Achchamundu! Achchamundu!

Achchamundu! Achchamundu! (transl. There is fear! There is fear!) is a 2009 Indian-American Tamil language social thriller directed by Arun Vaidyanathan, starring Prasanna, Emmy Award–winning American actor John Shea and Sneha. It is the first film in Indian cinema to be shot with the Red One camera system. The music was composed by Karthik Raja with cinematography by Chris Freilich. The film was released on 17 July 2009 worldwide.

Achchamundu! Achchamundu!
Directed byArun Vaidyanathan
Written byArun Vaidyanathan
Produced byArun Vaidyanathan
Asma Hashmi
Ananth Govinda
P. Srinivasan
Ramzan Lakhani
StarringPrasanna
John Shea
Sneha
Akshaya Dinesh
CinematographyChris Freilich
Music byKarthik Raja
Release date
17 July 2009
Running time
135 minutes
CountriesIndia
United States
LanguageTamil

Plot

Senthil Kumar (Prasanna) and Malini (Sneha) are a happily married couple in New Jersey, living life like any other born-in-India, arrived-in-the-US couple do. Senthil submerges himself in the office and eats sambar rice at home, and Malini never misses a bhajan at the temple and shops at Indian stores. They have a 10-year-old daughter Rithika (Akshaya Dinesh), the apple of their eyes (their car's license plate carries the name of their daughter).

The family has just settled down in a new, spacious home about which Malini, understandably, has fears. The couple squabbles amicably about everything from Malini's perpetual laundry and cooking; while Senthil argues with friends about the significance of viboothi and takes his family on weekend trips and birthday parties. It is a normal, happy life in the US until Robertson (John Shea) arrives, to paint the basement. Now, things are never the same at home again.

Robertson's unusually kind behavior towards children sets off warning bells in your head, especially when he is shown to be a pedophile who exercises like mad within the confines of his home, always moving on towards his next target. How the couple saves their child forms the rest of the story.

Cast

Production

Title

The film's title is the inverse of the phrase "Achamillai Achamillai" coined by poet Subramania Bharati, and later used as the title of a 1984 film directed by K. Balachander.[1]

Filming

The film was made in 28 days on a budget of ₹3.25 crore (worth ₹11 crore in 2021 prices). For the first time in Indian cinema, Red One camera was used for filming.[2] The film was shot in New Jersey and New York during early 2008. Color correction and sound mixing were done in Los Angeles.[3]

Release

The movie was released on 17 July 2009 in Tamil Nadu and select markets in the United States.

Reception

The film was officially selected for screening at the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival (under the International Panorama category),[4] the Digital Cinema Film Festival in Japan,[5] the Cairo International Film Festival,[5] the International Film Festival of India in Goa,[6] and the Chennai International Film Festival.[7]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Karthik Raja.[3]

No.SongSingersLyricsLength
1"U.S.A U.S.A"Rahul Nambiar, Anupama, KrishPalani Bharathi4.18
2"Kannil Dhaagam"S. SowmyaAndal Priyadarshini3.42
3"Parvai Vali Sumandhal"Rahul Nambiar1.25
4"Theme Music"Instrumental-3.35

Reception

Rediff wrote "For the guts in coming up with a unique, important theme that needs to be addressed sensitively, this movie works. A must-watch".[8] Behindwoods wrote "Although the theme of child abuse is a serious issue and has the potency to take on a different shade with even the slightest skew, Arun Vaidhyanathan has done a tightrope walking commendably with absolutely no shades of vulgarity or impropriety. Kudos for tackling such a sensitive subject with a lot of sensibility and acumen!".[9] The Times of India wrote "The average Indian may shy away from paedophilia, but director Vaidyanathan makes a compelling case to watch this film. Subtlety is the byword here rather than gory, knife-edge moments. The approach makes a deeper impression than a dramatic one could have."[10] A critic from Deccan Herald opined that "Despite its shortcomings, ‘Achamundu Achamundu’ deserves a dekko".[11]

Awards and nominations
Event Category Recipient Result Ref.
Garden State Film Festival Best Homegrown Feature Film Achamundu! Achamundu! (also for Split Ends) Won [12]
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Best Picture (Third Prize) Achamundu! Achamundu! Won [13]
Special Prize Prasanna Won
Media Guild Awards — Arun Vaidyanathan Won [5]
Edison Awards Best Actress Sneha Won
Chennai International Film Festival Best Feature Film Achamundu! Achamundu! Won [7]
Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Best Actress Award Sneha Nominated

References
  1. "rediff.com: Striking fear with Achamundu! Achamundu!". specials.rediff.com.
  2. "Hollywood hails Achamundu!". Behindwoods. 17 October 2008.
  3. Sundaram, Malathy. "ACHCHAMUNDU ACHCHAMUNDU - MUSIC REVIEW". Behindwoods.
  4. Shobha Warrier (12 May 2009). "Tamil film selected for Shanghai Film Festival". Rediff.com.
  5. ""Achchamundu!" to be screened at Cairo festival". The Hindu. 14 October 2009.
  6. "Sneha makes it to the Goa Film fest". Behindwoods. 22 October 2009.
  7. "'Achchamundu..', 'Pasanga' emerge winners". Indiaglitz. 25 December 2009. Archived from the original on 22 January 2010.
  8. "Review: Achamundu is a must-watch". Rediff.
  9. "Achchamundu Achchamundu - Behindwoods.com - Tamil Movie Reviews - Achchamundu Achchamundu Prasanna Sneha Arun Vaidyanathan Karthik Raja". www.behindwoods.com.
  10. "Achchamundu Achchamundu Movie Review {3.5/5}: Critic Review of Achchamundu Achchamundu by Times of India". The Times of India.
  11. Vishwanath, S. (8 August 2009). "Achamundu Achamundu". Deccan Herald.
  12. Manigandan, KR (9 April 2009). "AA wins award in US". The Times of India.
  13. "Hero Vikram, Heroine Aishwarya Rajesh and Villain Vijay Sethupathi". Indiaglitz. 24 July 2017.
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