| Azhagan | |
| Director: | K. Balachander |
| Producer: | Kovai Chezhiyan |
| Starring: | Mammootty Bhanupriya Geetha Madhoo Babloo Prithiveeraj |
| Music: | Maragathamani |
| Cinematography: | R. Raghunatha Reddy |
| Editing: | Ganesh–Kumar |
| Studio: | K. C. Film Combines |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Tamil |
Azhagan is a 1991 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Balachander and produced by Kovai Chezhiyan. It stars Mammootty in the lead role with an ensemble supporting cast, including Bhanupriya, Geetha, Madhoo (in her Tamil debut), and Babloo Prithiveeraj. The film, released on August 25 1991,[1] was critically and commercially successful.
Azhagappan, a successful hotelier and father of four small children, has lost his wife (whose face is not shown in the photo) in an accident. College student Swapna plays pranks on him and also falls in love with him, but Azhagappan refuses her love considering the age difference between them. After passing the matriculation exam, Azhagappan enrols in a tutorial centre where his teacher, Kanmani, is smitten with him, but Azhagappan, is not interested in her. Classical dancers Priya Ranjan and Azhagappan though, fall in love. After egos and differences crop up between them, Driver Santhanam blurts out the truth that the four children are orphans adopted by him. In the end, Swapna understands the situation and would love to call him "Daddy." With the help of Kanmani and Swapna, the four children devise a plan and play mediator between Azhagan and Priya by making them speak on the phone. In the end, both reveal their love through the phone and get united.
Madhoo, the niece of actress Hema Malini, made her acting debut with this film.[2] The song "Kozhi Koovum" was choreographed by Kala and was picturised within two days.[3]
The music was scored by Maragathamani.[4] [5] The song "Thathithom" is set in Dharmavati raga,[6] "Sangeetha Swarangal" is set in Kharaharapriya,[7] and "Jaadhi Malli" is set in Maand.[8] The last portions of the song "Thathithom" were inspired from "Liberian Girl" by Michael Jackson.[9]
The Indian Express wrote, "Balachander, while charting out a script bristles with very lifelike characters acting out their hopes and fears with much credibility, does not miss out on smaller details."[10] The film was both a critical and commercial success.[11] At the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, Maragathamani won the award for Best Music Director, while Raghunatha Reddy won for Best Cinematographer.[12]