Vaaname Ellai
Vaaname Ellai (transl. The sky is the limit) is a 1992 Indian Tamil language drama film, directed by K. Balachander, starring Anand Babu, Ramya Krishnan, Madhoo, Vishali Kannadasan, Rajesh and Babloo Prithviraj.
| Vaaname Ellai | |
|---|---|
 Official poster | |
| Directed by | K. Balachander |
| Produced by | Rajam Balachander Pushpa Kandaswamy |
| Written by | K. Balachander |
| Starring | Anand Babu Bhanupriya Ramya Krishnan Madhoo Rajesh Babloo Prithviraj Vishali Kannadasan |
| Music by | Maragadha Mani |
| Cinematography | R. Raghunatha Reddy |
| Edited by | Ganesh Kumar |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Kavithalayaa Productions |
Release date | 22 May 1992 |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
The story involves five characters from different backgrounds, who got vexed with their lives, jointly decide to end their lives together, but begin a short journey of 100 days to live together happily before dying. K. Balachander won the Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil.
Plot
Five young people decide that life is not worth living anymore for various reasons.
Anand Babu, the son of a judge is an idealist and never suspects that the many gifts that are showered upon him by his father were things received as bribes. One day he shoots a video song about corruption in society, dressed as a robot. Seeing this, his friend remarks that his own father is very corrupt. The angered Anand Babu beats up his friend and challenges him that if that were true, he would commit suicide out of shame. Back at home, he sees his father taking a large amount of money as bribe for a lawsuit. The shocked Anand Babu argues with his father over his corrupt practices. His mother starts justifying corruption which has brought the family luxuries like the bungalow, car and Anand's Yamaha bike. Besides, a large amount of money is needed for the marriage dowry of their two daughters (Anand's sisters). Anand is unable to bear this and immediately sets fire to his new Yamaha bike. He leaves home.
Babloo is the only son of a rich businessman (Cochin Haneefa). He is motherless. He is in love with the computer operator, Suguna (Vishali Kannadasan) working in his father's office. He is a happy-go-lucky guy. One day his father comes to know of their love and despises it as he has big plans to marry his son to the daughter of a rich, potential business partner. He threatens Babloo to not marrying Suguna. But the much pampered Babloo is adamant in marrying her. Meanwhile, Y. Vijaya, the widowed mother of Suguna also objects to their love, fearing for problems arising due to the difference in their social status. Cochin Haneefa comes up with a plan to stop the couple from marrying. He convinces Y. Vijaya in remarrying him, thereby making Babloo and Suguna as step-siblings. The couple is heartbroken. Babloo wants to commit suicide, but Suguna wants to continue to live as the new step-daughter of the rich businessman. She soon shows her own brand of revenge by heavy partying and boozing and having one night stands. Whenever arrested, she proudly proclaims being the rich man's daughter.
Madhoo was forced into marriage with a very rich but old man and Ramya is a gang-rape victim. The other is a poor unemployed youth of high caste who does not get employment because of his high caste status.
They all meet at the suicide point and decide to live a happy life for 100 days and then end it all. In those 100 days, they have all sorts of fun. They also sing mourning songs for their own death. But one of them, the unemployed, secretly tries to change his friends' minds away from suicide. But they tell that their mind is made up and he can leave if he chooses to. But he sets his suicide earlier and informs them that he did so to make them realise that death is no joke and if his friends changed their minds, his death would not be in vain. They soon start getting doubts about going ahead with their suicides.
Meanwhile, they find a baby at their doorstep and have no choice but to take care of the child. They get emotionally close to the child. Finally the dead friend's dad comes and meets them having tracked his son's letters with great difficulty. When informed of his son's death he mourns and accuses the remaining youths of being the cause of his death. The four decide to die immediately on hearing this. As they go to the suicide point, they meet their dead friend there. He says that he had faked his own death as well as arranged for the child and his father to dissuade them. His father takes the child to an orphanage and they meet people with various physical deformities trying to live a fruitful and cheerful life. After gaining inspiration from many of the disabled persons who had achieved things and also from the advice they give them, the five youths decide to life a long and brave life.
Cast
- Anand Babu as Deepak
- Babloo Prithveeraj as Gautam
- Gowtham Sundararajan as Pasupathy
- Madhoo as Karpagam
- Ramya Krishnan as Subathra
- Vishali Kannadasan as Suguna
- Rajesh as Samyvelu (Pasupathy's Father)
- Cochin Haneefa as M.R.T.
- Y. Vijaya as Akhila
- Madhan Bob as Paathi Pandiyan
- Charle as Sabu
- Kavithalaya Krishnan as Babu
- Dhamu as Chevva
- Sethu Vinayagam as Deepak's Father
- S. N. Lakshmi as Babu and Sabu's Mother
- Poovilangu Mohan as Deepak's Friend
Guest Appearances
- Bhanupriya as Herself
Production
The film marked the acting debut of actors Madhan Bob and Dhamu as a comedian who went on to become popular.[1][2] Gautham Sundarrrajan, who was one of the lead actors in the film called it a "memorable movie" in his career.[3]
Music
Tamil (original) version
The music was composed by Maragadha Mani.[4][5]
| No. | Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Ada Yaaringe Manidhan" | Rajamani | Vairamuthu | 03:05 |
| 2 | "Jana Gana Mana" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra | 05:37 | |
| 3 | "Kambangade Kambangade" | Maragadha Mani, K. S. Chithra | 04:36 | |
| 4 | "Nadodi Mannargale" | K. S. Chithra | 05:01 | |
| 5 | "Nee Aandavana" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra | 05:10 | |
| 6 | "Siragillai" | K. S. Chithra | 04:26 | |
| 7 | "Sogam Eni Ellai" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 04:26 | |
| 8 | "Thambigala" | Maragadha Mani | 01:03 |
Telugu (dubbed) version
This film was dubbed into Telugu as October 2 and all lyrics were written by Rajashri.[6]
| No. | Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Shokame Lede Kalataku" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | Rajashri | 04:27 |
| 2 | "Ee Poota Meekanta" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra | 05:11 | |
| 3 | "Nee Tallevaro Tandrevaro" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra | 04:54 | |
| 4 | "Nenega Rachilakanta" | K. S. Chithra | 02:51 | |
| 5 | "Janaganamana Ani Pade" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra | 05:25 | |
| 6 | "Abbailu Meeto" | Krishna Murthy | 01:06 | |
| 7 | "Ammatodu Ammatodu" | Mano, K. S. Chithra, Chrous | 04:26 | |
| 8 | "Oh Manishi" | Mano | 02:59 |
Reception
The Indian Express wrote "Given the varied nature of characters at hand, the treatment at first has got to be episodic but Balachander's vibrant style of telling a tale keeps reels crackling".[7] New Straits Times called it a "must-see picture for youth".[8]
References
- Mani, Bhargavii (22 August 2015). "When his eyes bobbed". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- "'Otteri Nari' picks up the threads of 'Gilli'". The Hindu. 14 September 2007. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- "Anchored to success". The Hindu. 29 August 2002. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- http://www.starmusiq.com/tamil_movie_songs_listen_download.asp?MovieId=1688
- http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0001959
- "October 2". Spotify. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- Krishnaswamy, N. (22 May 1992). "Vaaname Yellai". The Indian Express. p. 7.
- Vijiyin, K. (27 March 1993). "Strong anti-suicide message for youths". New Straits Times. p. 20.