Aravindhan(1997)
Aravindhan is a 1997 Tamil-language drama film directed by T. Nagarajan. The film stars R. Sarathkumar in the title role, alongside Nagma, Prakash Raj, and Anandraj. The story follows a young villager who rises against a tyrannical landlord after his friend is killed for beheading the oppressor. The narrative is inspired by the 1968 Kilvenmani massacre, where 44 Dalit villagers were burned alive by landlords. The film features a music score by Yuvan Shankar Raja, marking his debut as a composer at age 16. Despite its powerful subject matter, the film failed commercially upon its release on 16 February 1997.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Amazon Prime Video, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 28 February 1997
- Director
- T. Nagarajan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 30m
- Rating
- 5.3/10
Storyline
Aravindhan is a young man living in a village ruled by a cruel landlord. When his best friend is killed for killing the landlord, Aravindhan decides to fight back. He leads the villagers in a bloody battle for justice and freedom.
“Justice comes at a terrible price”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Aravindhan
Cast reunions in this film: Sarath Kumar & Anandaraj (11 films together), Sarath Kumar & Ponnambalam (9 films together), Prakash Raj & Thalaivasal Vijay (9 films together), Prakash Raj & Yuvan Shankar Raja (9 films together), Ponnambalam & Thalaivasal Vijay (9 films together), and Prakash Raj & Anandaraj (7 films together).
Trivia
- The film's director, Nagarajan T, was primarily known as a successful cinematographer for many Tamil films before making his directorial debut with this movie.
- Actor Sathyaraj, who plays the lead role of Aravindh, was going through a phase of starring in numerous rural-centric action dramas during the mid-to-late 1990s.
- The movie's plot, involving a landlord oppressing villagers, reflects a common social theme in Tamil cinema of the 1990s, inspired by real agrarian issues in parts of Tamil Nadu.
- The soundtrack was composed by Deva, a popular music director at the time, but the film's songs did not achieve the same chartbuster status as some of his other works from that era.
- Despite its social message, the film had a moderate box office run and is not as widely remembered today as other Sathyaraj-starrers from the same period.
- A key action sequence involving the beheading of the landlord was a major plot point and was heavily highlighted in the film's promotional materials at the time.
- The filming locations included rural setups in Tamil Nadu to authentically depict the village setting central to the story.