Blue Star (film) explained
| Blue Star |
| Director: | S. Jayakumar |
| Producer: | Pa. Ranjith
R. Ganesh Murthy
G. Soundarya |
| Starring: | Ashok Selvan
Shanthanu Bhagyaraj |
| Cinematography: | Thamizh A. Azhagan |
| Editing: | Selva R. K. |
| Music: | Govind Vasantha |
| Studio: | Neelam Productions
Lemon Leaf Creation Pvt Ltd |
| Distributor: | Sakthi Film Factory |
| Runtime: | 166 minutes |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Tamil |
Blue Star is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language sports drama film directed by S. Jayakumar in his directorial debut and jointly produced by Pa. Ranjith under his production banner Neelam Productions along with R. Ganesh Murthy and G. Soundarya under Lemon Leaf Creation Pvt Ltd. The film stars Ashok Selvan as the main protoganist, with Keerthi Pandian, Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, Prithvi Rajan, Bagavathi Perumal, Elango Kumaravel and Lizzie Antony in supporting roles, and Saju Navodaya in an extended cameo. The film features music composed by Govind Vasantha with cinematography handled by Thamizh A. Azhagan and editing done by Selva R. K. It was released on 24 January 2024 to positive reviews from critics.
Plot
Set in the 1990s, the film is based in Arakkonam and follows the rivalry between two groups belonging to different castes against the backdrop of cricket. The plot follows their transition from enemies to friends and the trope between the different teams, while addressing the sport's segregation and inequalities, explored when both the team captains are exposed to discrimination and segregation from another world of cricket.
Production
The film was announced on 15 August 2022 with the character of Ranjith based on Jayakumar's elder brother and Sam based on the director himself.[1] [2] Filming commenced in the same month,[3] and concluded in January 2023.[4] The first look and title were revealed on 20 May 2023.[5]
Music
The soundtrack was composed by Govinda Vasantha. The first single "Blue Star Anthem was released on 20 May 2023. The second single "Railin Oligal" was released on 13 September 2023.[6] The third single "Arakkonam Style" was released on 24 November 2023.[7] The soundtrack was released on 21 January 2024.
Release
The film was released on 24 January 2024, on the eve of Republic Day.[8]
Home media
The post-theatrical streaming rights of the film were acquired by Amazon Prime Video. Satellite rights of the film were acquired by ZeeTamil.
Reception
Blue Star received positive critical reviews.[9]
Bhuvanesh Chander of The Hindu wrote, "Starring Ashok Selvan and Shanthnu Bhagyaraj as two angsty youngsters from rival communities locking horns on and off the cricket ground, Blue Star is a serious film telling a grounded tale that, for over 160 minutes, immerses you into a world so real, so familiar and so imperfect, that nothing shakes you off its spell."[10] Roopa Radhakrishnan of The Times of India rated the film 3/5 praising the performances of the cast, the direction and music.[11] Akchayaa Rajkumar of The News Minute rated the film 3.5/5 and wrote, "Tamil cinema has seen a wave of anti-caste films over the past few years and almost all of them have explored the caste dynamics of and oppression enforced by intermediary castes on Dalits. Blue Star takes this one step forward and explores the discrimination doled out to both intermediary castes and Dalits by a privileged caste".[12]
Notes and References
- News: 15 August 2022 . Ashok Selvan, Shanthnu Bhagyaraj, and Keerthi Pandian in Pa Ranjith's cricket-based film . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230915204056/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ashok-selvan-shanthnu-bhagyaraj-and-keerthi-pandian-in-pa-ranjiths-cricket-based-film/articleshow/93547683.cms . 15 September 2023 . 29 November 2023 . The Times of India.
- Web site: Actors Shanthnu and Prithvi Rajan on 'Blue Star' and learning to play the unorthodox cricket of the '90s. Bhuvanesh. Chandar. 23 January 2024. The Hindu.
- Web site: 15 August 2022 . Pa Ranjith's Neelam presents new film based on cricket; Shooting commences . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230928190724/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/aug/15/pa-ranjiths-neelam-presents-new-film-based-on-cricket-shooting-commences-33746.html . 28 September 2023 . 21 March 2024 . . en.
- Web site: 21 May 2023 . Ashok Selvan and Shantanu Bhagyaraj's sports drama titled 'Blue Star' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230714190330/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ashok-selvan-and-shantanu-bhagyarajs-sports-drama-titled-blue-star/articleshow/100394849.cms . 14 July 2023 . 21 March 2024 . The Times of India.
- News: 20 May 2023 . Pa Ranjith's next production, starring Ashok Selvan and Shanthnu, titled 'Blue Star' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230527114911/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/pa-ranjiths-next-production-starring-ashok-selvan-and-shanthnu-titled-blue-star/article66874002.ece . 27 May 2023 . 29 November 2023 . The Hindu.
- Web site: 13 September 2023 . Ashok Selvan and Keerthi Pandian's first song together from 'Blue Star' – Released on wedding day . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129141355/https://www.indiaglitz.com/ashok-selvan-keerthi-pandian-blue-star-film-first-song-released-on-wedding-day-latest-update-tamil-news-342844 . 29 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . IndiaGlitz.com.
- Web site: 25 November 2023 . Arakkonam Style, second single from Blue Star, is out . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129141353/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/nov/25/arakkonam-style-second-single-from-blue-star-is-out-49868.html . 29 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . Cinema Express.
- Web site: 6 January 2024 . Blue Star: Ashok Selvan, Shanthnu Bhagyaraj's sports drama gears up for Republic day weekend release . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240106070752/https://www.moviecrow.com/News/32803/blue-star-ashok-selvan-shanthanu-bhagyaraj-release-date . 6 January 2024 . 6 January 2024 . Moviecrow.
- Web site: 29 January 2024 . Blue Star Vs Singapore Saloon Box Office Collection Day 4: Tamil Films Hold Steady On 1st Weekend, Add Rs 1 Crore . 22 March 2024 . . en . 4 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240204100304/https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/box-office/tamil/blue-star-vs-singapore-saloon-box-office-collection-day-4tamil-films-hold-steady-on-1st-weekend-add-rs-1-crore-article-107233380 . live .
- News: Chandar . Bhuvanesh . 25 January 2024 . 'Blue Star' movie review: Ashok Selvan, Shanthnu knock it out of the park in this powerful sports drama . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126195150/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/blue-star-movie-review-ashok-selvan-shanthnu-knock-it-out-of-the-park-in-this-powerful-sports-drama/article67776119.ece . 26 January 2024 . 26 January 2024 . . en-IN.
- News: Radhakrishnan . Roopa . 25 January 2024 . Blue Star Movie Review : A well-cast sports drama that's simplified, straightforward and splendid . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126005831/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/blue-star/movie-review/107142365.cms?from=mdr . 26 January 2024 . 26 January 2024 . The Times of India.
- Web site: Rajkumar . Akchayaa . 25 January 2024 . Blue Star review: Ashok Selvan's spirited anti-caste cricket film almost hits the right spots . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126121256/https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/blue-star-review-ashok-selvans-spirited-anti-caste-cricket-film-almost-hits-the-right-spots . 26 January 2024 . 26 January 2024 . . en.
