Sangamam

This film depicts the disputes between two forms of the dance styles and music, Classical Indian (in particular Carnatic music and Bharathanatyam danceform) against rural Tamil folk music and dance. The film depicts the misunderstanding and mutual ignorance of the two factions. The parallel plot in the movie is of the children and intended successors of the respective dance doyens falling in love with each other.

V. Natarajan launched a film to be directed by Suresh Krishna and A. R. Rahman was signed on to compose the music for the film in early 1998, while he was also working with the producer Natarajan in Rhythm and Udhaya.[1][2] In an interview in August 1998, A. R. Rahman revealed that he was working on " a very small budget movie called Sangamam which is based on classical and folk dance".[3] The film would feature his co-brother, Malayalam actor Rahman in the lead role with newcomer Vindhya roped in to play the lead female role.[4]

During production it was reported that the film would be a remake of the 1968 film Thillana Mohanambal, but this was subsequently found to be untrue.[5] The film was briefly delayed in 1999 as A. R. Rahman was too busy to complete the background score for the film, with producer V. Natarajan initially refusing to pay him, causing further delays for the producer's next venture, Rhythm.[6]

The film's music was composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The music album of this also made news for the first time rapport of the veteran musician M. S. Viswanathan pairing up with A. R. Rahman. Rahman won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director for the soundtrack he composed. The song "Mudhal Murai Killipparthaein", composed in Bihag ragam, won a National Film Award for Best Lyrics for lyricist Vairamuthu.

R Ananthanarayanan wrote for pvv.ntnu.no that "Sangamam is a credible movie with good music by A. R. Rahman and superlative performance by Manivannan". The critic added that "Rahman does justice to his role and has brought a certain dignity and understatement to his character" but that "Vindhya, the heroine is the only weak link".[8] K. N. Vijiyan of New Straits Times wrote "You should see this movie if you like A. R. Rahman's music. It makes for a pleasant viewing".[9] Kala Krishnan Ramesh of Deccan Herald praised the acting, music, editing and dialogues.[10] K. P. S. of Kalki wrote the film's story was reminiscent of the films Karakattakkaran and Thillana Mohanambal, the screenplay is like a town bus that stops and moves at every stop, and Sangamam, which should be properly positioned to push the two together, is half-positioned.[11] D. S. Ramanujam of The Hindu wrote, "THE FOCUS is more on the fusion of two hearts than the two arts in question – Bharatanatyam and one form of folk dance, other varieties not getting their due – in Pyramid Films' Sangamam. The surprise element is the performance of Manivannan, no humour dipped snide remarks but enjoyable emotional stuff, a rare portrayal by this seasoned actor-director".[12]

The film was also set to be dubbed and released in Telugu under the same name, but the financial losses suffered had deterred the version.[13] Due to the film's failure, Sun TV, who bought the satellite rights of the film, premiered it in September 1999.[14]

• Sangamam at IMDb