.gif)
Vikram (film)
Encyclopedia
Vikram is a 1986
Tamil-language
Indian
feature film
directed
by Rajasekhar
, starring Kamal Hassan, Ambika
, Dimple Kapadia
, Lizy
, Sathyaraj
, Charuhasan, Janagaraj
and Amjad Khan
. Vikram is the first Tamil film which crossed the budget of 1 crore. The film resembled high tech James Bond
movies.
, Pistol Silencers
, head shots, cross-border terrorism and covert infiltration techniques among many others. Until the release of this movie, the most complex plot to feature in Tamil movies was that of the hero impersonating a thug (or a statue, as in Oru Kaidhiyin Diary
) to stop the wrongdoer, and eventually losing a loved one to a single bullet/stab-wound in the climax. Vikram was among the first few movies to deviate away from this routine, which set the standard for future movies to follow.
. The screenplay was co-written by Kamal Haasan and Sujatha Rangarajan
, the famous novelist and short story writer. Special effects were designed by SM Anwar and the stunts choreographed by Super Subburayan and Vikram Dharma.
being lynched en route to a secret location. The perpetrator of the heist is shown to be Sugirtharaja (Sathyaraj) a charismatic antagonist with a flair for sadistic mockery. Back in HQ, a visibly distraught panel of ministers and military top brass led by Mr.Rao (Charu Hassan) mull over the dangerous prospects of a nuke falling into terrorists' hands. After some deliberation, they appoint A.K.Vikram (Kamal Hassan) a government operative, to locate the AgniPutra. News of this appointment somehow reaches Sugirtharaja who promptly orders Vikram killed. But the henchman (Vikram Dharma) accidentally shoots to death his three-month-pregnant wife before fleeing to safety. Filled with bitterness, Vikram rebukes Rao for the costly leak and deftly exposes the mole in his office - the trusted secretary Chari. After some torturing Chari names Sugirtharaja as the mastermind in front of the panel, but jumps to his death without giving any further details. At this Vikram wryly remarks "Rule Number One: Never conduct interrogations on the fourth floor".
Rao introduces Vikram to a computer expert Preethi (Lizy) who knows the design of AgniPutra's on-board computer. She is initially annoyed with Vikram's crude ways, but mellows down eventually. Later whilst at a cinema theatre, Vikram spots Sugirtharaja in a news reel footage. Further investigation reveals that all the bad eggs are in Salamia, a fictional country that doesn't entertain intel-sharing with India. With the diplomatic route ruled out, Vikram and Preethi embark on a mission to disarm the nuke by infiltrating Salamia. They tag along with a troupe of folk artists who intend entertaining the winsome Sultan of Salamia (Amjad Khan).
Once in Salamia, the charming princess Inimaasi (Dimple Kapadia), sister of the Sultan, falls head-over-heels for Vikram despite the language barrier. Though Preethi is constantly put off by Vikram’s arrogance, she falls for him too. Vikram identifies the location where the nuke is held (the sacred Eli Kovil where only the Royal family and High Priest are allowed) and also discovers that the High Priest is a traitor who under Sugirtharaja's directions is secretly using the Eli Kovil to enrich AgniPutra's nuclear capabilities. One night he sneaks into the Eli Kovil, tweaks the AgniPutra's on-board computer (but fails to completely disarm it) and inadvertently forays into a "males not allowed" zone where he meets Inimaasi. His attempts to expose the priest's treason are met with sheer dissent as she is only interested in a carnal relationship. The sultan catches the couple hand-in-honey and sentences Vikram to be decapitated in public. Vikram however, escapes execution and flees to the desert on camelback where a gun-toting Sugirtharaja (and a squadron of royal sentries) chases him until he gives in to dehydration. Vikram is bitten by a black cobra, and Sugirtharaja leaves him for dead.
Back at the Royal Palace, the High priest stages a coup and holds the Sultan at gunpoint. Inimaasi manages to escape on camelback, and finds the delirious Vikram in the desert. She nurses him back to health with an amorous touch of love. The couple then return to the palace and fight off the armed sentries while the Sultan impales the high priest on his super-sized sword. Sugirtharaja, oblivious to the fact that AgniPutra's on-board computer has been tweaked, launches it hoping to decimate New Delhi. At HQ the Indian officials watch in despair as their computer screen shows a 2D animation of AgniPutra slowly descending upon New Delhi. Their despair turns into cheer when the missile soars back into the skies and plunges far away into the Bay of Bengal, thus not harming anyone. Back in Salamia the royal guards have almost taken back the palace, and the siege has almost been annulled. A disillusioned Sugirtharaja forces Preethi into a glider and takes off.
Vikram follows the plane on horseback, throws a lasso at the skids and eventually climbs onto the wings. A high-action scuffle ensues with the hero clinging onto the plane despite all the pummeling, then forcing his way into the cockpit to batter the villain. Sugirtharaja sets-off a bomb and jumps with a parachute backpack (the only one) strapped-on.
Vikram and Preethi jump off as the plane explodes, and a tense fight ensues in mid air amidst the freely falling trio. Sugirtharaja loses the backpack to Vikram and falls to his death, while the latter parachutes down to safety cuddling and kissing his girl. The buxome princess arrives on camel back and the film ends on a frivolous note, with the hero running away from two gorgeous dames close on his heels.
1986 in film
-Events:*April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle.*April 26 - Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver.*May - Actress Heather Locklear marries Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee....
Tamil-language
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
Indian
Cinema of India
The cinema of India consists of films produced across India, which includes the cinematic culture of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Indian films came to be followed throughout South Asia and...
feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Rajasekhar
Rajasekhar (director)
Rajasekhar is an Indian film director and Producer of Kollywood. He was a prominent director of 1980's and his major works were with Rajnikanth. Unfortunately he died before the 100 days celebration of his last film Dharma Dorai...
, starring Kamal Hassan, Ambika
Ambika (actress)
Ambika is an Indian film actress. She was worked in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu films. Ambika's sister Radha was also an actress. Both of them acted in a number of south Indian films in 80s and they have a movie studio called "ARS Studios"....
, Dimple Kapadia
Dimple Kapadia
Dimple Chunnibhai Kapadia is an Indian film actress. She made her acting debut at the age of 16, playing the title role in Raj Kapoor's teen romance Bobby . In that same year she married Indian actor Rajesh Khanna, and retired from acting. Kapadia returned to films in 1984 after her separation...
, Lizy
Lizy (actress)
Lissy Priyadarshan is a popular South Indian film actress of 1980s. She is popularly known by the mononym Lissy. Though, was a leading heroine in Malayalam, she had also acted in several Tamil and Telugu. She gave up acting after her marriage with famous film director Priyadarshan in 1990...
, Sathyaraj
Sathyaraj
Sathyaraj is a Tamil film actor and media personality in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. A Tamil activist and a political influence, he has acted in over 150 films, ranging from action and drama to comedy. In 2007, he played the role of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy in the Tamil Nadu government-sponsored...
, Charuhasan, Janagaraj
Janagaraj (actor)
Janagaraj is a veteran Tamil film actor who has generally played a comedian in his films, and provided stiff competition to the comic duo of Goundamani and Senthil. He has acted in over 100 Tamil films as a comedian or in supporting roles.-Early life:...
and Amjad Khan
Amjad Khan
Amjad Khan was an acclaimed Indian actor and director. He worked in over 130 films in his film career spanning nearly twenty years. He enjoyed popularity for his villainous roles in Hindi films the most famous being the unforgettable Gabbar Singh in 1975 classic Sholay...
. Vikram is the first Tamil film which crossed the budget of 1 crore. The film resembled high tech 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,...
movies.
Benchmark
It was a high budget, hi-tech movie and perhaps the first one to enthrall Tamil audiences with state-of-the-art filmography involving RPGs, Ballistic MissilesIntercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
, Pistol Silencers
Suppressor
A suppressor, sound suppressor, sound moderator, or silencer, is a device attached to or part of the barrel of a firearm which reduces the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon....
, head shots, cross-border terrorism and covert infiltration techniques among many others. Until the release of this movie, the most complex plot to feature in Tamil movies was that of the hero impersonating a thug (or a statue, as in Oru Kaidhiyin Diary
Oru Kaidhiyin Diary
Oru Kaidhiyin Diary is a 1985 Tamil-language Indian feature film directed by Bharathiraaja, starring Kamal Haasan in the lead role of the protagonist.-Summary:...
) to stop the wrongdoer, and eventually losing a loved one to a single bullet/stab-wound in the climax. Vikram was among the first few movies to deviate away from this routine, which set the standard for future movies to follow.
Credits
The film was directed by Rajasekar, and music scored by IlaiyaraajaIlaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraaja is an Indian film composer, singer, and lyricist mainly in the Tamil film Industry. He is regarded as one of the finest music composers in India. Ilaiyaraaja is also an instrumentalist, conductor, and a songwriter...
. The screenplay was co-written by Kamal Haasan and Sujatha Rangarajan
Sujatha Rangarajan
Sujatha was the pseudonym of the Tamil writer S. Rangarajan, author of over 100 novels, 250 short stories, ten books on science, ten stage plays, and a slim volume of poems. He was one of the most popular writers in Tamil literature, and a regular contributor to topical columns in Tamil...
, the famous novelist and short story writer. Special effects were designed by SM Anwar and the stunts choreographed by Super Subburayan and Vikram Dharma.
Plot
The movie opens with a court scene where three dangerous criminals Atlaf, Bohra and Hussain receive 20 years each for their heinous crimes (not detailed in the movie). The criminals are unremorsefully casual, and play Chinese Chequers on the bench whilst the judge reads out their sentence. En route to the escort van one of the convicts boisterously remarks "you just watch... we'll be walking free in 20 days". The scene morphs to complete darkness and the starting credits roll. The movie now opens with AgniPutra, a nuclear-capable ICBMIntercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
being lynched en route to a secret location. The perpetrator of the heist is shown to be Sugirtharaja (Sathyaraj) a charismatic antagonist with a flair for sadistic mockery. Back in HQ, a visibly distraught panel of ministers and military top brass led by Mr.Rao (Charu Hassan) mull over the dangerous prospects of a nuke falling into terrorists' hands. After some deliberation, they appoint A.K.Vikram (Kamal Hassan) a government operative, to locate the AgniPutra. News of this appointment somehow reaches Sugirtharaja who promptly orders Vikram killed. But the henchman (Vikram Dharma) accidentally shoots to death his three-month-pregnant wife before fleeing to safety. Filled with bitterness, Vikram rebukes Rao for the costly leak and deftly exposes the mole in his office - the trusted secretary Chari. After some torturing Chari names Sugirtharaja as the mastermind in front of the panel, but jumps to his death without giving any further details. At this Vikram wryly remarks "Rule Number One: Never conduct interrogations on the fourth floor".
Rao introduces Vikram to a computer expert Preethi (Lizy) who knows the design of AgniPutra's on-board computer. She is initially annoyed with Vikram's crude ways, but mellows down eventually. Later whilst at a cinema theatre, Vikram spots Sugirtharaja in a news reel footage. Further investigation reveals that all the bad eggs are in Salamia, a fictional country that doesn't entertain intel-sharing with India. With the diplomatic route ruled out, Vikram and Preethi embark on a mission to disarm the nuke by infiltrating Salamia. They tag along with a troupe of folk artists who intend entertaining the winsome Sultan of Salamia (Amjad Khan).
Once in Salamia, the charming princess Inimaasi (Dimple Kapadia), sister of the Sultan, falls head-over-heels for Vikram despite the language barrier. Though Preethi is constantly put off by Vikram’s arrogance, she falls for him too. Vikram identifies the location where the nuke is held (the sacred Eli Kovil where only the Royal family and High Priest are allowed) and also discovers that the High Priest is a traitor who under Sugirtharaja's directions is secretly using the Eli Kovil to enrich AgniPutra's nuclear capabilities. One night he sneaks into the Eli Kovil, tweaks the AgniPutra's on-board computer (but fails to completely disarm it) and inadvertently forays into a "males not allowed" zone where he meets Inimaasi. His attempts to expose the priest's treason are met with sheer dissent as she is only interested in a carnal relationship. The sultan catches the couple hand-in-honey and sentences Vikram to be decapitated in public. Vikram however, escapes execution and flees to the desert on camelback where a gun-toting Sugirtharaja (and a squadron of royal sentries) chases him until he gives in to dehydration. Vikram is bitten by a black cobra, and Sugirtharaja leaves him for dead.
Back at the Royal Palace, the High priest stages a coup and holds the Sultan at gunpoint. Inimaasi manages to escape on camelback, and finds the delirious Vikram in the desert. She nurses him back to health with an amorous touch of love. The couple then return to the palace and fight off the armed sentries while the Sultan impales the high priest on his super-sized sword. Sugirtharaja, oblivious to the fact that AgniPutra's on-board computer has been tweaked, launches it hoping to decimate New Delhi. At HQ the Indian officials watch in despair as their computer screen shows a 2D animation of AgniPutra slowly descending upon New Delhi. Their despair turns into cheer when the missile soars back into the skies and plunges far away into the Bay of Bengal, thus not harming anyone. Back in Salamia the royal guards have almost taken back the palace, and the siege has almost been annulled. A disillusioned Sugirtharaja forces Preethi into a glider and takes off.
Vikram follows the plane on horseback, throws a lasso at the skids and eventually climbs onto the wings. A high-action scuffle ensues with the hero clinging onto the plane despite all the pummeling, then forcing his way into the cockpit to batter the villain. Sugirtharaja sets-off a bomb and jumps with a parachute backpack (the only one) strapped-on.
Vikram and Preethi jump off as the plane explodes, and a tense fight ensues in mid air amidst the freely falling trio. Sugirtharaja loses the backpack to Vikram and falls to his death, while the latter parachutes down to safety cuddling and kissing his girl. The buxome princess arrives on camel back and the film ends on a frivolous note, with the hero running away from two gorgeous dames close on his heels.
Cast
- Kamal Hassan as Vikram
- AmbikaAmbika (actress)Ambika is an Indian film actress. She was worked in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu films. Ambika's sister Radha was also an actress. Both of them acted in a number of south Indian films in 80s and they have a movie studio called "ARS Studios"....
as Vikram's Wife - LizyLizy (actress)Lissy Priyadarshan is a popular South Indian film actress of 1980s. She is popularly known by the mononym Lissy. Though, was a leading heroine in Malayalam, she had also acted in several Tamil and Telugu. She gave up acting after her marriage with famous film director Priyadarshan in 1990...
as Preethi - Dimple KapadiaDimple KapadiaDimple Chunnibhai Kapadia is an Indian film actress. She made her acting debut at the age of 16, playing the title role in Raj Kapoor's teen romance Bobby . In that same year she married Indian actor Rajesh Khanna, and retired from acting. Kapadia returned to films in 1984 after her separation...
as Inimaasi - SathyarajSathyarajSathyaraj is a Tamil film actor and media personality in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. A Tamil activist and a political influence, he has acted in over 150 films, ranging from action and drama to comedy. In 2007, he played the role of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy in the Tamil Nadu government-sponsored...
as Sugirtharaja - Charuhasan as Mr.Rao
- JanagarajJanagaraj (actor)Janagaraj is a veteran Tamil film actor who has generally played a comedian in his films, and provided stiff competition to the comic duo of Goundamani and Senthil. He has acted in over 100 Tamil films as a comedian or in supporting roles.-Early life:...
as Dubash - Amjad KhanAmjad KhanAmjad Khan was an acclaimed Indian actor and director. He worked in over 130 films in his film career spanning nearly twenty years. He enjoyed popularity for his villainous roles in Hindi films the most famous being the unforgettable Gabbar Singh in 1975 classic Sholay...
as the Sultan of Salamia - Manorama (actress) as Pallathor Ramadevi
- Vikram DharmaVikram DharmaVikram Dharma was a stunt director in the Tamil film industry in India. He died of a heart attack in early 2006.-External links:...
as Sugirtharaja's henchman - V. K. RamaswamyV. K. RamaswamyVirinchirpuram Krishnamoorthi Ramaswamy is a former Indian Test cricket umpire.Ramaswamy was born in Madras and worked for Indian Railways. He umpired in Indian domestic first-class matches from the early 1970s, including the finals of the Ranji Trophy in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1994, and 1997 and the...
as Minister
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilayaraja. A total of five songs were composed of which four were included in the soundtrack.| Track | Song | Singer(s) | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vikram (Title Song) | Kamal, Janaki S. Janaki S. Janaki is an Indian female playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has won four National Film Awards and 35... |
04:49 | |
| 2 | Vanithamani | SPB, Janaki S. Janaki S. Janaki is an Indian female playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has won four National Film Awards and 35... |
04:54 | Kamal Hassan and Ambika Ambika (actress) Ambika is an Indian film actress. She was worked in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu films. Ambika's sister Radha was also an actress. Both of them acted in a number of south Indian films in 80s and they have a movie studio called "ARS Studios".... sung the introductory verbal singing |
| 3 | En Jodi Manja Kuruvi | SPB, Sailaja S. P. Sailaja Sripathi Panditaradhyula Sailaja , is a versatile Indian singer. She lent her voice to Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada films. She has sung about 5000 songs to date.-Early life:She was born in Konetammapeta in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh... |
04:48 | |
| 4 | Meendum Meendum Vaa | SPB, Janaki S. Janaki S. Janaki is an Indian female playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has won four National Film Awards and 35... |
05:06 | |
| 5 | Sippikkul Oru Muthu | Yesudas K. J. Yesudas Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and playback singer.Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,... , Janaki S. Janaki S. Janaki is an Indian female playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has won four National Film Awards and 35... |
04:42 | Not featured in the film |