Anthimanthaarai(1996)
Anthimanthaarai (1996) is a Tamil-language historical drama film directed by Bharathiraja. The film stars Vijayakumar as Kandaswamy Iyer and Jayasudha as Thangam. It follows an aging freedom fighter who, after a life of service, is forgotten by society and struggles to survive in poverty. A chance meeting with a young woman offers him a brief period of companionship, but village gossip destroys their bond. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil at the 43rd National Film Awards. Despite critical acclaim, it had a short theatrical run of one week. The music was composed by A. R. Rahman.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 1 June 1996
- Director
- Bharathiraja
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 11m
- Rating
- 4.3/10
Storyline
An old freedom fighter, Kandaswamy Iyer, lives alone and forgotten in a village. He meets Thangam, a young woman who offers him shelter. A pure friendship grows between them, but cruel gossip from the villagers threatens to tear them apart.
“A hero forgotten by the world”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Anthimanthaarai
Cast reunions in this film: A. R. Rahman & Vijayakumar (8 films together), Bharathiraja & R. Selvaraj (5 films together), Bharathiraja & A. R. Rahman (4 films together), Sanghavi & Vijayakumar (4 films together), A. R. Rahman & Jayasudha (3 films together), and R. Selvaraj & Ra. Sankaran (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Anthimanthaarai' means 'last lamp' in Tamil, symbolizing hope in darkness.
- This was one of the few films where director Bharathiraja did not also write the screenplay himself.
- The movie was shot in just a few interior locations to create a claustrophobic, wartime feel.
- Actress Roja, known for commercial roles, took this part to work with the respected director Bharathiraja.
- The story is set during World War II, a rare historical backdrop for a Tamil drama in the 1990s.
- The film had a limited theatrical release compared to Bharathiraja's more famous rural love stories.
- Music director Ilaiyaraaja's soundtrack used minimal instruments to match the film's tense mood.