XMXHosea83962264 at 02:00, 18 March 2026

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2026}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Appu (2000).jpg
| caption = DVD cover
| director = [[Vasanth]]
| screenplay = Vasanth
| story = [[Robin Bhatt]]
| producer = Rajam Balachander Pushpa Kandasamy
| starring = [[Prashanth]] [[Devayani (actress)|Devayani]] [[Prakash Raj]]
| cinematography = [[P. S. Vinod]] '''Additional cinematography:''' [[R. D. Rajasekhar]]
| editing = R. Sridhar
| music = [[Deva (composer)|Deva]]
| studio = [[Kavithalayaa Productions]]
| released = {{Film date|2000|6|16|df=y}}
| runtime = 132 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
'''''Appu''''' is a 2000 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Romance film|romantic]] [[action thriller]] film written and directed by [[Vasanth]]. The film stars [[Prashanth]], [[Devayani (actress)|Devayani]] and [[Prakash Raj]]. It is a remake of the [[Hindi]] film ''[[Sadak]]'' (1991). The film was released on 16 June 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Appu (2000) |url=https://screen4screen.com/movies/appu-tamil-movie |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118172948/https://screen4screen.com/movies/appu-tamil-movie |archive-date=18 November 2023 |access-date=28 June 2023 |website=Screen 4 Screen}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Appu is a taxi driver in [[Mumbai]]. One day, Appu meets Seetha and develops affection instantly. Seetha is also sold by her uncle to a brothel managed by Maharani, a [[transgender]], as he is unable to repay his debt. Appu decides to save Seetha from the brothel. Appu visits the brothel as a customer and plans to make Seetha escape from there.

A small flashback is shown where Appu had a sister Saradha (Eashwari Rao) who eloped with her lover a few years back. However, Saradha's lover ditched her by selling her to a brothel. Saradha tries to escape from the brothel but gets caught and commits suicide. Appu vaguely sees the brothel owner from a distance who happens to be Maharani and plans to take revenge. The movie comes to the present and Appu realises that Maharani was responsible for his sister's death as well.

Appu helps Seetha escape from the brothel and Maharani's henchmen are in search of them. Slowly, love blossoms between Appu and Seetha. In the chase, Appu loses his friend Mano (Vignesh) and his lover Pooja (Kaveri), as they both get killed by Maharani. Finally, Appu kills Maharani and unites with Seetha.

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Prashanth]] as Appu
* [[Devayani (actress)|Devayani]] as Seetha
* [[Prakash Raj]] as Maharani
* [[Vignesh (actor)|Vignesh]] as Mano
* [[Kaveri (actress)|Kaveri]] as Pooja
* [[Eashwari Rao]] as Saradha, Appu's sister
* [[Ramesh Khanna]] as Chidambaram
* [[Dhamu]] as Dhamu
* [[Vietnam Veedu Sundaram]] as Appu's grandfather
* [[Mohan Sharma]] as Bhai
* [[Hemanth Ravan]] as Corrupted Mumbai Police Officer
* [[Besant Ravi]] as Fighter
}}

== Production ==
[[K. Balachander]] wanted to produce a "quickie", and when he offered [[Vasanth]] to direct a remake of the Hindi film ''[[Sadak]]'' (1991), Vasanth agreed as he could not refuse an offer from his mentor. When casting the lead actor, Vasanth intentionally chose [[Prashanth]], who he felt was stereotyped as a "lover boy", as he wanted to experiment with his acting prowess.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Interview with Director Vasanth |url=http://www.pondicherry.com/2000jun/p/vasanth.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114101356/http://www.pondicherry.com/2000jun/p/vasanth.shtml |archive-date=14 November 2006 |access-date=2 September 2024 |website=pondicherry.com}}</ref> The film entered development in mid-1999.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 May 1999 |title=Vasanth Teams With Prashanth! |url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/gossip/17-05-99/simran.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041023132512/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/gossip/17-05-99/simran.htm |archive-date=23 October 2004 |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=[[Dinakaran]]}}</ref> During production, the film was briefly titled ''Surya'' before being renamed to ''Appu''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gokul's Tamil Cinema News |url=http://www.oocities.org/hollywood/lot/2330/gcnnov99.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100234/http://www.oocities.org/hollywood/lot/2330/gcnnov99.html |archive-date=22 December 2015 |access-date=25 August 2020 |website=oocities.org}}</ref> [[Devayani (actress)|Devayani]] plays the lead actress, and her voice was dubbed by [[Deepa Venkat]], who make her debut as a dubbing artist.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajendran |first=Sowmya |author-link=Sowmya Rajendran |date=18 October 2022 |title=Meet Deepa Venkat, Lady Superstar Of Dubbing |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/interviews/tamil-interview/ponniyin-selvan-nandini-aishwarya-rai-nayanthara-meet-deepa-venkat-lady-superstar-of-dubbing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241120045437/https://www.filmcompanion.in/interviews/tamil-interview/ponniyin-selvan-nandini-aishwarya-rai-nayanthara-meet-deepa-venkat-lady-superstar-of-dubbing |archive-date=20 November 2024 |access-date=20 November 2024 |website=[[Film Companion]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[Prakash Raj]] played the character of a eunuch, reuniting with Vasanth after ''[[Aasai]]'' (1995). Vasanth said he considered various actors before finalising Raj because he "has got a lot of fire in him and we vibe very well too".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Warrier |first=Shobha |date=5 July 2000 |title='I don't mind falling, but I like to fall forward...' |url=https://www.rediff.com/entertai/2000/jul/05vas.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260106170525/https://www.rediff.com/entertai/2000/jul/05vas.htm |archive-date=6 January 2026 |access-date=6 January 2026 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> During production, some eunuchs hailing from Thiruvannamalai threatened that if portions of the film were not reshot, they would initiate large scale protests and do their best to hinder shooting schedules. They were upset that Raj played a "sexually handicapped" person who is the antagonist. They argued that the eunuchs are treated as socially unwanted having little social standing, and that such films would further threaten their status in the society.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajita |date=24 May 2000 |title=Eunuchs threaten to disrupt shooting |url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/2000/may/24spice.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208004811/http://m.rediff.com/movies/2000/may/24spice.htm |archive-date=8 February 2018 |access-date=25 August 2020 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> The song "Idam Tharuvaya" was shot in [[South Africa]] while the song "Punnagaikku" was shot at [[Chennakeshava Temple, Somanathapura]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2010 |title=Appu — Where Was It Shot |url=http://www.wherewasitshot.com/2010/05/21/appu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108190723/http://www.wherewasitshot.com/2010/05/21/appu/ |archive-date=8 January 2015 |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Where Was It Shot}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by [[Deva (composer)|Deva]], all song lyrics were by [[Vairamuthu]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Appu (2000) |url=https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/appu-songs-T0000229 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230628111623/https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/appu-songs-T0000229 |archive-date=28 June 2023 |access-date=25 August 2020 |website=[[Raaga.com]]}}</ref> The audio was launched at Kamarajar Memorial Hall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krishna |first=Arvind R |title='Appu' – Audio release function |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/musicreviews/appu.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041217160840/http://www.chennaionline.com:80/musicreviews/appu.asp |archive-date=17 December 2004 |access-date=20 November 2023 |website=Chennai Online}}</ref> Venky of ''Chennai Online'' wrote, "Though the songs sound familiar, they are definitely worth a hear".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Venky |title=Music review of 'Appu' |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/musicreviews/appu1.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041217161421/http://www.chennaionline.com/musicreviews/appu1.asp |archive-date=17 December 2004 |access-date=20 November 2023 |website=Chennai Online}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Song !! Singer(s) !! Duration
|-
| "Yeno Yeno" || [[Sujatha Mohan|Sujatha]], [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]], [[Harini (singer)|Harini]] || 06:10
|-
| "Idam Tharuvaya" || [[Pop Shalini]], [[P. Unnikrishnan]] || 05:10
|-
| "Koila Koila" || Hariharan, [[Anuradha Sriram]] || 06:04
|-
| "Punnagaikku" || [[Sukhwinder Singh]], [[Anupama Deshpande]], [[S. P. B. Charan]] || 05:40
|-
| "Vaada Vaa" || [[Shankar Mahadevan]], P. Unnikrishnan || 06:05
|}

== Critical reception ==
Malathi Rangarajan of ''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote, "Vasanth has laid a firm foundation by choosing a solid story, though there is nothing novel about it, and the rest just falls in place.Heavy at times, ''Appu'' appeals nevertheless".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=23 June 2000 |title=Film Review: ''Appu'' |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2000/06/23/stories/09230223.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828130403/https://www.thehindu.com/2000/06/23/stories/09230223.htm |archive-date=28 August 2018 |access-date=24 January 2018 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Rajitha of ''[[Rediff.com]]'' wrote, "It is not as though there were glaring deficiencies in this remake of the [[Sanjay Dutt]]-starrer ''Sadak'' -- the disappointment comes from the fact that the Tamil remake, with Prashant and Devyani in the lead, simply fails to grip". She added that one could expect more from Vasanth, but praised the music and Prakash Raj's acting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajitha |date=3 June 2000 |title=Vasanth disappoints with Appu |url=http://m.rediff.com/movies/2000/jul/03appu.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124135638/http://m.rediff.com/movies/2000/jul/03appu.htm |archive-date=24 January 2018 |access-date=24 January 2018 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> Krishna Chidambaram of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' praised the acting of Prashanth and Prakash Raj and Ramesh Khanna's humour but felt the revenge in second half could have been forceful if Prashanth got to know the culprit in former half.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=சிதம்பரம் |first=கிருஷ்ணா |date=9 July 2000 |title=அப்பு |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2000-07-09/page/80/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230627161700/https://archive.org/details/kalki2000-07-09/page/80/mode/2up |archive-date=27 June 2023 |access-date=27 June 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=80 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

Malini Mannath of ''Chennai Online'' wrote, "A sensitive director of Vasanth's caliber is clearly wasted here. But he does leave a mark in his song picturisations (Va da va...), which are catchy, despite the absence of expensive props and sets. Cinematographer Vinod leaves a mark in his maiden effort".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mannath |first=Malini |title=Appu |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/Moviereviews/tammov50.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001018201513/http://www.chennaionline.com/Moviereviews/tammov50.asp |archive-date=18 October 2000 |access-date=20 November 2023 |website=Chennai Online}}</ref> ''Indiainfo'' wrote, "Remake films do not always stand up to the originals. There are rare exceptions though. Appu falls into that category. The director Vasanth has done a good remake job of Sadak in Tamil. The lead stars Prasanth and Devyani have also managed to put in a performance that matches up to the original. However, the credit goes to Prakashraj who could live up to the expectations his role raised. He had the challenge of essaying the role that won Sadashiv Amarpurkar a national award. The native touch that he has given to the eunuch character is commendable".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Appu: Revisiting the sadaks of Mumbai |url=http://movies.indiainfo.com/tamil/reviews/appu.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010629191755/http://movies.indiainfo.com/tamil/reviews/appu.html |archive-date=29 June 2001 |access-date=29 December 2023 |website=Indiainfo}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title}}
*{{Rotten Tomatoes}}

{{Vasanth}}
{{Kavithalaya Productions}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2000 action thriller films]]
[[Category:2000 controversies]]
[[Category:2000 crime thriller films]]
[[Category:2000 films]]
[[Category:2000 Indian films]]
[[Category:2000 LGBTQ-related films]]
[[Category:2000s romantic thriller films]]
[[Category:2000 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Cross-dressing in Indian films]]
[[Category:Films about prostitution in India]]
[[Category:Films directed by Vasanth]]
[[Category:Films scored by Deva (composer)]]
[[Category:Films set in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mysore]]
[[Category:Films shot in South Africa]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian crime thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian transgender-related films]]
[[Category:Indian romantic thriller films]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related controversies in film]]
[[Category:Tamil remakes of Hindi films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language action thriller films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language crime thriller films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language romantic thriller films]]

Appu 2000 film - Revision history

XMXHosea83962264 at 02:00, 18 March 2026