Indira (film)
Indira is a 1995 Indian Tamil-language drama film co-written and directed by Suhasini Maniratnam. It features Arvind Swamy with Anu Hasan (cousin of Suhasini) in the title role, Radharavi, Nassar and Ashwini. A. R. Rahman composed the film's score and soundtrack, while Santosh Sivan handled the film's cinematography.[1][2]
| Indira | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Suhasini Maniratnam |
| Screenplay by | Suhasini Maniratnam Mani Ratnam |
| Story by | Suhasini Maniratnam |
| Produced by | G. Venkateswaran |
| Starring | Arvind Swamy Anu Hasan Radharavi Nassar Janagaraj |
| Cinematography | Santosh Sivan |
| Edited by | |
| Music by | A. R. Rahman |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Aalayam Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 137 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
The film revolves around a group of villagers from Maranur, India, and their clash with a neighbouring village leader as their community begins to prosper. Soon, money and greed threaten a will for peaceful coexistence between the two rivalling communities. The main theme involves the role of the caste system and how the younger generation strive to overcome it.
Cast
- Arvind Swamy as Thiyagu
- Anu Hasan as Indira
- Nassar as Sethupathy
- Ashwini as Soundaravalli Sethupathi's wife
- Radha Ravi as Kotamarayar
- Janagaraj as Kanakku Pillai
- P. L. Narayana as Rajamanickam
- Chandrahasan as Minister
- Viji Chandrasekhar as Shanmugam's secret concubine
- Pasi Sathya as Villager
- T. V. Varadarajan as Government employee
- Monica as Younger Indira
- Crazy Venkatesh as Nallamuthu
- S. Lalitha as Indira's aunt
- Sempuli Jagan as Marimuthu
- Pravin as Shanmugam
- Ravi Shankar as Pichaimuthu
- Singapore Manimaran as Villager
- Shobana as Pregnant woman
- Vishnu Kumaraswami as Younger Thiyagu
Production
Suhasini offered the title role – Indira, to her cousin Anuradha, daughter of producer Chandrahasan, and the actress has since noted that "it was a heavy subject for a newcomer. But I was moved by the story line and there were occasions when I was overwhelmed with emotion. Not once did I use glycerine for tearful scenes".[3] V. Priya worked as an assistant director during the making of the film.[4]
Release and reception
Indira was later dubbed and released in Hindi as Priyanka. The film won two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, winning Santosh Sivan the award for Best Cinematographer as well as a Special Jury Award for the film itself. The film however remains the only feature film that Suhasini has directed in her career.[5]
R. P. R. of Kalki wrote it is understood that Suhasini has a healthy way of thinking; whether she changes the fate of Tamil cinema or not, it will be favorable if she is not changed.[6] Reviewing the film at the Indian Panorama section of the International Film Festival of India, S. R. Ashok Kumar of The Hindu wrote that "In certain scenes Anuradha Hassan does not look like a new find at all".[7]
Soundtrack
| Indira | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |||||||
| Released | 1995 | ||||||
| Recorded | Panchathan Record Inn | ||||||
| Length | 24:35 | ||||||
| Label | Pyramid T-Series | ||||||
| Producer | A.R. Rahman | ||||||
| A.R. Rahman chronology | |||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
All lyrics are written by Vairamuthu; all music is composed by A. R. Rahman
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Nila Kaikiradhu" (Female) | Harini | 3:22 |
| 2. | "Nila Kaikiradhu" (Male) | Hariharan | 4:20 |
| 3. | "Odakara Marimuthu" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram | 3:57 |
| 4. | "Thoda Thoda Malarndhadhenna" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra | 5:07 |
| 5. | "Ini Achcham Achcham Illai" | Sujatha Mohan, Anuradha Sriram, G. V. Prakash, Shweta Mohan, Esther | 5:17 |
| 6. | "Munnerudhan" | T. L. Maharajan, Swarnalatha | 2:02 |
Hariharan sang the song "Thoda Thoda Pyar", the Hindi version of "Thoda Thoda Malarndhadhenna" originally. But S. P. Balasubrahmanyam who sang the original Tamil version was extremely moved by the tune and wanted to sing the Hindi version also.
All lyrics are written by P. K. Mishra; all music is composed by A. R. Rahman
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Khili Chandni Hame" | Harini | 3:22 |
| 2. | "Kili Chandni Hame" | Hariharan | 4:20 |
| 3. | "Koi Yahan Bhanumati Koi Yahan Roopmati" | Udit Narayan, Mano | 3:57 |
| 4. | "Thoda Thoda Pyar" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra | 5:07 |
| 5. | "Yeh Jaati Paati Kaisi" | Sujatha Mohan, Anuradha Sriram, G. V. Prakash, Shweta Mohan, Aditya Narayan | 5:17 |
| 6. | "Barasnewali Hai Barkha" | Mano, Swarnalatha | 2:02 |
| 7. | "Thoda Thoda Pyar-2" | Hariharan, K. S. Chithra | 5:07 |
References
- "Indira (1995)". Cinesouth. Archived from the original on 29 October 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- "Suhasini directs again". Rediff.com. 3 November 1998. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- "Her cup of Joy". The Hindu. 9 December 2006. Archived from the original on 22 December 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- "My first break - V. Priya". The Hindu. 26 September 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- "Suhasini back to direction". IndiaGlitz. 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ஆர். பி. ஆர் (21 May 1995). "இந்திரா" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 15–16. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- Kumar, S. R. Ashok (12 January 1996). "The cream of Indian cinema". The Hindu. p. 73. Archived from the original on 21 December 1996. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- "Indira". JioSaavn. 31 August 2014. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- "Priyanka (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. 27 May 1995. Retrieved 24 March 2023.