imported>Kugan1997 at 15:07, 22 August 2021

2021-08-22T15:07:20Z

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{{about|the movie|the language|Tamil language}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Thamizh
| image = "Thamizh,_2001".jpg
| caption = Movie Poster
| director = [[Hari (director)|Hari]]
| producer = Amutha Durairaj
| writer = Hari
| starring = [[Prashanth]] [[Simran (actress)|Simran]] [[Vadivelu]] [[Ashish Vidyarthi]] [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]] [[Livingston (actor)|Livingston]]
| music = [[Bharathwaj]]
| cinematography = [[Priyan (cinematographer)|Priyan]]
| editing = [[V. T. Vijayan]]
| studio = Deivanai Movies
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2002|04|14}}
| country = India
| runtime = 155 minutes
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Thamizh''''' is a 2002 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[action film|action]] [[drama film]] written and directed by [[Hari (director)|Hari]], in his directorial debut and produced by Amutha Durairaj. The movie stars [[Prashanth]] and [[Simran (actress)|Simran]] in the leading roles, while [[Vadivelu]], [[Ashish Vidyarthi]], [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]], and [[Livingston (actor)|Livingston]], among others, portray supporting roles. Featuring music composed by [[Bharathwaj]], the film opened to positive reviews upon release in April 2002 and became a commercial success at the box office. The film was remade in Bengali as ''Aakrosh''.

==Plot==
Thamizh ([[Prashanth]]) leads a happy life with his mother ([[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]]) and sister-in-law Kalaichelvi ([[Urvashi (actress)|Urvashi]]). Thamizh's brother Anbazhagan ([[Livingston (actor)|Livingston]]) is working in Kuwait, and he too dreams of joining him there. Meenakshi ([[Simran (actress)|Simran]]), their tenant, and Thamizh fall in love. When the goons of Periyavar ([[Ashish Vidyarthi]]) injure Thamizh's niece, he stops Periyavar's car on the road and questions him. He then beats up one of Periyavar's goons when insulted. This makes him Periyavar's target, and though he tries to withdraw from the violence, he is forced to join forces with Rathnam ([[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]]), Periyavar's sworn enemy, and eventually defeats him.

==Cast==
{{colbegin}}
*[[Prashanth]] as Thamizh
*[[Simran (actress)|Simran]] as Meenakshi (Voice dubbed by [[Savitha Reddy]])
*[[Vadivelu]] as Moorthy
*[[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]] as Rathnam
*[[Livingston (actor)|Livingston]] as Anbazhagan (Thamizh's brother)
*[[Ashish Vidyarthi]] as Periyavar (Voice dubbed by TNB Kathiravan)
*[[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] as Thamizh's mother
*[[Urvashi (actress)|Urvashi]] as Kalaichelvi (Thamizh's sister-in-law)
*[[Delhi Ganesh]] as Meenakshi's father
*[[K. S. Ravikumar]] as Police Inspector
*Minnal Deepa as Moorthy's sister
*[[Thalaivasal Vijay]] as Haneefa
*[[Ponnambalam (actor)|Ponnambalam]]
*[[Charle]]
*[[Crane Manohar]]
*[[Besant Ravi]]
*Karnaa Radha
*Bava Lakshmanan
{{colend}}

==Production==
The film marked the debut of director [[Hari (director)|Hari]], who earlier worked as an assistant director to [[K. Balachander]], while Prashanth agreed to work in the film in early 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Director Hari bereaved - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/director-hari-bereaved/articleshow/72316497.cms|access-date=2021-07-07|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> The film's title of ''Thamizh'' was given by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister [[M. Karunanidhi]], who also helped create the film's logo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinematoday3.itgo.com/An%20Interview%20with%20Prashanth.html |title=An Interview with Prashanth As a romantic hero |publisher=Cinematoday3.itgo.com |date= |access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref> [[Simran (actress)|Simran]] was selected as heroine pairing with Prashanth, for fourth time after successful collaborations in ''[[Kannedhirey Thondrinal]]'' (1998), ''[[Jodi (1999 film)|Jodi]]'' (1999) and ''[[Parthen Rasithen]]'' (2000). Actress [[Mamta Kulkarni]] was also attached to the project, but eventually did not feature.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20030814214146/http://www.chennaionline.com/entertainment/filmplus/tamizh.asp</ref> Director [[Saran (director)|Saran]] assisted Hari with the dialogues in the film, supervising his writing.<ref name="cinematoday3.itgo.com">{{cite web|url=http://cinematoday3.itgo.com/thamizh.html |title=Tamil Cinema Review — Thamizh, Prashanth, Simran, director Hari, Aasish Vidhyarthi, Oorvasi, Livingston |publisher=Cinematoday3.itgo.com |date= |access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref> The team had worked on pre-production for close to a year and the script was ready prior to the start of the shoot, with Hari revealing he was inspired by the 1989 Malayalam film ''[[Kireedam (1989 film)|Kireedam]]''.<ref name="pra">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/may/15pra.htm |title=Movies: An interview with Prasanth |publisher=Rediff|date=2002-05-15 |access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref> For his role, Prashanth worked out at the gym, grew a beard and began smoking cigarettes to get into character. Shooting commenced in Chennai and proceeded in locations like Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi. Scenes were also shot in Sikkim, reportedly becoming the first time that a Tamil film shot there. A few scenes were also later picturised on Prashanth, Charlie, Vadivelu, and Crane Manohar in Karaikudi.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20020522015243/http://www.chennaionline.com/location/tamizh.asp</ref> Prashanth had performed a lengthy dialogue in front of Madurai Meenakshi Temple which gained accolades from the onlookers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/04/12/stories/2002041201610800.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030704153603/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/04/12/stories/2002041201610800.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2003-07-04 |title=Ushering in the new year |date=2002-04-12 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref> Prashanth shot action scenes for the film through pain after he had injured his knee during the making of ''[[Majunu]]'' (2001).<ref name="pra"/>

The similarities of title and release date between ''Thamizh'' and [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]]-starrer ''[[Thamizhan]]'' created confusion with the producers of both films unable to accommodate any changes.<ref name="pra"/> Made at a cost of {{INR}}20 million, the film failed to get a distributor before release due to competition from other films, so producer Amudha Durairaj marketed the venture herself.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/apr/11tamil.htm |title=rediff.com, Movies: What the marquee looks like this New Year |publisher=Rediff|date=2002-04-11 |access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
The film gained positive reviews upon release, with a critic noting the "debutant director has woven an action packed entertainer and has etched out the roles well".<ref>http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/BB92C2FF1CAC36F7E5256BC0000D7C80</ref> Another critic wrote "When one leaves the theatre, one gets the satisfaction of watching a good film. This feeling has been rare in recent lives. ''Thamizh'' has turned out as the thirst quencher".<ref name="cinematoday3.itgo.com"/> Malathi Rangarajan of [[The Hindu]] noted "''Thamizh'' is backed by a strong storyline and a significant end [sic] and the positive twist is appealing."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/04/19/stories/2002041900820202.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030627094604/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/04/19/stories/2002041900820202.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2003-06-27 |title=Thamizh |date=2002-04-19 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref>

==Box office==
The film became a box office success despite opening with little publicity, with positive word of mouth significantly helping the film's prospects.<ref name="pra"/>

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Thamizh
| type = [[soundtrack]]
| artist = [[Bharathwaj]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 2002
| recorded = 2002
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length =
| label = The Best Audio
| producer = Bharathwaj
| prev_title = [[Raajjiyam]]
| prev_year = 2002
| next_title = [[Enge Enadhu Kavithai]]
| next_year = 2002
}}

The film score and the soundtrack were composed by [[film composer]] Bharathwaj in his first collaboration with director Hari. The soundtrack, released in 2002, features 7 tracks.

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Track !! Song !! Singer(s) !! Lyrics
|-
|1 || "Azhakana" || [[Shankar Mahadevan]] || [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]]
|-
|2 || "Kaathelenum" || [[Harish Raghavendra]] || [[Snehan]]
|-
|3 || "Kannukkulle Kadhala" || [[Unni Krishnan]], [[Swarnalatha]] || [[Thamarai]]
|-
|4 || "Penne" || [[Manikka Vinayagam]] || rowspan=2|Snehan
|-
|5 || "Rosappu" || [[Yugendran]], [[Anuradha Sriram]]
|-
|6 || "Thamizh" || [[Mano (singer)|Mano]] || Pazhani Bharathi
|-
|7 || "Vikkuthe" || [[Srinivas (singer)|Srinivas]], [[Sujatha Mohan|Sujatha]] || [[Viveka (lyricist)|Viveka]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Hari (director)}}

[[Category:2002 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Madurai]]
[[Category:Films set in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Films shot in Sikkim]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chennai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Delhi]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films directed by Hari (director)]]
[[Category:2000s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Bharadwaj (music director)]]
[[Category:2002 directorial debut films]]

Thamizh - Revision history

imported>Kugan1997 at 15:07, 22 August 2021