''Perazhagan'' () is a 2004 Indian

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

-language

comedy drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple co ...

film directed by

Sasi Shanker Sasi Shanker (1957 – 10 August 2016) was an Indian film director. He directed one Tamil film and ten Malayalam films. He won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues in 1993 for his film '' Naaraayam''. He died on 10 Aug ...

, starring

Suriya Saravanan Sivakumar (born 23 July 1975), known by his stage name Suriya, is an Indian actor, producer, television presenter and a philanthropist. He primarily works in Tamil cinema where he is one of the highest paid actors. He received numerou ...

and

Jyothika Jyothika Saravanan (; born 18 October 1978) is an Indian actress, model and film producer who predominantly appears in Tamil films.

with both playing dual roles. The supporting cast includes

Vivek Vivek (or Bibek/Bivek in some regions) (विवेक in Devanagari script) is a masculine given name that is popular in South Asia, particularly in India and Nepal. It is of Sanskrit origin and means "wisdom" and/or "conscience". Vivek may refe ...

, Manorama and

Manobala Manobala (born 8 December 1953) is an Indian film director, producer, actor and comedian who predominantly plays supporting roles in Tamil-language films. He started his career in Tamil cinema in the early 1970s and with Kamal Haasan's referen ...

. The movie's score and soundtrack were composed by

Yuvan Shankar Raja Yuvan Shankar Raja or Abdul Haliq (born 31 August 1979) is an Indian film score and soundtrack composer and singer-songwriter. He mainly scores music for Tamil films. Considered a versatile composer, he is particularly known for his use of Wes ...

. The film, which is a remake of the 2002

Malayalam film Malayalam cinema is an Indian cinema, Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, ...

'' Kunjikoonan'', released on 7 May 2004. Suriya garnered acclaim for his portrayal of a

hunchback Kyphosis is an abnormally excessive convex curvature of the spine as it occurs in the thoracic and sacral regions. Abnormal inward concave ''lordotic'' curving of the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine is called lordosis. It can result fr ...

in the film.

Plot

The story revolves around Chinna (

), a kindhearted village youth with a

and is lauded for selfless service to others. He covers up his disability with humor and optimism. Unmindful of his looks, Chinna goes around looking for a suitable bride with the help of his friend Kuzhandhaisamy (

), a marriage assembler. Brushing aside many insults hurled at him, he carries on with his life. In contrast is Karthik (also

Surya Surya (; sa, सूर्य, ) is the sun as well as the solar deity in Hinduism. He is traditionally one of the major five deities in the Smarta tradition, all of whom are considered as equivalent deities in the Panchayatana puja and a m ...

), a violent college student who madly loves his classmate Priya (

Jyothika Jyothika Saravanan (; born 18 October 1978) is an Indian actress, model and film producer who predominantly appears in Tamil films.

). She meets Chinna, who assures her that he would get her married to the man of her dreams. Priya and Karthik plan to elope with Chinna's help as her father rejects Karthik. However, she is killed in a frac by Varadhan (Bobby), a gangster, as revenge against Priya's father DCP Nair ( Devan), who arrested and asaulted him. She dies in Karthik's arms with Nair watching and he arrests him thinking he's responsible for Priya's murder. Chinna saw Varadhan killing Priya, but Varadhan tells that he will be killed if he tells anyone what he saw. After Karthik is jailed as Priya's killer, Chinna pleads Nair and tells the truth behind Priya's murder. Meanwhile, Chinna comes across an orphaned, poor, blind girl Shenbagam (

Jyothika Jyothika Saravanan (; born 18 October 1978) is an Indian actress, model and film producer who predominantly appears in Tamil films.

). He wins over her heart by helping her out when her brother (

Thalaivasal Vijay Thalaivasal Vijay is an Indian actor and dubbing artist. He was born on 4 August 1962 in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India. He has acted predominantly in numerous Tamil and Malayalam films. Career Vijay's debut film was '' Thalaivaasal'' (1992), ...

) died. After his efforts, she gains her vision (Priya's eyes are transplanted to her). This results in a tussle between Chinna and Karthik as to whom Shenbagam now belongs. However, fearing his looks, Chinna decides to give way to Karthik and ends up staying in a temple where Kuzhandhaisamy finds him and brings him to Shenbagam. Shenbagam does not care of looks and accepts him. Before their marriage, Varadhan returns to avenge Chinna. Karthik remembers Priya and avenges her death by brutally killing Varadhan. Karthik approves Chinna and Shenbagam's wedding before being sent to jail. The film ends with the couple spending their honeymoon in Ooty.

Cast

as Chinna (Prem Kumar) / Karthik ( in dual role) *

Jyothika Jyothika Saravanan (; born 18 October 1978) is an Indian actress, model and film producer who predominantly appears in Tamil films.

as Priya Nair / Shenbagam ( in dual role; voices dubbed by

Savitha Reddy Savitha Reddy, also known as Savitha Engula Radhakrishnan in the Tamil films, is a dubbing artist in the southern India film industry. She has lent voice for heroines in the Tamil and Telugu industries. She is a recipient of Tamil Nadu State F ...

and Praveena respectively) *

as Marriage assembler Kuzhandhaisamy "Kuzhandha", Chinna's best friend * Ramji as Rajesh *

Manicka Vinayagam Manikka Vinayagam (10 December 1943 – 26 December 2021) was an Indian playback singer and actor. He sang for South Indian language films and acted in several Tamil films as a character artist. He was the son of the dancer Vazhuvoor B. Ramiah ...

as Karthik's father *

Kalairani Kalairani Indian actress who has worked in many Tamil films and as a performer with the Koothu-P-Pattarai theatre group. Filmography Serials * ''Panchavan Kaadu'' (2014) (Tamil) * ''Unarchigal'' (2014) (Tamil) * ''Nandini Nandini is a f ...

as Karthik's mother * Devan as DSP Nair, Priya's father * Bobby as Varadhan * Manorama as Pattamma, Chinna's grandmother *

Sukumari Sukumari Amma (6 October 1940 – 26 March 2013) was an Indian actress best known for her works in Malayalam and Tamil films. In a career spanning more than five decades, She has appeared in more than 2500 films predominantly in Malayalam, Tam ...

as Priya's grandmother *

as Shenbagam's brother *

as Tea Shop Owner *

Muthukaalai Muthukaalai is an Indian actor, comedian who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Early life and career Muthukaalai was born in Rajapalayam and dreamt of becoming of a Stunt Choreographer. He attained black belt in Karate at the age of 18. He ...

* Malavika in a

cameo role A cameo role, also called a cameo appearance and often shortened to just cameo (), is a brief appearance of a well-known person in a work of the performing arts. These roles are generally small, many of them non-speaking ones, and are commonly eit ...

as Chinna's dream wife in the song "Ambuli Mama" *

Chaams Chaams (born 17 July 1970) is an Indian actor and comedian who has appeared in Tamil language films. His birth name is Swaminathan. He has predominantly appeared in supporting roles, notably in Crazy Mohan dramas and playing one of the several ...

as Groom (uncredited)

Soundtrack

The soundtrack, released on 15 April 2004, has six songs composed by

with

Palani Bharathi Palani Bharathi is an Indian writer and lyricist who works in Tamil cinema. Early life Palani Bharathi was born in Karaikudi to Sami Palaniappan, a poet, and Kamala. He has a brother and four sisters. Palaniappan was an assistant of orator/w ...

, Kabilan,

Pa. Vijay Pa. Vijay is an Indian actor, poet, writer, director, producer and film lyricist for Tamil cinema. He won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics in India for his song '' Ovvoru Pookalume'' in Cheran's ''Autograph'' (2004). Career Vijay is a na ...

Thamarai Thamarai (born 10 November 1975) is a noted Tamil poet and lyricist. She is a prominent figure in the Tamil literary world. She made her debut in the Tamil film industry through the 1998 film Iniyavale, which was directed by Seeman and music co ...

and

Snehan Snehan (born Sivaselvam) is a Tamil poet, politician, lyricist, and actor who has worked in the Tamil film industry. In the year 2018 he entered politics with Makkal Needhi Maiam and contested in the Lok Sabha election. In 2021 Tamil Nadu Legis ...

writing the lyrics of each one song. The film also marked Suriya's debut at playback singing, albeit a chorus one; he made his official debut 10 years later with '' Anjaan''.

Release

The satellite rights of the film were sold to Sun TV. Upon release, NP Films bought the Telugu remake rights of the film. However, the remake did not undergo production and the film was dubbed and released in Telugu as ''Sundarangadu''.

Critical reception

Sify Sify Technologies Limited (formerly Satyam Infoway) is an Indian information and communications technology company providing end-to-end ICT solutions including telecom services, data center services, cloud & managed services, transformation in ...

wrote, "The film makes you laugh and cry at the same time. However the highlight of the film is Surya as Chinna and he is extraordinary. Here is one of his most lovable performances as the handicap, though as the morose Karthik, he just passes muster. Jyothika is a revelation (also in her first dual role) as the bubbly Priya and the blind Shenbagham. In her first de-glamorised role as Shenbagham she has proved her histrionics. Vivek for a change has a full length role and he brings the house down with his one-liners. Music by Yuvan is average but the background score is good. Director Sasi Sankar has to be applauded for making a feel-good film without any violence, vulgarity or even bad words.".''Indiaglitz'' wrote, "Surya deserves appreciation for his astounding performance. He is at his best, be it humor or action. The actor has scored a hat trick with Perazhagan now following his Kaakha Kaakha and Pithamagan last year. After a long gap, Vivek has succeeded in evoking laughter. A tailor-made role for Vivek in which he really excels. Actress Malavika appear for a number. Also in the cast includes Manorama, Devan, T P Gajendran, a debutant Bobby and Muthukalai."

Awards and honours

Legacy

reprises his role as Chinna in the song "Palla Palla" in '' Ayan''.''Ayan''. (DVD). Character shown at 17.51 to 17.52.

References

External links

* {{AVM Productions 2004 films Tamil remakes of Malayalam films Films about disability in India 2000s Tamil-language films Films scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja Films directed by Sasi Shanker