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{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Achamillai Achamillai
| image = Achamillai Achamillai.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[K. Balachander]]
| producer = Rajam Balachander<br />Pushpa Kandaswamy
| writer = K. Balachander
| starring = {{ubl|[[Rajesh (actor)|Rajesh]]|[[Saritha]]}}
| music = V. S. Narasimhan
| cinematography = [[B. S. Lokanath]]
| editing = N. R. Kittu
| studio = [[Kavithalayaa Productions]]
| released = {{start date|df=yes|1984|05|18}}
| runtime = 160 minutes<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm32ndNFAAward.aspx |title=32nd National Film Festival – 1985 |publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]] |page=50 |language=hi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926054317/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm32ndNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=26 September 2013 |access-date=31 December 2014}}</ref>
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Achamillai Achamillai''''' ({{trans|Fearless}}){{Sfn|Banerjee|Srivastava|1988|p=12}} is a 1984 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil-language]] [[political satire]] film directed by [[K. Balachander]]. It stars [[Rajesh (actor)|Rajesh]] and [[Saritha]] in the lead with Pavithra, [[Achamillai Gopi|Gopi]], [[Delhi Ganesh]] and [[Charle]] in other prominent roles. The film deals with [[party switching]] and depicts its influence on the lives of small-time politicians. The film met with critical acclaim, winning three awards at the [[Filmfare Awards South|32nd Filmfare Awards South]], as well as the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]]. The title refers to a popular poem composed by Bharathiyar.

== Plot ==
K.S Ravikumar a man who helps (Respectively) Thenmozhi, a worker in a textile factory, resides in a small village with her blind father, a former freedom fighter. She develops a mutual attraction to Ulaganathan, an idealist in the same village who is respected for his integrity and unselfishness. Upon the approval of Ulaganathan's father, they marry on 15 August, coinciding with India's [[Independence Day (India)|Independence Day]]. The couple lead a happy life and work for the welfare of the village. With elections around the corner, two political parties try to garner support by enlisting Ulaganathan to their side. Initially reluctant, Ulaganathan joins one of the parties when it promises to provide him with a ministerial position.{{Sfn|Banerjee|Srivastava|1988|p=12}}

Ulaganathan quickly slides down the slippery slope of political intrigue and intimidation, alienating both his wife and his father. Thenmozhi returns to her father's home to deliver her first child. Ulaganthan wins the election, but as neither of the parties receives a clear majority, the rival party bribes Ulaganathan to join them instead. When Thenmozhi returns after the birth of their child, she is disappointed over the transformation of her husband and refuses to live with him. To spite her, Ulagnathan brings home Alangaram as his mistress. Alangaram and her mother slowly take control over the household, which leads to Thenmozhi leaving her family. Ulagnathan's atrocities go beyond her tolerance when he plans to organise a communal riot in the village in order to safeguard himself from the critics. When Thenmozhi finds out about this, she goes to have a talk with him. But Ulaganathan defends himself by saying that political murders are not ethically wrong. The following day (Independence Day), a statue of [[Mahatma Gandhi]] is to be unveiled by Ulaganathan. During the ceremony, Ulagnathan makes a speech on his and his party's accomplishments. Thenmozhi approaches him with a garland; as she lays it on his neck, she stabs him to death. The police arrest her; at the end, Suthanthiram is seen crying at the feet of Gandhi's statue.{{Sfn|Banerjee|Srivastava|1988|pp=12–13}}

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Rajesh (actor)|Rajesh]] as Ulaganathan
* [[Saritha]] as Thenmozhi
* [[Delhi Ganesh]] as Brahmanayagam, Ulaganathan's Father
* [[Achamillai Gopi|Gopi]] as Palavesam
* [[Radha Ravi]] as Henchman
*Raveendran as Henchman
* Pavithra as Alangaram
* Ahalaya as Sudali
*[[Charle]] as Patchi (Petchiappan)
* Delhi Nayakar as Suthanthiram
*Vaathiyar Raman as Reporter
* Prabhakar
* Vairam Krishnamoorthy
* Veeraiah
}}

== Production ==
The film was produced by [[Kavithalayaa Productions]], Balachander's production house. Apart from direction, he took charge of the story, screenplay, and dialogue. Cinematography and editing were handled by [[B. S. Lokanath]] and N. R. Kittu, respectively.{{Sfn|Banerjee|Srivastava|1988|p=12}}

== Themes and analysis ==
''Achamillai Achamillai'' is a satire on the [[Politics of India|Indian political system]]. Its underlying theme is [[Party switching]], a common phenomenon that exists in the country's political system, and its impact on small-time politicians.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=86}} Balachander added a dwarf character named ''Suthanthiram'' (literally, "Freedom") to metaphorically depict that the freedom of the nation is stunted.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=87}}

== Soundtrack ==
The film's score and soundtrack were composed by debutante V. S. Narasimhan, while lyrics were written by [[Vairamuthu]] and "Erode" Thamizh Inban.{{Sfn|Banerjee|Srivastava|1988|p=12}} The soundtrack received positive response.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=87}}

{{Infobox album
| name = Achamillai Achamillai
| type = soundtrack
| artist =
| cover =
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| released = {{Start date|df=yes|1984 || }}
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| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
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}}
{{tracklist
| collapsed =
| headline =
| extra_column = Singers
| total_length =

| all_writing =
| all_lyrics = [[Vairamuthu]], 'Erode' Thamizh Inban
| all_music =

| writing_credits =
| lyrics_credits =
| music_credits =

| title1 = Aavaram Poovu
| note1 =
| writer1 =
| lyrics1 =
| music1 =
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], [[P. Susheela]]
| length1 =

| title2 = Karisal Karisu
| note2 =
| writer2 =
| lyrics2 =
| music2 =
| extra2 = [[Vani Jairam]]
| length2 =

| title3 = Kayiala kaasu
| note3 =
| writer3 =
| lyrics3 =
| music3 =
| extra3 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
| length3 =
| title4 = Odukira Thanniyila
| note4 =
| writer4 =
| lyrics4 =
| music4 =
| extra4 = [[Malaysia Vasudevan]], P. Susheela
| length4 =

| title5 = Pudhiru Poda
| note5 =
| writer5 =
| lyrics5 =
| music5 =
| extra5 = Malaysia Vasudevan, [[S. Janaki]]
| length5 =

}}

== Reception ==
''Achamillai Achamillai'' was released on 18 May 1984 to critical acclaim. The film had a 100-day run in theatres and was commercially successful.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|pages=86–87}} It was the only Tamil film to be screened at the 'Indian Panorama' [[International Film Festival of India|10th International Film Festival of India]] in 1985.<ref name=dff>{{cite web|title=Indian Cinema 1984|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/FrmIP1984Award.aspx?PdfName=IP1984.pdf|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|page=5|access-date=31 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102636/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/FrmIP1984Award.aspx?PdfName=IP1984.pdf|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Saritha's performance won her a lot of accolades and critical praise.<ref name=rediff>{{cite web|title=K Balachander's finest films|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/k-balachanders-finest-films/20141224.htm|work=[[Rediff.com]]|access-date=1 January 2015|date=24 December 2014}}</ref>

A contemporary review from ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'' stated, "When everyone is using cinema for entertainment, Balachander uses cinema as a weapon to attack the evils of the society...". [[G. Dhananjayan]], in his book ''The Best of Tamil Cinema: 1977 to 2010'', called the film a bold attempt by K. Balachander after ''[[Thanneer Thanneer]]'', and lauded the director for his dialogue filled with sarcasm.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=87}} The film received negative reviews for showcasing violence. Some critics were concerned about the idea that even educated people would be corrupted if they come to politics, while a few others opined that the film did not provide a solution for the problem.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=87}}

== Legacy ==
The film is widely regarded as one of the finest that Balachander has directed.<ref name=rediff /> In a 2006 interview with ''[[The Hindu]]'', Balachander listed the film as one of his favourites.<ref>{{cite news|author=S. R. Ashok Kumar|title=At 100, going strong|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/at-100-going-strong/article3217145.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=1 January 2015|date=10 February 2006}}</ref> Analysing the dominance of female characters in Balachander's films, [[Baradwaj Rangan]] listed the heroine of ''Achamillai Achamillai'' as an example.<ref>{{cite news|author=Baradwaj Rangan|author-link=Baradwaj Rangan|title=A ladies' man|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/tribute-to-k-balachander-by-baradwaj-rangan/article6722637.ece|access-date=1 January 2015|work=The Hindu|date=24 December 2014}}</ref>

== Awards ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2020}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Award !! Category !! Nominee !! Outcome
|-
| rowspan="4" | 1984 || [[32nd National Film Awards|National Film Awards]] || [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil|Best Feature Film in Tamil]] || V. Natarajan (Producer)<br />[[K. Balachander]] (Director) || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Filmfare Awards South|32nd Filmfare Awards South]] || [[Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Film|Best Tamil Film]] || V. Natarajan || {{won}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Director|Best Tamil Director]] || K. Balachander || {{won}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress|Best Tamil Actress]] || [[Saritha]] || {{won}}
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|last1=Banerjee|first1=Shampa|last2=Srivastava|first2=Anil|title=One Hundred Indian Feature Films: An Annotated Filmography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zX4GY37rG8kC|year=1988|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-8240-9483-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Dhananjayan|first=G.|title=The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1977–2010|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t6CGLgEACAAJ|year=2011|publisher=Galatta Media|isbn=978-81-921043-0-0}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{AllMovie title}}

{{K. Balachander}}
{{NationalFilmAwardBestFeatureFilmTamil}}
{{FilmfareAwardBestTamilMovie}}

[[Category:1984 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. Balachander]]
[[Category:1980s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Indian satirical films]]
[[Category:Indian political satire films]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by K. Balachander]]
[[Category:Best Tamil Feature Film National Film Award winners]]

Achamillai Achamillai - Revision history

>Citation bot at 16:46, 23 March 2021