Aravaan
Encyclopedia
Aravaan is an upcoming Indian Tamil period film
directed by Vasanthabalan
, based on Su. Venkatesan's novel Kaaval Kottam. It stars Aadhi
, Dhansika, Malayalam actress Archana Kavi
and Pasupathy
in the lead roles, with Kabir Bedi
playing a prominent role, and Bharath
appearing in a cameo role. The film would mark noted playback singer Karthik
's debut as a music director.
, Vasanthabalan
started working on his new project based on Su. Venkatesan's novel Kaaval Kottam, a novel depicting the history of Madurai
during 1310-1910, which was released in 2009. Aravaans story would be based on one chapter from the novel, running to about 10 pages, with Vasanthabalan claiming that he took one year for penning the scriptment
, further telling that he had tried to "mix action and emotion". Since the film was set in the past, the crew shot the film at remote unsettled areas to avoid cell phone towers and overhead power lines. In Ovvamalai, near Melur
, a settlement of 100 houses was created, while another set was erected at Kongaimalai, near Tenkasi
.The scene where buffalos are sacrificed are shot in dense forests in Tamilnadu-Kerala border Producer Siva said that he ordered 5,000 dhotis and 3,000 sarees specially made from Erode and Karur to give it a historical feel.
to portray the lead character of Varipuli, after he had seen him performing in Mirugam
and Eeram
, citing that he chose him because of his height and his nose Aadhi was further requested to develop eight pack abs
, which he accomplished in three months. Vijaya Chander, a famous Telugu actor, portrayed the lead role of a head for the village. Pasupathy
, who earlier was casted in Vasanthabalan's Veyil
, was chosen to essay another lead role, since he had the "looks and complexion" of the character he plays, apart from his "powerful eyes and his talent to portray a gamut of emotions". Malayali actress Archana Kavi
was roped in for the role of Chimitti, a bold and aggressive woman, who "loves to take control of everything around her", with Archana reporting that the character was "unlike her real self" and that she had difficulties to "get the body language and the Madurai Tamil
right". In January 2011, Kabir Bedi
, noted Hindi film actor, who had also appeared in several international productions, notably in the 1983 James Bond
film Octopussy
, was signed up for a significant role, making his Tamil film debut, while the following month, actor Bharath
, who had collaborated with Vasanthabalan in Veyil as well, accepted to perform a cameo role. In August 2011 reports confirmed that Malayali model-actress Shweta Menon
would appear in a cameo role as a dasi.
, debuting as a composer through this film. The soundtrack release function would be held on 5 October at the Anna Centenary Library at Kotturpuram in Chennai, with A. R. Rahman
and Mani Ratnam
launching the album.
Period piece
-Setting:In the performing arts, a period piece is a work set in a particular era. This informal term covers all countries, all periods and all genres...
directed by Vasanthabalan
Vasanthabalan
-Career:The director began his career with Album, which failed at the box-office. His second film, produced by the prestigious S Pictures company, Veyil became a blockbuster and was shown as the Indian representative at Cannes in 2007...
, based on Su. Venkatesan's novel Kaaval Kottam. It stars Aadhi
Aadhi (actor)
Aadhi is an Indian film actor, who has mainly appeared in Tamil films. He debuted in the 2006 Telugu film Oka Vichitram and made his big break with S. Shankar's 2009 film Eeram...
, Dhansika, Malayalam actress Archana Kavi
Archana Jose Kavi
Archana Jose Kaviyil is an Indian film actress. She made her acting debut in Neelathaamara scripted by M. T. Vasudevan Nair and directed by Lal Jose.- Early life :...
and Pasupathy
Pasupathy
Pasupathy is an Indian film actor. He has appeared in several critically acclaimed roles in many noted Tamil films, essaying supporting, antagonistic, comedic as well as protagonistic roles.-Early life and career:...
in the lead roles, with Kabir Bedi
Kabir Bedi
Kabir Bedi is an Indian television and film actor. His career has spanned three continents including India, the United States and many European countries in three mediums: film, television and theatre. He is noted for his role as Emperor Shah Jahan in Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story...
playing a prominent role, and Bharath
Bharath
Bharath is an Indian actor, who appears in Tamil films. He is probably best known for his critically acclaimed performances in Kaadhal, Pattiyal, Veyil and Kanden Kadhalai.-Early life:...
appearing in a cameo role. The film would mark noted playback singer 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...
's debut as a music director.
Cast
- AadhiAadhi (actor)Aadhi is an Indian film actor, who has mainly appeared in Tamil films. He debuted in the 2006 Telugu film Oka Vichitram and made his big break with S. Shankar's 2009 film Eeram...
as Varipuli - PasupathyPasupathyPasupathy is an Indian film actor. He has appeared in several critically acclaimed roles in many noted Tamil films, essaying supporting, antagonistic, comedic as well as protagonistic roles.-Early life and career:...
as Kombodhi - Dhansika
- Archana KaviArchana Jose KaviArchana Jose Kaviyil is an Indian film actress. She made her acting debut in Neelathaamara scripted by M. T. Vasudevan Nair and directed by Lal Jose.- Early life :...
as Chimitti - Karikaalan
- Singampuli
- Thirumurugan
- Vijaychander
- Kabir BediKabir BediKabir Bedi is an Indian television and film actor. His career has spanned three continents including India, the United States and many European countries in three mediums: film, television and theatre. He is noted for his role as Emperor Shah Jahan in Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story...
- BharathBharathBharath is an Indian actor, who appears in Tamil films. He is probably best known for his critically acclaimed performances in Kaadhal, Pattiyal, Veyil and Kanden Kadhalai.-Early life:...
in a special appearance - AnjaliAnjali (actress)Anjali is an Indian film actress and model, who predominantly appears in Tamil films. Following a stint in modelling, she was cast in starring roles in two low-profile Telugu productions, before gaining attention with her critically acclaimed performance as Anandhi in Kattradhu Thamizh , for which...
in a special appearance - Shweta MenonShweta MenonShweta Menon is an Indian model, film actress and television anchor. She has predominantly acted in Hindi and Malayalam language films, besides appearing in a number of Tamil productions....
in a special appearance - Sruthi PrakashSruthi PrakashSruthi Prakash is an Indian actress from Pune, who appeared in her debut film Indira Vizha in Tamil. Her real name is Shruti Marathe. She made her debut using the stage name, Hema Malini, and decided to request a name change.Her second film Naan Avanillai 2 is doing quite well in the Box Office...
in a special appearance
Development
In April 2010, following the success of Angaadi TheruAngaadi Theru
-Further reading:* Christopher, Michael & Helen Staufer . “Urban. Village. Urban-Village. Angaditheru and its mofussil department store society in Chennai”, in: manycinemas 1, 24-37, ,...
, Vasanthabalan
Vasanthabalan
-Career:The director began his career with Album, which failed at the box-office. His second film, produced by the prestigious S Pictures company, Veyil became a blockbuster and was shown as the Indian representative at Cannes in 2007...
started working on his new project based on Su. Venkatesan's novel Kaaval Kottam, a novel depicting the history of Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
during 1310-1910, which was released in 2009. Aravaans story would be based on one chapter from the novel, running to about 10 pages, with Vasanthabalan claiming that he took one year for penning the scriptment
Scriptment
A scriptment is a written work by a movie or television screenwriter that combines elements of a script and treatment, especially the dialogue elements, which are formatted the same as in a screenplay. It is a more elaborate document than a standard draft treatment...
, further telling that he had tried to "mix action and emotion". Since the film was set in the past, the crew shot the film at remote unsettled areas to avoid cell phone towers and overhead power lines. In Ovvamalai, near Melur
Melur
Melur is a town and a municipality in the Madurai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Melur is called Thaikramam . It is the biggest taluk within the Madurai District....
, a settlement of 100 houses was created, while another set was erected at Kongaimalai, near Tenkasi
Tenkasi
Tenkasi pronounced as is a town and a municipality in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located in the foothills of the Western Ghats near the Courtallam Waterfalls.Tenkasi is also famous for saaral...
.The scene where buffalos are sacrificed are shot in dense forests in Tamilnadu-Kerala border Producer Siva said that he ordered 5,000 dhotis and 3,000 sarees specially made from Erode and Karur to give it a historical feel.
Casting
Vasanthabalan selected AadhiAadhi (actor)
Aadhi is an Indian film actor, who has mainly appeared in Tamil films. He debuted in the 2006 Telugu film Oka Vichitram and made his big break with S. Shankar's 2009 film Eeram...
to portray the lead character of Varipuli, after he had seen him performing in Mirugam
Mirugam
Mirugam is a Tamil movie starring debutant Adhi and Padmapriya, directed by Samy.-Plot:The story is set in a village near Ramnad. The protagonist Ayyanar is a care free villager who uses his muscle than his brains for any situation and behaves more or less like an animal. He is a terror to the...
and Eeram
Eeram
Eeram is a 2009 Tamil-language thriller film written and directed by newcomer Arivazhagan Venkatachalam. Starring Aadhi, and Sindhu Menon in the lead roles, with Saranya Mohan and Nandha in supporting roles, the film was produced by S. Shankar and was released on 11 September 2009...
, citing that he chose him because of his height and his nose Aadhi was further requested to develop eight pack abs
Rectus abdominis muscle
The rectus abdominis muscle, also known as the "six pack", is a paired muscle running vertically on each side of the anterior wall of the human abdomen . There are two parallel muscles, separated by a midline band of connective tissue called the linea alba...
, which he accomplished in three months. Vijaya Chander, a famous Telugu actor, portrayed the lead role of a head for the village. Pasupathy
Pasupathy
Pasupathy is an Indian film actor. He has appeared in several critically acclaimed roles in many noted Tamil films, essaying supporting, antagonistic, comedic as well as protagonistic roles.-Early life and career:...
, who earlier was casted in Vasanthabalan's Veyil
Veyil
Veyil is a 2006 Tamil-language film directed by Vasanthabalan. Bharath and Pasupathy are the heroes where Bhavana, Priyanka and Sriya Reddy plays the female leads.-Plot:...
, was chosen to essay another lead role, since he had the "looks and complexion" of the character he plays, apart from his "powerful eyes and his talent to portray a gamut of emotions". Malayali actress Archana Kavi
Archana Jose Kavi
Archana Jose Kaviyil is an Indian film actress. She made her acting debut in Neelathaamara scripted by M. T. Vasudevan Nair and directed by Lal Jose.- Early life :...
was roped in for the role of Chimitti, a bold and aggressive woman, who "loves to take control of everything around her", with Archana reporting that the character was "unlike her real self" and that she had difficulties to "get the body language and the Madurai Tamil
Madurai Tamil
Madurai Tamil is the dialect spoken in the city of Madurai and over a vast geographical area of South Tamil Nadu, the area once ruled by the Pandiya Kings...
right". In January 2011, Kabir Bedi
Kabir Bedi
Kabir Bedi is an Indian television and film actor. His career has spanned three continents including India, the United States and many European countries in three mediums: film, television and theatre. He is noted for his role as Emperor Shah Jahan in Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story...
, noted Hindi film actor, who had also appeared in several international productions, notably in the 1983 James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film Octopussy
Octopussy
Octopussy is the thirteenth entry in the James Bond series, and the sixth to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film's title is taken from a short story in Ian Fleming's 1966 short story collection Octopussy and The Living Daylights...
, was signed up for a significant role, making his Tamil film debut, while the following month, actor Bharath
Bharath
Bharath is an Indian actor, who appears in Tamil films. He is probably best known for his critically acclaimed performances in Kaadhal, Pattiyal, Veyil and Kanden Kadhalai.-Early life:...
, who had collaborated with Vasanthabalan in Veyil as well, accepted to perform a cameo role. In August 2011 reports confirmed that Malayali model-actress Shweta Menon
Shweta Menon
Shweta Menon is an Indian model, film actress and television anchor. She has predominantly acted in Hindi and Malayalam language films, besides appearing in a number of Tamil productions....
would appear in a cameo role as a dasi.
Filming
There was a scene in which the protagonist had to jump over a five feet palm tree. Aadhi, who refused a body double to perform on behalf on him, insisted that he himself would do it. After the director gave his nod, Aadhi started doing the action sequence but fell on the tree in no time. He developed injuries on his hands and other parts of the body with blood oozing non-stop. The crew of the film spent a great deal of time in hunting down mountains, caves and hidden places used during wars that took place during the Pandian Era. Atlast, they zeroed on �Arittapatti Hills� that is situated near the Madurai Melur. The place is not encroached by human life and boasts off many caves, streams and huge valleys. Art Director Vijay Murugan set up a grandeur village with the help of a huge art work team. The place has hundreds of huts made of bamboo straws, palm leaves and stones. It also includes a �Karuppan Temple�. .Soundtrack
The soundtrack is composed by playback singer KarthikKarthik (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...
, debuting as a composer through this film. The soundtrack release function would be held on 5 October at the Anna Centenary Library at Kotturpuram in Chennai, with A. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman
Allah Rakha Rahman is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and philanthropist. Described as the world's most prominent and prolific film composer by Time, his works are notable for integrating eastern classical music with electronic music sounds, world music genres and...
and Mani Ratnam
Mani Ratnam
Mani Ratnam is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter and producer. He made his directorial debut with the Kannada film Pallavi Anu Pallavi starring Anil Kapoor in 1983...
launching the album.