Hubbry Logo
SukranSukranMain
Open search
Sukran
Community hub
Sukran
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Sukran
Sukran
Sukran
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Sukran
Theatrical release poster
Directed byS. A. Chandrasekhar
Written byS. A. Chandrasekhar
B. Balamurugan (dialogues)
Produced byS. A. Chandrasekhar
StarringVijay
Ravi Krishna
Anita Hassanandani
CinematographyS. Soundararajan
Edited bySuresh Urs
Music bySongs:
Vijay Antony
Score:
Pravin Mani
Production
company
J. S. Films
Distributed bySri Surya Movies
Release date
  • 18 February 2005 (2005-02-18)
Running time
144 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Sukran is a 2005 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written, produced and directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar. The film stars Vijay in an extended cameo as the title character, with Ravi Krishna and Anita Hassanandani as the lead pair. The music was composed by debutant Vijay Antony with the score composed by Pravin Mani.

Plot

[edit]

Ravi Shankar and Sandhya, students of a college in Dindigul, are in love, but Sandhya faces a problem at home as her uncle is attracted to her. One day, he peeps into her bathroom while she bathes, and she complains about it to her malevolent stepmother, but she forgives and encourages him and tells her that they will one day marry. Sandhya also encourages Ravi, telling him that they will marry.

When Sandhya's stepmother discovers their affair, she pokes her nose in their wheel. Ravi's father, who is very caring and loving, sends them to Chennai. After they reach Chennai, he checks in on them, and in the middle of the phone call, he is killed by Sandhya's stepmother. After that, a corrupt police officer named Mahesh falsely accuses Ravi of murdering his own father and apprehends Ravi on a complaint given by Sandhya's stepmother that he had murdered his own father when he put his foot down on their affair. Ravi is then put behind bars.

Sandhya is persuaded to seek the help of a judge named Needhi Manikkam to get a bail for Ravi. Manikkam, being an incorrect person, blackmails her into sleeping with him, causing her to spit on his face. Sandhya is taken to a palace by the police, where she gets gang-raped by Mahesh, Manikkam, and Tamil Kumaran (Bobby Bedi), the son of Minister Janardhanan. In the meantime, an honest police officer releases Ravi, so that he can save Sandhya. While Ravi is heading to her destination, the trio removes her clothes, bind her to the bed, and rape her by turns, which they also take a video clip of. Ravi tries to enter the palace to save her but only to be stopped and severely beaten up by Needhi Manikkam's henchmen and getting thrown into the gallows and eventually becomes unconscious. After some time, Sandhya also becomes unconscious.

After a series of events, Sandhya decides to commit suicide, because she says that she has undergone a lot of pain and anguish, and the pain is so terrible that she cannot forget it until she dies. Ravi, unwilling to lose her by death and be separated from her since he had already lost both of his parents, chooses to die along with her so that they are still together after life. At this juncture, a criminal lawyer named Sukran arrives to the beach to save them, teaches them the value of life and advises them to face all the troubles boldly. After that, he tells them to start a new life and to be happy and successful by the time they meet again. They get jobs and money, marry, move into a small house, and have a normal life. One day, when Sandhya is in her nightdress, Mahesh, Manikkam, and Kumaran force her again, causing the couple to get harassed by the police. The incident causes Sandhya to be arrested on false charges of prostitution. All efforts by Ravi to get her out on bail are futile. An agitated Ravi supposedly shoots Mahesh, Manikkam, Kumaran, and Sandhya's stepmother dead and escapes with Sandhya from the court.

Once more, Sukran steps in and promises to save the couple. He appears on Ravi's behalf and puts forward enough evidence to help him out. Following this, Sukran orders the court to sentence Minister Janardhanan to death in the most humiliating way possible, by hanging him completely naked in broad daylight in Madras Marina Beach in front of lakhs of public, and then have his corpse posthumously exposed to the elements, vultures, and decay, due to all the wrongdoings he had committed and his previous disputes with him, in order to ensure complete justice. However, the judge objects by saying that even wrongdoers should be spared and due to the court's limits. Disappointed by the court's failure to comply with Sukran's order, Sukran takes the law into his own hands by killing Janardhanan, much to the court's shock. After that, Sukran surrenders to the police, stating that even though Janardhanan was a degenerate, he should not have done the murder in front of the judge.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Filming was complete by January 2005. Initially, Vijay was not interested in making an extended cameo as the title character, but accepted after showing interest in the story. A song featuring Rambha choreographed by Ashokraja was shot on a dhaba set at AVM Studios.[1]

Soundtrack

[edit]

The soundtrack was composed by Vijay Antony,[2] in his feature film debut.[3]The audio rights were acquired by Five Star Audio and Ayngaran.

Song Singers Lyrics
"Panju Methai" Shoba Chandrasekhar, Vijay Antony Vaigai Selvan
"Saathikadi" I Vijay Antony, Sangeetha Rajeshwaran Snehan
"Saathikadi" II Vijay Antony, Sangeetha Rajeshwaran, Uma Mahesh
"Sukran" Theme Music Jaidev, Anoop, Vijay Antony Vijay Antony
"Suppose Unnai" Ranjith, Vinaya
"Thullavatho Ilamai" Malgudi Subha Vaali
"Un Paarvai" Sangeetha Rajeshwaran, Tippu Vijay Antony
"Uchi Mudhal" Timmy, Gayathri
"Vaanamthan" I Manikka Vinayagam Kabilan
"Vaanamthan" II Jaidev, Manikka Vinayagam

Release

[edit]

Sukran was released worldwide on 18 February 2005. Prior to its release, the film was awarded an "A" (adults only) certificate by the Censor Board with 22 cuts, while the UAE censors objected to the film's content and asked for deletion of footage amounting to 32 minutes. But the filmmakers refused to do it, resulting in the film being banned there.[4]

Critical reception

[edit]

Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote, "Producer, writer and director S. A. Chandrasekaran returns after a hiatus, youthful in imagination and agile in execution — at times too much so [..] Chandrasekaran's yen for courtroom drama, make Sukran a cocktail of sorts."[5] Malini Mannath of Chennai Online wrote that "The first half does move at a fast pace, making one think that the director was on to a love story with a difference" and added that "Sukran not only takes care of the matter but also hogs the whole show, to the detriment of the script, totally sidelining Ravi and Sandhya who had put up such a good show till then!"[6] G. Ulaganathan of Deccan Herald wrote, "S A Chandrashekar (father of superstar Vijay), the man known for his movies that highlight corruption in the judiciary, makes a comeback with Sukran. Though the film has a romantic subject, the message comes loud and clear. Liberally mixed with commercial elements, Sukran has some hard-hitting dialogues against the judiciary, police and academicians".[7]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Sukran

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
is a 2005 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written, produced, and directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar. The story centers on college classmates Ravi Shankar (Ravi Krishna) and Sandhya (Anita Hassanandani), whose romance is thwarted by Sandhya's abusive stepmother, who arranges her marriage to her uncle. In the film's violent climax, Ravi kills several antagonists and flees with Sandhya, leading to the intervention of the titular character Sukran, portrayed by Vijay in an extended cameo as a lawyer defending them. Released on May 6, 2005, the film received mixed to negative reviews for its screenplay and execution, earning a 3.7/10 rating on IMDb from over 900 users, though it featured music composed by Vijay Antony. Directed by Chandrasekhar, father of lead cameo actor Vijay, Sukran exemplifies early 2000s Tamil cinema's focus on familial conflicts resolved through vigilante justice, amid criticisms of promoting extrajudicial violence.

Synopsis

Plot summary

Sukran centers on Ravi Shankar (Ravi Krishna), a college student in , and his classmate (Anita Hassanandani), who develop a romantic relationship. Their affair draws opposition from Sandhya's mother and a local village panchayat chief, prompting the mother to relocate Sandhya to and arrange her marriage to a . Following the , Sandhya endures by the judge's son, a minister's son, and a , which leaves her pregnant. Ravi, upon discovering Sandhya's plight, journeys to to avenge the assault and rescue her. Actor Vijay appears in an extended cameo as a supportive who assists Ravi in confronting the perpetrators and pursuing justice. The narrative culminates in Ravi's efforts to dismantle the influential network responsible for Sandhya's suffering.

Cast and characters

Production

Development and pre-production

The screenplay for Shukran was written by Rahul Kalyan, with Ubaini E. directing the film in what marked his sophomore feature effort following prior short-form and independent projects. Production was spearheaded by Neal Cinemas as the primary banner, with co-producers Shaji K. George, Dr. Lion B. Vijayakumar, Gireesh Palamoottil, and Sanju Nedumkunnel providing financial and logistical backing to facilitate the project's advancement from script to principal photography. Pre-production commenced in late 2024, encompassing key casting decisions such as securing Bibin George in the lead role, announced publicly on November 23, 2024, alongside supporting actors including Anson Paul. The traditional pooja ceremony, signaling the invocation of auspicious beginnings, occurred on November 21, 2024, attended by industry figures like Tini Tom and Vinayan, with highlights shared via official channels to build anticipation. These preparations culminated in the formal launch of filming in early January 2025, transitioning the project into active production.

Filming and technical aspects

Sukran was filmed in color with a total runtime of 165 minutes. Publicly available records provide limited details on the production's filming process, locations, or equipment. As a mid-2000s Tamil action thriller directed and produced by on what sources describe as a modest scale, the project likely adhered to conventional practices for regional Indian cinema at the time, emphasizing narrative-driven action sequences over innovative technical experimentation.

Music and soundtrack

Composition

The soundtrack and background score for Sukran were composed by , who handled both the songs and to underscore the film's action thriller elements. This marked Antony's debut as a music composer for , following his prior experience as an and assistant in the industry. The composition process drew on Antony's self-taught approach, lacking formal musical training, which influenced his integration of electronic and rhythmic elements into the tracks.

Track listing and reception

The soundtrack for Sukran consists of eight songs composed by , marking his debut as a film music director and released in 2004 by Five Star Audio.
No.TitleSinger(s)Duration
1Panju Methai VachirukkenShoba Sekhar, 4:22
2SathikkadiSangeetha Mahadevan4:40
3Sathikkadi (Version 2)Sangeetha Mahadevan, Uma Magesh4:40
4Sukran Theme Music, Jaidev, Anupama, Ranjith Govind4:01
5Suppose Unnai Kadhalichu, Ranjith Govind4:35
6Thulluvadho IlamaiTippu, 4:20
7Un ParvaiyoTippu, Sangeetha Mahadevan4:25
8Vanam Thaan Theepudichi, Jaidev4:30
The received positive user feedback for its upbeat and melodic tracks, particularly as Vijay Antony's inaugural work, which contrasted with the film's poor overall reception; one commentator described it as a "banger " despite the movie's flaws. No formal performance data is documented for the songs.

Release

Theatrical distribution

Sukran received an 'A' (adults only) certificate from India's following 22 mandated cuts by the regional censor board, addressing concerns over violence and other content. The film premiered theatrically in the on 18 February 2005 before its primary release in on 7 May 2005. Distribution in the was prohibited by local censors, who cited excessive violence as unsuitable for younger audiences, resulting in a ban in theaters. As a Tamil-language production handled by director S. A. Chandrasekhar's own banner, theatrical rollout focused on regional circuits in and select international markets catering to the , though specific screen counts or distributor partnerships remain undocumented in available records.

Marketing and promotion

The marketing campaign for Sukran focused on leveraging the special appearance by popular actor Vijay to attract audiences, with pre-release announcements emphasizing his involvement in the action thriller directed by his father, . News coverage in early 2005 highlighted Vijay's role as a key draw, building on his rising stardom in . Promotional efforts also spotlighted the film's bold content, including steamy scenes featuring leads Ravi Krishna and Nateesha, as reported in industry scoops ahead of its censor certification. This approach aimed to generate buzz through sensational elements typical of mid-2000s Tamil film promotions, though specific details on events like audio launches or widespread advertising campaigns remain undocumented in available sources. The film was released theatrically on May 7, 2005, following standard distribution channels for the era.

Commercial performance

Box office results

Sukran was released on 9 September 2005 and achieved limited commercial success at the box office, overshadowed by more prominent Tamil releases of the year such as Ghajini and Sivakasi. The film's modest performance is reflected in its absence from records of top-grossing Tamil films and its characterization as forgettable in industry commentary. Despite featuring an extended cameo by Vijay, it failed to capitalize on his popularity to draw substantial audiences, contributing to its status as a financial disappointment for producer S. A. Chandrasekhar. Specific earnings figures are not documented in major box office trackers, underscoring the film's underwhelming theatrical run amid a competitive 2005 market where Tamil cinema grossed significantly from hits but not from mid-tier action thrillers like this.

Critical reception

Contemporary reviews

Sukran garnered predominantly negative reviews upon its theatrical release on 7 May 2005, with critics faulting its erratic narrative shifts from a campus romance to graphic depictions of and extrajudicial killings, which were perceived as exploitative and lacking coherence. The film's was widely criticized for logical flaws, such as implausible injury recoveries and abrupt tonal changes blending , , and without resolution. Behindwoods described the initial love story portions as reminiscent of successful youth dramas like Boys, praising newcomer Nadeesha's performance beyond mere glamour and Vijay Antony's debut soundtrack for its excellence, but condemned the overall direction by S. A. Chandrasekhar for ruining a potentially solid premise through sloppy pacing and adamant, unconvincing scenes. Ravi Krishna's portrayal of the protagonist was seen as repetitive of his earlier childish roles, while Vijay's extended cameo drew specific ire for promoting impolite dialogues, including drinking scenes that set a poor example, and lackluster fight sequences where he appeared disengaged. Contemporary user feedback on MouthShut, averaging 2.3 out of 5 from early posts, labeled the film a "sick run" for its sensationalized handling of the sequence involving the heroine and powerful antagonists like a and minister's son, viewing it as a misguided bid to thrust Ravi Krishna into stardom overshadowed by Vijay's presence. Another review highlighted pre-release on television channels as misleading, emphasizing the story's into absurdity with the hero's courtroom killings and escape, which undermined any on . Despite isolated appreciation for the music's chart success, the consensus held that Sukran's vigilante resolution glorified unlawful retribution without substantive critique of systemic issues, contributing to its dismissal as a flawed action thriller.

Retrospective analysis

In subsequent years, Sukran has been consistently ranked among the lowest-regarded Tamil films, appearing in user-curated lists of the industry's worst productions due to its implausible storyline, exaggerated , and technical shortcomings in scripting and pacing. The narrative, centered on a thwarted by familial opposition and escalating to vigilante justice, exemplifies director S.A. Chandrasekhar's formulaic approach favoring over coherent character development or logical progression, a style that later analyses attribute to his limited success outside family-associated projects. Retrospective viewer feedback underscores persistent flaws, with aggregate IMDb ratings holding at 3.7/10 from 919 reviews, reflecting broad consensus on wooden performances—particularly lead Ravi Krishna's—and illogical plot twists, such as the abrupt shift to honor-based violence without adequate buildup. users similarly average 2.7/5 across 217 logs, often decrying the 's nepotistic undertones, as Vijay's extended —leveraged for marketing despite the director's paternal relation to the actor—failed to elevate the material and instead highlighted industry favoritism. While devoid of substantive cultural reevaluation or scholarly defense, the film occasionally garners ironic appreciation in online forums as unintentional , with commentators citing over-the-top panchayat scenes and as prime examples of "hilarious" incompetence in early-2000s . This niche "so-bad-it's-good" status, however, does not mitigate its core failings, as evidenced by minimal re-releases or remakes, cementing Sukran as a cautionary example of unchecked directorial over audience-driven quality.

Legacy and impact

Cultural and industry influence

The soundtrack of Sukran represented the debut of Vijay Antony as a film composer, earning positive reviews for its energetic tracks and melodic variety despite the film's critical and commercial shortcomings. IndiaGlitz described Antony's work as a "commendable job" for a first-time effort, highlighting songs like "Nenjae Nenjae" and "Aasai Aasai" that resonated with listeners through their fusion of contemporary beats and traditional elements. This album's success, evidenced by its chart performance and replay value, launched Antony's career trajectory, leading to compositions for subsequent hits including Chennai Kadhal (2006) and Kadhalil Vizhunthen (2008), where he established a signature style blending electronic and folk influences. Antony's breakthrough via Sukran underscored the Tamil music industry's openness to new talents, contributing to a wave of independent composers rising in the mid-2000s alongside figures like Yuvan Shankar Raja. In the broader industry, Sukran's production under highlighted familial dynamics in Tamil filmmaking, with the director—father of , who appeared in an extended cameo—leveraging star power for visibility, a common strategy in Kollywood to offset risks for debut composers and like Ravi Krishna. However, the film's poor execution limited its influence on narrative trends, failing to elevate discussions on themes like forced marriages or rural panchayat overreach beyond routine social dramas. Audience metrics reflect this, with an rating of 3.7/10 from over 900 votes indicating negligible lasting resonance. Retrospectively, Sukran serves more as a cautionary example in industry analyses of mismatched marketing and content, where Vijay's involvement drew initial crowds but could not salvage box-office viability, grossing modestly against expectations.

Criticisms of content and execution

Critics have widely condemned Sukran for its sensationalist and illogical plot, which begins as a conventional between protagonists Ravi and Sandhya but devolves into graphic depictions of the heroine's by a , a minister's son, and a , followed by abrupt shifts to attempts and vigilante retribution. This narrative structure is faulted for exploiting sensitive real-world issues like primarily to justify extrajudicial , lacking any substantive exploration of systemic failures in or character motivations, and instead prioritizing over coherent storytelling. The screenplay, written and produced by director , draws further criticism for its contrived elements, such as illogical plot devices (e.g., a video cassette exposing crimes amid chase sequences interspersed with duets) and its apparent function as a promotional platform for Chandrasekhar's son Vijay's extended cameo, which dominates the latter half with lengthy moral lectures and sequences at the expense of the nominal leads' arcs. Reviewers note that the film embodies Chandrasekhar's recurring formula of , but executes it with such disregard for plausibility that it borders on , earning descriptions as the "record-breaking-logicless movie of the century." In terms of execution, the direction is lambasted for amateurish pacing, erratic editing, and failure to integrate action with effectively, resulting in scenes that undermine tension and emotional impact. Acting performances exacerbate these issues: Ravi Krishna is relegated to a peripheral role despite billing as the hero, delivering subdued efforts overshadowed by Vijay's star power; (as Sandhya/Nateesha) is critiqued for excessive, histrionic crying scenes that feel suited to television soaps rather than cinema; and supporting cast, including Chandrasekhar's self-cameo, contribute to a sense of nepotistic indulgence over professional craft. Technical elements, including and , receive little praise, with the film's low production values amplifying its overall sense of haste and superficiality, as reflected in aggregate user ratings averaging 3.7/10 on from over 900 votes and 2.7/5 on from hundreds of logs.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0953605/
  2. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0953605/plotsummary/
  3. https://letterboxd.com/film/sukran/
  4. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/63638-sukran?language=en-US
  5. https://www.indiaglitz.com/sukran-review-tamil-movie-7418
  6. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34733903/
  7. https://www.facebook.com/alin.jose.perera.426548/posts/director-from-rahel-makan-%25E0%25B4%2595%25E0%25B5%258B%25E0%25B4%25B0-movie-director-new-movie-shukran-movie-director-%25E0%25B4%2589%25E0%25B4%25AC/494636553597652/
  8. https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2024/Nov/23/bibin-george-to-headline-shukran
  9. https://www.instagram.com/p/DDBjU1jNors/?hl=en
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZeh3SIIMYo
  11. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCtnjVjzZ3t/
  12. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEh5A_izuEp/?hl=en
  13. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0953605/technical/
  14. https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/sukran/5GlxoDvbNGw_
  15. https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/Sep/17/vijay-antony-vijay-has-good-taste-in-music
  16. https://www.facebook.com/FCompanionSouth/videos/vijay-antony-on-how-he-began-his-journey-as-a-music-composer/1308551435961179/
  17. https://music.apple.com/us/album/sukran-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1702621535
  18. https://open.spotify.com/track/21WgTZgVYXXs8kYTQW6FsL
  19. https://music.apple.com/in/album/sukran-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/637708514
  20. https://open.spotify.com/album/0ndZ12mlIjWRiYAKQepqxR
  21. https://www.reddit.com/r/kollywood/comments/1amhdyp/this_is_most_hilarious_movie_that_i_ever_watched/
  22. https://www.allmusic.com/album/sukran-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0004070640
  23. https://movies.bizhat.com/news/sukran_banned_in_dubai.php
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0953605/releaseinfo/
  25. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/sukran/movieshow/61315760.cms
  26. http://www.behindwoods.com/News/7-1-05/sukran_vijay.htm
  27. http://www.behindwoods.com/News/15-2-05/sukran_scoop.htm
  28. https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/south-indian/vijay-antony-south-indian-cinemas-man-of-many-hats-1.95866263
  29. http://www.indiaglitz.com/sukran-review-tamil-movie-7418
  30. http://www.behindwoods.com/News/19-2-05/sukkran_review.htm
  31. https://www.mouthshut.com/review/sukran-review-qmsuttlms
  32. https://www.mouthshut.com/review/sukran-review-qpuorrqms
  33. https://www.imdb.com/list/ls082109776/
  34. https://letterboxd.com/birithivy/film/sukran/
  35. http://www.indiaglitz.com/sukran-songs-review-tamil-movie-7418
  36. https://kids.kiddle.co/Vijay_Antony
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.