| Achchamundu! Achchamundu! | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Arun Vaidyanathan |
| Written by | Arun Vaidyanathan |
| Produced by | Arun Vaidyanathan Asma Hashmi Ananth Govinda P. Srinivasan Ramzan Lakhani |
| Starring | Prasanna John Shea Sneha Akshaya Dinesh |
| Cinematography | Chris Freilich |
| Music by | Karthik Raja |
Release date |
|
Running time | 135 minutes |
| Countries | India United States |
| Language | Tamil |
Achchamundu! Achchamundu! (transl. There is fear! There is fear!) is a 2009 Indian-AmericanTamil languagesocial thriller directed byArun Vaidyanathan, starringPrasanna,Emmy Award–winning American actorJohn Shea andSneha. It is the first film inIndian cinema to be shot with theRed One camera system. The music was composed byKarthik Raja with cinematography by Chris Freilich. The film was released worldwide on 17 July 2009.
Senthil Kumar (Prasanna) and Malini (Sneha) are a happily married couple inNew Jersey, living life like any other India-born immigrant couple in the USA. Senthil submerges himself in the office and eatssambar rice at home, and Malini never misses abhajan at the temple and shops at Indian grocery stores. They have a 10-year-old daughter Rithika (Akshaya Dinesh), the apple of their eye (their car's license plate carries the name of their daughter).
The family has just settled in a new, spacious home about which Malini, understandably, has fears. The couple squabbles amicably about everything from Malini's perpetual laundry and cooking; while Senthil argues with friends about the significance ofviboothi 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 behavior towards children sets off warning bells, especially when he is shown to be apedophile who exercises like mad within the confines of his home, always moving on towards his next target. How the couple saves their child forms the rest of the story.
The film's title is the negative of the phrase "Achamillai Achamillai" coined by poetSubramania Bharati, and later used as the title ofa 1984 film directed byK. Balachander.[1]
The film was made in 28 days on a budget of ₹3.25 crore (worth ₹11 crore in 2021 prices). For the first time in Indian cinema,Red One camera was used for filming.[citation needed] The film was shot in New Jersey and New York during early 2008. Color correction and sound mixing were done inLos Angeles.[citation needed]
The movie was released on 17 July 2009 inTamil Nadu and select markets in the United States.
The film was officially selected for screening at the 12thShanghai International Film Festival (under the International Panorama category),[2] the Digital Cinema Film Festival in Japan, theCairo International Film Festival,[3] theInternational Film Festival of India in Goa,[citation needed] and theChennai International Film Festival.[4]
The soundtrack was composed byKarthik Raja.[citation needed]
| Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| "U.S.A U.S.A" | Rahul Nambiar,Anupama,Krish | Palani Bharathi | 4.18 |
| "Kannil Dhaagam" | S. Sowmya | Andal Priyadarshini | 3.42 |
| "Parvai Vali Sumandhal" | Rahul Nambiar | 1.25 | |
| "Theme Music" | Instrumental | - | 3.35 |
Rediff wrote "For the guts in coming up with a unique, important theme that needs to be addressed sensitively, this movie works. A must-watch".[5]The Times of India wrote "The average Indian may shy away from paedophilia, but director Vaidyanathan makes a compelling case to watch this film. Subtlety is the byword here rather than gory, knife-edge moments. The approach makes a deeper impression than a dramatic one could have."[6] A critic fromDeccan Herald opined that "Despite its shortcomings, ‘Achamundu Achamundu’ deserves a dekko".[7]
| Event | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garden State Film Festival | Best Homegrown Feature Film | Achamundu! Achamundu! (also forSplit Ends) | Won | [8] |
| Tamil Nadu State Film Awards | Best Picture (Third Prize) | Achamundu! Achamundu! | Won | [9] |
| Special Prize | Prasanna | Won | ||
| Media Guild Awards | Best Film Director | Arun Vaidyanathan | Won | [3] |
| Chennai International Film Festival | Best Feature Film | Achamundu! Achamundu! | Won | [4] |