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Aarohanam official poster

Aarohanam(2012)

7.3/10
Tamil120 minstheatrical

'Aarohanam' is a 2012 Tamil-language drama film directed by Lakshmy Ramakrishnan. The cast includes Viji Chandrasekhar, G. Marimuthu, Uma, Rajie Vijay Sarathy, Jayaprakash, and Sampath Raj. The story follows a mother with bipolar disorder who goes missing, prompting her two children to search for her across Chennai over a single day. The film was shot entirely with a Canon EOS 5D digital camera in 20 days. It received positive reviews for its sensitive portrayal of mental illness, with critics calling it one of the best Tamil films of the year. The soundtrack was composed by K, with lyrics by Subbu. The film was released in theatres in 2012.

Filmed In:Chennai
Mood:
emotionalupliftinginspiring

Aarohanam is streaming on Sun NXT and Airtel Xstream Play.

Where to watch:

Quick Facts

Streaming on
Sun NXT, Airtel Xstream Play, Amazon Prime Video, JioTV
Theatrical Release
26 October 2012
Director
Lakshmy Ramakrishnan
Language
Tamil
Runtime
2h
Rating
7.3/10

Storyline

A mother with bipolar disorder vanishes from her home in Chennai. Her teenage son and younger daughter spend a frantic day searching for her. They face unhelpful authorities, family secrets, and their own fears. Will they find her before it is too late?

A mother lost. A family found.

Film Details

7.3Rating
120Minutes
TamilLanguage
UCertificate
Release Date26 October 2012
Release Typetheatrical
Filmed InChennai

Parental Guide

Violence
Low
Language
Low
Sex / Nudity
Mild
Drugs
Mild
Intensity
Low

Where to Watch

Vibe & Tags

Mood
emotionalupliftinginspiring
Themes
familysurvivalidentitylove
Tonepoetic
Pacingslow-burn
Complexitymoderate
Audiencearthouse
Best Withfamily
Violence1
Emotion5
Humor2
Rewatchability3

Cast & Crew

Reunion Meter

Frequent partnerships reunited for Aarohanam

Cast reunions in this film: Jayaprakash & Sampath Raj (7 films together), Jayaprakash & Lakshmy Ramakrishnan (6 films together), Jayaprakash & Viji Chandrasekhar (2 films together), Jayaprakash & Uma Padmanabhan (2 films together), Jayaprakash & G. Marimuthu (2 films together), and Sampath Raj & Uma Padmanabhan (2 films together).

Trivia

  • This was the directorial debut of actress Lakshmi Ramakrishnan.
  • The film was shot in real slum locations in Chennai to capture authentic settings.
  • It explores bipolar disorder, a topic rarely shown in mainstream Tamil cinema at the time.
  • The movie had a limited theatrical release but gained attention through film festivals.
  • Lakshmi Ramakrishnan also wrote the screenplay, drawing from personal observations of community life.
  • The title 'Aarohanam' is a musical term meaning 'ascent', symbolizing the protagonist's journey.

Frequently Asked Questions