Kamal Haasan’s 2001 film, “Aalavandhan,” produced by Kalaipuli S. Thanu, remains a topic of discussion among cinephiles. Let’s explore some intriguing facts about this unique movie
Table of Contents
1.Origin Story
The film’s plot is based on Kamal Haasan’s 1984 novel, “Thayam,” which explores the traumatic effects of childhood abuse on twin brothers.
2.Director’s Shift
Kamal Haasan initially planned to create this film in the 1980s with K. Balachander. However, it was eventually directed by Suresh Krishna, known for his success with “Sathya,” in 2001
3.Musical Trio
The film’s music was composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, who later collaborated with Kamal Haasan on “Vishwaroopam.” The song “Kadavaur Bhati Mirgam Bhati” gained significant popularity. The background score was provided by Mahesh Mahadevan.
4.Tarantino’s Inspiration
Quentin Tarantino acknowledged that the animated fight sequences in his 2003 film, “Kill Bill,” were inspired by the similar scenes in “Aalavandhan.
5.Casting Changes
Raveena Tandon was initially considered for the female lead, but Simran was the first choice. Rani Mukherjee was first considered for the special appearance, but Manisha Koirala played the part.
6.Anu Haasan’s Role
Anu Haasan portrayed Kamal Haasan’s mother in the film. Raveena Tandon was to give background voice for Anu Haasan.
7.Kamal Haasan’s Transformation
Kamal Haasan delivered a remarkable dual performance, showcasing a dramatic physical transformation for the character of Nandu, including significant weight gain.
8.Multilingual Release
The film was released simultaneously in Tamil as “Aalavandhan” and in Hindi as “Abhay,” with minor alterations. The Tamil version was also dubbed into Telugu as “Abhay.”
9.Edited Versions
The original theatrical release ran for 2 hours and 57 minutes. The Hindi version on Prime Video is 2 hours and 23 minutes, and the re-release was shortened to 2 hours and 2 minutes.
10.Technological Milestone
“Aalavandhan” holds the distinction of being the first Indian film to utilize motion control camera technology.
11.Jayam Ravi’s Early Career
Actor Jayam Ravi worked as an assistant director on the film.
12.Awards Recognition
The film received the National Film Award for Best Special Effects (Madhusudhanan) in 2001. Kashi Vishwanath won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Editor.
13.Initial Reception
Despite its current cult status, “Aalavandhan” was a commercial failure upon release. Producer Thanu expressed the film’s financial burden. Controversial promotional material, including nude posters of Kamal Haasan, contributed to negative reviews.
Have you seen “Aalavandhan”? Share your thoughts in the comments! If you haven’t, it’s definitely worth a watch.
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