Five Star(2002)
Five Star is a 2002 Indian Tamil-language coming-of-age film written and directed by Susi Ganesan in his directorial debut. It was produced by Madras Talkies, the production company of Mani Ratnam. The film stars newcomers Prasanna, Kanika, Krishna, Sandhya Prakash, Mangai, and Karthick in lead roles. The story follows five engineering students at the Madras Institute of Technology who dream of staying friends forever. Their bond is tested when one friend hides his forced marriage and later disappears. The film explores themes of friendship, family pressure, and personal choice. It was praised by critics for its fresh cast, honest storytelling, and youthful energy. The music was composed by debutants Sriram Parasuram and Anuradha Sriram. Five Star was later remade in Telugu as Lifestyle in 2009. The film is available on streaming platforms and remains a nostalgic favorite for fans of early 2000s Tamil cinema.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar
- Theatrical Release
- 4 October 2002
- Director
- Susi Ganesan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 35m
- Rating
- 4.7/10
Storyline
Five college friends at MIT dream of staying together forever. After graduation, one friend is forced into marriage by his father. He hides the secret from his friends and later disappears completely. Years later, his loyal friend searches for him and uncovers a painful truth that changes everyone's lives.
“Five friends. One promise. A lifetime of secrets.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Five Star
Cast reunions in this film: Mani Ratnam & Ravi Varman (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Five Star' refers to the five friends, but it was also the nickname of director Susi Ganesan's college friend group.
- Actress Laila, who played Eashwari, was a last-minute replacement after another actress dropped out just before filming began.
- The song 'Kadhal Vandhale' was shot in Ooty and became popular for its scenic visuals and choreography.
- This was one of the early Tamil films to show engineering campus life and friendship in a detailed, realistic way.
- Director Susi Ganesan made his directorial debut with this film after working as an assistant director.
- The movie's climax scene involving the train was filmed at a real railway station with special permission.
- Despite mixed reviews, the film developed a cult following over the years for its portrayal of friendship and moral dilemmas.