Ilakkanam () is a 2006 Tamil language drama film directed by Chandraseyan, making his directorial debut. The film stars newcomer Vishnupriyan and Uma, with Vinu Chakravarthy, Bala Singh, Kadhal Sukumar, Chitti Babu, Sathyapriya, Anjali Devi, Sabitha Anand, Rohini and Rajashree playing supporting roles. The film, produced by M. C. Shanmugam, was released on 22 December 2006. The film won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for Best Film.
Plot
In August 2005, the old protagonist Thamizharasan (Vishnupriyan) remembering his past.
In the past, Thamizharasan was an idealist and respectful young man who was fond of literature and he wanted to change society for the better. He left his village Mugaiyur (near Viluppuram) and joined a magazine named Vaigarai in Chennai as a journalist. He was well liked by his colleagues and impressed by his work, his superiors promoted him as an assistant editor for managing the magazine as it was to become a fortnightly. Meanwhile, Thamizharasan's family found him a bride: Kayalvizhi (Uma). For his work, Thamizharasan had to write an article about a gang leader turned politician Manikkam who was also Thamizharasan's old friend. Thamizharasan met him and asked him to stop his illegal activities but Manikkam refused. One day, he was arrested for misbehaving with a woman at the bus stand. Kayalvizhi witnessed the whole scene and started to hate Thamizharasan. It was Manikkam's plan to teach him a lesson and Thamizharasan was then released by the police. Despite this, her family arranged her wedding with Thamizharasan. After the marriage, Kayalvizhi realized that Thamizharasan was a perfect gentleman. The couple had a girl and lived happily. During an outing with his family, a riot broke out following the death of a politician. Kayalvizhi was hit by a stone and rushed to the hospital where she entered the coma stage. Thereafter, she was declared brain death by doctors. In a twist of fate, the wife of the person who threw the stone which hit Kayalvizhi was in the hospital awaiting a heart transplant and Thamizharasan agreed to donate his wife's heart.
Thamizharasan then raised his daughter Panimalar on his own and she is now a district collector.
Cast
Vishnupriyan as Thamizharasan
Uma as Kayalvizhi
Vinu Chakravarthy as Murugavel
Bala Singh as Kayalvizhi's father
Kadhal Sukumar as Elango
Chitti Babu as Kumaresan
Sathyapriya as Maragadam, Thamizharasan's mother
Anjali Devi as Lakshmi, Kayalvizhi's mother
Sabitha Anand as Murugavel's wife
Rohini as Susi
Rajashree as Malliga, Thamizharasan's sister
Tharika as Sumathi, Kayalvizhi's sister
Revathi Priya as Kavi, Thamizharasan's niece
Divya Nagesh as Panimalar
M. C. Shanmugam as Thamizharasan's father
Usha Elizabeth as Elango's wife
Thadi Balaji as Ezhil
Vijay Anand as Manimaran
Kovai Babu as Chezhian
Nellai Siva as House broker
Birla Bose as Thamizharasan's brother
S. Rajasekar
Vijay Krishnaraj as Doctor
Crane Manohar as Arumugam
Tirupur Ramasamy
Mumtaj Pakoda Kadhar
Bonda Mani as Peon
Kaduvetti Guru as Gunasekaran, Thamizharasan's uncle
Nedumaran as Himself
Suba Veerapandian as Himself, chief editor of Vaigarai magazine
Thenkachi Ko. Swaminathan as Himself, assistant editor of Vaigarai magazine
S. Ramadoss as Himself
Production
Newcomer Vishnupriyan, credited as Ram, signed to play the hero in Ilakkanam opposite Uma. Before the release of the film, the film producer M. C. Shanmugam and director Chandraseyan had organised a special screening for the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi. It was reported that he had enjoyed the film and was also impressed with the music score of Bhavatharini.
Soundtrack
The film score and the soundtrack were composed by Bhavatharini. The soundtrack, released in 2006, features 6 tracks with lyrics written by Subramania Bharati, Bharathidasan, Piraisoodan, P. Vijay and Chandraseyan.