Ullaasam

Ullaasam (English: Joy) is a 1997 Indian Tamil-language action romance film directed and co-written by the duo J. D. and Jerry and produced by Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan. The film featured Ajith Kumar, Vikram and Maheswari in the lead roles with Raghuvaran, S.P.Balasubrahmanyam and Srividya in other pivotal roles. Featuring music by Karthik Raja, the film was released on 23 May 1997.[1]

Ullaasam
Poster
Directed byJ.D. & Jerry
Produced byAmitabh Bachchan
Written byBalakumaran (Dialogues)
Screenplay byJ.D. & Jerry
Story byJ.D. & Jerry
StarringAjith Kumar
Vikram
Maheswari
Raghuvaran
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music byKarthik Raja
CinematographyJeeva
Edited byB. Lenin
V. T. Vijayan
Production
company
Release date
23 May 1997
Running time
136 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

The plot revolves around two fathers and their sons. GK (Raghuvaran), Dev's (Vikram) father, is a smuggler who lives in a house near by Thangaiah (S. P. Balasubrahmanyam), father of Guru (Ajith Kumar). In his childhood days, Guru got attracted by GK's activities and follows his footsteps. While Thangaiah tries to convince his son, it is all in vain. He got vexed and started to raise Dev (GK's son), as a good man. In their college days, Dev becomes a singer. With the lover boy image, he is really popular among the ladies in the college. While Guru studying in the same college becomes a dancer and turns out to be a local dada, who helps GK in his business. Both Guru and Dev fall in love with the same girl Megha (Maheswari) who is in love with Guru.

Thangaiah comes to know about Dev's love for her and begs Guru to leave his love for Dev, since he won't be able to lead a peaceful life in the shape he is. Despite Guru having thoughts of leaving Megha. Dev steps aside knowing that Megha in love with Guru. As Dev hides his feelings for Megha. He wishes the both of them by saying, that the love they have for each other will prevail. The film ends with Guru's choosing to stay with the dark world and with Megha, by his side.

Cast

Production

The film became Amitabh Bachchan's first Tamil language film production under his banner, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation and as a result, he chose to select several leading actors for the project. Ajith Kumar signed on after the success of Kadhal Kottai (1996), whilst Maheswari, the cousin of actress Sridevi, was signed after enjoying success in Telugu films. The makers initially tried to cast Arun Vijay in a parallel lead role, but his reluctance to work on dual hero films meant that Vikram was signed. Moreover, the film boasted of a strong supporting cast of Raghuvaran, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Srividya, whilst Jeeva as cinematographer and Raju Sundaram as choreographer were also amongst the most prolific options in the Tamil film industry at their respective occupations. The director duo were signed on after Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited had been a part of the marketing team in some of the serial episodes they had directed. Abdullah, actress Kushboo's brother, and Roshini, actress Nagma's sister, were also reported to be a part of the initial cast but eventually did not feature.[2]

Leading Tamil actor Kamal Haasan sung a song, "Muthe Muthamma" for the film under the composition of Karthik Raja.[3] The film was briefly delayed due to the FEFSI production strikes of 1997.[4] Furthermore, during production Ajith suffered due to the dancing and fighting involved which caused problems for his back, leading to a further round of corrective surgery.[5]

Soundtrack
Ullaasam
Soundtrack album by
Karthik Raja
ReleasedMay 23, 1997
Recorded1997
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length28:22
LabelPyramid
Vega Music
Big B
ProducerKarthik Raja
Karthik Raja chronology
Grahan
(1997)		 Ullaasam
(1997)		 Naam Iruvar Nammaku Iruvar
(1998)

The film's soundtrack was composed by Karthik Raja with actor Kamal Haasan also singing a song in the album. The lyrics written by Gangai Amaran, Arivumathi, Pazhani Bharathi, Paarthi Bhaskar and Arun Mozhi (Rap). One line of the song "Veesum Kaatrukku" is similar to "Listen With Your Heart" from Disney's Pocahontas (1995). The song "Cho Larey" is based on the 1977 song "La Colegiala".[6]

No.SongSingersLyrics
1"Cho Larey"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Harini, Venkat PrabhuPaarthi Bhaskar
2"Izhavenil Thalattum"P. UnnikrishnanGangai Amaran
3"Konjum Manjal"Hariharan, HariniPazhani Bharathi
4"Mutthey Mutthamma"Kamal Haasan, Swarnalatha, BhavathariniPaarthi Bhaskar
5"Ullasam Ullasam"Karthik RajaPaarthi Bhaskar
6"Valibam Vaazha Sollum"Karthik Raja, Prabhu Deva, Ajith Kumar, Vikram, Maheswari Shruti HaasanPaarthi Bhaskar, Arun Mozhi (Rap)
7"Veesum Kaatrukku"P. Unnikrishnan, HariniPazhani Bharathi
8"Yaaro Yaaryaro"Ilaiyaraja, BhavathariniArivumathi

Release

The film opened to predominantly positive reviews with a critic labelling “The movie is a perfect celebration for youth”,The film became a success venture at the box office, and Post-release, Vikram acknowledged the film for expanding his female fan base as a result of the soft-personality of his character.[7] The movie gave youth-centric feel and Received Good response among audience.

Legacy

In October 2019, J.D. & Jerry expressed an interest in remaking the film with Vikram Prabhu in Ajith's role and Dulquer Salmaan in Vikram's role, with Pattukkottai Prabakar also working on an early draft for the new version.[8]

gollark: I'm pretty sure the idea of zettelkasten is that you can *quickly* write down a small note for things and connect it to other things.
gollark: You mean *your* system is hard or zettelkasten is?
gollark: I... see.
gollark: Specify || minoteaur (which is vaguely zettelkastenous also).
gollark: What is YOUR preferred approach, "g"nobody?

References
  1. "Rediff On The Net, Movies:". www.rediff.com.
  2. http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.tamil/browse_thread/thread/b1b2594ae2304d9b/9a23e55dcef6df11?lnk=gst&q=#9a23e55dcef6df11
  3. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/47752.html
  4. "Rediff On The NeT, Movies: An interview with Ajith Kumar". www.rediff.com.
  5. "Rediff On The NeT, Movies: The Ajit-Shalini romance". www.rediff.com.
  6. Srinivasan, Karthik (11 September 2018). "How A 1977 Peruvian Song Was Ripped Off By Sukhbir And The Tamil Film Ullasam". Film Companion. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  7. "rediff.com, Movies: Vikram, on life after Sethu". www.rediff.com.
  8. "'Ullaasam' remake: These two actors have been roped in to play lead roles? - Times of India". The Times of India.
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