Avvai Shanmughi

Avvai Shanmugi (Tamil: அவ்வை சண்முகி) is a 1996 Tamil comedy film, directed by K. S. Ravikumar and written by Crazy Mohan, which is an Indian adaptation of the American comedy film, Mrs. Doubtfire. The film features Kamal Haasan in the lead role with Meena, Gemini Ganesan, Nagesh, Heera, Manivannan and Nassar. The film's score and soundtrack were composed by Deva, while the film was produced by Ravindran and Hari. It was released on November 10 coinciding with the festival of Diwali in 1996 and became a commercially successful venture.^[1]

Plot

The film starts in a courtroom where Janaki (Meena) is fighting for divorce from Pandian (Kamal Haasan). She offers various reasons for wanting a divorce. She has married Pandian against the wishes of her rich father Vishwanathan Iyer (Gemini Ganesan). But she isn't able to come to terms with living in Pandian's small house without amenities. Pandian is an assistant dance director with a modest income and is not able to spend much time with the family. All this accumulates and Janaki decides to apply for divorce, which is granted. The court orders that Pandian can meet his daughter once a week and this is his only solace. His daughter, however, loves him a lot and doesn't like the arrangement.

Poster of Bhamane Satyabhamane, the dubbed version of Avvai Shanmughi, too was a huge success in Andhra Pradesh

Basha (Nassar), a Muslim friend who works in a hotel as a chef, advises Pandian to steal his daughter from Janaki. Pandian goes about trying to do as his friend suggests. In doing so, he is discovered; and now he cannot meet her at all. Then Pandian finds out that Vishwanathan Iyer has advertised for a woman to look after his granddaughter. Joseph (Nagesh) is a makeup man in films. In conversation with him, Pandian gets the idea of playing an old woman, so that he can be with his child and ex-wife without them knowing. Joseph agrees to this plan and the transformation is done from Pandian to 'Avvai Shanmugi'-- a dignified, elderly woman who is hired to take care of the little girl.

Rathna (Heera Rajgopal) is a girl who is in love with Pandian but is constantly rebuffed. Basha takes up the role of a mute Iyer cook and is admitted into Vishwanathan Iyer house on the recommendation of Avvai Shanmugi. However, Basha is caught later while doing his Namaz, thereby shattering both lies-- that he is mute and an Iyer Brahmin. Hilarious circumstances follow and slowly Avvai Shanmugi manages to convince the household of "her" sincerity.So much so that Janaki's widowed father begins to develop a liking for Avvai and in fact proposes to "her" too! Around the same time, Mudaliyar (Manivannan), the house-owner of the place where Pandian lives, happens to bump into Avvai Shanmugi. This happens many times and Mudaliyar, too, begins to develop a liking for "her".

Meanwhile Pandian slowly begins to realize that Janaki hasn't totally forgotten him. Avvai rebuffs Vishwanathan's proposals by saying that 'her' husband is alive. Adding to the chaos, "she" tells Vishwanathan that Joseph is 'her' husband; while Pandian tells Sethurama (Delhi Ganesh) -- Vishwanathan's secretary-- that Mudaliyar is Avvai's husband. There is much confusion after this, but it is resolved at last. Avvai Shanmugi convinces Vishwanathan that Janaki's right place is by her husband. While Janaki's father goes off to talk to his estranged son-in-law, Avvai Shanmugi reveals 'her' true self as Pandian to Basha. This is seen by Janaki, who misunderstands the scene and believes Avvai to be an immoral woman. Janaki goes to Pandian's house to reclaim him, but upon seeing Rathna waiting there, and Avvai's clothes lying around, thinks that her husband, too, is promiscuous. Janaki leaves and attempts suicide, but Avvai Shanmugi stops her. Avvai reveals "her" identity as Pandian. Janaki and Pandian reconcile.

Cast

• Kamal Haasan as Pandiyan and Avvai Shanmughi
• Meena as Janaki
• Gemini Ganesan as Vishwanathan Iyer
• Nagesh as Joseph
• Manivannan as Mudaliyar
• Nassar as Basha
• Delhi Ganesh as Sethurama Iyer
• Heera as Rathna
• Ann Anra as Bharathi
• S. P. Balasubrahmanyam as Doctor
• Ramesh Aravind in a guest appearance

Production

Kamal Haasan began production on the film after his project with Balachandra Menon, Kanden Seethaiyai failed to take off. The film was launched with Meena and Gemini Ganesan also a part of the cast and schedules were held in Kerala and Goa. Initially a debutant Sri Durga was roped in to play second heroine in the film and Sanghavi was also considered, but was ultimately replaced by Heera Rajgopal.^[2]

Leading make-up artist Michael Westmore gave advice for the film alongside R. K. Saratahkumar. The padding and foundation used gave Kamal Hasan and allergic reaction beneath his eyes, hence for the Hindi remake they ensured that scenes of the male role was shot first. The make-up took five hours to put on and lasts for only five more hours.^[3]

Release

The critics from The Hindu praised the film claiming "turns out to be entertainer, mirthful from start to finish". The film praises Kamal Haasan's portrayal of a woman by claiming that "few peers to Kamal Hassan who can do the female role with such perfection", while also crediting good performances from Gemini Ganesan, Nagesh and Ann Anra.^[4] The film went on to become a commercial success, and subsequently was ranked among the most successful Tamil films of 1996.^[5] The film won two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards with K. M. Sarathkumar winning Best Make-up Artist and Ann Anra winning Best Child actor.^[6]

The movie was dubbed into Telugu as Bhamane Satyabhamane. In 1998, Kamal Haasan made his directorial debut by remaking the film in Hindi as Chachi 420 with Tabu, Amrish Puri, Om Puri and himself in the leading roles.^[7]

Soundtrack

References

External links

	India portal
	Film portal

• Avvai Shanmugi at the Internet Movie Database