Poovellam Un Vaasam (transl. All flowers bear your fragrance) is a 2001 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by Ezhil and produced by V. Ravichandran. It stars Ajith Kumar and Jyothika as childhood friends, alongside an ensemble supporting cast of Nagesh, Sivakumar, Sayaji Shinde, Vivek, Yugendran, and Kovai Sarala.
| Poovellam Un Vaasam | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Ezhil |
| Written by | Ezhil |
| Produced by | V. Ravichandran |
| Starring | Ajith Kumar Jyothika |
| Cinematography | Arthur A. Wilson |
| Edited by | A. Sreekar Prasad |
| Music by | Vidyasagar |
Production company | Oscar Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 158 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Poovellam Un Vaasam released on 17 August 2001. It received positive reviews and became a commercial success.
Plot
editTwo families stay in identical bungalows, adjacent to each other, tracing their friendship to over 40 years. Their respective progenies Chinna and Chella are childhood friends, their easy camaraderie and strong bonding carried over to their adult years. The two of them study in the same college, same class, zoom together on the motorbike, their togetherness at home and college, as accepted a fact as it was in films like Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001). Somewhere along the way, the duo falls in love, throwing some soft glances at each other when the other is not looking.
Their college mate Karna, makes devious plans to separate the duo and make Chella his. He does not seem to have any running feud with Chinna, is quite friendly with the duo, and does not seem to be particularly in love with Chella. Chinna laps up all that Karna tells him about Chella loving him, and is heartbroken and goes out on a business trip. Chella, persuaded by both families to marry a NRI, boldly informs them that she loved Chinna and would marry him. The two families are happy.
Chinna returns home and learns of the preparation for his engagement ceremony. Feeling that since Chella loved Karna, it must be family pressure that must have forced her to agree. Chinna then backs out. It is Chella's turn to be indignant about Chinna's mistrust of her love, and after giving him a piece of her mind, she backs out, with Chinna pleading for acceptance. After a period of separation, during which all ties between the two families are severed, both soon come to realise that they cannot live without their dearest friends and lovers. Chinna and Chella with their families then reunite.
Cast
edit- Ajith Kumar as Chinna
- Jyothika as Chella (Voice dubbed by Savitha Reddy)
- Sivakumar as Arunachalam, Chinna's father
- Janaki Sabesh as Janaki, Chinna's mother
- Nagesh as Murugesan, Chinna's grandfather
- Sayaji Shinde as Rajasekar, as Chella's father
- Jaya Murali as Narmada, Chella's mother
- V. S. Raghavan as Chinnasamy, Chella's grandfather
- Sukumari as Chella's grandmother
- Vivek as Varathan
- Yugendran as Karna
- Kovai Sarala as Kanniga
- Vaiyapuri as Durai
- Sona Heiden as Anitha
- Madhan Bob as Chella's family friend
- S. N. Lakshmi as Durai's grandmother
- Swaminathan as Saamy, cook
- Ilavarasu as Pandi, laundry owner
- Mayilswamy as a guest at Anitha's wedding
- Lavanya as Chinna's sister
- Prabhakaran Chandran "Prabhu" as Diwakar "Diwa", Chella's brother
- Mathiazhagan as a college professor
- Yukta Mookhey special appearance as herself in the song "Yukta Mookhey"
- Ezhil special appearance in the song "Yukta Mookhey"
- Raju Sundaram special appearance in the song "Yukta Mookhey"
Production
editAjith Kumar signed the film in early 2001 after pulling out of Praveenkanth's Star.[1] The producers initially approached Aishwarya Rai and then Preity Zinta to star, with their refusals leading to the casting of Jyothika.[2] Miss World 1999, Yukta Mookhey was chosen to appear in an item number.[3] Before filming began, Ajith became popular as an action hero due to films like Amarkalam, Dheena and Citizen, so producer Ravichandran expressed his doubts to Ezhil about continuing a family-oriented film with an action hero like Ajith. But Ezhil was confident about Ajith's capabilities in pulling off varying roles.[4]
Twin bungalows were erected in Prasad Studios for the film by art director Prabhakaran as the director could not locate a twin bungalow in the same compound.[5][6] One house was built to feature antiques and the other with modern artefacts and computers.[7][8] During the making of the film, Ajith was admitted to a Chennai city hospital for a surgery of his backbone causing a month's delay in the film's release.[9]
Soundtrack
editThe soundtrack was composed by Vidyasagar, with lyrics by Vairamuthu.[10] The song "Kaadhal Vandhadhum" is set in Kapi raga. Vidyasagar reused the tune later in Telugu as "Pannendintiki Padukkonte", for the 2002 Telugu film Neetho.[11]
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kaadhal Vandhadhum" | K. J. Yesudas, Sadhana Sargam | 5:35 |
| 2. | "Pudhu Malar Thottu" | Sriram Parthasarathy | 4:42 |
| 3. | "Thirumana Malargal" | Swarnalatha | 6:14 |
| 4. | "Thalaattum Kaatre" | Shankar Mahadevan | 5:25 |
| 5. | "Chella Namm Veettukku" | Malaysia Vasudevan, Sujatha Mohan, Harish Raghavendra, Sangeetha Sajith | 4:51 |
| 6. | "Yukthaamukhi" | Devan, Clinton Cerejo | 5:37 |
| Total length: | 32:24 | ||
Release and reception
editPoovellam Un Vaasam was released on 17 August 2001.[12] A critic from The Hindu labelled it as "reasonably interesting", with Ajith's performance being praised as "natural and neat".[13] Visual Dasan of Kalki, playing on the film's title, said "Poovellam Serial Vaasam" (the flowers bear the smell of serials).[14] Rajitha of Rediff.com wrote, "Trouble is the story/script/screenplay which, in a word, is insipid. To the point where, when the movie crescendoes with the two once-close families splitting amidst high drama, you put a polite hand up to stifle a yawn".[15] The success of the film prompted Ezhil, Ajith and Jyothika to team up for a venture the following year with Raja (2002).[1] K. N. Vijiyan of New Straits Times called it "strictly for Ajith and Jyothika fans".[16] Malini Mannath of Chennai Online wrote "No effort has been spared to make it a lavish production. The songs are pleasantly picturised, with Arthur Wilson's camera capturing the richness of the sets and the colourful ambience. But what is lacking is a clear script and freshness in narration".[17]
Accolades
editPoovellam Un Vaasam won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Second Best Family Film and Ajith won a special prize from the committee. At the same ceremony, Sai won Best Costume Designer, Prabhakaran won Best Art Director, Kovai Sarala won Best Comedian and Vidyasagar won Best Music Director.[18] Jyothika won the Cinema Express Award for Best Actress – Tamil, which was given to her by Ajith at the Cinema Express Awards.[19][20] Ajith was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil, and Jyothika for Best Actress – Tamil.[21]
References
edit- ^ a b "A success team reunites". The Hindu. 26 April 2002. Archived from the original on 4 July 2003. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Whither K". Cinematoday2.itgo.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "பூவெல்லாம் உன் வாசம்". Cinematoday3.itgo.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Ezhil praises Ajith". The Times of India. 14 March 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ "Rs 1 crore bungalow for Ajith film". ajithkumar.fr.fm. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ Mannath, Malini. "Poovellam Unn Vaasam". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 21 August 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ Rajitha (27 January 2001). "On the floors". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "More romance in the offing". The Hindu. 19 January 2001. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Ajith wounded again during shoot". ajithkumar.fr.fm. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Poovellam Unn Vaasam". JioSaavn. January 2001. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ Mani, Charulatha (7 December 2012). "Notes that intrigue". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ "ஆகஸ்ட் மாதம் ரிலீசாகும் ஹிட் படங்கள்... அஜித்தின் சென்டிமென்ட்!". News18 (in Tamil). 26 March 2019. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ "Film Review: Poovellam Un Vaasam". The Hindu. 24 August 2001. Archived from the original on 25 February 2005. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ தாசன், விஷுவல் (2 September 2001). "பூவெல்லாம் உன் வாசம்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 96. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Rajitha (4 October 2001). "Yawn!". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ Vijiyan, K. N. (1 September 2001). "So lost in love". New Straits Times. p. 35. Retrieved 2 November 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ Mannath, Malini. "Poovellam Unn Vasam". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 12 December 2003. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ "Tamil Nadu announces film awards for three years". IndiaGlitz. 1 October 2004. Archived from the original on 24 October 2004. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
- ^ "Happy birthday Thala: Here are some rare photos of actor Ajith on his birthday". The New Indian Express. 1 May 2018. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- ^ "Jyothika Suriya: Beautiful at 33". NDTV. 18 October 2011. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ "The 49th Annual Filmfare Awards -South | Nominees". Indiatimes. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
