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Aalavandhan (transl. Came to Rule), also known in Hindi as Abhay (transl. Fearless), is a 2001 Indian
psychological thriller film directed by Suresh Krissna, and produced by S. Thanu. The film stars Kamal
Haasan in dual role, with Raveena Tandon, Manisha Koirala, Sarath Babu, Gollapudi Maruti Rao and Milind
Gunaji in supporting roles. The film has elements of magic realism.[2]

Aalavandhan
Aalavandhan.jpg
poster of the Tamil version
Directed by
Suresh Krissna
Produced by
S. Thanu
Screenplay by
Kamal Haasan
Based on
Dhayam
by Kamal Haasan
Starring
Kamal Haasan
Raveena Tandon
Manisha Koirala
Music by
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (songs)
Mahesh Mahadevan (score)
Cinematography
Tirru
Edited by
Kasi Viswanathan
Production
company
V. Creations
Release date
16 November 2001
Running time
178 minutes (Tamil)
177 minutes (Hindi)[1]
Country
India
Language
Tamil
Hindi
The film was released as a bilingual film, along with Tamil it was simultaneously filmed in Hindi with the title
Abhay with three different actors.[3][4] It was also dubbed in Telugu under that same title. The film is an
adaptation of the novel Dhayam that was written by Kamal Haasan in 1984.[5][6] Although a commercial
failure during its release, Aalavandhan and Abhay won the National Film Award for Best Special Effects for its
creative execution of live and animated special effects which enhance the dramatic impact of the film. The
film has later attained cult status.

Plot
The following plot focuses on the Tamil version only.

Vijay Kumar, an army commando in Delhi, is due to marry his girlfriend Tejaswini "Teju", a TV news
presenter. Vijay's twin brother, Nandu, is a paranoid schizophrenic mental patient who has spent most of his
life in an asylum for killing his abusive stepmother. Vijay cares about Nandu and looks forward to his release,
but a doctor tells him that Nandu has developed into a psychopath. He is now a danger to society and should
not be released.

Vijay and Teju visit Nandu to share the news about their impending marriage, which turns disastrous as Nandu
begins to see Teju in the image of his stepmother. Seeking to save Vijay from Teju, Nandu manages to escape
custody after killing two other inmates. He later meets his maternal uncle, who was responsible for
incarcerating him. The man dies of choking upon seeing his nephew. After their marriage, Vijay and Teju are
shocked to learn of Nandu's escape. Nandu's doctor believes it was another patient who escaped, but Vijay is
convinced that it was Nandu.

Nandu visits Vijay's home when he is not there and leaves a message about wanting to kill Teju. He keeps
hallucinating about his deceased mother in his imagination. While searching for Teju, Nandu meets socialite
Sharmilee and they both develop a liking for each other. Upon being drugged, Nandu hallucinates about
Sharmilee as his stepmother and brutally murders her. Regretting his actions, he burns her corpse before
exiting the room, but leaves behind evidence through which Vijay deduces him as the murderer.

Vijay and Teju leave for Vijay's ancestral home in Ooty to stay safe from Nandu, but he secretly follows them.
Vijay and Teju find Nandu's old diary in the house through which they read his past: Vijay and Nandu's mother
committed suicide after finding out that Santosh, their father was having an affair with Jayanthi, who later
becomes their stepmother. Both brothers hate her and Nandu becomes violent at school. The teacher complains
about this and Nandu justifies that he is only reflecting the home environment. Enraged, Santosh beats both his
sons for disliking his new wife. One day, the brothers learn that Jayanthi is having an affair with another man
and Nandu tries telling this to his father who pays no heed, and instead beats him. Nandu pleads to his
maternal uncle to take him along with him. But as he is suffering from throat cancer, he refuses and suggests a
boarding school. Eventually, Vijay leaves with his uncle to a boarding school while Nandu remains home.

The situation gets worse at home with Nandu and Jayanthi turning violent and Santosh gets a heart attack.
Nandu overhears a conversation between Jayanthi and a lawyer, and realises that she is only after his father's
wealth. Seeing this, Santosh dies due to another heart attack. Nandu now starts to see both his deceased
parents in his hallucinations. His mother gives him the mission of killing Jayanthi, which Nandu does. Nandu
stays with the corpses in the house before being incarcerated at the asylum.

In the present, Vijay learns from his old friend Thenkoshut that Nandu has reached Ooty. Vijay reaches on time
to save Teju from Nandu, who entered their hotel room and leaves with her. Nandu chases the car in which
they escape. After a long chase, Vijay manages to push Nandu's car into an abyss and assumes he is dead.
However, Nandu escapes and continues his trail. Vijay plans to leave the city and notices Nandu coming to the
hotel secretly.

Vijay and his commandos try to nab him but he takes on everyone and kills many. Finally, the brothers have a
fight where Nandu overcomes Vijay. He corners Teju who starts whacking him with a belt in self-defense,
reminding Nandu of Jayanthi's manner of punishing him. Vijay reaches by then and there is another fight
between the brothers. Nandu visualises his mother asking him to join her as Jayanthi is torturing her up there.
He realises his mistake and apologises to Vijay for chasing Teju. To kill his stepmother, he lights up some
cylinders which explode, killing him.

Teju is later revealed to be pregnant with twins.

Cast
Tamil version Edit
Kamal Haasan as Major Vijaykumar 'Vijay' and Nandakumar 'Nandu'
Raveena Tandon as Tejaswini 'Teju'
Manisha Koirala as Sharmilee (cameo)
Gollapudi Maruti Rao as the Psychiatrist doctor
Milind Gunaji as Colonel Santosh Kumar, Vijay and Nandu's father
Sarath Babu as Tejaswini's father
Fathima Babu as Tejaswini's mother
Anu Haasan as Priya, Vijay and Nandu's mother
Kitu Gidwani as Jayanthi, Vijay and Nandu's stepmother
Riyaz Khan as Sulthan
Vikram Gokhale as Vijay and Nandu's maternal uncle Ranganath
Yashpal Sharma as the terrorist
Major Ravi as Menon
Nissar Khan as Sonu
Shiva as cameo appearance in "Siri Siri" song
Raji Iyer as Malathi
Krishna Bhatt as Tenoosh Kooth
Hindi version Edit
All characters mentioned above in the Tamil version are the same in the Hindi version except Nandu's name,
the doctor's character and Tejaswini's parents characters have been played by different actors.

Kamal Haasan as Major Vijay Kumar 'Vijay' and Abhay Kumar 'Abhay'[3]
Naveen Nischol as Ravinder, Tejaswini's father[3]
Smita Jaykar as Geeta, Tejaswini's mother
Vallabh Vyas as Srinivasa Rao, Psychiatrist doctor
Production
Dhayam was a novel written by [Kamal] for a magazine long back, and it talked about a pair of twin brothers,
one being an ‘animal’ (Nandhu) and the other a ‘trained animal’ (Vijay). We wanted this contrast and started
off from there. The ‘animal’ had to literally look the part, and that’s why Kamal sir went bald and bulked up
like never before [...] The ‘trained animal’ was a dashing commando with a logical approach. Usually, most
twin films fail to show the real difference between both brothers. To bring out this contrast, Kamal shot for
Vijay first and then took on the Nandhu character.
—Suresh Krissna, in 2017[7]
In the early 1980s, Kamal Haasan wrote a story titled Dhayam for the journal, "Idhayam Pesugiradhu".[8] He
had discussed making the story into a film with K. Balachander during the period, but felt that the story was
ahead of its time.[9] In 2000, he picked up the story again and agreed to make the film with director Suresh
Krissna, a former assistant of Balachander, and producer S. Thanu. When Thanu had agreed to produce a film
for Haasan, he had initially rejected the storylines of Pammal K. Sambandam and Nala Damayanthi.[10] This
prompted the pair to begin work on Dhayam instead, and the film was revealed to be called Aalavandhan in
Tamil and Abhay in Hindi. Abhay was distributed by reputed Shringar Films.[11][12] Mahesh Mahadevan was
signed on to compose the background music, Tirru was selected to be the cinematographer and Sameer
Chanda was picked to be the art director. Actor Jayam Ravi also worked on the film as an assistant director.
[13][14]

The film was first announced with Haasan and Simran in lead roles and Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji in a
special appearance. Both actresses left the project for its delay in start,[15] being replaced by Raveena Tandon
and Manisha Koirala.[13] The film featured Haasan in two distinct roles, for one of which he had his head
shaved bald and gained ten kilograms. To play the other in the film, he went to the National Defence Academy
for a crash course.[16][17] Stunt choreographer Grant Page, who had worked in the American film It's a Mad,
Mad, Mad, Mad World, was assigned to compose stunt sequences in Kashmir. Another fight sequence was
shot in Delhi for 15 days using 39 cars with 3 cameras with a machine called Airramp brought from abroad for
jumping scenes.[18]

Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by music trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. The album created a record by selling over
2,00,000 copies in less than eight hours of its release.[19] However, according to Rediff, it "did not live up to
expectations".[20]

Aalavandhan
Soundtrack album by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Released
24th August, 2001
Recorded
2001
Genre
Feature film soundtrack
Length
27:20
Language
Tamil
Label
Anak Audio
Producer
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy chronology
Dil Chahta Hai
(2001) Aalavandhan
(2001) Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai?
(2002)
All tracks written by Vairamuthu.

Tamil track list[21]

No. Title Singer(s) Length
1. "Africa Kaattu Puli" Nandini Srikar 4:57
2. "Aalavandhan" Shankar Mahadevan 3:19
3. "Kadavul Paadhi" Kamal Haasan, Nandini 3:14
4. "Kadavul Paadhi" Kamal Haasan2:41
5. "Siri Siri" Kamal Haasan, Mahalakshmi Iyer 6:23
6. "Un Azhagukku" Shankar Mahadevan, Sujatha Mohan 6:46
Total length: 27:20
Abhay
Soundtrack album by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Released
2001
Recorded
2001
Genre
Feature film soundtrack
Length
27:28
Language
Hindi
Label
Universal Music India
Producer
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy chronology
Dil Chahta Hai
(2001) Abhay
(2001) Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai?
(2002)
All tracks written by Javed Akhtar.

Hindi track list[22]

No. Title Singer(s) Length
1. "Zingoria (Joote Ke Chaal Liye)" Nandini Srikar 4:58
2. "Aa Hi Gaya Dekho Abhay" Shankar Mahadevan 3:21
3. "Kal Tak Mujhko Gaurav Tha" Kamal Haasan3:16
4. "Hey! Who Are you" Kamal Haasan, Manisha Koirala 2:43
5. "Hans De Hans De" Shankar Mahadevan, Kamal Haasan, Mahalakshmi Iyer 6:23
6. "Koyal Se Mili Tumko" Shankar Mahadevan, Sujatha Mohan 6:47
Total length: 27:28
Abhay
Soundtrack album by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Released
2001
Recorded
2001
Genre
Feature film soundtrack
Length
27:26
Language
Telugu
Label
Magnasound Records
Sony Music India
Producer
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy chronology
Dil Chahta Hai
(2001) Abhay
(2001) Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai?
(2002)
All tracks written by Vennelakanti.

Telugu track list[23]

No. Title Singer(s) Length
1. "Andamaina Aadapuli" Swarnalatha 4:59
2. "Kannulalo Merupu" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha Mohan 6:47
3. "Nuvvu Evaro ! What are you !" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Harini 2:42
4. "Aggipidugai"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 3:20
5. "Dhaivam Sagamai" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 3:16
6. "Navu Navu" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Harini 6:22
Total length: 27:26
Release
Started on a budget of ₹7 crore, Aalavandhan costs trebled by the time of release.[24] The film was released
on 16 November 2001, during Diwali.[8] The Hindi version Abhay was bought over in Maharashtra by the
reputed Shringar Films. The number of prints in Tamil Nadu had been increased by almost 5 times the
average.[25] Both Aalavandhan and Abhay got A (adults only) certificate from the CBFC.[26][27] Later, both
were re-examined upon request to get a UA certificate.[28][29][30]

The film was the top opener of the Diwali weekend at the box office but was not successful. According to
Bollywood Hungama, Abhay collected ₹93.35 lakh at the box Office.[31][32][33]

Critical reception Edit

Reviewing Aalavandhan, Prabhu of the Lollu Express said, "The movie is below average and violent movie,
which is good for few "A" center moviegoers and it, gets 40/100 only for "KAMAL's" Good acting in few
places".[34] Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu said, "Too much publicity can sometimes affect a film
adversely, because of the great expectations triggered. In the case of Aalavandhan, the hype and hoopla built
up for months seems justified — to a certain extent".[35] The film won the National Film Award for Best
Special Effects at the 49th National Film Awards in 2002.[36]

Reviewing Abhay, Taran Adarsh said, "On the whole, Abhay has nothing to offer to the masses or the classes.
Poor".[37] Rediff author R. Swaminathan said, "What happens when an exceptionally talented actor develops
an inexplicable urge to delve into the dark side of the human psyche, and worse, decides to paint the town red
about it? Well, for one, you get a film called Abhay".[38] Vijay Ramanan of Planet Bollywood rated the film
5.5 out of 10, saying, "The film falls flat on its face because of its failure in the two most important
departments of filmmaking – scriptwriting, and direction [...] It almost seems as if Kamal Haasan and Suresh
Krishna were high on drugs while making this film.[39] Smriti Kashyap of fullhyd.com said "The movie is a
huge letdown. It lacks the pop, snap and crackle to fill you with enough guts to potter down to the theater and
watch it. Catch it on the CD, it's easier on the brains."[40]

Contemporary response to this film has become much more lenient, and very positive in social media. The
film was shown in the 2016 Fantastic Fest, where it was acclaimed by the American audiences.[41] In 2013,
Rediff included the film in its list, "The 10 Best Films of Kamal Haasan".[42]

Re-release
Following the film's positive response at the 2016 Fantastic Fest, a digitally restored version was announced.
[43]

Legacy
Several years after its release, it was reported that the American director Quentin Tarantino acknowledged to
Anurag Kashyap that the animated violence shown in this film inspired the anime scenes in his Kill Bill films.
[44][45] The song "Kadavul Paathi Mirugam Paathi" inspired a 2015 film of same name directed by Raaj
Menon.[46]

References
"Abhay (2001) – BBFC". BBFC. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
Subhash K. Jha. "Abhay:Fear becomes him, getting under Kamal Haasan's skin". Rediff.com.
"Abhay Characters". rediff.com.
"Abhay". Teleport Communications Group. 10 June 2006. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016.
Retrieved 14 March 2016.
Fernandes, Vivek (25 August 2001). "Abhay sings a fearless tune". Rediff.com. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
"Everyone is a ruler-to-be..." chennaionline.com. Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved
30 September 2015.
Kaushik, L. M. (4 December 2017). "Twin it to win it". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the
original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
"'ஆளவநததன உஙகளகக இனஸபபரரஷனத?' கவவனடன டதரனடரனதவபடம ரகடகபபடட ரகளவப..!
#16YearsOfAalavandhan" ['Is Aalavandhan an inspiration for you?' The question asked to Quentin
Tarantino..!]. Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 16 November 2017. Archived from the original on 16 November
2017.
"Everyone is a ruler". Retrieved 5 February 2016.
"கமலஹதசன நடதத 'ஆளவநததன' உரவதன கதத – Kamal Hassan starring Aalavandhan film".
maalaimalar.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
Subhash K Jha (2001). "Fear becomes him! Getting under Kamal's skin". Rediff.com. Retrieved 24 January
2011.
Vivek Fernandes (2001). "Abhay sings a fearless tune". Retrieved 24 January 2011.
Dhananjayan 2014, p. 405.
"Success begins at home". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
"Did you Know?". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
"The Kamal I know – Panicker". Rediff.com. 2003. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
"Alavanthaan – on the floors". chennaionline.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2005.
Retrieved 30 September 2015.
"ஆளவநததன படததகக சணதடககதடசபகள அதமகக வவளபநதடட நபபணர". maalaimalar.com. Archived
from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
Fernandez, Vivek. "Abhay sings a fearless tune". Rediff.com. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
"rediff.com, Movies: Ready, set, go..." www.rediff.com. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
"Aalavanthan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – EP". iTunes. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
"Abhay (OST)". Saavn. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
"Abhay (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – EP". iTunes. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
Aalavandhan cost trebled to 25 crore
K Jha, Subhash (10 November 2002). "Fear becomes Kamal". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
"Strptease act: Kamal Haasan to do full monty in his next film". India Today. 13 November 2000. Retrieved
11 July 2017.
"15 Years of Aalavandhan: Five lesser known facts about Kamal Haasan's psychological thriller: Haasan went
naked for Nandu's character". India Today. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
"Aalavandaan (Celluloid) Censor Details".
Abhay (Celluloid) Censor Details
Aalavandaan (Video) Censor Details
Abhay Movie Box Office Collections – Bollywood Hungama
"As star power wanes". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 8 November 2002. Archived from the original on 7 June
2014.
"Kollywood's famous Face-Offs – Behindwoods.com – Tamil Movie Slide Shows – Bala Ajith Ilayaraja Mani
Ratnam Bharathiraja Vairamuthu Harris Jayaraj Gautham Menon Yuvan Shankar Raja Selvaraghavan Ameer
Karthi Kamal Haasan Kalaipuli Thanu Bharathiraja Bhagyaraj Vijayakanth Vadivelu". behindwoods.com.
Retrieved 30 September 2015.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
"Aalavandhaan". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 16 November 2001. Archived from the original on 9 October
2003. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
"49th National Film Awards". Directorate of Film Festivals. pp. 62–63. Archived from the original on 24
December 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
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2001.
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2017.
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October 2017.
"Abhay Movie Review". movies.fullhyderabad.com. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
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Retrieved 3 June 2017.
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Stice, Joel (17 April 2014). "20 Things You Might Not Know About 'Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & 2'". Uproxx. Retrieved
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Bibliography
Dhananjayan, G. (2014). Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931 to 2013. Blue Ocean Publishers. ISBN 978-93-84301-
05-7.
External links
Aalavandhan on IMDb
Abhay on rediff.com
Last edited on 14 September 2019, at 22:16
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