Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai

Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai (transl. Azhagarsami's Horse) is a 2011 Tamil-language mystery comedy drama film directed by Suseenthiran, based on the short story of the same name penned by writer Bhaskar Sakthi.[1] The film stars Appukutty and Saranya Mohan in lead and features music by Ilaiyaraaja.[3][4] The film was initially reported to be jointly produced by Gautham Vasudev Menon's Photon Kathaas and Escape Artists Motion Pictures.[5][6] but was then produced by the latter only, while Cloud Nine Movies would distribute film.[7][8] The film released on 12 May 2011 to critical acclaim but commercially did average collections.[9][10]

Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai
Theatrical release poster
Tamilஅழகர்சாமியின் குதிரை
Directed bySuseenthiran
Screenplay bySuseenthiran
Based onAzhagarsamiyin Kudhirai by Bhaskar Sakthi
Produced byP. Madhan
Starring
CinematographyTheni Eswar
Edited byKasi Viswanathan
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Distributed byCloud Nine Movies
Release date
  • 12 May 2011 (2011-05-12)
[1]
Running time
117 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil
Budget[2]

The film was screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival,[11] becoming the second Tamil film to be screened there after Kannathil Muthamittal (2002). In 2012, the film was honored with two National Film Awards for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Best Supporting Actor for Appukutty.

Plot

The story is set in a village called Mallayapuram near Theni. The villagers believe the Rain Gods will favour them after the annual Temple Festival (Thiruvizha), during which the deity is taken around the village on a wooden horse. They are in for a rude shock when the horse goes missing. At the same time, Azhagarsami, a youngster who earns his livelihood by ferrying loads on his horse in Aagamalai village in Periyakulam, gets ready for his marriage. His horse also goes missing, and his marriage is put on hold. Whether the villagers and Azhagarsami find their respective horses or not forms the rest of the story.[12]

Cast

Production

The film was made in 90 days on a budget of ₹5.85 crore (worth ₹14 crore in 2021 prices).

Release

Critical reception

The film opened to very positive reviews. Rediff's Pavithra Srinivasan labelled the film as "brilliant" and "a must-watch for its unconventional story-line, protagonists and plot-points", giving it 3.5/5.[9] Sify's critic described the film as "good" that deserved a "viewing because films like this are hard and few to find in these days of mass masala",further citing that Suseenthiran had "come out with another beautiful feel good film that pulls at your heart strings."[13] A reviewer from Behindwoods gave the film 3/5, terming the film as "a charming and happy rural tale which is fairly engaging". The critic praised the film as a "simple heartwarming and realistic film" and one of those film "where content is the king" as well as the director "for having his heart at the right place and making the movie entirely realistic".[10]

The Hindu critic Malathi Rangarajan, too, gave a positive feedback, describing the film as an "innovative" and "interesting attempt" that stayed "within the format of commercial cinema even while steering clear of formula!"[14] Anupama Subramanian from Deccan Chronicle termed the film as a "simple, heartwarming and refreshing deviation from the mainstream mayhem [that] definitely warrants a watch", while giving it three out of five too.[15] Rohit Ramachandran of nowrunning.com gave it 3/5 stars stating that "Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai is an original satirical comedy that's well executed,thanks to a talented writer-director duo that's to be kept an eye on. You will walk out smiling."[16]

International screenings

The film is the only South Indian candidate to be selected for screening at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival in the contemporary world cinema category.[17]

Awards
National Film Awards

Soundtrack
Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai
Soundtrack album by
Ilaiyaraaja
Released16 March 2011
Recorded2010
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length16:35
LabelSony Music India
ProducerIlaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraaja chronology
Ayyan
(2011)		 Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai
(2011)		 Ponnar Shankar
(2011)

Following collaborations with V. Selvaganesh and Yuvan Shankar Raja, Suseenthiran worked with Ilaiyaraaja for the musical score of Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai.[18] The soundtrack album, consisting of only three songs, was released at a grand event on 16 March 2011 at Sathyam Cinemas, with several prominent celebrities participating, while Ilaiyaraaja himself launched the audio.[8]

Track list
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Kuthikkira Kuthikkira"J. Francis KirubaIlaiyaraaja5:55
2."Adiye Ivale"SnehanThanjai Selvi, Snehan, Lenin Bharathi, Hemambika, Murugan, Iyyappan, Master Regan, Senthildass Velayutham, Anita5:19
3."Poovakkelu"YugabharathiKarthik, Shreya Ghoshal5:21
Total length:16:35

References
  1. "Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai To Gallop Soon". Behindwoods. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  2. "The new darlings of Kollywood". Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  3. "Suseenthiran back with a bang". The Times of India. 25 July 2010. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011.
  4. "Gautham Menon chooses Ilayaraja -". Behindwoods. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  5. "Gautham to produce Suseendran film". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 23 July 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  6. "Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai to release this summer". In.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  7. "Gautham Menon Is Missing". Top 10 Cinema. 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  8. Movie Buzz (18 March 2011). "Ilayaraja launches ASK audio". Sify. Archived from the original on 19 March 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  9. "Review: Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai is brilliant". Rediff.
  10. "Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai Movie Review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  11. Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 143. ISBN 978-1908215017.
  12. Raghavan, Nikhil (12 February 2011). "The Hindu: Arts / Cinema : Itsy-Bitsy". Chennai, India: The Hindu.com. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  13. "Movie Review:Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai". Sify. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  14. Rangarajan, Malathi (14 May 2011). "Horsepower". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  15. Anupama Subramanian (15 May 2011). "A movie that canters to a good show". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  16. "AzhagarSamiyin Kudhirai Review - Tamil Movie Review by Rohit Ramachandran". Nowrunning.com. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  17. "Tamil film selected for Toronto film festival". Chennai: NDTV. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  18. "Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai audio release on March 16". In.com. 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
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