Viswaroopam(1980)
Vishwaroopam is a 2013 Indian Tamil-language action spy film co-written, directed, and produced by Kamal Haasan. The cast includes Kamal Haasan, Rahul Bose, Shekhar Kapur, Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah, and Jaideep Ahlawat. The story follows a RAW agent living undercover as a Kathak dancer in New York City who must stop a Taliban plot to detonate a dirty bomb. The film was shot simultaneously in Tamil and Hindi and was the first Indian film to use Auro 3D sound technology. It received positive reviews for its technical polish and action sequences, winning National Film Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Choreography. The film grossed approximately ₹220 crore worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing Tamil films at the time. It was released theatrically on 25 January 2013, with a delayed release in Tamil Nadu on 7 February 2013 following a temporary ban.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 6 November 1980
- Director
- A. C. Tirulokchandar
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 28m 0
Storyline
A nuclear oncologist in New York hires a detective to spy on her effeminate Kathak dancer husband. When the detective is murdered by terrorists, she discovers her husband is actually a deep-cover RAW agent. He must now protect her and stop a Taliban dirty bomb attack on the city.
“The universal form of a spy.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Viswaroopam
Cast reunions in this film: M. S. Viswanathan & Sivaji Ganesan (110 films together), M. S. Viswanathan & Sujatha (38 films together), M. S. Viswanathan & A. C. Tirulokchandar (30 films together), Sivaji Ganesan & A. C. Tirulokchandar (22 films together), Sivaji Ganesan & Sujatha (19 films together), and M. S. Viswanathan & Sridevi (12 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Vishwaroobam' refers to the cosmic form of Lord Vishnu, symbolizing the hero's transformation.
- This was one of the few Tamil films where actor Sivakumar played a character who becomes a criminal.
- Director A. C. Tirulokchandar was known as 'Chandramouli' and had earlier directed the classic 'Naan Avanillai'.
- The movie featured music by Shankar–Ganesh, a popular composer duo in Tamil cinema during that era.
- Actress Sripriya played the female lead, appearing in many Tamil and Telugu films in the 1970s and 80s.
- The story contrasts rural innocence with urban corruption, a common theme in early 1980s Tamil cinema.
- Despite its action genre, the film included several melodious songs that became popular at the time.