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| director = [[N. Maharajan]] | | director = [[N. Maharajan]] | ||
| writer = N. Maharajan | | writer = N. Maharajan | ||
| starring = [[Arjun Sarja|Arjun]] | | starring = [[Arjun Sarja|Arjun]]<br />[[Lara Dutta]] | ||
| producer = Murali Manohar | | producer = Murali Manohar<br />Haresh Vikram Vijayakumar | ||
| studio = Cee (I)TV Entertainment(p)ltd | | studio = Cee (I)TV Entertainment(p)ltd | ||
| music = [[Harris Jayaraj]] | | music = [[Harris Jayaraj]] | ||
| cinematography = [[S. Saravanan]] | | cinematography = [[S. Saravanan]] | ||
| editing = B. S. Vasu | | editing = B. S. Vasu<br />Saleem | ||
| distributor = Mars Entertainment Group | | distributor = Mars Entertainment Group<br />Motion Pictures Partners | ||
| released = {{Film date|2004|09|17|df=y}} | | released = {{Film date|2004|09|17|df=y}} | ||
| runtime = 154 minutes | | runtime = 154 minutes | ||
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== Production == | == Production == | ||
After the success of ''[[Vallarasu]]'', Maharajan was supposed to direct [[Vijayakanth]] in another project but later got dropped and Maharajan went on to remake Vallarasu in Hindi as ''[[Indian (2001 film)|Indian]]'' with [[Sunny Deol]]. | After the success of ''[[Vallarasu]]'', Maharajan was supposed to direct [[Vijayakanth]] in another project but later got dropped and Maharajan went on to remake Vallarasu in Hindi as ''[[Indian (2001 film)|Indian]]'' with [[Sunny Deol]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 March 2000 |title=TAMIL CINEMA 2000 |url=https://cinematoday2.itgo.com/666Hot%20News%20Just%20for%20U.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319072600/https://cinematoday2.itgo.com/666Hot%20News%20Just%20for%20U.htm |archive-date=19 March 2016 |access-date=17 October 2016 |website=cinematoday2itgo}}</ref> Meanwhile, Maharajan announced his next project ''Arasatchi'' with Arjun playing the lead role. Miss Universe 2000 [[Lara Dutta]] made her acting debut in Tamil with this film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-07-17 |title=A long wait |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/07/17/stories/2003071701190401.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023053747/http://hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/07/17/stories/2003071701190401.htm |archive-date=2010-10-23 |access-date=2016-12-01 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The filming was held at Le Royal Meridian Hotel, Chennai, and the songs were picturised at locations in London, New Zealand and Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mannath |first=Malini |date=6 June 2003 |title=Arasatchi |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/location/arasatchi.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030920115501/http://www.chennaionline.com/location/arasatchi.asp |archive-date=20 September 2003 |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=Chennai Online}}</ref> The song "Mughalai Mughalai" choreographed by Raju Sundaram was shot at London especially at London Central Tower.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=17 August 2003 |title=டான்ஸா? உடான்ஸா? |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2003-08-17/page/88/mode/2up |access-date=4 February 2024 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=86–87 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> | ||
During the making of the film, music composer [[Harris Jayaraj]] fell out with the director. Because of this, the song "Ippadiyea Vittu" was not shot, and it appears only in soundtrack version | During the making of the film, music composer [[Harris Jayaraj]] fell out with the director. Because of this, the song "Ippadiyea Vittu" was not shot, and it appears only in soundtrack version<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 June 2002 |title=Kollywood Currents |url=http://in.movies.yahoo.com/020612/113/1pvb2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020816205613/http://in.movies.yahoo.com/020612/113/1pvb2.html |archive-date=16 August 2002 |access-date=15 November 2020 |website=Yahoo Movies}}</ref> The film was completed in 2003 but got delayed due to financial problems and finally released in 2004;<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 July 2004 |title=Alas, the movie will be released |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/9897.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041025005244/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/9897.html |archive-date=25 October 2004 |access-date=29 April 2013 |website=IndiaGlitz}}</ref> in between production delays, Maharajan finished ''[[Anjaneya (film)|Anjaneya]]'' with [[Ajith Kumar|Ajith]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} | ||
== Controversy == | == Controversy == | ||
Before release, a poster featuring the tagline "When Justice Fails" created controversy, which caused a lawyer to file a case citing that the film would portray lawyers in bad light. However the case was sorted after the high court dismissed the petition. | Before release, a poster featuring the tagline "When Justice Fails" created controversy, which caused a lawyer to file a case citing that the film would portray lawyers in bad light. However the case was sorted after the high court dismissed the petition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=P. Kalidass vs Central Board Of Film Certification on 15 September, 2004 |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1705088/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250502053356/https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1705088/ |archive-date=2 May 2025 |access-date=27 January 2025 |website=indiankanoon.org}}</ref> | ||
== Soundtrack == | == Soundtrack == | ||
The music was composed by [[Harris Jayaraj]]. | The music was composed by [[Harris Jayaraj]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 August 2003 |title=Arasatchi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |url=https://music.apple.com/in/album/arasatchi-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1491462828 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119125655/https://music.apple.com/in/album/arasatchi-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1491462828 |archive-date=19 January 2023 |access-date=19 January 2023 |website=[[Apple Music]]}}</ref> | ||
{{Track listing | {{Track listing | ||
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== Critical reception == | == Critical reception == | ||
Malini Mannath wrote for ''Chennai Online'', "A knot had potential and would have been ideal for the 'action king' if only the screenplay had been etched more carefully, the narration tightened, with more 'action' given to Arjun than to factors like tanker-blasts, etc." | Malini Mannath wrote for ''Chennai Online'', "A knot had potential and would have been ideal for the 'action king' if only the screenplay had been etched more carefully, the narration tightened, with more 'action' given to Arjun than to factors like tanker-blasts, etc."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mannath |first=Malini |date=September 23, 2004 |title=Arasatchi |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/film/moviereviews/tammov369.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016072825/http://www.chennaionline.com/film/moviereviews/tammov369.asp |archive-date=16 October 2006 |access-date=19 January 2023 |website=Chennai Online}}</ref> ''[[Sify]]'' wrote, "Arjun does his usual song and fights convincingly while Lara Dutta is too loud and is there only for glamour and songs. The film looks out-dated as it has been years in the making".<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 September 2004 |title=Arasatchi |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/arasatchi-review-tamil-pclv8mcdficgc.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228200919/http://www.sify.com/movies/arasatchi-review-tamil-pclv8mcdficgc.html |archive-date=28 December 2016 |access-date=29 July 2019 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref> Visual Dasan of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' called the film "above average".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=தாசன் |first=விஷுவல் |date=3 October 2004 |title=அரசாட்சி |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2004-10-03/page/12/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240205081239/https://archive.org/details/kalki2004-10-03/page/12/mode/2up |archive-date=5 February 2024 |access-date=20 January 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=12 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
Latest revision as of 10:11, 22 March 2026
| Arasatchi | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | N. Maharajan |
| Produced by | Murali Manohar Haresh Vikram Vijayakumar |
| Written by | N. Maharajan |
| Starring | Arjun Lara Dutta |
| Music by | Harris Jayaraj |
| Cinematography | S. Saravanan |
| Edited by | B. S. Vasu Saleem |
Production company | Cee (I)TV Entertainment(p)ltd |
| Distributed by | Mars Entertainment Group Motion Pictures Partners |
Release date |
|
Running time | 154 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Arasatchi (transl. Government authority)[lower-alpha 1] is a 2004 Indian Tamil-language vigilante action film directed by N. Maharajan, starring Arjun and Lara Dutta, alongside an ensemble cast. This is the Tamil debut of Dutta. The film was released on 17 September 2004.
Plot[edit | edit source]
Brammanadham, a lawyer who defends rapists and murderers, is killed by a cricket ball hit by Siddharth. Siddharth is the General Manager of a five-star hotel owned by Rajesh. Rajesh's daughter, Lara, returns from abroad to join her father's hotel, but only as a trainee under the macho Siddharth. Soon, Lara falls in love with Siddharth.
The time for duets begins. Lara's friend, Prakash, is a public cause campaigner. His efforts lead to a raid on a brothel, resulting in a minister's arrest. The minister's goons attack Prakash, and Siddharth witnesses the crime. However, Siddharth refuses to testify, prompting Lara to leave him. Janakiraman defends the killer and gets him acquitted. Siddharth then kills Janakiraman. Major Vishwanath, a military officer, witnesses the murder and postpones his heart surgery to ensure the killer is caught. Siddharth now explains why he is targeting lawyers who defend criminals. Vishwanath ultimately abandons his mission.
Next, Karunakaran defends a rapist, and he is also killed. The turn then comes for advocate Ashok Mehta, who arrives from Delhi. The twist is that Ashok is Siddharth's brother-in-law, as Ashok's wife is Siddharth's long-lost sister. The story now shifts to the brother-sister relationship.
In the end, Ashok is shot dead by Siddharth on the court premises. The police open fire, and bystanders form a human wall and are shot. Siddharth tells the TV crew how his mission has now spread to the masses.
Cast[edit | edit source]
- Arjun as Siddharth
- Lara Dutta as Lara
- Vivek as Hotel Assistant Manager
- S. Ve. Shekher as Rajesh, Lara's father
- Karan as Prakash
- Vindhya as Menaka, Prakash's wife
- Nassar as Major Vishwanath
- Raghuvaran as Ashok Mehta (Siddharth's brother-in-law)
- Anandaraj as Advocate Brammanadham
- Charan Raj as Advocate Janakiraman
- P. Vasu as Saravanaperumal, Siddharth's father
- Kavitha as Lakshmi, Siddharth's mother
- Abitha as Swetha, Siddharth's sister
- Manivannan as Hotel Receptionist
- Devan as Karunakaran
- Rajan P. Dev as Contractor Muthupandi
- Mansoor Ali Khan as Inspector India Ganesan
- Ajay Rathnam as Inspector Karthikeyan
- Vaiyapuri as Soosai
- M. N. Nambiar as Iyer
- Ponnambalam as Muthupandi's henchman
- Uma as Gayathri
- Delhi Ganesh as Sivaraman
- Mahanadi Shankar as Goon
- Vijay Krishnaraj as Home Minister N. Gramani, M. A.
- Bose Venkat as Police Inspector
- Riya Sen as Bar Dancer in item song (Iruvadhu Vayasu)
- Perarasu as reporter (uncredited)
Production[edit | edit source]
After the success of Vallarasu, Maharajan was supposed to direct Vijayakanth in another project but later got dropped and Maharajan went on to remake Vallarasu in Hindi as Indian with Sunny Deol.[1] Meanwhile, Maharajan announced his next project Arasatchi with Arjun playing the lead role. Miss Universe 2000 Lara Dutta made her acting debut in Tamil with this film.[2] The filming was held at Le Royal Meridian Hotel, Chennai, and the songs were picturised at locations in London, New Zealand and Canada.[3] The song "Mughalai Mughalai" choreographed by Raju Sundaram was shot at London especially at London Central Tower.[4]
During the making of the film, music composer Harris Jayaraj fell out with the director. Because of this, the song "Ippadiyea Vittu" was not shot, and it appears only in soundtrack version[5] The film was completed in 2003 but got delayed due to financial problems and finally released in 2004;[6] in between production delays, Maharajan finished Anjaneya with Ajith.[citation needed]
Controversy[edit | edit source]
Before release, a poster featuring the tagline "When Justice Fails" created controversy, which caused a lawyer to file a case citing that the film would portray lawyers in bad light. However the case was sorted after the high court dismissed the petition.[7]
Soundtrack[edit | edit source]
The music was composed by Harris Jayaraj.[8]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Arakonathil Aarambam" | Thamarai | Sunitha Sarathy | 5:32 |
| 2. | "Chant of Arasaktchi" | Viveka | Karthik, Chandran | 2:32 |
| 3. | "Ippadiyea Vittu Vittu" | Na. Muthukumar | Shankar Mahadevan, Swarnalatha | 5:37 |
| 4. | "Irubadhu Vayadhu" | Viveka | Harini, Febi Mani | 4:20 |
| 5. | "Kozhaa Puttu Penney" | Snehan | Sriram, Srilekha Parthasarathy | 4:39 |
| 6. | "O Muhalai Muhalai" | Thamarai | Harish Raghavendra, Harini | 6:04 |
| Total length: | 28:44 | |||
Critical reception[edit | edit source]
Malini Mannath wrote for Chennai Online, "A knot had potential and would have been ideal for the 'action king' if only the screenplay had been etched more carefully, the narration tightened, with more 'action' given to Arjun than to factors like tanker-blasts, etc."[9] Sify wrote, "Arjun does his usual song and fights convincingly while Lara Dutta is too loud and is there only for glamour and songs. The film looks out-dated as it has been years in the making".[10] Visual Dasan of Kalki called the film "above average".[11]
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Spelt onscreen as Arasaktchi.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "TAMIL CINEMA 2000". cinematoday2itgo. 19 March 2000. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
- ↑ "A long wait". The Hindu. 17 July 2003. Archived from the original on 23 October 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ↑ Mannath, Malini (6 June 2003). "Arasatchi". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 20 September 2003. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ "டான்ஸா? உடான்ஸா?". Kalki (in தமிழ்). 17 August 2003. pp. 86–87. Retrieved 4 February 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ↑ "Kollywood Currents". Yahoo Movies. 12 June 2002. Archived from the original on 16 August 2002. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ↑ "Alas, the movie will be released". IndiaGlitz. 19 July 2004. Archived from the original on 25 October 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ↑ "P. Kalidass vs Central Board Of Film Certification on 15 September, 2004". indiankanoon.org. Archived from the original on 2 May 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ↑ "Arasatchi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. 22 August 2003. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ↑ Mannath, Malini (23 September 2004). "Arasatchi". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 16 October 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ↑ "Arasatchi". Sify. 20 September 2004. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
- ↑ தாசன், விஷுவல் (3 October 2004). "அரசாட்சி". Kalki (in தமிழ்). p. 12. Retrieved 20 January 2023 – via Internet Archive.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)