Arasiyal(1997)
Arasiyal is a 1997 Indian Tamil-language political drama film directed by R. K. Selvamani. The film stars Mammootty, Shilpa Shirodkar, and Roja in lead roles. It follows Chandrasekhar, an honest collector who arrests a terrorist and is transferred to Madras to fight corruption. He targets powerful politician Venkatraman and exposes his crimes, leading to public outrage and personal tragedy. The film won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Third Best Film and is noted for Mammootty's performance and Liaquat Ali Khan's dialogues. It was released on 12 December 1997.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 12 December 1997
- Director
- R. K. Selvamani
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 20m
- Rating
- 2.9/10
Storyline
An honest collector arrests a dangerous terrorist and is transferred to a city ruled by corrupt politicians. He decides to expose them all, even targeting his own family members. But the politicians fight back, and his loved ones become targets. He must choose between his duty and his family's safety.
“One man against a system of lies”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Arasiyal
Cast reunions in this film: Mansoor Ali Khan & Anandaraj (12 films together), Roja Selvamani & R. K. Selvamani (9 films together), Mansoor Ali Khan & Roja Selvamani (8 films together), Mansoor Ali Khan & R. K. Selvamani (8 films together), Anandaraj & Jai Ganesh (7 films together), and Roja Selvamani & Madhan Bob (6 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Arasiyal' means 'politics' in Tamil, directly reflecting its core theme.
- Director R.K. Selvamani was known for socially conscious films, and this was his second collaboration with actor Sarathkumar after the hit 'Nattamai'.
- A major action sequence was filmed at the Madras Central Railway station, using real locations for a gritty feel.
- The movie released during a period of many Tamil films critiquing political corruption in the late 1990s.
- Composer Deva, known for his folk and mass numbers, provided the background score to heighten the dramatic tension.
- Actress Roja, who played the female lead, was a popular pairing with Sarathkumar in several action-dramas of that era.
- The film's conflict between an honest cop and the system drew comparisons to other contemporary police stories like 'Indian'.
- The film was produced by R.B. Choudary's Super Good Films, a major production house in the 1990s.