Jump to content

Kasi (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jodosma (talk | contribs) at 22:23, 27 November 2016 (Tracklist→Track list, caps, fmt plainlist, fmt table headline, fmt <br />, rm <small> fm infobox per MOS:FONTSIZE, fmt dashe per WP:DASHES). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For other uses, see Kashi (disambiguation).

Kasi
DVD Cover
Directed byVinayan
Written byGokula Krishnan (dialogues)
Story byVinayan
Produced byAroma Mani
Starring
CinematographyP. Sukumar
Edited byG. Murali
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Distributed bySunitha Productions
Release date
  • 14 November 2001 (2001-11-14)
Running time
138 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Kasi is a 2001 Indian Tamil tragedy drama film, written and directed by Vinayan. The film has Vikram playing the eponymous character of a blind village singer. A remake of the director's own 1999 Malayalam film Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum, the film has Kaveri, reprising her role from the original and Kavya Madhavan making her Tamil debut in supporting roles. The film was produced by Aroma Mani for Sunitha Productions. The film score and soundtrack was composed by maestro Ilaiyaraaja.

The film was released on 14 November 2001 and won positive reviews from critics upon release. Vikram won the Filmfare Best Actor Award.[1]

Plot

Kasi is a tale about the deception of appearances. Kasi(Vikram) is a blind poet and singer who supports his family by his songs. He has an older brother Sevalai(Thalaivasal Vijay) who spends what money he has drinking, an abusive, crippled father and a younger sister Lakshmi(Kavya Madhavan). When the local landlord, Raghupathi(Rajeev) returns to the district, he brings along with him Mr Dinesh, the CM's son and his wife Radhika(Aishwarya). Raghupathi has a reputation as a God in the area because of his charitable works and when a specialist eye doctor arrives he promises to pay the fees for an operation to give back Kasi's vision. Elated by this news, Kasi learns that he has to find an eye-donor and his girlfriend Kaveri(Kaveri), who cannot speak, offers one of her eyes. Unfortunately, something happens that shows that the 'God-like' Raghupathi and Mr Dinesh are not what they seem. Blissfully unaware of the sadness of those around him, Kasi looks forward to his operation.

Cast

Production

Simran was offered the role of Lakshmi, Vikram's sister but she refused the offer because she didn't want to act in a supporting role. Then Malayalam actress Kavya Madhavan accepted the character after being impressed by its original Malayalam version. The shooting was completed in just 45 days. Vikram had rolled up his eyes to look convincingly blind in the film for this role of an innocent, rural, struggling blind lead character.[2] For the movie, he sunbathed on the terrace of his beachside home in Chennai for a sunburnt look and got dizzying headaches while practising to look blind.[3]

Soundtrack

Untitled

The soundtrack album was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Lyrics were penned by Pulamaipithan, Muthulingam, Mu. Mehta and Palani Bharathi. All the songs have been sung by Hariharan.

Track list[4]
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Aathorathile Aalamaram"Hariharan05:13
2."En Mana Vaanil"Hariharan05:42
3."Maanu Tholu"Hariharan05:10
4."Naan Kaanum Ulagangal"Hariharan04:36
5."Punniyam Thedi Kasikku"Hariharan04:56
6."Rokkam Irukura Makkal"Hariharan, Sujatha05:02

Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu said, "The magic touch, in the music of the maestro (Ilaiyaraja) is missing in Kasi".[5]

Critical response

The film received mostly positive reviews from critics. The Hindu applauded the off-beat attempt stating, "A film without predictable ingredients is a rarity. The Kasi team has to be appreciated for its boldness, in telling a story, in a simple, straight forward manner without the evitable distractions". While Vikram's portrayal was appreciated, "As a blind man, with his eyeballs completely in and with facial twitches so typical of the visually impaired, his portrait is realistic", the two lead actress too received acclaim, "Kavya Madhavan and Kaveri, have excellently expressive eyes, which have been put to good use".[5] S. R. Ashok Kumar said, "As the blind Kasi, he touched a chord".[6] Sify noted, "Vikram, it goes without saying that he is the life and soul of Kasi. As the blind singer, he brings laughter, tears and a lump in one’s throat. Vikram has given an extraordinarily detailed performance, which only a Kamalhassan can do!" and summed up saying it's an emotionally powerful movie.[7] Balaji Balasubramaniam wrote, "The movie is populated with characters that have a big effect, both positive and negative, on us".[8][9]

Kasi was commercially successful as well.[10]

Awards

Award Ceremony Category Nominee(s) Outcome
Filmfare Awards South 49th Filmfare Awards South[11] Best Actor Vikram Won
Cinema Express Awards 22nd Cinema Express Awards[12] Best Actor Vikram Won

Remakes

A remake of the Malayalam film Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum, Kasi was further remade in Kannada, Telugu and Sinhala. Namma Preethiya Ramu, the Kannada version, starred Darshan in the lead and was released on November 2003.[13] Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi, the Telugu version, starring R. P. Patnaik in the lead released on 24 March 2004.[14] The Sinhalese Tamil version Sooriyaa is directed by Dr. Niranjan starring himself in the title role.[15][16]

The film was also dubbed and released in Telugu as Kashinath in 2012. It was produced by Gajula Nageswara Rao and distributed by Kumari G. Kirthana of Sri Siva Parvathi Productions. The lyrics were written by Vanamali.

Character map
Character Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum
(Malayalam) 		Kasi
(Tamil) 		Namma Preethiya Ramu
(Kannada) 		Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi
(Telugu) 		Sooriyaa
(Sinhala)
Hero Kalabhavan Mani
(Ramu)		 Vikram
(Kasi)		 Darshan
(Ramu)		 R. P. Patnaik
(Seenu)		 Dr. Niranjan
(Suriya)
Heroine Kaveri
(Lakshmi)		 Kaveri
(Kaveri)		 Navya
(Lakshmi)		 Navaneet Kaur
(Lakshmi)		 Kanchana Mendis
Sister Praveena
(Vasanthi)		 Kavya Madhavan
(Lakshmi)		 Hamsavijetha
(Vasanthi)		 Padmapriya
(Vasanthi)		 Chathurika Peiris

References

  1. ^ "Filmfare - Print Edition: 49th Filmfare Awards - South". Indiatimes. June 2002.
  2. ^ Sudhish Kamath, Ramya Kannan (14 December 2001). "Talk of the town". The Hindu.
  3. ^ T. Selva (10 January 2005). "Vikram's star rises". The Star.
  4. ^ "Kasi – Track list". Raaga.com.
  5. ^ a b Malathi Rangarajan (21 December 2001). "Kasi - Movie Review". The Hindu. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ S. R. Ashok Kumar (20 August 2004). "Vikram, the Victor". The Hindu.
  7. ^ "Movie Review : Kasi". Sify.
  8. ^ Balaji Balasubramaniam. "Kasi - Tamil Movie Review". Thiraipadam.com.
  9. ^ http://www.lolluexpress.com/kassi.html
  10. ^ Chitra Mahesh (31 May 2002). "I want to strike a balance". The Hindu.
  11. ^ Sudhish Kamath (22 April 2002). "Spinning predictable magic". The Hindu.
  12. ^ "`Kannathil Muthamittal' bags 6 Cinema Express awards". The Hindu. 22 December 2002.
  13. ^ M.L.N. (26 January 2004). "Consolidation spree". The Hindu.
  14. ^ "Movie review - Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi". Idlebrain.
  15. ^ IANS. "Vikram's 'Kasi' now being made in Sinhalese". Deccan Herald.
  16. ^ "Vikram's 'Kasi' remade in Tamil". Indiaglitz. 23 September 2009.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kasi_(film)&oldid=751798451"