Housefull (1999 film)

Housefull is a 1999 Indian Tamil-language thriller film written and directed by R. Parthiepan. The film stars himself along with Vikram, Roja and Suvalakshmi. The film was produced by Parthiban's children under Bioscope Film Framers. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil at 46th National Film Awards.[1]

Housefull
Directed byR. Parthiban
Written byR. Parthiban
Produced by
StarringR. Parthiban
Vikram
Roja
Suvalakshmi
CinematographyM. V. Panneerselvam
Edited byM. N. Raja
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Release date
  • 15 January 1999 (1999-01-15)
Running time
138 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

Ayya is a respected man who runs a cinema theatre. The story begins when bombs are placed inside the theatre during a movie. The police commissioner and DGP want to defuse the bombs without letting the audience know. Hameed is one of the people in the theatre, and Indhu is the woman outside who loves him.

Ayya's ex-wife does not help when she makes a tear-filled request to him to evacuate the theatre, against the police's advice. By the time, Ayya makes a decision, however, Indhu has snuck in and warned Hameed; others, hearing her words, begin to run out of the theatre. Panic ensues as everyone makes a mad dash for the door.

Ayya helps the audience exit the theatre without caring for his own life. Finally when everyone is evacuated, Ayya also comes out of the theatre. Suddenly, the sound of a baby cry is heard inside the theatre. Ayya rushes into the theatre with the hope of saving the baby, but the sound is just a scene in the movie that was actually getting played. Unfortunately, the bomb explodes and Ayya is dead.

Cast
  • Parthiban as Ayya
  • Vikram as Hameed
  • Roja as Writer
  • Suvalakshmi as Indhu
  • Aishwarya as Christine
  • Swathi as Stella
  • Jayanthi as Ayya's estranged wife
  • Vadivelu as Vadivelu
  • Nair Raman as Theatre manager
  • Surya as Police Commissioner (voice dubbed by Thalaivasal Vijay)
  • Laxmi Rattan as Director General of Police
  • S. V. Ramadas as Security Guard
  • Rowdy Rathnam as Rathnam
  • Baby Sujitha
  • Mayilsamy as Indigenous man
  • Bhanusri as Indigenous woman
  • J. Prabhakar
  • Senbhaga Muthu
  • Kalidoss as Thamizh
  • D. R. K. Kiran as Journalist (uncredited role)
  • Karu Pazhaniappan as Journalist (uncredited role)
  • Cheran Raj as Police officer (uncredited role)
  • Pasupathy as Corrupt cop (uncredited role)
  • Priyanka as Control room operator (uncredited role)

Production

Parthiban revealed during an interview with Baradwaj Rangan that he made this film without written script. Everything from dialogues, shots, etc., are done on the day of the shooting at shooting site.[2] The film was entirely shot at Sridevi theatre at Madurai.[3]

Reception

K. N. Vijiyan of New Straits Times opined that "Catch this film if you are looking for a story with a difference".[4] A critic from Deccan Herald wrote "Housefull is awfully silly, and seems to serve no other purpose than to show Parthiban, as being capable of political authority".[5] Kalki praised Parthiban for attempting a Speed kind of thriller in Tamil.[6]

References
  1. "46th National Film Festival" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  2. Rangan, Baradwaj (25 June 2019). R. Parthiban Interview With Baradwaj Rangan | Face 2 Face (in Tamil). Film Companion South. Event occurs at 11:16. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  3. "வருத்தப்பட செய்து விட்டார் பார்த்திபன்!". Kalki (in Tamil). 21 March 1999. p. 71. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  4. Vijiyan, K.N. (20 February 1999). "Not your typical masala-type fare". New Straits Times. p. 36. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  5. Lavanya (28 February 1999). "Housefull". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 14 February 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  6. "ஹவுஸ்ஃபுல்". Kalki (in Tamil). 31 January 1999. pp. 64–65. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
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