Achchamundu! Achchamundu!

Achchamundu! Achchamundu!
Directed by Arun Vaidyanathan
Produced by Arun Vaidyanathan
Asma Hashmi
Ananth Govinda
P. Srinivasan
Ramzan Lakhani
Written by Arun Vaidyanathan
Starring Prasanna
Sneha
John Shea
Akshaya Dinesh
Music by Karthik Raja
Cinematography Chris Freilich
Release dates
 17 July 2009
Running time
 135 minutes
Country India
United States
Language Tamil

Achchamundu! Achchamundu! (English: There is fear! There is fear!) is a Tamil social thriller directed by Arun Vaidyanathan, starring Prasanna, Sneha and Emmy Award–winning American film actor John Shea. It is the first film in Indian cinema to be shot with the Red One camera system. A Telugu dubbed version is to be released as Bhayam. This film was reportedly one of the rare mainstream Tamil films to deal with the subject of pedophiles. The film was released on 17 July 2009 worldwide; despite receiving highly positive reviews it was a commercial failure. After its release, it went through a lot of hype stating that Prasanna and Sneha fell in love during the shooting because they were caught together during functions after its release. Although it was a rumor, they got married on 11 May 2012 in Chennai.

Plot

Senthil Kumar (Prasanna) and Malini (Sneha) are a happily married couple in New Jersey, living life like any other born-in-India, arrived-in-the-US couple do. He submerges himself in the office and eats sambhar rice at home and she never misses a bhajan at the temple and shops at Indian stores. They have a daughter Rithika (Akshaya Dinesh), 10 years old, the apple of their eyes (their car's license plate carries the name of their daughter).

They have just settled down in a new, spacious home about which Malini, understandably, has fears. The couple squabble amicably about everything from her perpetual laundry and cooking; while Senthil argues with friends about the significance of viboothi (holy ash, usually applied on forehead) and takes his family on weekend trips and birthday parties. It is a normal, happy life in the US until Robertson (John Shea) arrives, to paint the basement. Now, things are never the same at home again.

Robertson's unusually kind behaviour towards children sets off warning bells in your head especially when he is shown to be a pedophile who exercises like mad within the confines of his home, always moving on towards his next target. How the couple save their child forms the rest of the story.

Cast

Production

Filming

For the first time in Indian cinema, Red One camera was used for filming. The film was shot in New Jersey and New York during early 2008. Color correction and sound mixing were done in Los Angeles.

The film was premiered in New Jersey's Garden State Film Festival, and shared 'Best Homegrown Feature Film' award with Dorothy Lyman's Split Ends.

The film was selected for the Shanghai International Film Festival in International Panorama Category. The film's audio and trailer were launched by Academy Award winner Resul Pookutty. The movie was released on 17 July 2009 in Chennai and USA.

Reception

The film was officially selected for screening at the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival, where Academy Award-winner Danny Boyle headed the jury. The film was selected under the International Panorama category.

The film had a successful reception and the audience shared their appreciation with director Arun Vaidyanathan in a Q & A session.

The film received the Best Homegrown Feature Film award at the Garden State Film Festival, in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The film also won critical acclaim at New York on its official release.

The film was selected for the Digital Cinema Film Festival in Japan and was well received.

Achchamundu Achchamundu was selected for screening at the 33rd Cairo International Film Festival.

It was selected for screening in the Goa film festival on 23 November 2009, along with the only Tamil film Pasanga.

AA was selected for screening in the Chennai International Film Festival along with Ayan, Thiru Thiru Thuru Thuru and Pokkisham. It won best feature film award. Pasanga won the second best feature film award.

  1. The director of the movie Arun Vaidhyanadhan received a Media Guild Award for creating public awareness of child sex abuse.
  2. Actress Sneha won the best actress award at the Global awards function that was organized by United Artistes of India and Alandur Fine Arts and Edison Award for Best Actress.
  3. Sneha was nominated for 57th Filmfare Awards South under Filmfare Best Actress Award Category held on 7 August 2010, in Chennai.

Karthik Raja's music for the film was well received.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Karthik Raja.

No. Song Singers Length
1 "Kanavugal Kaatril" Rahul Nambiar, Anupama, Krish 4.18
2 "Kannil Dhaagam" S. Sowmya 3.42
3 "Parvai Vali Sumandhal" Rahul Nambiar 1.25
4 "Theme Music" 3.35

External links

Reviews

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