was remade in Kannada as Hoo with V. Ravichandran.
Soundtrack
| Priyamaana Thozhi | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | 17 June 2003 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Label | AVM Audio |
The soundtrack of the film was composed by S. A. Rajkumar. The lyrics for the film were written by Pa. Vijay and Kalaikumar.[14] The song "Maankuttiye" was allegedly lifted from Hindi song "Saawan Ka Mahina" from Hindi film Milan (1967).[9] Rajkumar reused "Katre Poongatre" as "Chanda Oh" in Kannada film Mallikarjuna. The song "Rojakkale" was reused from Rajkumar's own Kannada song "O Preethige" which he had composed for Jodi (2001).
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Maankutty Maankutty" | Pa. Vijay | Hariharan, Sujatha | |
| 2. | "Penne Neyum Pennaa" | Pa. Vijay | Unni Menon, Kalpana Raghavendra | |
| 3. | "Kattre Poongattre" | Pa. Vijay | K. S. Chithra | |
| 4. | "Vaanam Enna Vaanam" | Pa. Vijay | Hariharan | |
| 5. | "Maankutty Maankutty" | Pa. Vijay | Sadhana Sargam | |
| 6. | "Rojakkale" | Kalaikumar | Mahalakshmi Iyer | |
| 7. | "Kattre Poongattre (2)" | Pa. Vijay | K. S. Chithra | |
| 8. | "Entha Desathil" | Pa. Vijay | Hariharan |
References
- ^ "'No sex, no vulgarity, no double meaning'". Rediff.com. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ "Mad about 'Maddy'". The Hindu. 23 September 2002. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ "For the family, from AVM". The Hindu. 11 July 2003. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ "Maddy musings". The Hindu. 9 June 2003. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ "Telugu cinema review - Vasantham". Idlebrain.com. 11 July 2003. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ "Mammootty succeeds, Mohanlal falters". Rediff.com. 28 June 2003. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ "Priyamana Thozhi". The Hindu. 25 July 2003. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ ${FullName} (22 June 2003). "Priyamana Thozhi Review". Nowrunning.com. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Cricket, friendship and deja vu". Rediff.com. 15 July 2003. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ "Movie Review : Priyamana Thozhi". Sify.com. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=x8G803Bi31IC&dat=20030719&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
- ^ "Metro Plus Tiruchirapalli / Cinema : Love is in the air". The Hindu. 9 December 2006. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ "Target Dhanush!". Rediff.com. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ "Lyrically lively". The Hindu. 22 September 2003. Retrieved 15 May 2013.