Ullasam
Encyclopedia
Ullaasam is a 1997 Tamil language
film directed and co-written by the duo JD-Jerry
and produced by noted Hindi film actor Amitabh Bachchan
. The film featured Ajith Kumar
, Vikram
and Maheswari
in the lead roles with Raghuvaran
, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
and Srividya
in other pivotal roles. The film was released in May 1997 to poor box office collections and became a financial failure commercially.
's first Tamil language film production under his banner, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation
and as a result roped in several leading stars for the project. Ajith Kumar
signed on after the success of Kadhal Kottai
, whilst Maheswari
, the cousin of actress Sridevi, was enjoying success in Telugu films. Moreover, the film boasted of a strong supporting cast of Raghuvaran
, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
and Srividya
whilst Jeeva
as cinematographer and Raju Sundaram
as choreographer were also amongst the best at their occupations. The director duo were signed on after ABCL had been a part of the marketing team in some of the serial episodes they had directed.
Leading Tamil actor Kamal Haasan
sung a song, "Muthe Muthamma" for the film under the composition of Karthik Raja
. The film was briefly delayed due to the FEFSI production strikes of 1997. Furthermore, during production Ajith suffered due the dancing and fighting involved which caused problems for his back, leading to a further round of corrective surgery.
The film became a financial failure at the box office, and became one of the five consecutive failure films by Ajith Kumar
in 1997.
with actor Kamal Haasan
also singing a song in the album.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
film directed and co-written by the duo JD-Jerry
J. D. Jerry
J. D and Jerry are Tamil film directors and scriptwriters who work together as a team. Their first film as directors was Ullaasam which had Ajith and Vikram in the lead roles and produced by Amitabh Bachchan. They have also directed Whistle and numerous Tamil television serials.-References:...
and produced by noted Hindi film actor Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
. The film featured Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai . A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with...
, Vikram
Vikram (actor)
Vikram is an Indian film actor who has predominantly appeared in Tamil language films. During his years in the Indian film industry, he has won five Filmfare Awards as well as one National Film Award and Tamil Nadu State Film Award amongst other recognitions and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate...
and Maheswari
Maheswari
Maheswari is a Tamil film actress, who has appeared in Tamil films. She is probably best known for her performances in Ullasam and Karuththamma. She won the Nandi Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film Nee Kosam. She is the cousin of popular actress, Sridevi. veerudu in 1997-...
in the lead roles with Raghuvaran
Raghuvaran
Raghuvaran was an Indian actor who predominantly acted in movies made in South India. He became famous for his portrayal of villain and character roles in Tamil films. He has acted in more than 150 Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films...
, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam is a multilingual Indian playback singer, actor, music director, voice actor and a film producer. He is referred to as S. P. B. or Balu by the media. He has won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer six times closely following K. J. Yesudas...
and Srividya
Srividya
Srividya was a leading Indian film actress of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s in the Tamil film Industry, in addition to being a good singer. In the latter part of her career, she concentrated on Malayalam films. Her brilliant portrayals as a mother in many films were highly acclaimed....
in other pivotal roles. The film was released in May 1997 to poor box office collections and became a financial failure commercially.
Plot
The plot revolves around two father and sons. Raghuvaran was a smuggler,who lives in a house nearby S.P.Balasubramaniam, father of Ajith. In his childhood days, getting attracted by Raghuvaran's activities, Ajith remains to stay with him always. While SPB tries to convince his son, it is all in vain. He got vexed, and started to grow up Vikram, son of Raghuvaran as a good man. In college days, Vikram becomes a singer, and becomes a lover boy in the college. While Ajith studying in the same college becomes a dancer, and turns out to be a local dada, who helps Raghuvaran in his business. In the meanwhile, Ajith and Vikram love the same girl (Maheswari), who in turn loves Ajith. SPB comes to know about Vikram's love affair and begs Ajith to leave his love for Vikram, since he won't be able to lead a peaceful life in the shape he is. The film ends with Ajith having to choose between his lady love and the dark world.Cast
- Ajith KumarAjith KumarAjith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai . A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with...
as Guru - VikramVikram (actor)Vikram is an Indian film actor who has predominantly appeared in Tamil language films. During his years in the Indian film industry, he has won five Filmfare Awards as well as one National Film Award and Tamil Nadu State Film Award amongst other recognitions and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate...
as Dev - MaheswariMaheswariMaheswari is a Tamil film actress, who has appeared in Tamil films. She is probably best known for her performances in Ullasam and Karuththamma. She won the Nandi Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film Nee Kosam. She is the cousin of popular actress, Sridevi. veerudu in 1997-...
as Megha - RaghuvaranRaghuvaranRaghuvaran was an Indian actor who predominantly acted in movies made in South India. He became famous for his portrayal of villain and character roles in Tamil films. He has acted in more than 150 Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films...
as GK - S. P. BalasubrahmanyamS. P. BalasubrahmanyamSripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam is a multilingual Indian playback singer, actor, music director, voice actor and a film producer. He is referred to as S. P. B. or Balu by the media. He has won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer six times closely following K. J. Yesudas...
as Thangiah - DevanDevan (actor)Devan is an Indian film actor and politician. He started his film career as the producer of the technically brilliant, but box-office flop movie Vellam and then opted to become an actor. Devan is known for his handling of serious roles, though he started his career with supporting roles...
- SrividyaSrividyaSrividya was a leading Indian film actress of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s in the Tamil film Industry, in addition to being a good singer. In the latter part of her career, she concentrated on Malayalam films. Her brilliant portrayals as a mother in many films were highly acclaimed....
Production
The film became Amitabh BachchanAmitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
's first Tamil language film production under his banner, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation
Amitabh Bachchan Corporation
-Details:The company specialized in film production and event management.The business was plagued by financial difficulties. The main reason for the bad performance of ABCL was blamed on the gross mis-management of the company by the then CEO, Sanjiv Gupta , who went on to become the CEO of Coca...
and as a result roped in several leading stars for the project. Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai . A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with...
signed on after the success of Kadhal Kottai
Kadhal Kottai
Kadhal Kottai is a 1996 Tamil film directed by Agathiyan, in which Ajith Kumar and Devayani play lead roles, apart from Heera Rajgopal, Thalaivasal Vijay, and Karan who played important roles....
, whilst Maheswari
Maheswari
Maheswari is a Tamil film actress, who has appeared in Tamil films. She is probably best known for her performances in Ullasam and Karuththamma. She won the Nandi Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film Nee Kosam. She is the cousin of popular actress, Sridevi. veerudu in 1997-...
, the cousin of actress Sridevi, was enjoying success in Telugu films. Moreover, the film boasted of a strong supporting cast of Raghuvaran
Raghuvaran
Raghuvaran was an Indian actor who predominantly acted in movies made in South India. He became famous for his portrayal of villain and character roles in Tamil films. He has acted in more than 150 Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films...
, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam is a multilingual Indian playback singer, actor, music director, voice actor and a film producer. He is referred to as S. P. B. or Balu by the media. He has won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer six times closely following K. J. Yesudas...
and Srividya
Srividya
Srividya was a leading Indian film actress of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s in the Tamil film Industry, in addition to being a good singer. In the latter part of her career, she concentrated on Malayalam films. Her brilliant portrayals as a mother in many films were highly acclaimed....
whilst Jeeva
Jeeva (director)
Jeeva was a popular cinematographer and film director in Tamil cinema.-Career:The four completed films he directed, namely 12B, Run , Ullam Ketkumae and Unnale Unnale, have become blockbusters. He died after suffering acute cardiac arrest in Russia on 25 June at the age of 43...
as cinematographer and Raju Sundaram
Raju Sundaram
Raju Sundaram is a Kollywood cine artiste who acts, directs, and choreographs for films. He is an eldest son of dance master Mugur Sundar, and elder brother to Prabhu Deva and Nagendra Prasad.-Birth:...
as choreographer were also amongst the best at their occupations. The director duo were signed on after ABCL had been a part of the marketing team in some of the serial episodes they had directed.
Leading Tamil actor Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
sung a song, "Muthe Muthamma" for the film under the composition of Karthik Raja
Karthik Raja
Karthik Raja is a Tamil musician from Chennai, India. He made his debut as music composer in the Tamil film Alexander.-Personal life:Karthik Raja is the eldest son of musician Ilaiyaraaja and Jeeva. His brother Yuvan Shankar Raja and sister Bhavatharini, who are also Kollywood music directors and...
. The film was briefly delayed due to the FEFSI production strikes of 1997. Furthermore, during production Ajith suffered due the dancing and fighting involved which caused problems for his back, leading to a further round of corrective surgery.
Release
The film opened to predominantly negative reviews with a critic labelling that "though boasting of impressive names in its credits, Ullasam doesn't bring out the best in any of them".The film became a financial failure at the box office, and became one of the five consecutive failure films by Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai . A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with...
in 1997.
Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack was composed by Karthik RajaKarthik Raja
Karthik Raja is a Tamil musician from Chennai, India. He made his debut as music composer in the Tamil film Alexander.-Personal life:Karthik Raja is the eldest son of musician Ilaiyaraaja and Jeeva. His brother Yuvan Shankar Raja and sister Bhavatharini, who are also Kollywood music directors and...
with actor Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
also singing a song in the album.
- 1. Cho Larey -- HariniHariniHarini is an Indian film playback singer and classical singer, who sings mainly in Tamil films. She has also sung in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam language films, whilst working with many leading film composers. She is married to another playback singer, Tippu.-Career:Harini learnt Carnatic...
, S. P. Balasubramaniam, Venkat PrabhuVenkat PrabhuVenkat Kumar Gangai Amaren , better known by his stage name Venkat Prabhu is an Indian filmmaker, who has worked as an actor, director and playback singer in the Tamil film industry... - 2. Izhavenil Thalattum -- Unnikrishnan
- 3. Konjum Manjal -- HariniHariniHarini is an Indian film playback singer and classical singer, who sings mainly in Tamil films. She has also sung in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam language films, whilst working with many leading film composers. She is married to another playback singer, Tippu.-Career:Harini learnt Carnatic...
, HariharanHariharanHariharan may refer to:* Hariharan , ghazal and playback singer from India* Hariharan , Malayalam film director* Githa Hariharan , Indian author and editor based in New Delhi... - 4. Mutthey Mutthamma -- Kamal HaasanKamal HaasanKamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
, SwarnalathaSwarnalathaSwarnalatha was a Indian playback singer. From 1987 onward, she rendered nearly 7000 songs in many languages including Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Bengali, Oriya, Punjabi and Badaga....
, BhavathariniBhavathariniBhavatharani is an Indian Tamil singer and music director. She is the daughter of film composer Ilaiyaraaja and her brothers are the noted film composers Karthik Raja and Yuvan Shankar Raja and has mostly sung songs under her father and her brothers' direction... - 5. Ullasam Ullasam -- HariniHariniHarini is an Indian film playback singer and classical singer, who sings mainly in Tamil films. She has also sung in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam language films, whilst working with many leading film composers. She is married to another playback singer, Tippu.-Career:Harini learnt Carnatic...
, SwarnalathaSwarnalathaSwarnalatha was a Indian playback singer. From 1987 onward, she rendered nearly 7000 songs in many languages including Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Bengali, Oriya, Punjabi and Badaga....
, BhavathariniBhavathariniBhavatharani is an Indian Tamil singer and music director. She is the daughter of film composer Ilaiyaraaja and her brothers are the noted film composers Karthik Raja and Yuvan Shankar Raja and has mostly sung songs under her father and her brothers' direction... - 6. Valibam Vaazha Sollum -- Ajith KumarAjith KumarAjith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai . A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with...
, Vikram Kennedy, BhavathariniBhavathariniBhavatharani is an Indian Tamil singer and music director. She is the daughter of film composer Ilaiyaraaja and her brothers are the noted film composers Karthik Raja and Yuvan Shankar Raja and has mostly sung songs under her father and her brothers' direction... - 7. Veesum Kaatrukku -- HariniHariniHarini is an Indian film playback singer and classical singer, who sings mainly in Tamil films. She has also sung in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam language films, whilst working with many leading film composers. She is married to another playback singer, Tippu.-Career:Harini learnt Carnatic...
, Unnikrishnan - 8. Yaaro Yaaryaro -- Ilaiyaraja, BhavathariniBhavathariniBhavatharani is an Indian Tamil singer and music director. She is the daughter of film composer Ilaiyaraaja and her brothers are the noted film composers Karthik Raja and Yuvan Shankar Raja and has mostly sung songs under her father and her brothers' direction...