Iyarkai

2023-03-03T09:48:33Z

DareshMohan: /* Cast */

{{short description|2003 film by S. P. Jananathan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Iyarkai
| image = Iyarkai poster.jpg
| caption = Poster .
| director = [[S. P. Jananathan]]
| producer = V. R. Kumar A. E. Gunasekaran G. Natarajan
| writer = S. P. Jananathan
| based_on = {{based on|[[White Nights (short story)|''White Nights'']]|[[Fyodor Dostoyevsky]]}}
| screenplay = N. Kalyanakrishnan
| starring = [[Shaam (actor)|Shaam]] [[Kutty Radhika]]
| music = [[Vidyasagar (music director)|Vidyasagar]]
| cinematography = [[N. K. Ekambaram]]
| editing = N. Ganesh Kumar '''Editing supervisor:''' [[V. T. Vijayan]]
| studio = Prisam Films
| distributor = Prisam Films
| released = {{Film date|2003|11|21|df=y}}
| runtime = 140 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget =
}}
'''''Iyarkai''''' ({{audio|Ta-இயற்கை.ogg|pronunciation}}, {{translation|Nature}}) (spelt '''''Eiyarkai''''' onscreen)<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Eiyarkai |date=21 November 2003 |place=India |time=1:40|medium=motion picture}}</ref> is a 2003 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[romance film]] written and directed by [[S. P. Jananathan]] in his directorial debut and produced by V. R. Kumar, A. E. Gunasekaran, and G. Natarajan for Prisam Films. The film has [[Shaam (actor)|Shaam]] and [[Kutty Radhika]] in the lead roles alongside [[Seema Biswas]]. This film marks the Tamil debuts of Radhika and Biswas. [[Arun Kumar (actor)|Arun Kumar]] appears in a cameo appearance. This film was produced under a low budget of 1 crore, and the soundtrack was composed by [[Vidyasagar (music director)|Vidyasagar]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/photos/slideshows/2019/nov/21/16-years-of-iyarkai-16-lesser-known-facts-about-sp-jananathans-national-award-winning-romantic-dra-784.html|title=16 Years of Iyarkai: 16 lesser-known facts about SP Jananathan's National award-winning romantic drama|website=Cinema Express}}</ref> This love story is set against the backdrop of a lost ship in the port town of [[Rameshwaram]] and revolves around a girl and the two men that love her. This movie is loosely based on ''Vennira Iravugal'', Tamil translation of [[Fyodor Dostoyevsky]]'s 1848 short story "[[White Nights (short story)|White Nights]]". "White Nights" was also made in Hindi as ''[[Saawariya]]''.<ref name="Rediff">{{Cite web |url=http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2009/oct/14/slide-show-1-south-interview-with-jhananathan.htm |title='Peranmai is not gender specific' |date=14 October 2009 |website=Rediff}}</ref>

It won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]] at the [[51st National Film Awards]] in 2004. The film was moderate success upon release, but later developed a classic status over the following years and celebrated as an euphoric heartbreak movie by youths and in social media

==Plot==
Marudhu ([[Shaam (actor)|Shaam]]), a Tamil man is an orphaned ship mechanic and sailor and works on ships. After multiple years he fulfills his desire of returning to TamilNadu as his Ship reaches [[Rameshwaram]] and halts 90 days for repair and reloading. Marudhu wants to give up his sailing life and settle down there. He develops a liking for Nancy ([[Kutty Radhika]]), who sells fruits and other items to sailors on ships that have arrived at the port, but she still holds a candle for the captain of a ship Mukundan ([[Arun Kumar (actor)|Arun]]) that docked there three years ago. Though Nancy had proposed to him three years ago, he declined stating that 17 was a very young age to marry. He told her to wait for him or marry someone else at her will. before leaving, He had promised her that he would return in a year, but three years later, Nancy has still not given up hope. Marudhu befriends and helps Nancy search for Mukundan, but when he reveals that he loves Nancy, she distances herself from him. They reconcile and become friends. All hope is lost to find Mukundan as they see the captain junior, now as the first officer of another ship. The captain junior reveals that the captain's ship was destroyed in a blast. Soon, Marudhu's ship is scheduled to leave to Africa on Christmas night. Marudhu can decide to re-join the ship or leave work by then. All of them pressurize Nancy to leave her ideas about Mukundan and marry Marudhu. After a very long thought, she agrees by the night of Christmas Eve, and arrangements are made for the wedding next day, but Mukundan returns, surprises Nancy and Marudhu, and finds him kissing her hand in the crowd. He decides that he is the best for her. She is in a dilemma whether to choose Mukundan or Marudhu, and finally selects the former, leaving mixed feelings of joy and sorrow. Marudhu leaves India in his ship, seeking more journeys and promising never to return to his home of Tamil Nadu.

==Cast==
{{colbegin}}
* [[Shaam (actor)|Shaam]] as Marudhu
* [[Arun Vijay|Arun Kumar]] as Mukundan (cameo)
* [[Radhika Kumaraswamy|Kutty Radhika]] as Nancy Mukundan
* [[Senthil]] as Senthil Aandavan
* [[Seema Biswas]] as Mercy, Nancy's sister-in-law
* [[Chinni Jayanth]] as 'Hawala' Arumugam, Marudhu's guide
* [[Pasupathy]] as Father Stephen
* [[Karunas]] as Nandu, Marudhu's friend
* [[Crane Manohar]] as Magician
* [[Suruli Manohar]]
* Kumaravel<ref name = "Opening Credits">''Iyarkai'' (DVD): opening credits from 1.44 to 2.58</ref>
* [[Abhinayashree]]<ref name = "Opening Credits" />

*Madhan
* Freddy Odiyo, Antoney Paul, and Ahmad Adam play the roles of foreigners.<ref name = "Opening Credits" /><ref name="The Hindu" />
{{colend}}

==Production==
In 2001, debutant S. P. Jananathan, who worked under [[B. Lenin]], [[Bharathan]], [[Vincent Selva]] and [[Keyaar]], began work for his directorial debut ''Iyarkai''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/553306-spjananathan-birthday-special.html|title=இயக்குநர் எஸ்.பி.ஜனநாதன் பிறந்த நாள் ஸ்பெஷல்: அடித்தட்டு மக்களுக்கான அரசியலைப் பேசும் படைப்பாளி|website=Hindu Tamil Thisai|language=ta}}</ref> Shaam was selected after Jananthan saw Shaaam's performance in ''[[12B]]'' while working as an editor for the film under Lenin.<ref name="Honour">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/honour-well-deserved/article28576976.ece|title=Honour well deserved|work=The Hindu|date=27 August 2004|access-date=19 June 2019}}</ref> Shaam joined the film while he was filming for ''[[Girivalam]]''.<ref name="Honour"/> [[Suriya]] was initially offered the lead role, but left the film citing that he wasn't interested in doing romantic films.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/aasai-to-dhruva-natchathiram-five-big-hits-that-were-turned-down-by-suriya/photostory/77957253.cms|title='Aasai' to 'Dhruva Natchathiram': FIVE big hits that were turned down by Suriya|date=6 September 2020|website=The Times of India}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[Rediff]]'', Jananathan revealed that the reason the backdrop of the sea was chosen was because he was attached to the sea as he "grew up on the sea shore". The story of the film was also influenced by his own life: his friend's uncle boat sunk in the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and his uncle was never found.<ref name="Rediff" /> Jananathan told the story to [[Ramkumar Ganesan]], whose cousin, Kumar, became the producer after liking the story.<ref name="R">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/oct/17jan.htm|title='MGR films are my reference point'|date=17 October 2006|work=Rediff}}</ref> Kannada actress [[Radhika Kumaraswamy|Radhika]] was cast as the lead actress while [[Arun Kumar (actor)|Arun Kumar]], who was last seen in ''[[Pandavar Bhoomi]]'', was roped in to play a cameo as a ship captain.<ref name="The Hindu">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/11/21/stories/2003112101090201.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031208174742/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/11/21/stories/2003112101090201.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-12-08|title=Iyarkai|date=2003|first=Malathi|last=Rangarajan|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=24 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="Sify">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/eyarkai-review-tamil-pclvwIgaiecii.html|title=Eyarkai|work=Sify|date=5 November 2003|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201018112504/https://www.sify.com/movies/eyarkai-review-tamil-pclvwIgaiecii.html|archive-date=18 October 2020}}</ref> The film was shot at the [[Tuticorin]] harbour and the [[Andaman Islands]].<ref name="Honour" /><ref name="Sify"/> Art directors [[Sabu Cyril]] and Selvam erected a lighthouse set for the film.<ref name="Sify"/> Bollywood actress [[Seema Biswas]] was cast as Radhika's sister.<ref name="Sify"/>

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album|
| name = Iyarkai
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Vidyasagar (Composer)|Vidyasagar]]
| cover =
| alt =
| caption = Soundtrack album cover
| released = 8 July 2003
| recorded = [[Varsha Vallaki Studios]]
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film Soundtrack]]
| length =
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| label =
| producer = [[Vidyasagar (Composer)|Vidyasagar]]
| prev_title = [[Thirumalai]]
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title = [[Joot]]
| next_year = 2004
}}
The music was composed by [[Vidyasagar (music director)|Vidyasagar]] and lyrics written by [[Vairamuthu]].<ref name="The Hindu" /> ''[[Sify]]'' stated that "the music of Vidyasagar is soothing and melodious".<ref name="Sify"/>
{|class="wikitable"
! Song Title !! Singers !! Duration
|-
| "Pazhaya Kural" || [[Sujatha Mohan]] || 5:05
|-
| "Iyarkai Thaaye" || [[Karthik (singer)|Karthik]], Srivarthini || 4:41
|-
| "Kaadhal Vandhaal" || [[Tippu (singer)|Tippu]], [[Manikka Vinayagam]] || 5:59
|-
| "Alaiye Alaiye" || [[Shankar Mahadevan]] || 4:34
|-
| "Seetu Kattu" || [[Karthik (singer)|Karthik]], [[Manikka Vinayagam]] || 5:57
|-
|}

==Release==
{{Quote box|width=30%|align=Right|quote="S.P. Jananathan’s ''Iyarkai'' is an important movie in my career, as it is a National Award-winning film.”|source= — Shaam in an interview<ref name ="Twenty-five">{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/etcetera-woman-power/article6895584.ece |title=Etcetera: Woman power|first=Nikhil|last=Raghavan|newspaper=The Hindu|date=14 February 2015|access-date=19 June 2019}}</ref>}}

It enjoyed little success in the Tamil Nadu box office, but did not lose money the film was produced on a low budget.<ref name="R" /> Upon release, the films's cinematographer, [[N.K.Ekambaram|Ekambaram]], sent the film to the National Awards committee. Much to Jananathan's surprise, the film won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]] for 2003, competing with ''[[Virumaandi]]'' and ''[[Pithamagan]]'' as that year's submissions.<ref name="Rediff" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/51st_nff_2004.pdf|title=51st National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=24 June 2019|format=PDF}}</ref> The National Film Award was the first award that Jananathan had received in his career.<ref name="R"/><ref name="Honour" />

=== Critical reception ===
''The Hindu'' praised the cinematographer and the art directors stating that "Together with [[Sabu Cyril]]-Selvan's art, [[N. K. Ekambaram|K. Ekambaram]]'s lens paints a bewitching picture on screen". ''The Hindu'' also praised the performances of Shaam, Kutty Radhika, and Arun Kumar.<ref name="The Hindu" />

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Award
!Category
! Nominee
!Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref.
|-
| 2003
| [[51st National Film Awards]]
| National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil || ''Iyarkai''
| {{won}}
|style="text-align:center;" |<ref name="Honour" />
|}

== Legacy ==
Jananathan had a script ready for a sequel, but was hesitant to make it into a film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/118650-actor-shaam-says-about-his-movie-journey|title='15 வருஷ சினிமா அனுபவத்துல, இதெல்லாம் ஒரு காரணம்னு சொல்லமுடியாது!" - 'இயற்கை-2', 'பார்ட்டி' கதை சொல்லும் ஷாம்|website=Vikatan|lang=ta}}</ref> S. P. Jananathan collaborated with Shaam again for the latter's 25th film titled ''[[Purampokku Engira Podhuvudamai]]'' in 2015.<ref name ="Twenty-five"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|id=0434105}}

{{S. P. Jananathan}}
{{NationalFilmAwardBestFeatureFilmTamil}}
{{White Nights}}

[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2003 films]]
[[Category:2000s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films based on White Nights]]
[[Category:Films scored by Vidyasagar]]
[[Category:Indian romantic drama films]]
[[Category:2003 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Films set on ships]]
[[Category:Best Tamil Feature Film National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:2003 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:Films directed by S. P. Jananathan]]

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Iyarkai