Iyarkai
Encyclopedia
Iyarkai is an award-winning debut film in Tamil directed by S. P. Jananathan. N. K. Ekambaram
, also a relatively newcomer in the field of cinematography, served as the film's cinematographer. The film stars Shaam
, Arun Vijay
, Kutti Radhika and Seema Biswas
. This film was a low-budget production and the soundtrack was composed by Vidyasagar
. The director of this movie claimed the plot of Bollywood flick Saawariya
to be lifted from Iyarkai
This love story is set against the backdrop of a lost ship on an island. It enjoyed relative success in the Kollywood
box office. The soundtrack was a great hit but most importantly, the film won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for 2003, competing with Virumaandi
and Pithamagan
as that year's submissions. This movie is based on Dostoyevsky's "White Nights
".
Marudhu (Shaam
), an orphan and sailor, lands in Rameswaram and decides to give up his sailing life and settle down there. He develops a liking for Nancy (Radhika), who sells fruits and other items to sailors on ships that have arrived at the port. But Nancy still holds a candle for the captain of a ship that docked there three years ago. The captain (Arun Vijay
) had promised her that he would return in a year but three years later, Nancy has still not given up hope.
There is little going on in the movie but the freshness of the location and the characters populating it keeps us from noticing it. The day-to-day lives of the people living in a port town are brought before our eyes and the frequent trips inside the ships docking there are very interesting. Several details point to a lot of research going into the movie and the desire to be realistic is very evident. The effort has paid off since we feel like we are part of the happenings and feel close to the characters.
Shaam
is impressive in the role of the sailor who wishes to have a place to call home. Radhika shares equal credit for the success of her role. Arunkumar is dignified as the ship captain. Seema Biswas
(the original Bandit Queen) looks the part but is wasted in the rather undemanding role.
She is in a dilemma whether to choose Arunkumar or Shaam
and finally selects the former leaving mixed feelings of joy and sorrow.
Director: S.P.Jananathan
N. K. Ekambaram
N. K. Ekhambram is a cinematographer in Kollywood, who has recently filmed the successful Tamil E. He shot to fame through the critically acclaimed, award winning Tamil movie "Iyarkai". He has teamed up twice with Director S.P.Jananathan. Their association has given two visually breathtaking films;...
, also a relatively newcomer in the field of cinematography, served as the film's cinematographer. The film stars Shaam
Shaam
Shamshuddin Ibrahim, known professionally as Shaam , is a Tamil film actor and model. Starting his career as a professional model, he soon made his acting debut in the film Khushi , appearing in a cameo role. He further appeared in lead roles in critically and commercially successful films such as...
, Arun Vijay
Arun Vijay
Arun Vijayakumar is a Tamil film actor. He is the only son of veteran film actor Vijayakumar and has been active in the Tamil film industry since 1995. He is also a stunt coordinator in most of his films.- Early life and family :...
, Kutti Radhika and Seema Biswas
Seema Biswas
Seema Biswas is an Indian film and theatre actress from Assam who shot into prominence with the role of Phoolan Devi in Shekhar Kapur's film Bandit Queen . She has a reputation for performing strong character roles.Biswas won the 1996 National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the film...
. This film was a low-budget production and the soundtrack was 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 director of this movie claimed the plot of Bollywood flick Saawariya
Saawariya
Saawariya is a 2007 Hindi film based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's short story "White Nights".Co-produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment and released on 9 November 2007, it is the first Bollywood movie to receive a North American release by a Hollywood studio, shortly preceding Walt Disney Pictures'...
to be lifted from Iyarkai
This love story is set against the backdrop of a lost ship on an island. It enjoyed relative success in the Kollywood
Kollywood
Kollywood is a word referring two different movie industries in India and Nepal, derived from the word Hollywood and their local movie centers.* Tamil cinema, the Tamil language film industry based on Kodambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu,...
box office. The soundtrack was a great hit but most importantly, the film won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for 2003, competing with Virumaandi
Virumaandi
Virumaandi is a 2004 Tamil film written and directed by, and starring Kamal Haasan. The film revolves around two criminals, Virumaandi and Kothala Thevar , being interviewed. They express how they feel about the direction their lives have taken and how they have ended up where they are. The film...
and Pithamagan
Pithamagan
Pithamagan is a 2003 Tamil feature drama film directed by Bala. The film stars Vikram, Surya, Laila, Sangeetha, and Simran. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Ilayaraaja....
as that year's submissions. This movie is based on Dostoyevsky's "White Nights
White Nights (short story)
"White Nights" is a short story by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, originally published in 1848, early in the writer's career. Film adaptations have been made by Russian director Ivan Pyryev , by Italian director Luchino Visconti , by French director Robert Bresson , by Iranian director Farzad Motamen...
".
Plot
Iyarkai is a familiar love triangle that plays out in unfamiliar surroundings. It revolves around a girl and the two men who love her but by placing the happenings in a port town of Rameswaram, the director manages to give the proceedings a fresh feeling.Marudhu (Shaam
Shaam
Shamshuddin Ibrahim, known professionally as Shaam , is a Tamil film actor and model. Starting his career as a professional model, he soon made his acting debut in the film Khushi , appearing in a cameo role. He further appeared in lead roles in critically and commercially successful films such as...
), an orphan and sailor, lands in Rameswaram and decides to give up his sailing life and settle down there. He develops a liking for Nancy (Radhika), who sells fruits and other items to sailors on ships that have arrived at the port. But Nancy still holds a candle for the captain of a ship that docked there three years ago. The captain (Arun Vijay
Arun Vijay
Arun Vijayakumar is a Tamil film actor. He is the only son of veteran film actor Vijayakumar and has been active in the Tamil film industry since 1995. He is also a stunt coordinator in most of his films.- Early life and family :...
) had promised her that he would return in a year but three years later, Nancy has still not given up hope.
There is little going on in the movie but the freshness of the location and the characters populating it keeps us from noticing it. The day-to-day lives of the people living in a port town are brought before our eyes and the frequent trips inside the ships docking there are very interesting. Several details point to a lot of research going into the movie and the desire to be realistic is very evident. The effort has paid off since we feel like we are part of the happenings and feel close to the characters.
Shaam
Shaam
Shamshuddin Ibrahim, known professionally as Shaam , is a Tamil film actor and model. Starting his career as a professional model, he soon made his acting debut in the film Khushi , appearing in a cameo role. He further appeared in lead roles in critically and commercially successful films such as...
is impressive in the role of the sailor who wishes to have a place to call home. Radhika shares equal credit for the success of her role. Arunkumar is dignified as the ship captain. Seema Biswas
Seema Biswas
Seema Biswas is an Indian film and theatre actress from Assam who shot into prominence with the role of Phoolan Devi in Shekhar Kapur's film Bandit Queen . She has a reputation for performing strong character roles.Biswas won the 1996 National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the film...
(the original Bandit Queen) looks the part but is wasted in the rather undemanding role.
She is in a dilemma whether to choose Arunkumar or Shaam
Shaam
Shamshuddin Ibrahim, known professionally as Shaam , is a Tamil film actor and model. Starting his career as a professional model, he soon made his acting debut in the film Khushi , appearing in a cameo role. He further appeared in lead roles in critically and commercially successful films such as...
and finally selects the former leaving mixed feelings of joy and sorrow.
Director: S.P.Jananathan
S.P.Jananathan
S. P. Jananathan is a Tamil film director. His first film as director - Iyarkai won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil in 2004. Prior to becoming a director, he worked as an assistant to directors like B. Lenin, Bharathan and Keyar.-Filmography:-References:...
- Story/ Dialogue / Screenplay: S.P.JananathanS.P.JananathanS. P. Jananathan is a Tamil film director. His first film as director - Iyarkai won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil in 2004. Prior to becoming a director, he worked as an assistant to directors like B. Lenin, Bharathan and Keyar.-Filmography:-References:...
- Cinematography: N.K. Ekambaram
- 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...
- Producer:A.E.Gunasekaran
Soundtrack
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...
| Song Title | Singers |
|---|---|
| "Pazhaya Kural" | Sujatha Mohan Sujatha Mohan Sujatha Mohan , usually credited as Sujatha, is an award-winning Indian playback singer who is popular for singing in Malayalam and Tamil movies. She has also sung for Telugu, Kannada and Hindi movies. She is widely popular for her evergreen melodies and her sweet voice is considered to be her... |
| "Iyarkai Thaaye" | 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... , Srivarthini |
| "Kaadhal Vandhaal" | Tippu Tippu Tippu or Tipu can refer to:* Tippu Sultan, Indian ruler* Tippu , a South Indian film playback singer* Tipu, a Mayan archaeological site... , Manikka Vinayagam Manikka Vinayagam Manikka Vinayakam is a Tamil playback singer and actor. He has sung for all the south Indian language films and acted in several Tamil feature films as a character artist.-Career:... |
| "Alaiye Alaiye" | Shankar Mahadevan Shankar Mahadevan Shankar Mahadevan is an Indian music composer and singer. He is a part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio team that composes for Indian films and a playback singer.-Early life:... |
| "Seetu Kattu" | Karthik Karthik Karthik is a male given name that is most common name in the southern part of India. The name stands for the Hindu god "Muruga," son of Lord Shiva.The name may refer to:-Actors:... , Manikka Vinayagam Manikka Vinayagam Manikka Vinayakam is a Tamil playback singer and actor. He has sung for all the south Indian language films and acted in several Tamil feature films as a character artist.-Career:... |