Captain Prabhakaran

Captain Prabhakaran is a 1991 Tamil-language Indian action film directed by R. K. Selvamani. It features Vijayakanth in the lead role. It also features Mansoor Ali Khan, Rupini, Livingston and Ramya Krishnan, while R. Sarathkumar appears in a cameo role. It was Vijayakanth's 100th film, after which he earned the sobriquet "captain".[2]

Not to be confused with Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Captain Prabhakaran
Poster
Directed by	R. K. Selvamani
Produced by	Ibrahim Rowther
Written by	R. K. Selvamani Liyakath Ali Khan (dialogues)
Starring	Vijayakanth Sarath Kumar Livingston Mansoor Ali Khan Rupini Ramya Krishnan
Music by	Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography	Rajarajan
Edited by	G. Jayachandran[1]
Production company	I. V. Cine Productions
Distributed by	I. V. Cine Productions
Release date	14 April 1991
Running time	162 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

The character of the antagonist Veerabhadran, played by Mansoor Ali Khan, is loosely based on the forest brigand Veerappan.[3] The title of the film was inspired from Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.[4][5] Upon its release, the film became a blockbuster at the box office.[6] The film score and soundtrack were composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film was dubbed and released in Telugu as Captain Prabhakar.[7]

Plot

Captain Prabhakaran (Vijayakanth) is an IFS officer (Indian Forest Service) sent to Sathyamangalam to nab Veerabhadran (Mansoor Ali Khan) who tortures the people of that place. Prabhakaran is not only going to nab Veerabhadran, but also avenge the death of his friend Rajaraman IFS (R. Sarathkumar) who was a forest officer killed by Veerabhadran. The police commissioner and the district collector are corrupt and also support Veerabhadran. In the climax, Veerabhadran kidnaps Prabhakaran's wife and son. Prabhakaran arrives at the right time and saves his wife and son. He then nabs Veerabhadran. Poongudi (Ramya Krishnan) was Rajaraman's lover. She dies while giving birth to his child. Veerabhadran is shot dead by the corrupt inspector and collector. Prabhakaran kills both of them. He is then dragged to court for killing the police inspector and the collector. Prabhakaran tells the truth that they were corrupt, and the film ends with Prabhakaran being released from the court.

Cast

• Vijayakanth as Captain Prabhakaran IFS, District forest officer
• Sarath Kumar as Rajaraman IFS
• M.N. Nambiar as Police Officer in charge of Special Task Force
• Rupini as Gayathri
• Ramya Krishnan as Poongudi
• Mansoor Ali Khan as Veerabhadran
• Livingston as Krishnamurthy/Kitti
• Peeli Sivam as Raja
• Ganthimathi as Prabhakaran's Mother
• Yuvasri as Rajaraman's Sister
• Krishnamoorthy as Poongudi's Brother
• Ponnambalam as Sub Inspector (uncredited)
• LIC Narasimhan as Police officer
• Karikalan as Mansoor ali khan's henchman (uncredited)

Production

After the success of Pulan Visaranai, Rowther decided to make another project with Vijayakanth and Selvamani titled Captain Prabhakaran, the plotline of the film was based on the forest brigand Veerappan. The film also was the 100th project of Vijayakanth. The filming was held at Chalakudy for 60 days.[8][9] The film had Mansoor Ali Khan in his first major role.[10] During the shoot, a rope to which Vijayakanth was bound snapped and his shoulder got dislocated. With both his hands tied he screamed in pain, but this was mistaken for acting, and as a result, there was a delay in getting medical assistance.[11]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack has only two songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja while the lyrics were written by Gangai Amaran and Piraisoodan. The song "Aattama Therottama" is set in the Carnatic raga known as Sindhu Bhairavi.[12][13] It was later remixed by Prasanna Sekhar in Singakutty (2008).[14]

Captain Prabhakaran
Soundtrack album by Ilaiyaraaja
Released	1991
Recorded	1991
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	10:21
Label	Oriental Records
Producer	Ilaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraaja chronology
Surya IPS (1991) Captain Prabhakaran (1991) Puthiya Swarangal (1991)

Track list

No.	Title	Lyrics	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Paasamulla Paandiyare"	Gangai Amaran	Mano, K. S. Chitra	5:09
2.	"Aattama Therottama"	Piraisoodan	Swarnalatha	5:12
Total length:				10:21

Reception

The Indian Express wrote "The strength of the film is its visual vibrancy and the narrative line too has a great measure of cohesion, despie it being an action film all the way."[15]

References

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/film-editor-g-jayachandran-dead/article31914312.ece
2. "Vijayakanth vs `Virumaandi'". The Hindu. 12 January 2004. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
3. "Quizzing with K-Circle". 6 March 2012 – via The Hindu.
4. Tamils Business Connections (17 March 2013). "R. K. Selvamani in Toronto 16 Mar 2013 - Part 1" – via YouTube.
5. Tamils Business Connections (17 March 2013). "R. K. Selvamani in Toronto, Part 2" – via YouTube.
6. Kesavan, N. (14 May 2016). "100th film jinx grips the mighty sans 'Captain'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbokyUrVx14
8. "Tamil Cinema news - Tamil Movies - Cinema seithigal".
9. "Tamil Cinema news - Tamil Movies - Cinema seithigal".
10. Kumar, S. R. Ashok (9 October 2010). "Grill Mill - Mansoor Ali Khan". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
11. Shivakumar, S. (26 August 2005). "Playing a Captain's innings". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
12. Sundararaman (2007) [2005]. Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music (2nd ed.). Chennai: Pichhamal Chintamani. p. 125. OCLC 295034757.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
13. Mani, Charulatha (10 May 2013). "Light and melodious". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
14. "Well picturised". The Hindu. 20 February 2008. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
15. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19910419&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

External links