Nila Kaalam(2001)
Nila Kaalam is a 2001 Indian Tamil-language drama television film directed by Gandhi Krishna. It stars Roja as Veni, alongside child artists Master Udayaraj, Master Dinesh, and Baby Ranjini Pradeep. The story follows three children from different backgrounds who form a deep friendship. Nilaa is a lonely rich girl, while Amar and Pulli are poor garage workers. Their bond leads to a tragic accident that ends their lives. The film is based on Sujatha's novel Andru Un Arukil. Master Udayaraj won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for his performance. Critics praised the natural acting of the child cast. The film had a brief theatrical run after its television broadcast.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 29 January 2001
- Director
- Gandhi Krishna
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 13m 0
Storyline
Three children from different worlds become best friends. Nilaa is a lonely rich girl. Amar and Pulli are poor boys working in a garage. They plan a secret picnic together. But their innocent adventure ends in a tragic accident that changes everything.
“Friendship can end in a heartbeat.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Nila Kaalam
Cast reunions in this film: Manivannan & Roja Selvamani (14 films together), and Roja Selvamani & M. V. Panneerselvam (4 films together).
Trivia
- The film's director Gandhi Krishna was a former assistant to director Mani Ratnam.
- The movie was shot in just 30 days, which was a very short schedule for a feature film at the time.
- The lead actress, Devayani, was cast after a long break from Tamil cinema, having focused on Malayalam films.
- The film's title 'Nila Kaalam' translates to 'Moonlight Period', reflecting its themes of fleeting youth and friendship.
- It was one of the early films for actor Prithviraj, who played one of the garage boys, before his rise to fame in Malayalam cinema.
- The soundtrack by Ilaiyaraaja was noted for its soft melodies, contrasting with the composer's more energetic scores of the era.
- The film's simple story was seen as an attempt to capture a slice-of-life feel, different from mainstream commercial movies of 2001.