Stevenagok at 09:26, 22 April 2026

2026-04-22T09:26:06Z

New page

{{short description|1999 film by Dharani}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Ethirum Puthirum.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[Dharani (director)|V. C. Ramani]]
| writer = [[E. Ramdoss]] (dialogues)
| story = E. K. Maharajan
| screenplay = V. C. Ramani
| producer = G. S. Madhu
| starring = [[Mammootty]]<br />[[Napoleon (actor)|Napoleon]]<br />[[Sangita Madhavan Nair|Sangita]]<br />[[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]]
| cinematography = A. Karthik Raja
| editing = B. S. Nagarajan
| music = [[Vidyasagar (composer)|Vidyasagar]]
| studio = Madhu Film Internationals
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1999|03|04}}
| runtime = 165 mins
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
'''''Ethirum Puthirum''''' ({{translation|Different puzzles}}) is a 1999 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[action-drama film]] directed by [[Dharani (director)|Dharani]] under his real name V. C. Ramani. Produced by G. S. Madhu, the film stars [[Mammootty]], [[Napoleon (actor)|Napoleon]], [[Sangita Madhavan Nair|Sangita]], and [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]], while [[Goundamani]], [[Senthil]], and [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]] play supporting roles. The music was composed by [[Vidyasagar (composer)|Vidyasagar]] with editing by B. S. Nagarajan and cinematography by A. Karthik Raja. The film released on 4 March 1999, and won the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film|Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Third Best Film]].

== Plot ==
Kannan, an upright district collector, is tasked with a sensitive mission when Veeraiyan, a terrorist leader, kidnaps a prominent female political figure. Veeraiyan agrees to release her only if his injured brother, Arasappan, receives proper medical care and is safely returned. The government consents and assigns Kannan to oversee Arasappan’s recovery.

Initially, Arasappan despises Kannan for representing the government against which his brother is fighting. However, the compassion shown by Kannan’s wife, Selvi, and his mother gradually softens his hostility. Just as Arasappan begins to change, events take a darker turn: without Kannan’s approval, the police launch an assault on Veeraiyan’s camp in the forest. Enraged, Arasappan nearly retaliates but is restrained by Kannan.

The police then accuse Kannan of collusion with the terrorists, citing Arasappan’s escape from his custody and Kannan’s criticism of their unauthorized raid. As a result, Kannan’s wife and mother are arrested. Determined to prevent further suffering for Kannan’s family, Arasappan voluntarily surrenders. Despite his surrender, the police refuse to show him mercy.

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
* [[Mammootty]] as Collector Kannan
* [[Napoleon (actor)|Napoleon]] as Arasappan
* [[Sangita Madhavan Nair|Sangita]] as Selvi
* [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] as Kannan's mother
* [[Goundamani]] as Auto Driver
* [[Senthil]] as Eshwar
* [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]] as Veeraiyan
* [[Charan Raj]] as Devaraj
* [[Radhika Sarathkumar|Radhika]] as Dr. Jayanthi
* [[Sangili Murugan]] as Panchayat Thalaivar
* [[Uday Prakash (actor)|Uday Prakash]] as Inspector
* [[Ra. Sankaran]] as Doctor
* [[Shanmugasundaram]]
* [[Madhan Bob]]
* [[Kumarimuthu]]
* [[Pushpavanam Kuppusamy]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Suganth |first=M. |date=29 March 2020 |title=Paravai Muniyamma's innocence turned Dhool shoot into a fun experience: Director Dharani |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/paravai-muniyammas-innocence-turned-dhool-shoot-into-a-fun-experience-director-dharani/articleshow/74873364.cms |url-status=live |access-date=11 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711215229/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/paravai-muniyammas-innocence-turned-dhool-shoot-into-a-fun-experience-director-dharani/articleshow/74873364.cms |archive-date=11 July 2022}}</ref>
* [[Raju Sundaram]] (special appearance in "Thottu Thottu Pesum Sultana")
* [[Simran (actress)|Simran]] (special appearance in "Thottu Thottu Pesum Sultana")
}}

== Production ==
''Ethirum Puthirum'' is the directorial debut of Dharani.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Praveenkumar |first=K |date=2022-07-13 |title=#UnforgettableOnes: Director Dharani |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/unforgettableones-director-dharani/articleshow/92843693.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250516032818/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/unforgettableones-director-dharani/articleshow/92843693.cms |archive-date=2025-05-16 |access-date=2025-05-16 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> The film was initially titled ''Master'' and production delays postponed the film's release by a couple of years. [[Soundarya]] was the original choice for the female lead role, while the [[item number]] done by Simran was initially offered to actress [[Rambha (actress)|Rambha]], who wanted better pay.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sandya |title=**** Tamil Movie News **** |url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/News/98/Mar/news3.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430054302/http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/News/98/Mar/news3.htm |archive-date=30 April 2016 |access-date=2 March 2012 |website=Indolink}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=GOKUL'S TAMIL CINEMA NEWS |url=http://www.geocities.ws/gokima/gcnapril.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064804/http://www.geocities.ws/gokima/gcnapril.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=29 July 2015 |website=geocities.ws}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
Music was composed by [[Vidyasagar (composer)|Vidyasagar]] and the lyrics were penned by [[Vairamuthu]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ethirum Pudhirum Tamil Audio Cassettes By Vidyasagar |url=https://banumass.com/product/tamil-audio-cassette/tamil-audio-cassettes/ethirum-pudhirum-tamil-audio-cassettes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018130600/https://banumass.com/product/tamil-audio-cassette/tamil-audio-cassettes/ethirum-pudhirum-tamil-audio-cassettes/ |archive-date=18 October 2023 |access-date=18 October 2023 |website=Banumass}}</ref> The song "Thottu Thottu Pesum Sultana" became a chartbuster,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Avinash |date=2023-03-22 |title=Tamil Nadu will always be home, says Simran |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2023/Mar/22/tamil-nadu-will-always-be-home-says-simran-2558263.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250328105501/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2023/Mar/22/tamil-nadu-will-always-be-home-says-simran-2558263.html |archive-date=28 March 2025 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=[[The New Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref> and received renewed attention after featuring in ''[[Good Bad Ugly]]'' (2025).<ref>{{Cite web |last=K |first=Janani |date=12 April 2025 |title=Beyond the wink: Priya Prakash Varrier's second viral wave with Good Bad Ugly |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/priya-prakash-varrier-viral-wink-thottu-thottu-pesum-sultana-good-bad-ugly-2707983-2025-04-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250423024521/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/priya-prakash-varrier-viral-wink-thottu-thottu-pesum-sultana-good-bad-ugly-2707983-2025-04-12 |archive-date=23 April 2025 |access-date=23 April 2025 |website=[[India Today]] |language=en}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| total_length = 22:38
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Thottu Thottu Pesum Sultana
| extra1 = [[Swarnalatha]], [[Pushpavanam Kuppusamy]]
| length1 = 4:44
| title2 = Kathu Pasanga
| extra2 = Pushpavanam Kuppusamy, [[Malaysia Vasudevan]], [[Anuradha Sriram]], Gopal Rao
| length2 = 5:06
| title3 = Nilavonnu Pathikichhu
| extra3 = [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]], Swarnalatha
| length3 = 4:40
| title4 = Maruthaani Thottu
| extra4 = [[Sujatha Mohan]], Malaysia Vasudevan
| length4 = 4:32
| title5 = Ellorukkum Oru
| extra5 = Gopal Rao
| length5 = 3:34
}}

== Release and reception ==
The film was initially scheduled to release on 19 October 1998 to coincide with [[Diwali]], but was delayed by five months.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajitha |date=17 October 1998 |title=Southern bonanza |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/1998/oct/17diw.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601075955/https://www.rediff.com/movies/1998/oct/17diw.htm |archive-date=1 June 2023 |access-date=31 July 2023 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> Prior to the theatrical release of the film, pirated copies were released and streamed on television, which ultimately affected the profitability of the film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajitha |date=15 December 1999 |title=The war within |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/dec/15mudal.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513050917/https://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/dec/15mudal.htm |archive-date=13 May 2023 |access-date=31 July 2023 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> D. S. Ramanujam of ''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote, "Though the crux of Maharajan's story is simple, the director, with his screenplay, ably supported by E. Ramdass's dialogue, has worked out enough absorbing situations."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=D. S. |date=23 April 1999 |title=Film Reviews: Perianna / Monisha En Monalisa / Ethirum Puthirum |pages=26 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.webpage.com/hindu/daily/990423/09/09230222.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=31 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010407074033/http://www.webpage.com/hindu/daily/990423/09/09230222.htm |archive-date=7 April 2001}}</ref> The film won the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film|Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Third Best Film]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 December 2000 |title=Awards: Tamilnadu Government Announces Cinema State Awards -1999 |url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/awards/29-12-00/state.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622010121/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/awards/29-12-00/state.htm |archive-date=22 June 2008 |access-date=15 August 2023 |website=[[Dinakaran]]}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

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

{{Dharani (director)}}
{{TamilNaduStateFilmAwardBestFilm}}

[[Category:1999 Indian films]]
[[Category:1999 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1999 action drama films]]
[[Category:1999 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:1999 films]]
[[Category:Films about terrorism in India]]
[[Category:Films directed by Dharani (director)]]
[[Category:Films scored by Vidyasagar (composer)]]
[[Category:Indian action drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language action drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Ethirum Puthirum - Revision history

Stevenagok at 09:26, 22 April 2026