Indira is a 1995 Indian Tamil-language drama film co-written and directed by Suhasini Maniratnam. It features Arvind Swamy with Anu Hasan (cousin of Suhasini) in the title role, Radharavi, Nassar and Ashwini. A. R. Rahman composed the film's score and soundtrack, while Santosh Sivan handled the film's cinematography.[1][2]

Indira
Poster
Directed bySuhasini Maniratnam
Screenplay bySuhasini Maniratnam
Mani Ratnam
Story bySuhasini Maniratnam
Produced byG. Venkateswaran
StarringArvind Swamy
Anu Hasan
Radharavi
Nassar
Janagaraj
CinematographySantosh Sivan
Edited by
Music byA. R. Rahman
Production
company
Distributed byAalayam Productions
Release date
  • 11 May 1995 (1995-05-11)
Running time
137 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

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The film revolves around a group of villagers from Maranur, India, and their clash with a neighbouring village leader as their community begins to prosper. Soon, money and greed threaten a will for peaceful coexistence between the two rivalling communities. The main theme involves the role of the caste system and how the younger generation strive to overcome it.

Cast

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Production

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Suhasini offered the title role – Indira, to her cousin Anuradha, daughter of producer Chandrahasan, and the actress has since noted that "it was a heavy subject for a newcomer. But I was moved by the story line and there were occasions when I was overwhelmed with emotion. Not once did I use glycerine for tearful scenes".[3] V. Priya worked as an assistant director during the making of the film.[4]

Release and reception

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Indira was later dubbed and released in Hindi as Priyanka. The film won two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, winning Santosh Sivan the award for Best Cinematographer as well as a Special Jury Award for the film itself.[citation needed] The film however remains the only feature film that Suhasini has directed in her career.[5]

R. P. R. of Kalki wrote it is understood that Suhasini has a healthy way of thinking; whether she changes the fate of Tamil cinema or not, it will be favourable if she is not changed.[6] Reviewing the film at the Indian Panorama section of the International Film Festival of India, S. R. Ashok Kumar of The Hindu wrote that "In certain scenes Anuradha Hassan does not look like a new find at all".[7]

Soundtrack

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Indira
Soundtrack album by
Released1995
RecordedPanchathan Record Inn
Length24:35
LabelPyramid
T-Series
ProducerA.R. Rahman
A.R. Rahman chronology
Bombay
(1995)
Indira
(1995)
Rangeela
(1995)
External audio
  Audio Jukebox (Tamil) on YouTube
  Audio Jukebox (Telugu) on YouTube

All lyrics are written by Vairamuthu; all music is composed by A. R. Rahman

Tamil track list[8]
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Nila Kaikiradhu" (Female)Harini3:22
2."Nila Kaikiradhu" (Male)Hariharan4:20
3."Odakara Marimuthu"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram3:57
4."Thoda Thoda Malarndhadhenna"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra5:07
5."Ini Achcham Achcham Illai"Sujatha Mohan, Anuradha Sriram, G. V. Prakash, Shweta Mohan, Esther5:17
6."Munnerudhan"T. L. Maharajan, Swarnalatha2:02

All lyrics are written by P. K. Mishra; all music is composed by A. R. Rahman

Hindi track list[9] (Released under the title Priyanka)
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Khili Chandni Hame"Harini3:22
2."Kili Chandni Hame"Hariharan4:20
3."Koi Yahan Bhanumati Koi Yahan Roopmati"Udit Narayan, Mano3:57
4."Thoda Thoda Pyar"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra5:07
5."Yeh Jaati Paati Kaisi"Sujatha Mohan, Anuradha Sriram, G. V. Prakash, Shweta Mohan, Aditya Narayan5:17
6."Barasnewali Hai Barkha"Mano, Swarnalatha2:02
7."Thoda Thoda Pyar-2"Hariharan, K. S. Chithra5:07

References

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  1. ^ "Indira (1995)". Cinesouth. Archived from the original on 29 October 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Suhasini directs again". Rediff.com. 3 November 1998. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Her cup of Joy". The Hindu. 9 December 2006. Archived from the original on 22 December 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  4. ^ "My first break – V. Priya". The Hindu. 26 September 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Suhasini back to direction". IndiaGlitz. 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  6. ^ ஆர். பி. ஆர் (21 May 1995). "இந்திரா" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 15–16. Retrieved 24 August 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ^ Kumar, S. R. Ashok (12 January 1996). "The cream of Indian cinema". The Hindu. p. 73. Archived from the original on 21 December 1996. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Indira". JioSaavn. 31 August 2014. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Priyanka (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. 27 May 1995. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
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