Autograph (film)
Encyclopedia
Autograph is a 2004 Tamil language
film directed by Cheran
. The film's soundtrack is composed by Bharathwaj
. Cheran also plays the lead role in the film, and other cast members include Sneha, Gopika
, Kanika and Mallika
.
The film was released in India in February 2004, and was screened at the Lyon Asian Film Festival in France and at the Montreal World Film Festival
in Canada. Upon release, the film met with critical acclaim and commercial success. A sequel to Autograph titled Autograph 2 has been announced and so far has Navya Nair
along with Cheran
.
) setting off on a journey, distributing wedding invitations for his forthcoming wedding. Along the way, he encounters various individuals from his past, who bring back memories of three women that have had an impact on his love life.
"It is quite natural for students to get autographs on the last day of their school and college life. But how many of them flip through the autograph book and rewind their memories in the later stages of their life. Autograph, a film, is one such attempt made by director Cheran to rewind the memories of his early childhood and youthful days with spotlight on his romantic escapades. Interestingly with no cinematic touches, Autograph is sure to delight one and all to recall their memories and enjoy the past."
The movie begins with Senthil, who runs an advertising agency, boarding a train to visit his native village to invite all his friends for his wedding.
The journey to his childhood days begins there. The happenings in the school, his tussle with his friends and his first love with his classmate, Kamala (Mallika
), are all pictured realistically. Senthil reaches the village and invites all including Kamala, who promises to come to the wedding, with her husband and three children.
Then, he goes to Kerala where he had his college education. His major crush at that time was Lathika (Gopika
), a Malayalee girl, with whom he falls in love but later the affair proves to be short- lived as her parents marry her off to her cousin, Madhavan. On reaching Kerala to invite her, Cheran is shattered to see his lover as a widow.
Meanwhile, he is dejected at the failure of his love affair then and he comes across a trusted friend (Sneha), who instils confidence, unearths his hidden talents and teaches him the lesson that one has to go ahead in life without looking back. However, she does not reveal the tragedy that occurred in her past. But as time passes by, she reveals that her mother is a paralytic patient and that she now has to work for survival. While she and Senthil travel on a bus, she reveals that she was in love with someone and believed that he was a good man but got cheated. A poetic narration on the need for a good friend has been stressed.
Towards the end, Senthil gets married to a girl of his parents choice, Kanika, and all the three girls, who had played a part in his life, and many college friends attend the wedding.Also he sets a terry nice ending to the main story.
2005 National Film Awards
(India
)
The films background was scored by the famous duo Sabesh-Murali.
Surya Sivakumar was initially approached to play the lead role, but was forced to reject because he was shooting for Pithamagan
.
This film has been remade in Telugu as Naa Autograph
with Ravi Teja
in the lead, in 2004. It's the story and the plot that captivates the viewer. Language proved to be no bar, it still managed to draw viewers and become a commercial success.
In Kannada also, the film has been remade as My Autograph with Sudeep
as director and hero, and Meena as the heroine, in 2006. It was also a commercial success. Sudeep was successful as both Director and Actor role.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
film directed by Cheran
Cheran (director)
Cheran is a Tamil film director from Tamil Nadu, India. He has won the Indian National Film Award thrice for Vetri Kodi Kattu , Autograph , and Thavamai Thavamirundhu . Besides he is three-time Filmfare Award winner as well....
. The film's soundtrack is composed by Bharathwaj
Bharathwaj
Bharathwaj is a Tamil film composer. He has since scored music in languages including Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. trained in Hindustani, Western and Carnatic music.He is a recipient of Kalaimamani Award for the year 2008 from Tamil Nadu Government...
. Cheran also plays the lead role in the film, and other cast members include Sneha, Gopika
Gopika
Gopika is an Indian film actress, who has predominantly starred in Malayalam films. Starting her career as a model, she ventured into acting with the film Pranayamanithooval...
, Kanika and Mallika
Mallika
Reeja Venugopal, better known by her stage name Mallika, is an Indian actress, who has mainly starred in Tamil feature films. After debuting in the Malayalam film Nizhalkuthu , she played a significant role in Cheran's Autograph, following which she essayed supporting roles in several Tamil films....
.
The film was released in India in February 2004, and was screened at the Lyon Asian Film Festival in France and at the Montreal World Film Festival
Montreal World Film Festival
The Montreal World Film Festival , founded in 1977, is one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF...
in Canada. Upon release, the film met with critical acclaim and commercial success. A sequel to Autograph titled Autograph 2 has been announced and so far has Navya Nair
Navya Nair
Dhanya Nair , better known by her stage name Navya Nair, is an Indian actress who works in Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada films. She has won the honour of Kalathilakam in the Alappuzha District Schools Youth Festival.- Personal life :...
along with Cheran
Cheran
Cheran can refer to:*Cheran , the name of a Tamil dynasty in South India.*Cheran , a Tamil film director.*Cherán, a municipality the Mexican state of Michoacán.*Chéran, a river in eastern France....
.
Plot
This Indian romance begins with the character Senthil (CheranCheran
Cheran can refer to:*Cheran , the name of a Tamil dynasty in South India.*Cheran , a Tamil film director.*Cherán, a municipality the Mexican state of Michoacán.*Chéran, a river in eastern France....
) setting off on a journey, distributing wedding invitations for his forthcoming wedding. Along the way, he encounters various individuals from his past, who bring back memories of three women that have had an impact on his love life.
"It is quite natural for students to get autographs on the last day of their school and college life. But how many of them flip through the autograph book and rewind their memories in the later stages of their life. Autograph, a film, is one such attempt made by director Cheran to rewind the memories of his early childhood and youthful days with spotlight on his romantic escapades. Interestingly with no cinematic touches, Autograph is sure to delight one and all to recall their memories and enjoy the past."
The movie begins with Senthil, who runs an advertising agency, boarding a train to visit his native village to invite all his friends for his wedding.
The journey to his childhood days begins there. The happenings in the school, his tussle with his friends and his first love with his classmate, Kamala (Mallika
Mallika
Reeja Venugopal, better known by her stage name Mallika, is an Indian actress, who has mainly starred in Tamil feature films. After debuting in the Malayalam film Nizhalkuthu , she played a significant role in Cheran's Autograph, following which she essayed supporting roles in several Tamil films....
), are all pictured realistically. Senthil reaches the village and invites all including Kamala, who promises to come to the wedding, with her husband and three children.
Then, he goes to Kerala where he had his college education. His major crush at that time was Lathika (Gopika
Gopika
Gopika is an Indian film actress, who has predominantly starred in Malayalam films. Starting her career as a model, she ventured into acting with the film Pranayamanithooval...
), a Malayalee girl, with whom he falls in love but later the affair proves to be short- lived as her parents marry her off to her cousin, Madhavan. On reaching Kerala to invite her, Cheran is shattered to see his lover as a widow.
Meanwhile, he is dejected at the failure of his love affair then and he comes across a trusted friend (Sneha), who instils confidence, unearths his hidden talents and teaches him the lesson that one has to go ahead in life without looking back. However, she does not reveal the tragedy that occurred in her past. But as time passes by, she reveals that her mother is a paralytic patient and that she now has to work for survival. While she and Senthil travel on a bus, she reveals that she was in love with someone and believed that he was a good man but got cheated. A poetic narration on the need for a good friend has been stressed.
Towards the end, Senthil gets married to a girl of his parents choice, Kanika, and all the three girls, who had played a part in his life, and many college friends attend the wedding.Also he sets a terry nice ending to the main story.
Awards
The film has won the following awards since its release:2005 National Film Awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
(India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
)
- Won - Golden Lotus Award - Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome EntertainmentNational Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome EntertainmentThe National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment winners:1981 to 1984 and 1992, 1986 & 1977 No Award was given....
- 'Autograph' - CheranCheran (director)Cheran is a Tamil film director from Tamil Nadu, India. He has won the Indian National Film Award thrice for Vetri Kodi Kattu , Autograph , and Thavamai Thavamirundhu . Besides he is three-time Filmfare Award winner as well.... - Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Female Playback SingerNational Film Award for Best Female Playback SingerThe National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer winners are given below. Lata Mangeshkar is the oldest winner in this category, whereas Anjali Marathe is the youngest winner; while K. S. Chithra been awarded for the maximum number of times .-Superlatives:...
- K. S. ChithraK. S. ChithraK. S. Chithra often credited as Chithra , is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil of South India, she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films... - Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best LyricsNational Film Award for Best LyricsThe National Film Award for Best Lyrics winners:Vairamuthu won the award for maximum number of times . Javed Akhtar is the only lyricist to win the award for three consecutive years .-References:...
- Pa. Vijay - Won - Filmfare Best Supporting Actress AwardsFilmfare Best Supporting Actress Award (Tamil)The Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Tamil films....
- Autograph- MallikaMallikaReeja Venugopal, better known by her stage name Mallika, is an Indian actress, who has mainly starred in Tamil feature films. After debuting in the Malayalam film Nizhalkuthu , she played a significant role in Cheran's Autograph, following which she essayed supporting roles in several Tamil films....
Soundtrack
The soundtrack features 7 songs composed by Bharathwaj, with lyrics by Pa. Vijay:- Gnyabagam Varudae - Bharathwaj
- Kizhakke Paarthen - Yugendran, Foni
- Maname Nalama - Bharathwaj
- Manasukkulle Dhagam - Harish Ragavendra, Reshmi
- Meesa Vecha Perandi - Kovai Kamala, KarthikKarthik (singer)Karthik is an Indian playback singer.Karthik started his professional singing career as a backing vocalist and has since been a playback singer in Tamil cinema while also single in other Indian languages for various composers...
- Ninaivugal Nenjinil - Unni MenonUnni MenonUnni Menon is an Indian film playback singer. He has sung over 3000 songs in South Indian languages like Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. In the early part of his career, he spent many years as a low-profile playback singer. The turning point in his career came when he sang the song "Pudhu...
- Ovvoru PookalumeOvvoru PookalumeOvvoru Pookalume is an National Awards-winning Tamil song from the soundtrack of the film Autograph performed by Indian performer K. S...
- K. S. ChithraK. S. ChithraK. S. Chithra often credited as Chithra , is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil of South India, she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films...
The films background was scored by the famous duo Sabesh-Murali.
Box office
This film was a sensation and emerged as the third biggest hit of the year grossing $5 million at the box office.Surya Sivakumar was initially approached to play the lead role, but was forced to reject because he was shooting for Pithamagan
Pithamagan
Pithamagan is a 2003 Tamil feature drama film directed by Bala. The film stars Vikram, Surya, Laila, Sangeetha, and Simran. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Ilayaraaja....
.
This film has been remade in Telugu as Naa Autograph
Naa Autograph
Naa Autograph is a Tollywood film, released on 11 August 2004 and was directed by S. Gopal Reddy. This film stars Ravi Teja, Gopika, Bhoomika Chawla, Mallika, Kanika, and more. This film is a remake of Tamil film Autograph.-Plot:...
with Ravi Teja
Ravi Teja
Ravi Teja is an Indian Telugu film actor. He won the Nandi Award for Best Actor for the film Neninthe in 2008. He has participated in other films including Avunu Valliddaru Ista Paddaru, Idiot,Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi, Venky, Bhadra, Vikramarkudu, Krishna, Kick, and Mirapakaay...
in the lead, in 2004. It's the story and the plot that captivates the viewer. Language proved to be no bar, it still managed to draw viewers and become a commercial success.
In Kannada also, the film has been remade as My Autograph with Sudeep
Sudeep
Sudeep is an Indian actor, director, producer and singer from Shimoga, Karnataka, known in the Kannada film industry and Bollywood. He is also founder owner of his production company Kiccha Creations.Hence he is also famously known as 'Kiccha' Sudeep....
as director and hero, and Meena as the heroine, in 2006. It was also a commercial success. Sudeep was successful as both Director and Actor role.