>BattyBot at 22:42, 1 July 2021

2021-07-01T22:42:46Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Autograph
| image = Autograph_(film)_poster.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[Cheran (director)|Cheran]]
| writer = Cheran
| starring = Cheran [[Gopika]] [[Sneha (actress)|Sneha]] [[Mallika (actress)|Mallika]]
| producer = Cheran
| music = '''Original songs:''' [[Bharathwaj]] '''Background Score''' [[Sabesh-Murali]]
| cinematography = [[Ravi Varman]] [[Vijay Milton]] Dwarakanath Shanky Mahendran
| editing = S. Sathesh J. N. Harsha
| studio = Dream Theatres
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2004|2|20}}
| runtime = 168 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget =
| gross =
}}
'''''Autograph''''' is a 2004 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[romantic drama film]] written, produced and directed by [[Cheran (director)|Cheran]]. The film's soundtrack is composed by [[Bharathwaj]]. Cheran also plays the lead role in his film for first time, and other cast members include [[Gopika]], [[Sneha (actress)|Sneha]], and [[Mallika (actress)|Mallika]], while [[Kanika (actress)|Kanika]] made a special appearance.

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. Although a sequel to the film titled ''Autograph 2'' was announced, it never materialised.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Channels - Tamil|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/39633.html|website=IndiaGlitz}}</ref> The film was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''[[Naa Autograph]]'', [[Kannada]] as ''[[My Autograph]]'' and [[Bengali language|Bengali]] as ''[[Amar Aponjon]]''.

==Plot==
The film begins with Senthil Kumar ([[Cheran (director)|Cheran]]) who runs an advertising agency, boarding a train on a journey to invite his friends and family for his forthcoming wedding. Along the way, he encounters various individuals from his past, who bring back memories of three women that have influenced his love life. During the journey, he reminisces his teenage days. The happenings in the school, his tussle with his friends and his first love with his classmate Kamala ([[Mallika (actress)|Mallika]]) are all pictured with fun and drama. However, her father married her off early before her 11th grade. He meets Kamala 14 years later, and she is now a mother of three children, and a wife of a Farmer. Senthil reaches the village and invites all including Kamala, who promises to come to the wedding.

Then, he goes to [[Kerala]], where he had his college education. His major crush at that time was Lathika ([[Gopika]]), a [[Malayali]] girl from [[Chalakudy]], 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 after knowing about her love affair with senthi. On reaching Chalakudy to invite her, Senthil is slightly disturbed to see her as a widow living with her grandmother for the past 12 years. He attempts to rekindle his love for her, but she corrects him.

On his journey, he comes across his trusted friend Divya ([[Sneha (actress)|Sneha]]), who instills confidence and elucidates him to the life lesson – that one has to go ahead in life without looking back. While she and Senthil travel on a bus, she reveals her tragic experience, that her mother is a paralytic patient and that she is the breadwinner of the family. As time passes by, she reveals that she was in love with someone and believed that he was the man of her life, but she was unfortunately let down. A poetic narration on the need for a good companion like Senthil who gives attention to her is stressed, even if it is not possible at his stage. After her unwilling engagement with a businessman from America, she goes away from Senthil. Senthil meets her five years later, and she is now a divorcee.

In the end, Senthil marries a girl of his parents choice, Thenmozhi ([[Kanika (actress)|Kanika]]). All the three girls who were a part in his life, along with his school and college friends attend his wedding. Also, this sets a very jovial ending to the story.

==Cast==
{{colbegin}}
* [[Cheran (director)|Cheran]] as Senthil Kumar
** Sivaprakasam as Senthil Kumar, young age
* [[Gopika]] as Lathika
* [[Sneha (actress)|Sneha]] as Divya
* [[Mallika (actress)|Mallika]] as Kamala
* [[Kanika (actress)|Kanika]] as Thenmozhi (special appearance)
* [[Rajesh (actor)|Rajesh]] as Senthil's father
* Vijaya Singh as Senthil's mother
* [[Ilavarasu]] as Narayanan teacher
** Karuppiah Bharathi as Narayanan teacher, old age
* [[Five Star Krishna|Krishna]] as Kamalakannan
* [[Benjamin (actor)|Benjamin]] as Oolamookkan Subramani
** [[Pandi (actor)|Lingeswaran]] as Oolamookkan Subramani, young age
* Pandian Raj as Mr. Rev. Albert Subramaniam, CEO of a US automobile company
{{colend}}

==Production==
Produced by [[Roja Combines]], Cheran first cast [[Prabhu Deva]] in the lead role during October 2000 but the actor and producers later left the project.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20010609200343/http://www.go4i.com/cinema/southsizzlers/southsizzlersstory20010105.shtml</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20050210085136/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/gossip/18-10-00/ramba.htm</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20041108032241/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/cinenews/26-10-00/cheran.htm</ref> In December 2000, Cheran announced that he would produce the film himself and that actor [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]] would portray the lead role in the project. However, Vikram later opted out as a result of scheduling problems.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20040615204113/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/gossip/12-12-00/cheran.htm</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg114/culture.htm |title=Arts & Culture |publisher=Tamilguardian.com |date=20 June 2001 |access-date=5 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425112226/http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg114/culture.htm |archive-date=25 April 2012 }}</ref> [[Arvind Swami]] revealed that he was offered the main role, but he declined the role because he retired from cinema that time period.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vikatan Press Meet - Arvind Swamy|url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/141271-vikatan-press-meet-arvind-swamy|access-date=2020-08-29|website=[[Ananda Vikatan]]|language=ta}}</ref>

Cheran said that the film was partly autobiographical.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web|title=Movies: Malayalam - Interview|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/malayalam/interview.php?id=13429274&cid=2408|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827091522/http://www.sify.com/movies/malayalam/interview.php?id=13429274&cid=2408|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-08-27|website=[[Sify.com]]}}</ref> Four different cinematographers worked on the film; [[Ravi Varman]] had shot the school episode in Senthil's early life with a 35 mm lens, [[Vijay Milton]] shot the Kerala scenes, Dwaraknath shot the Chennai episode with a steady cam, and Shanky Mahendran shot the "'live' part" of the film when the camera uses the [[Point of view shot|point of view]] of Senthil's character.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

==Awards==
The film has won the following awards since its release:

'''[[52nd National Film Awards]] (India)'''
* Won – Golden Lotus Award – [[National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment|Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment]] – [[Cheran (director)|Cheran]]
* Won – Silver Lotus Award – [[National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer|Best Female Playback Singer]] – [[K. S. Chithra]]
* Won – Silver Lotus Award – [[National Film Award for Best Lyrics|Best Lyrics]] – [[Pa. Vijay]]

'''52nd [[Filmfare Awards South]]'''
* Won – [[Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil|Best Film – Tamil]]
* Won – [[Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil|Best Director – Tamil]] – [[Cheran (director)|Cheran]]
* Won – [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil|Best Supporting Actress – Tamil]] – [[Mallika (actress)|Mallika]]
* Won – [[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil|Best Music Director – Tamil]] – [[Bharathwaj]]

'''[[Tamil Nadu State Film Awards]]'''
* Won – [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
* Won – [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]] – [[Cheran (director)|Cheran]]
* Won – [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback|Best Female Playback]] – [[K. S. Chithra]]

==Soundtrack==
The soundtrack features eight songs composed by [[Ramani Bharadwaj|Bharadwaj]], with lyrics by [[Pa. Vijay]], [[Snehan]] and Cheran. The film's background was scored by the famous duo [[Sabesh-Murali]].

The song ''Ovvoru Pookalume''' also featured the performance of the members of Raaga Priya orchestra which also included its founder [[Comagan]].<ref>{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=2021-05-06|title=Visually impaired musician Comagan passes away|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/visually-impaired-musician-comagan-passes-away/article34495685.ece|access-date=2021-05-06|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title='Autograpgh' fame differently abled musician Comagan passes away - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/autograpgh-fame-differently-abled-musician-comagan-passes-away/articleshow/82424512.cms|access-date=2021-05-06|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

{{Infobox album

| name = Autograph
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Ramani Bharadwaj|Bharadwaj]]
| Cover =
| alt =
| released = 2004
| recorded = 2004
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Soundtrack
| length = 33:08
| label = Mass Audios
| producer = [[Ramani Bharadwaj|Bharadwaj]]
| prev_title = [[Jay Jay]]
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title = [[Kadhal Dot Com]]
| next_year = 2004
}}

{{tracklist

| headline = Track list
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 33:08
| title1 = Gnyabagam Varudae
| lyrics1 = [[Cheran (director)|Cheran]]
| extra1 = [[Ramani Bharadwaj|Bharadwaj]]
| length1 = 5:02
| title2 = Ninaivugal
| lyrics2 = Cheran
| extra2 = Bharadwaj, [[Unni Menon]]
| length2 = 4:38
| title3 = Kizhakke Paarthen
| lyrics3 = [[Snehan]]
| extra3 = [[Yugendran]], Foni
| length3 = 4:32
| title4 = Jegatho Tharana
| extra4 = Reshmi, Sreevidya, Bharadwaj
| lyrics4 = Purandara Dasar Keerthanai
| length4 = 2:47
| title5 = [[Ovvoru Pookalume]]
| lyrics5 = [[Pa. Vijay]]
| extra5 = [[K. S. Chithra]], Bharadwaj
| length5 = 5:25
| title6 = Manasukkulle Dhagam
| lyrics6 = Snehan
| extra6 = [[Harish Raghavendra]], Reshma
| length6 = 5:22
| title7 = Maname Nalama
| lyrics7 = Snehan
| extra7 = Bharadwaj
| length7 = 0:54
| title8 = Meesa Vecha Perandi
| lyrics8 = Pa. Vijay
| extra8 = [[Karthik (singer)|Karthik]], Kovai Kamala, Bharadwaj
| length8 = 4:28
}}

== Critical reception ==
[[Sify]] wrote, "A major plus point of ''Autograph'' is that Cheran has chosen three cameramen to do the three episodes in his life which makes the film lively and nostalgic."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Autograph Review|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/autograph-review--pclv0vfgdgghh.html|access-date=2020-08-29|website=[[Sify.com]]}}</ref> Dennis Harvey of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote, "Well-mounted production has too much familiar melodrama, and few real highlights (notably one delightful homage to ’70s Tamil musicals), but remains an easy watch."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harvey|first=Dennis|date=2004-09-06|title=Autograph|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/reviews/autograph-2-1200531283/|access-date=2020-08-29|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref> G Dhananjayan in his book ''PRIDE OF TAMIL CINEMA: 1931 TO 2013'' wrote "A trend setting film recollecting love memoirs in various phases of life".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dhananjayan|first=G.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e07vBwAAQBAJ&q=autograph|title=PRIDE OF TAMIL CINEMA: 1931 TO 2013: Tamil Films that have earned National and International Recognition|date=2014-11-03|publisher=Blue Ocean Publishers|pages=434|language=en}}</ref>

==Box office==
''Autograph'' was a sensation and emerged an underdog success story. From 67 prints at the time of release, the number went up to 90 after 25 days. The film theatrical rights were sold for {{INR}}2.5 crore. Selling 60 lakh tickets in Tamil Nadu box office, the film netted {{INR}}10 crore in its lifetime run.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091005160635/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2004/12/31/stories/2004123101620100.htm Autograph netted 10 crore in TN box office]</ref>

== Remakes ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Title
!Director
!Language
!{{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
|2004
!''[[Naa Autograph]]''
|[[S. Gopala Reddy]]
|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/charan-to-team-up-with-sharwanand-and-nithya-menen-483187.html|title=Charan to team up with Sharwanand and Nithya Menen|website=News18|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref>
|-
|2006
!''[[My Autograph]]''
|[[Sudeep|Kichcha Sudeep]]
|[[Kannada]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/mar/09sudeep.htm|title=Sudeep: Back with My Autograph|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref>
|-
|2017
!''[[Amar Aponjon]]''
|[[Raja Chanda]]
|[[Bengali language|Bengali]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/out-of-court-settlement-between-soham-and-jeet/articleshow/58775101.cms|title=Out of court settlement between Soham and Jeet - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0411131|Autograph}}

{{Cheran (director)}}
{{National Film Award Wholesome Entertainment}}
{{FilmfareAwardBestTamilMovie}}
{{TamilNaduStateFilmAwardBestFilm}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Autograph}}
[[Category:2004 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Cheran]]
[[Category:Tamil films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:2004 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kerala]]
[[Category:Films shot in Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kochi]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chalakudy]]
[[Category:Films shot in Karnataka]]
[[Category:2000s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Indian romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Indian nonlinear narrative films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Bharadwaj (music director)]]
[[Category:Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Indian remakes of foreign films]]

Autograph 2004 film - Revision history

>BattyBot at 22:42, 1 July 2021