Sundara Travels is a 2002 Tamil-language comedy film directed by Asokan. The film stars Murali, Radha, and Vadivelu. Vasu, Sabitha Anand, and Vinu Chakravarthy appear in supporting roles. Written by Govind Padman and Mahesh Mithra, it is a remake of their Malayalam film Ee Parakkum Thalika (2001). The music was composed by Bharani, with editing done by P. C. Mohanan. The film released on 30 August 2002.
| Sundhara Travels | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Asokan |
| Written by | Govind Padman, Mahesh Mithra |
| Produced by | S. V. Thangaraj |
| Starring | Murali Radha Vadivelu |
| Cinematography | Selva R. |
| Edited by | P. C. Mohanan |
| Music by | Bharani |
Production company | Yuvasree Creations |
Release date |
|
Running time | 160 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
editGopikrishna (Murali) owns an old bus which was received as compensation for his father's road accident. Gopi now faces many consequences due to the bus's pathetic condition. He had sold many valuable things to maintain this bus, and his friend Azhagu (Vadivelu) was his only companion and the bus's cleaner. A mouse had eaten Azhagu's passport and spoiled his chances of going abroad. Some part of the film's comedy involves Azhagu running behind the mouse for revenge. A live TV show in which Gopi insults the City Traffic Commissioner (Vinu Chakravarthy) lands him in more trouble when the latter commands Gopi to leave the city with the bus. His other friends, advocates, and well-wishers try to help him with a bank loan to run a mobile kitchen (Tattukada) from his bus. The plot took a turn when a girl named Vasanthi (Radha) enters the bus as a nomad, but she was actually Gayathri, the daughter of an influential and politically powerful minister (P. Vasu) in Puducherry. Her father forced her to join politics, which made her leave home. Initially, Gayathri declines to leave the bus, despite Azhagu's and Gopi's constant efforts. The police traces her and takes her back to her father's custody. Her father was making arrangements for her marriage with someone else. Meanwhile, Gopi realized that he could not live without Gayathri. Gopi and Azhagu secretly entered her house, and finally, all ended well by winning the heart of Gayathri's father.
Cast
edit- Murali as Gopikrishna
- Radha as Gayathri / Vasanthi
- Sanusha as young Gayathri
- Vadivelu as Azhagu
- P. Vasu as Santhanam, Gayathri's father
- Sabitha Anand as Lakshmi, Gayathri's mother
- Vinu Chakravarthy as City Traffic Commissioner Veerappan
- Lavanya as TV Reporter
- Manivannan as Mahendran
- Delhi Ganesh as Krishnan Pillai
- Madhan Bob as Moneylender
- Ilavarasu as Parotta Master Kasi
- Pandu as Police Inspector
- Bala Singh as Politician
- Bonda Mani as Groom
Production
editThe film's shooting commenced at Kodaikanal, and held at locations in Kerala and Thenkasi.[1]
Soundtrack
editThere are the 6 songs in this film composed by Bharani. The song "Kannum Kannum" was later reused as "Ding Ding" in Telugu film Siva Rama Raju.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Adada Oorkulathil" | Pa. Vijay | Swarnalatha, Tippu | 4:51 |
| 2. | "Nee Sandhanam Poosiya" | Newton | P. Jayachandran | 5:09 |
| 3. | "Sundara Travels" | Snehan | Tippu | 3:40 |
| 4. | "En Nenjukkul Veesiya" | Newton | P. Unnikrishnan | 5:09 |
| 5. | "Malligai Poovukku" | Pa. Vijay | P. Jayachandran | 4:52 |
| 6. | "Kannum Kannum" | Snehan | Krishnaraj | 4:33 |
| Total length: | 28:14 | |||
Critical reception
editChennai Online wrote "‘Sundara Travels’ originally made in Malayalam as ‘ee Parakkum Thaliga’ was scripted and directed by Thaha and was a success in Kerala. So were its versions in Telugu and Kannada. Thaha directs the Tamil version, and probably to go with the so called ‘nativity’ factor, it is comedy that’s a bit too loud for comfort".[3] The Hindu wrote: "The director starts off very well but loses steam midway and presents something predictable".[4] Bizhat wrote " On the whole this remake does not gel with Tamil film comedies which have to be made in a more slapstick way".[5]
References
edit- ^ "Sundara Travels". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 12 August 2002. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Sundhra Travels - All Songs - Download or Listen Free - Saavn". 1 January 2002. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ Mannath, Malini. "Sundhara Travels". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 14 February 2004. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ "Sundara Travels". The Hindu. 6 September 2002. Archived from the original on 30 June 2003. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ HostOnNet.com. "BizHat.com - Sundara Travels Review. Murali, Radha, Vadivelu, P.Vasu". Movies.bizhat.com. Retrieved 1 December 2016.