It was a roller coaster ride for Kollywood.
There were surprise wins and disappointments for the big league. The genuine commercial successes were few among the 100-odd releases.
The Heroes
Many films of top heroes turned out to be damp squibs. The hype over Kuselan as a Rajini-film backfired and Kamal Haasan’s Dasavathaaram was another disappointment. Vikram, Vijay, Ajith and Vishal starrers were nothing to boast of either. Vijaykanth bounced back with Arasangam.
Arjun and Bharath had three releases each. The former was appreciated in Bommalattam and Thiruvannamalai, the latter in and Nepali. The Cheran-starrers Privom Samdhippom and Raman Thediya Seethai may not have been a box-office bonanza, but earned critical appreciation for the actor. Sunder C established his credentials as a minimum guarantee, bankable box-office star. Suriya was splendid in a dual role in Vaaranam Aayiram.
It was the smaller films with fresh and new talent that were the picks of the year. Director Misskin's Anjathe was a gangster film with a difference. So was Sembi's Samidaa. Films like Akku and Kannum Kannum, Jeyam Kondan, Saroja, M3V, and Bommalattam brought freshness to Kollywood. Not to forget Poo, Sashi's sensitively crafted film. The pick of the year was of course Subramaniapurm, the very engaging, well- crafted debut work of producer-director-actor Sasikumar.
Corporate Entry
The corporate entry in film production may have been eyed with some apprehension by traditional makers. But some of them brought in quality films. Like UTV' s Poi Solla Porom and Mosaer Baer’s Raman Thediya Seethai and Poo. Sun Pictures struck jackpot with a hat-trick success in Kadhalil Vizhundhen, Thenavattu and Dindukkal Sarathy. The last mentioned had comedy actor Karunas playing his first lead role, and splendidly essaying it.
Debuts
The year witnessed the debut of industry kids Jr Sivaji (grandson of sivaji Ganesan), Vijaya Chiranjeevi (son of vet ographer Jaguar Thangam), Krishna, director Vishnuvardhan's brother, and Shantanu (celebrity couple Bhagyaraj- Poornima's son).
Actresses from other languages debuting in Tamil included Kangana Ranaut, Pia, Meera Nambeeshan, Sunaina, Sameera Reddy, Bhama, Poorna, Sana Khan and Parvathi. Some of the other debutants were Ganesh Venkataram and Sembi.
Wedding Bells
Actors Gopika, Vindhya, Shreya Reddy-Vikram, Kaniha, Sibi, music director D Imman, and director R Buvanaraja were some of the prominent ones who tied the knot.
Passed Away
Actors MN Nambiar, Raghuvaran, Kunal, Bharat Gopi, Pandian, Shobhan Babu, writers Sujata and Prasanna Kumar, director Sreedhar, writer-director Gokulakrishna, violinist and film producer Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, sound recordist Sreedhar ,film journalist Chandru, and theatre and film personality Poornam Vishwanathan were some of those who left us berieved.