Anbe Sivam
Encyclopedia
Anbe Sivam is a 2003 Tamil drama film
directed by Sundar C and written by Kamal Hassan. The film stars Kamal Hassan and R. Madhavan
. The music is composed by Vidyasagar
.
The film tells the story of a series of comic clashes that occur when Nalla Sivam (Kamal Haasan
) a wise-cracking, handicapped communist
and Anbarasu (R. Madhavan
), an arrogant young advertisement filmmaker who favors capitalism
, both happen to get stuck with each other on their problem-filled trip from Bhubaneshwar
to Chennai
. Themes such as globalization, financial disparity and compassion in present day India are explored around the two protagonists. The film is also shown to be based on Kamal Haasan's personal views on theism
.
The film is also one of the highest ranked tamil-language movies on IMDB with a record-breaking rating of 8.1/10.
approached Priyadarshan
to direct the film. The pre-production commenced; but after some difference of opinions between the director and the actor; Priyadarshan
opted out from the project before the first schedule. This sudden setback led to the whole crew to run out of their schedules. Hence, the producers after convincing Kamal Haasan, quickly roped in Sundar.C to direct the film.
)- who prefers being called by the much abbreviated A. Aras rather than his full name, arriving at the Bhubaneswar airport in Orissa
, India
. He is about to board a flight back to Chennai
for his own wedding. However, he learns at the airport that his flight has been cancelled due to the bad weather in the state where heavy floods and torrential rains due to the wet season
have affected air traffic. While waiting for further announcements, Aras watches the news on a television monitor about a terrorist threat at an airport in Mumbai
. Remarking to himself that the country is going to the dogs he happens to look around and sees a bespectacled man with scars taking out something rolled up in a newspaper from his bag. Pictures of a pipe bomb shown among the items seized by the Mumbai police flash through his mind and he informs the authorities, only to learn that the man was simply taking out a cucumber
.
The man who turns out to be physically challenged is Nallasivam a.k.a Nalla (Kamal Hassan). Nalla introduces himself to Aras and they get to know each other. However, Aras underestimates Nalla, ignoring his sage advice and friendly overtures, resulting in some comical events in the airport. Then, announcements are made that all flights have been canceled due to the inclement weather and Aras realizes he would have to book a room in a nearby hotel for the night. He is informed, much to his consternation that the five star hotel that he was staying in before is now fully booked, leaving him optionless. Nallasivam however helps him find a place in a two star hotel nearby, in which both Nalla and Aras are forced to share the same room. Aras' resentment of Nalla makes him act selfishly in trying to get rid of Nalla but at every juncture, Nalla does him a favor which leaves Aras with a guilt-ridden heart. The next morning, Aras takes a taxi without waking Nalla in order to find his own way to Chennai. However, Aras realizes that the floods have blocked most of the roads and even the train station
is flooded. He gets mugged by a man at the station who offers to help him with his luggage but instead steals all his money. Nalla however comes to the station and helps Aras regain the wallet, sans the money. It is then revealed that Nalla is a trade unionist and is travelling with a cheque worth Rs. 30 lakh
to be delivered to some people after fighting a court case for some union workers. The comical situations continue as the pair make it to another railway station in a bus. While awaiting their train, Nalla begins to tell Aras his story, but a tired Aras falls asleep and later walks away halfway through the story.
The film then flashes to a few years in the past when a perfectly good-looking Nalla performs in street theatre
s protesting against the industrialization process which is marginalizing the labor force
. He often gets into trouble due to this. Nalla is also a painter, and a very talented one at that. He is fighting mainly against the town's biggest business tycoon, the manipulative Kandasamy Padayachi (Nassar
), whom he satirically imitates in many of his shows. However, an interesting turn of events sees Nalla and Kandasamy's own daughter Bala (Kiran Rathod
) fall in love with each other. Realizing Kandasamy's power would be too much to bear if they want to get together, Nalla and Bala decide to elope, but while Nalla is on a bus on his way to meet Bala, the bus meets with a terrible accident on a hillside which leaves Nalla badly injured. Despite a surgery he is left partially paralyzed and badly scarred. Kandasamy informs his daughter Bala that Nalla is dead. It is also at this time that Nalla becomes a firm believer in kindness and love and, while suffering from an inferiority complex due to his scarred and paralyzed body, nevertheless engages with renewed fervour in performing community service and social work while continuing to fight for union causes.
The film then returns to the present, as Aras and Nalla prepare to board the train for which they have been waiting, but as the train arrives, they get into an argument about communism, Karl Marx
, and so on. Nalla accuses Aras of being an agent for the West and of being manipulated, while Aras defends himself and criticises communism as a whole, concluding that the Soviet Union
doesn't exist anymore. Nalla argues that the idea of communism wouldn't die because the Soviet Union has broken up, just as people wouldn't stop loving if the Taj Mahal got destroyed. The argument turns heated, causing a short-tempered Aras to punch Nalla. After initially looking calm, Nalla punches Aras back even harder, causing Aras to bleed. Pretending to cool down and make up the quarrel, Aras deceives Nalla into getting some bottled water for him and locks the train door, leaving Nalla stranded as the train leaves without him. On the train, Aras meets a well-dressed corporate type individual, Uthaman(Yugi Sethu
), who seems to share the same interests as Aras. Uthaman asks Aras to throw away a pack of biscuits Nalla gave to Aras due to the risk of it being doctored and instead offers him whisky. When Aras wakes up the next day, he learns from the conductor that he has been conned and that his fellow passenger man was a thief, and had stolen all of his belongings. The train comes to a halt because a previous train on the same track has had an accident and it has to be cleared up first. There, Aras witnesses a slew of dead bodies and suffering people, causing him to suffer emotionally. To his surprise, he meets Nalla again at the treatment camp nearby. He apologizes to Nalla, who forgives him. Nalla proposes that he donate blood to a dying boy in need of AB- blood, while Aras mentions that he is bloodsick. Nalla manages to convince him finally, and Aras donates. Aras also retrieves his belongings as he finds that the thief is also around the camp. Nalla proposes that Aras travel with him in an ambulance which will be carrying the injured boy on its way to Chennai.
While on the journey the boy passes away causing Aras to cry. He calls God 'unjust' for giving the boy hope in the form of Aras' blood, and then taking away his life. Nalla, who is an atheist, tells Aras, that Aras himself is God, that the sadness he feels and the tears he sheds for the boy makes him God. Aras also comes to terms with using his full name Anbarasu, a name he previously despised because he apparently doesn't like 'anbu' (love). On reaching Chennai, they both go their separate ways, but Aras realizes that Nalla's union cheque is still with him and returns to the address Nalla had given him.
He realizes that Nalla had lied to him previously when he said that he had a wife and a son named 'Sangu'. The address is a place where injured labourers from Orissa
camp while waiting for their legal funds (the money fought for and being brought to them by Nalla) and that 'Sangu' is the name of Nalla's dog, which incidentally had caused Nalla's accident in the first place. After giving the cheque at the office, he goes to the nearby shop to meet Nalla, and scolds him for not telling him the truth. He asks Nalla to come with him for his marriage, but Nalla says he will 'come later'. In an emotional moment, Aras recounts the story of how his brother died from a freak accident when he was young (a story he had already told Nalla before). He says that Nalla is his new-found brother and should stay with him as long as life permits. A clearly emotional Nalla accepts the invitation.
However, at the marriage, Nalla realizes that the girl Aras is about to marry is Bala. He takes this opportunity to appear in front of Kandasamy and threaten that he will stay on and make Bala realize what a cheat her father is unless Kandasamy signs all related documents for pay increment and bonuses for his company's labourers. Sacrificing himself for the workers, Nalla leaves after Kandasamy signs, leaving behind a letter for his 'brother' that he has missions to complete in this world, and that he'd rather travel as a free bird than be caged and tied to one particular place. He thanks Aras for the love and affection he has shown. Kandasamy meanwhile orders his assistant (Santhana Bharathi
) to kill Nalla. As Nalla walks away, the assistant approaches him from behind. Hearing Sangu bark, Nalla turns around and sees his would-be assailant with a sickle in his hand. Requesting him not to hurt Sangu, who is barking and growling, he tells the assistant that he cannot fight like he used to, and is ready to accept death. However, the assistant drops his weapon, weeps, and apologizes to Nalla. He tells Nalla that because he did all the dirty work for his boss, God has punished him by taking away his beloved daughter from him. He tells Nalla that he has read Nalla's letter to Aras. He also states that he has sinned much and doesn't want to commit any more sins on behalf of his boss. He asks Nalla to leave and that God will protect Nalla. Nalla refutes, saying that the assistant himself is God. He says that there is no greater God than the person who comes with the intent to kill but instead apologizes to the person he aimed to kill.
The film ends with Nalla walking away in the monsoon rains with his dog, Sangu.
views. Some critics suggested that Kamal too is a Communist
believer. However, Kamal cleared the air by stating that the film's ultimate theme lies in its title, Anbe Sivam, which literally means Love is God. The film basically talks about the importance of love in life and projects the value of love to be even bigger than God, and that there is no greater God than the one who loves. The film also extensively criticizes industrialisation and explores the contemporary India
, as to how a majority of people are being pushed out of the social spectrum as globalization
concentrates exclusively on the corporate-based individuals and not the roots of the labour force. Nallasivam, the character name played Kamal, is the name of Lord Shiva in the Hindu
texts. The film extols the altruist human traits as manifestations of God. Hindus are known to pray to Lord Shiva to prevent destruction and keep perseverance. The character of Nallasivam resembles a man that can prevent destruction and maintain perseverance by showing love towards all living things. The film also suggests that Karl Marx
's ideas remains the closest idea towards achieving equality among many people, even though it may not be perfect. This is shown in one scene where Nallasivam states that, "Communism is a feeling, many had it even before Karl Marx, but it was Marx who first penned it down. And it shall not be destroyed even if there is no government to promote it".
.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Sundar C and written by Kamal Hassan. The film stars Kamal Hassan and R. Madhavan
R. Madhavan
R. Madhavan is an Indian actor, writer, film producer and television host. Madhavan has received a Filmfare Award, an award from the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards alongside recognition and nominations from other organisations...
. The music is composed by Vidyasagar
Vidyasagar (music director)
Vidyasagar is an Award-Winning Indian film music director and music composer in the Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi film industry. He is very popular in South Indian music industry and best known for his soulful melodies. His fast numbers to many films have earned him much fame too. He has...
.
The film tells the story of a series of comic clashes that occur when Nalla Sivam (Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
) a wise-cracking, handicapped communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
and Anbarasu (R. Madhavan
R. Madhavan
R. Madhavan is an Indian actor, writer, film producer and television host. Madhavan has received a Filmfare Award, an award from the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards alongside recognition and nominations from other organisations...
), an arrogant young advertisement filmmaker who favors capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
, both happen to get stuck with each other on their problem-filled trip from Bhubaneshwar
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
to Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
. Themes such as globalization, financial disparity and compassion in present day India are explored around the two protagonists. The film is also shown to be based on Kamal Haasan's personal views on theism
Theism
Theism, in the broadest sense, is the belief that at least one deity exists.In a more specific sense, theism refers to a doctrine concerning the nature of a monotheistic God and God's relationship to the universe....
.
The film is also one of the highest ranked tamil-language movies on IMDB with a record-breaking rating of 8.1/10.
Pre-Production
After finishing the script, Kamal HaasanKamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
approached Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. In a career spanning over two decades, Priyadarshan has directed over 80 films in several Indian languages including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu...
to direct the film. The pre-production commenced; but after some difference of opinions between the director and the actor; Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. In a career spanning over two decades, Priyadarshan has directed over 80 films in several Indian languages including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu...
opted out from the project before the first schedule. This sudden setback led to the whole crew to run out of their schedules. Hence, the producers after convincing Kamal Haasan, quickly roped in Sundar.C to direct the film.
Plot
The film begins with ad film-maker Anbarasu (derived from the full Tamil name Anbarasan - literally 'King Of Love') (R. MadhavanR. Madhavan
R. Madhavan is an Indian actor, writer, film producer and television host. Madhavan has received a Filmfare Award, an award from the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards alongside recognition and nominations from other organisations...
)- who prefers being called by the much abbreviated A. Aras rather than his full name, arriving at the Bhubaneswar airport in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He is about to board a flight back to Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
for his own wedding. However, he learns at the airport that his flight has been cancelled due to the bad weather in the state where heavy floods and torrential rains due to the wet season
Wet season
The the wet season, or rainy season, is the time of year, covering one or more months, when most of the average annual rainfall in a region occurs. The term green season is also sometimes used as a euphemism by tourist authorities. Areas with wet seasons are dispersed across portions of the...
have affected air traffic. While waiting for further announcements, Aras watches the news on a television monitor about a terrorist threat at an airport in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. Remarking to himself that the country is going to the dogs he happens to look around and sees a bespectacled man with scars taking out something rolled up in a newspaper from his bag. Pictures of a pipe bomb shown among the items seized by the Mumbai police flash through his mind and he informs the authorities, only to learn that the man was simply taking out a cucumber
Cucumber
The cucumber is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squash, and in the same genus as the muskmelon. The plant is a creeping vine which bears cylindrical edible fruit when ripe. There are three main varieties of cucumber: "slicing", "pickling", and...
.
The man who turns out to be physically challenged is Nallasivam a.k.a Nalla (Kamal Hassan). Nalla introduces himself to Aras and they get to know each other. However, Aras underestimates Nalla, ignoring his sage advice and friendly overtures, resulting in some comical events in the airport. Then, announcements are made that all flights have been canceled due to the inclement weather and Aras realizes he would have to book a room in a nearby hotel for the night. He is informed, much to his consternation that the five star hotel that he was staying in before is now fully booked, leaving him optionless. Nallasivam however helps him find a place in a two star hotel nearby, in which both Nalla and Aras are forced to share the same room. Aras' resentment of Nalla makes him act selfishly in trying to get rid of Nalla but at every juncture, Nalla does him a favor which leaves Aras with a guilt-ridden heart. The next morning, Aras takes a taxi without waking Nalla in order to find his own way to Chennai. However, Aras realizes that the floods have blocked most of the roads and even the train station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
is flooded. He gets mugged by a man at the station who offers to help him with his luggage but instead steals all his money. Nalla however comes to the station and helps Aras regain the wallet, sans the money. It is then revealed that Nalla is a trade unionist and is travelling with a cheque worth Rs. 30 lakh
Lakh
A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand . It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and is often used in Indian English.-Usage:...
to be delivered to some people after fighting a court case for some union workers. The comical situations continue as the pair make it to another railway station in a bus. While awaiting their train, Nalla begins to tell Aras his story, but a tired Aras falls asleep and later walks away halfway through the story.
The film then flashes to a few years in the past when a perfectly good-looking Nalla performs in street theatre
Street theatre
Street theatre is a form of theatrical performance and presentation in outdoor public spaces without a specific paying audience. These spaces can be anywhere, including shopping centres, car parks, recreational reserves and street corners. They are especially seen in outdoor spaces where there are...
s protesting against the industrialization process which is marginalizing the labor force
Labor force
In economics, a labor force or labour force is a region's combined civilian workforce, including both the employed and unemployed.Normally, the labor force of a country consists of everyone of working age In economics, a labor force or labour force is a region's combined civilian workforce,...
. He often gets into trouble due to this. Nalla is also a painter, and a very talented one at that. He is fighting mainly against the town's biggest business tycoon, the manipulative Kandasamy Padayachi (Nassar
Nassar
Nassar is a Tamil actor, producer, writer, director, lyricist, and singer. He has appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English films. He is often cited as part of India's specialist character actors, along with the likes of Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Nana Patekar...
), whom he satirically imitates in many of his shows. However, an interesting turn of events sees Nalla and Kandasamy's own daughter Bala (Kiran Rathod
Kiran Rathod
Kiran Rathod is an Indian film actress. She has appeared in Hindi and Tamil films.-Early life:Rathod was born on 11 January 1981 in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh into a Rajput family. She is a graduate of Mithibai College in Mumbai...
) fall in love with each other. Realizing Kandasamy's power would be too much to bear if they want to get together, Nalla and Bala decide to elope, but while Nalla is on a bus on his way to meet Bala, the bus meets with a terrible accident on a hillside which leaves Nalla badly injured. Despite a surgery he is left partially paralyzed and badly scarred. Kandasamy informs his daughter Bala that Nalla is dead. It is also at this time that Nalla becomes a firm believer in kindness and love and, while suffering from an inferiority complex due to his scarred and paralyzed body, nevertheless engages with renewed fervour in performing community service and social work while continuing to fight for union causes.
The film then returns to the present, as Aras and Nalla prepare to board the train for which they have been waiting, but as the train arrives, they get into an argument about communism, Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
, and so on. Nalla accuses Aras of being an agent for the West and of being manipulated, while Aras defends himself and criticises communism as a whole, concluding that the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
doesn't exist anymore. Nalla argues that the idea of communism wouldn't die because the Soviet Union has broken up, just as people wouldn't stop loving if the Taj Mahal got destroyed. The argument turns heated, causing a short-tempered Aras to punch Nalla. After initially looking calm, Nalla punches Aras back even harder, causing Aras to bleed. Pretending to cool down and make up the quarrel, Aras deceives Nalla into getting some bottled water for him and locks the train door, leaving Nalla stranded as the train leaves without him. On the train, Aras meets a well-dressed corporate type individual, Uthaman(Yugi Sethu
Yugi Sethu
Yuhi Sethu is a Tamil actor, director and screenwriter. He has appeared in a few films in main and supporting roles and has contributed to films as a screenwriter. Yuhi Sethu had written and directed a less known movie named "Maathangal Aezhu" in Tamil with actors Nassar and Ramya Krishnan, and...
), who seems to share the same interests as Aras. Uthaman asks Aras to throw away a pack of biscuits Nalla gave to Aras due to the risk of it being doctored and instead offers him whisky. When Aras wakes up the next day, he learns from the conductor that he has been conned and that his fellow passenger man was a thief, and had stolen all of his belongings. The train comes to a halt because a previous train on the same track has had an accident and it has to be cleared up first. There, Aras witnesses a slew of dead bodies and suffering people, causing him to suffer emotionally. To his surprise, he meets Nalla again at the treatment camp nearby. He apologizes to Nalla, who forgives him. Nalla proposes that he donate blood to a dying boy in need of AB- blood, while Aras mentions that he is bloodsick. Nalla manages to convince him finally, and Aras donates. Aras also retrieves his belongings as he finds that the thief is also around the camp. Nalla proposes that Aras travel with him in an ambulance which will be carrying the injured boy on its way to Chennai.
While on the journey the boy passes away causing Aras to cry. He calls God 'unjust' for giving the boy hope in the form of Aras' blood, and then taking away his life. Nalla, who is an atheist, tells Aras, that Aras himself is God, that the sadness he feels and the tears he sheds for the boy makes him God. Aras also comes to terms with using his full name Anbarasu, a name he previously despised because he apparently doesn't like 'anbu' (love). On reaching Chennai, they both go their separate ways, but Aras realizes that Nalla's union cheque is still with him and returns to the address Nalla had given him.
He realizes that Nalla had lied to him previously when he said that he had a wife and a son named 'Sangu'. The address is a place where injured labourers from Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
camp while waiting for their legal funds (the money fought for and being brought to them by Nalla) and that 'Sangu' is the name of Nalla's dog, which incidentally had caused Nalla's accident in the first place. After giving the cheque at the office, he goes to the nearby shop to meet Nalla, and scolds him for not telling him the truth. He asks Nalla to come with him for his marriage, but Nalla says he will 'come later'. In an emotional moment, Aras recounts the story of how his brother died from a freak accident when he was young (a story he had already told Nalla before). He says that Nalla is his new-found brother and should stay with him as long as life permits. A clearly emotional Nalla accepts the invitation.
However, at the marriage, Nalla realizes that the girl Aras is about to marry is Bala. He takes this opportunity to appear in front of Kandasamy and threaten that he will stay on and make Bala realize what a cheat her father is unless Kandasamy signs all related documents for pay increment and bonuses for his company's labourers. Sacrificing himself for the workers, Nalla leaves after Kandasamy signs, leaving behind a letter for his 'brother' that he has missions to complete in this world, and that he'd rather travel as a free bird than be caged and tied to one particular place. He thanks Aras for the love and affection he has shown. Kandasamy meanwhile orders his assistant (Santhana Bharathi
Santhana Bharathi
Santhana Bharathi is a popular Tamil language film celebrity in Kollywood, the Tamil film industry in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. He has directed several films such as Guna and the National Film Award winner, Mahanadhi...
) to kill Nalla. As Nalla walks away, the assistant approaches him from behind. Hearing Sangu bark, Nalla turns around and sees his would-be assailant with a sickle in his hand. Requesting him not to hurt Sangu, who is barking and growling, he tells the assistant that he cannot fight like he used to, and is ready to accept death. However, the assistant drops his weapon, weeps, and apologizes to Nalla. He tells Nalla that because he did all the dirty work for his boss, God has punished him by taking away his beloved daughter from him. He tells Nalla that he has read Nalla's letter to Aras. He also states that he has sinned much and doesn't want to commit any more sins on behalf of his boss. He asks Nalla to leave and that God will protect Nalla. Nalla refutes, saying that the assistant himself is God. He says that there is no greater God than the person who comes with the intent to kill but instead apologizes to the person he aimed to kill.
The film ends with Nalla walking away in the monsoon rains with his dog, Sangu.
Cast
- Kamal HaasanKamal HaasanKamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
- Nalla Sivam - R. MadhavanR. MadhavanR. Madhavan is an Indian actor, writer, film producer and television host. Madhavan has received a Filmfare Award, an award from the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards alongside recognition and nominations from other organisations...
- Anbarasu "A. Ars" - Kiran RathodKiran RathodKiran Rathod is an Indian film actress. She has appeared in Hindi and Tamil films.-Early life:Rathod was born on 11 January 1981 in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh into a Rajput family. She is a graduate of Mithibai College in Mumbai...
- Bala Saraswathi - NasserNassarNassar is a Tamil actor, producer, writer, director, lyricist, and singer. He has appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English films. He is often cited as part of India's specialist character actors, along with the likes of Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Nana Patekar...
- Kandhasamy Padaiyachi - Santhana BharathiSanthana BharathiSanthana Bharathi is a popular Tamil language film celebrity in Kollywood, the Tamil film industry in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. He has directed several films such as Guna and the National Film Award winner, Mahanadhi...
- Kandhasamy's Right Hand - Yugi SethuYugi SethuYuhi Sethu is a Tamil actor, director and screenwriter. He has appeared in a few films in main and supporting roles and has contributed to films as a screenwriter. Yuhi Sethu had written and directed a less known movie named "Maathangal Aezhu" in Tamil with actors Nassar and Ramya Krishnan, and...
- Uthaman - SeemaSeemaOncorhynchus masou, has three different subspecies. 'Song-eo; 송어' or 'Sancheoneo; 산천어' Oncorhynchus masou masou in Korea, and 'Formosan salmon; Oncorhynchus masou formosanum as in Tiwan, and as Masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou macrostomus in Japan. Pacific Ocean:...
- Bala's Mother - Uma Riaz - Mehrunnissa
- R.S. Shivaji - Station Master
Crew
- Director: Sundar C.Sundar CSundar C. is a Tamil film director and actor. He has directed 24 films in Kollywood and debuted his acting career in 2006 with the film Thalai Nagaram. His most notable films include Ullathai Allitha, Arunachalam and Anbe Sivam and other notable films include Mettukudi, Winner, Naam Iruvar...
- Producer: K. Muralitharan, V. Swaminathan, G. Venugopal
- Story & Screenplay: Kamal HaasanKamal HaasanKamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
- Dialogues: MadhanMadhanMadhan , whose real name is Maadapoosi Krishnaswamy Govinda Kumar, is a famous Tamil cartoonist, journalist, writer and film critic who works for Ananda Vikatan magazine, a leading Tamil weekly. Though his native is Thanjavur, he was brought up in Chennai...
- Music: VidyasagarVidyasagar (music director)Vidyasagar is an Award-Winning Indian film music director and music composer in the Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi film industry. He is very popular in South Indian music industry and best known for his soulful melodies. His fast numbers to many films have earned him much fame too. He has...
- Cinematography: Arthur A. WilsonArthur A. WilsonArthur Wilson is a cinematographer from India. He has also worked in many Tamil films like Rhythm, Anbe Sivam,Panchathanthiram,Vanathai pola,V.I.P,Shajahan, Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi and Pammal K. Sambandam. He is well known in the movie Naan Kadavul. His latest movie is Bala's Avan-Ivan-References:...
- Editor: P. Sai Suresh
- Art: M. Prabhakaran
- Lyrics: VairamuthuVairamuthuVairamuthu Ramaswamy Thevar is an award-winning Tamil poet and lyricist.Debuting in the film Nizhalgal with the lyrics for the song "Ponmalai Pozhudhu", he has now about 5800 songs to his credit as of January 2009. His partnership with the composers Ilaiyaraaja, and later A. R...
, Pralayan - Choreographer: Brindha, Dinesh
- Stunt: Vikram Dharma
- Co-Director: Raj Kannan
- Associate Directors: K. Balan, K. Senthil Arumugam
- Assistant Directors: K. Stephen, G.P. Suresh Kumar, K. Muthukumar
- Costumes: S. Rajendran, Sai
- Make-up: V.P. Rajan, Anil Bemkirikar (Kamal Haasan)
- Visual Effects: SHY Communications (P) Ltd.
- Sound Design: H. SridharH. SridharH. Sridhar, was a sound engineer from India and known for his work with the Indian Musician A R Rahman.Sridhar was the Chief Audio Engineer at Media Artists. A mathematics graduate, with keen interest in electronics and formal music training, he started a professional sound engineering career in...
- Sound Effects: M.J. Raju
Theme
The film was critically praised for its themes by the critics. Some critics leveraged the film against Kamal Hassan's atheism, while some suggested that the film basically tries to make a propaganda of CommunistCommunism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
views. Some critics suggested that Kamal too is a Communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
believer. However, Kamal cleared the air by stating that the film's ultimate theme lies in its title, Anbe Sivam, which literally means Love is God. The film basically talks about the importance of love in life and projects the value of love to be even bigger than God, and that there is no greater God than the one who loves. The film also extensively criticizes industrialisation and explores the contemporary India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, as to how a majority of people are being pushed out of the social spectrum as globalization
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
concentrates exclusively on the corporate-based individuals and not the roots of the labour force. Nallasivam, the character name played Kamal, is the name of Lord Shiva in the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
texts. The film extols the altruist human traits as manifestations of God. Hindus are known to pray to Lord Shiva to prevent destruction and keep perseverance. The character of Nallasivam resembles a man that can prevent destruction and maintain perseverance by showing love towards all living things. The film also suggests that Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
's ideas remains the closest idea towards achieving equality among many people, even though it may not be perfect. This is shown in one scene where Nallasivam states that, "Communism is a feeling, many had it even before Karl Marx, but it was Marx who first penned it down. And it shall not be destroyed even if there is no government to promote it".
Soundtrack
The music was composed by VidyasagarVidyasagar (music director)
Vidyasagar is an Award-Winning Indian film music director and music composer in the Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi film industry. He is very popular in South Indian music industry and best known for his soulful melodies. His fast numbers to many films have earned him much fame too. He has...
.
| Song Title | Singers |
|---|---|
| "Ele Machhi Machhi" | Udit Narayan Udit Narayan -Career:King of melody, Udit Narayan Jha was born on 1 December, 1955 in a village called Bhardaha in the Saptari district , Nepal. His father was Hare Krishna Jha and his mother was Bhuwaneshwari Devi.Narayan studied at P.B... , Tippu Tippu (singer) Tippu is a South Indian playback singer who has performed in Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu languages. Tippu's original name, as told by him in Koffee with Anu, is Ekambaresh. He is married to playback singers Harini. Tippu did his schooling at St. John's Matriculation Higher Secondary School... , Kamal Hassan |
| "Poovaasam Purappadum" | Sadhana Sargam Sadhana Sargam Sadhana Sargam is an acclaimed Indian playback singer. She is a recipient of the prestigious National Film Award and Filmfare Awards.Sargam has sung in many Indian languages for films, television serials and music albums. She is well known for her 90s Hindi songs and recent South Indian songs. She... , Vijay Prakash Vijay Prakash Vijay Prakash , is a playback singer from Mysore who moved to Mumbai in 1996. He has sung in Hindi films such as Blue, Yuvvraaj, Swades, Kaal, Lakshya, Matrubhoomi, Tere Naam, Cheeni Kum, Raavan and Force. He has also performed in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam movies... |
| "Mouname Paarvaiyaai" | S.P.Balasubramanyam, Chandrayee |
| "Naattukoru Seidhi" | Kamal Hassan, Chandran |
| "Anbae Sivam" | Kamal Hassan, Karthik Karthik (singer) Karthik is an Indian playback singer.Karthik started his professional singing career as a backing vocalist and has since been a playback singer in Tamil cinema while also single in other Indian languages for various composers... |
Trivia
- The film was highly praised for its themes and it became yet another critically praised movie for kamal hassan.
- In Pre-production work for film, appointed PriyadarshanPriyadarshanPriyadarshan is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. In a career spanning over two decades, Priyadarshan has directed over 80 films in several Indian languages including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu...
as director. For Unknown reason, film shooting started with Sundar CSundar CSundar C. is a Tamil film director and actor. He has directed 24 films in Kollywood and debuted his acting career in 2006 with the film Thalai Nagaram. His most notable films include Ullathai Allitha, Arunachalam and Anbe Sivam and other notable films include Mettukudi, Winner, Naam Iruvar...
as director. - The film's dialogue writer MadhanMadhanMadhan , whose real name is Maadapoosi Krishnaswamy Govinda Kumar, is a famous Tamil cartoonist, journalist, writer and film critic who works for Ananda Vikatan magazine, a leading Tamil weekly. Though his native is Thanjavur, he was brought up in Chennai...
makes a cameo appearanceCameo appearanceA cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
as himself. - Actress Kiran RathodKiran RathodKiran Rathod is an Indian film actress. She has appeared in Hindi and Tamil films.-Early life:Rathod was born on 11 January 1981 in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh into a Rajput family. She is a graduate of Mithibai College in Mumbai...
had her voice in the picture dubbed by popular playback singerPlayback singerA playback singer is a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras, while the actual singer does not appear on screen.-South Asia:...
Anuradha SriramAnuradha SriramAnuradha Sriram is an Indian carnatic and playback singer who hails from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. She has sung in many Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films.- Personal life :...
. - A scene in the film which sees Kamal HaasanKamal HaasanKamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
's character Nalla Sivam painting a communism-themed mural for NassarNassarNassar is a Tamil actor, producer, writer, director, lyricist, and singer. He has appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English films. He is often cited as part of India's specialist character actors, along with the likes of Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Nana Patekar...
's character Padaiyacchi's firm was inspired by a similar real-life incident involving Diego RiveraDiego RiveraDiego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez was a prominent Mexican painter born in Guanajuato, Guanajuato, an active communist, and husband of Frida Kahlo . His large wall works in fresco helped establish the Mexican Mural Movement in...
's mural Man at the CrossroadsMan at the CrossroadsMan at the Crossroads was a mural by Diego Rivera.The Rockefellers wanted to have a mural put on the ground-floor wall of Rockefeller Center. Nelson Rockefeller wanted Henri Matisse or Pablo Picasso to do it because he favored their modern style, but neither was available...
for Nelson RockefellerNelson RockefellerNelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
's Rockefeller CenterRockefeller CenterRockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, United States. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National...
. - Uma Riyaz Khan makes a good appearance with a somewhat important role.
- Nalla Sivam(Kamal Hasan) talks about tsunami(which was never before known to Indians) with Anbarasan(Madhavan) in the film. Incidentaly, 22 months after the film release 2004 Tsunami struck India, mainly Tamil Nadu.
- Madhavan won the '2002 Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor' for this movie (his performances in Run and Kannathil Muthamittal also contributed to this award).