''Simmasanam'' () is a 2000 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Eswaran. The film stars Vijayakanth in a triple role as the father and his two sons. The film also starred Khushbu Sundar, Manthra, Radhika Chaudhari, Ambika and Viji. The film is released on 4 August 2000 and was receiving mixed reviews from the film critics and audience.

Plot

In a remote village, Sakthivel and Thangarasu are stepbrothers. Sakthivel is a man of high values and integrity who has a wife and a son while Thangarasu is a young angry man who cannot tolerate injustice thus getting easily in trouble. The stepbrothers are both respected by the villagers but Sakthivel refuses to even acknowledge Thangarasu as his brother. Meanwhile, Manju and Revathi fall in love with Thangarasu. During a wedding function, some rowdies misbehave with Sakthivel's wife, Manju, and Revathi. Thangarasu has no other choice than to beat them up. At the village court, Sakthivel insults Thangarasu and publicly flogs him. A heartbroken Thangarasu then blames his mother believing that she had killed his father and his grandfather tells him the truth. In the past, Sathyamurthy was a village chief with a heart of gold who helped the poor. He lived with his shrewish wife Annapoorani and his son Sakthivel. Annapoorni's brothers then brainwashed her: Annapoorni didn't want her husband to help the poor anymore and started to behave harshly towards him. Sathyamurthy slowly distanced himself from Annapoorni and secretly continued to help the poor. Soon, Annapoorni suspected Sathyamurthy of having an affair with the poor village woman Kannamma and Annapoorni even publicly humiliated her. Kannamma then attempted to commit suicide but Sathyamurthy saved her. Sathyamurthy's mother advised her son to marry the innocent Kannamma. Back to the present, Thangarasu finally meets his mother Kannamma who was living all these years in a special home and he brings her to his village. There, Sakthivel insults Kannamma for killing his father Sathyamurthy. Thangarasu and Sakthivel fight but their grandmother stops it and tells them the truth. That day, Sathyamurthy had eaten poisoned food given by Annapoorni and her brothers and the blame was put on the innocent Kannamma. Sakthivel eventually apologizes to his stepbrother Thangarasu and his stepmother Kannamma. Annapurna scolds her brothers for killing her husband but they swear that they are innocent. Sakthivel and Thangarasu finally find out the culprit: Thambidurai, a rich zamindar who hated Sathyamurthy for helping the poor. Sakthivel and Thangarasu beat Thambidurai and his henchmen up, and the police arrest Thambidurai for the murder of their father.

Cast

* Vijayakanth as Sathyamurthy, Sakthivel, and Thangarasu (triple role) * Khushbu Sundar as Sakthivel's wife * Manthra as Manju * Radhika Chaudhari as Revathi * Ambika as Annapoorani, Sathyamurthy's first wife * Viji as Kannamma, Sathyamurthy's second wife * Radharavi as Annapoorani's brother * Thyagu as Annapoorani's brother * Rajan P. Dev as Thambidurai * Manorama as Sathyamurthy's mother *

Senthil Senthil (born 23 March 1951) is an Indian comedy actor who works in Tamil cinema. He is famous for his comedian roles along with fellow actor Goundamani. The pair dominated the Tamil industry as comedians in the 1980s and 90s.R. Sundarrajan R. Sundarrajan is an Indian film director, actor, comedian and writer for Tamil language films. Active primarily in the 1980s and the 1990s as a filmmaker, he appeared more often as an actor thereafter. Sundarajan is known for his silver jubi ...

as Kannamma's father * Sethu Vinayagam as Mayilsamy *Raviraj as Velusamy *Naga Kannan as Rowdy *Master Vasanthakumar as Sakthivel's son * Vaiyapuri as Thangarasu's friend * Anu Mohan as Bus driver *

K. R. Vatsala K. R. Vatsala is an Indian actress who works in Malayalam cinema. Filmography Malayalam *''Ottayaal Pattaalam'' (1992) as Cabaret dancer *''Kallanum Policum'' (1992) as Housewife *''Kudumbasametham'' (1992) as Housewife *''Maarathon (Aayaraam ...

as Annapoorani's sister-in-law * Fathima Babu as Annapoorani's sister-in-law * Idichapuli Selvaraj as Kanakku Pillai *

K. K. Soundar K.K. Soundar (1925-2003) was a Tamil people, Tamil film film actor, actor. He has done character roles in many Tamil movies from the 1950s till the 1990s. Filmography ''This is a partial filmography. You can expand it.'' 1930s 1950s 196 ...

as Sakthivel and Thangarasu’s uncle * Kovai Senthil as Villager *

Crane Manohar Crane Manohar (born 4 October 1965) is an Indian actor who appears in Tamil films, mostly in comedy roles. He appeared in many Vadivelu and Vivek comedy tracks. Career Manohar initially worked as a crane technician for films and when he start ...

as Villager * Halwa Vasu as Villager *

Chelladurai Chelladurai (1941 - 7 February 2015) was an Indian comedian who worked in Tamil-language films. He acted in over 350 films. Career Chelladurai made his film debut with ''Thooral Ninnu Pochchu'' (1982). He is known for his comic sequences w ...

as Villager *Jayamani as Villager *Sharmili as Oomaichi * Dubbing Janaki as Special home worker *Bobby as Rowdy *Karnaa Radha as Veeraiah * Kalyan in a special appearance

Production

The film marked the directorial debut of Eswaran. The filming was held at locations in Chennai, Ooty, Pollachi, Udumalai, and Chalakkudi, among other places. A song was picturised in the lush green valley around Tirumurthy Hills.

Soundtrack

The film score and the soundtrack were composed by

S. A. Rajkumar S. A. Rajkumar is an Indian composer and lyricist. He has made music for all South Indian language films in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada. Early life Rajkumar's father was a vocalist performing in stage shows conducted by popular mu ...

. The soundtrack, released in 2000, features 5 tracks.

Reception

A critic from ''

The Hindu ''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It began as a weekly in 1878 and became a daily in 1889. It is one of the Indian newspapers of record and the secon ...

'' noted "The story is not new but the screenplay which has all the ingredients to sustain the interest of the average viewer, with political overtones in dialogues, has been skillfully woven by director Eswar".

References

{{reflist 2000 films 2000s Tamil-language films Indian action films Indian films about revenge Films scored by S. A. Rajkumar 2000 directorial debut films 2000 action films