Duet (1994 film)
| Duet | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | K. Balachander |
| Produced by | Rajam Balachander Pushpa Kandaswamy |
| Written by | K. Balachander |
| Starring | Prabhu Ramesh Aravind Meenakshi Seshadri Prakash Raj |
| Music by | A. R. Rahman Kadri Gopalnath |
| Cinematography | R. Raghunatha Reddy |
| Edited by | Amirjan (2nd Unit) Ganesh - Kumar (Uncredited) |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Kavithalayaa Productions |
Release date | 20 May 1994 |
Running time | 156 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Duet is a 1994 Tamil-language musical film directed by K. Balachander, starring Prabhu, Ramesh Aravind, Meenakshi Seshadri, and Prakash Raj. The film's score and soundtrack were composed by A. R. Rahman. Duet's score is centred on the saxophone. The movie was also dubbed in Telugu under the same name and in Hindi as Tu Hi Mera Dil.
The movie is inspired by the 1990 French comedy Cyrano de Bergerac, which was about a swashbuckler who is self-conscious about his long nose and feels his love will go unrequited. When the girl he loves gets infatuated with a dasher, he helps him by pouring his emotions in poems soaked in love. In the Tamil movie, the hero's ungainly nose was replaced by his girth.[1]
Plot[edit]
In a bridge across a sea, saxophone music is heard which is played by Guna (Prabhu). He recollects about the tragedy which happened two years back in his life.
Guna and Siva (Ramesh Aravind) are two brothers who own an orchestra and are very popular with their performances. Both are very affectionate towards each other. Both of them look for their love and eventually find one. The girl whom Siva chose accepted his love, while the girl chose by Guna insults him of his fat size, which hurts him. Siva's love fails, and he is heartbroken. To console him, Guna shifts to city with Siva and his sister Seema (Roopa Sree).
Guna's father had an illegal affair with a woman named Sitamma (Sudha) during their childhood, and on his deathbed, his father gets a promise from Guna that he should accommodate her with them as she does not have any relation. Guna, who lost his mother, invites her to live with them. Sitamma accepts on the condition that nobody in the family should know how she is related to them and also she should be introduced as a cook. Unwillingly, Guna accepts that. Guna as a saxophone player, music director, and lyricist and Siva as a singer both flourish in their career. Sitamma finds that Guna is a very affectionate person and Siva is a very sensitive person who cannot bear any downfalls in life even to a little extent.
Next to Guna's home is the house of film choreographer Anjali (Meenakshi Sheshadri), a very beautiful woman. Both Guna and Siva see her separately and fall in love. Siva approaches her directly and impresses her. Anjali hears saxophone music and misunderstands that it is Siva who is playing it. She gets attracted to him for that reason. Siva also lies to her that all his brother's talents are his talents. Guna, who has got a complex about his fat size, decides to begin a friendship to Anjali's father and gradually to her, not knowing that she already loves Siva. Anjali responds to his indirect approach, thinking that it is done by Siva, but Guna is very happy that she loves him.
Film superstar Sirpy (Prakash Raj) also gets attracted to Anjali and behaves very closely to her, which irritates possessive Siva. This creates a fight between the two. Sitamma finds about the misunderstanding among Guna, Anjali, and Siva and tells Guna about the love affair between them, which shocks Guna. She convinces Guna to drop his love for her as Siva cannot tolerate any defeat in his life, to which Guna does not accept it. Anjali gets confused when Guna confesses his love for her. Anjali also comes to know that Siva has lied to her about his saxophone and poem writing talent and gets furious on him. She asks him to drop the love as she does not want be the reason for the heat between two brothers. Siva decides that he will not accept anyone between them even if it happens to be his own brother.
Sirpy compels Anjali to marry him, and she refuses to it. On anger, he gives a fake statement to press that both himself and Anjali are in love and planned to get married shortly. Guna gets furious that Anjali cheated both him and his brother, but Anjali explains that she is not responsible. Anjali's father assures Anjali that Guna is right for her as she got attracted only to his talents and eventually her love should be for him. Sirpy provokes the heat between Guna and Siva and because of which Siva insults his brother and Sitamma, resulting in Sitamma's demise. Sirpy kidnaps Anjali to marry her. Unable to save Anjali, Siva comes back to his family, pleading to save her. Guna fights with Sirpy and rescues Anjali. However, Sirpy threatens Guna with Siva on the top of the hill. Siva pulls Sirpy, jumps from the hilltop, and dies with him.
Back to the present, it was the day when Siva died on the same place where Guna is playing saxophone on his memory. Anjali's father convinces Guna about Anjali and requests him to marry her or he will kill her by his hands as he could not tolerate her sufferings. Guna and Anjali finally unite.
Cast[edit]
- Prabhu as Guna, saxophone player
- Ramesh Aravind as Siva, Guna's brother
- Meenakshi Sheshadri as Anjali, film choreographer
- Prakash Raj as Sirpy, film superstar
- Roopa Sree as Seema, Guna and Siva's sister
- Sudha as Sitamma
- Senthil as Karumbaayiram
- Mayilsamy as Mayilswamy
- Charle as Co-Musician
- Subhalekha Sudhakar as Co-Musician
- Sarath Babu
- Mohan Raman
- Kazan Khan
- Pasi Sathya
- Arvind Swamy as himself (Guest appearance)
- Nassar as himself (Guest appearance)
- Nizhalgal Ravi as himself (Guest appearance)
- Solomon Pappaiah as himself (Guest appearance)
Production[edit]
The film is based on the French film Cyrano de Bergerac, which itself was based on the play of same name by Edmond Rostand.[1] This was the first film of actor Prakash Raj in Tamil as the antagonist. In remembrance, he named his production house Duet Movies.[2] Saran was one of the assistant directors in the film.[3]
Soundtrack[edit]
| Duet | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 1994 | |||
| Recorded | Panchathan Record Inn | |||
| Genre | Soundtrack | |||
| Label | Pyramid Aditya Music | |||
| Producer | A. R. Rahman | |||
| A. R. Rahman chronology | ||||
| ||||
The soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman and lyrics were written by Vairamuthu. The soundtrack features eight songs, three recitals and three instrumental pieces. The saxophonic instrumentation was done by Kadri Gopalnath and Raju.[4][5] Gopalnath, who is now an icon in Indian instrumental music reached public fame after this album. He once told about this album, "I played some 30 ragas for Rahman. He wasn't satisfied. Finally I played Kalyanavasantam, and he said, "That's it!"".
The song "Mettu Podu" is based on raga Anantabairavi and the song "Anjali Anjali" is based on raga Maand.[6][7]
The film and soundtrack were adapted to Hindi (as Tu Hi Mera Dil) and Telugu (with the same title).
Tamil version[edit]
| Track Listing | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Anjali Anjali" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra | 6:16 |
| 2. | "Vennilavin Theril" | K. J. Yesudas | 4:08 |
| 3. | "Mettuppodu Mettuppodu" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela | 5:58 |
| 4. | "Kathirikka Kathirikka" | Sujatha Mohan, Prasanna | 5:27 |
| 5. | "En Kadhale (Male Version)" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 5:19 |
| 6. | "Kulicha Kuthalam" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, T. K. Kala | 4:48 |
| 7. | "En Kadhale (Female Version)" | K. S. Chithra | 0:56 |
| 8. | "Naan Paadum" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 3:53 |
| 9. | "Kavithaikku Porul (Poem)" | Prabhu, Sreeja | 1:20 |
| 10. | "Saththatinal Vantha (Poem)" | Prabhu | 0:54 |
| 11. | "Love is Torture (Poem)" | Noel James (playback singer) | 0:47 |
| 12. | "Sax Lullaby (Saxophone Music)" | Instrumental | 1:43 |
| 13. | "Title Theme Music" | Instrumental | 3:13 |
| 14. | "Naan Parthathile (Saxophone Music)" | Instrumental | 0:55 |
Telugu version[edit]
All the lyrics were penned by Vennelakanti. As per that existing trend in Telugu film industry Rahman used the common voices of all the films, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & K. S. Chithra, for all the songs.
| Track Listing | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Anjali Anjali" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra | 6:13 |
| 2. | "Vendimabhu Raagame" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 4:07 |
| 3. | "Kalame Kammaga Saage" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 5:58 |
| 4. | "Gutti Vankayi" | K. S. Chithra | 5:28 |
| 5. | "Na Necheli" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 5:14 |
| 6. | "Kodite Kolatam" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra | 4:50 |
| 7. | "Nee Paade Geetam" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 3:50 |
| 8. | "Title Theme Music" | Instrumental | 3:13 |
| 9. | "Sax Lullaby" | Instrumental | 1:43 |
Hindi version[edit]
All the lyrics were penned by P.K. Mishra.
| Track Listing | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Anjali Anjali" | S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, K.S. Chithra | 6:17 |
| 2. | "Sun Le O Janam" | Sujatha Mohan, Nabarun Ghosh | 4:53 |
| 3. | "Aye Chandini" | S.P. Balasubrahmanyam | 5:14 |
| 4. | "Dil Ka Raja" | Sujatha Mohan | 5:27 |
| 5. | "Man Dole" | S.P. Balasubrahmanyam | 5:54 |
| 6. | "Geeton Mein" | Unni Menon | 3:57 |
| 7. | "Mohabbat Mein Teri" | S.P. Balasubrahmanyam | 4:08 |
| 8. | "Title Theme Music" | Instrumental | 3:13 |
Reception[edit]
New Straits Times wrote "It is a simple story but Balachander's screenplay and handling of the cast make it memorable".[8]
Trivia[edit]
- On director Priyadarshan's request, A. R. Rahman remade the song "Anjali Anjali" in the Bollywood film Kabhi Na Kabhi starring Pooja Bhatt and Anil Kapoor. The original song in Tamil was sung by S. P. Balasubramaniam and K. S. Chithra, whilst the Hindi version by Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik.
- This is a film in which Meenakshi Seshadri, who acted in Bollywood, starred in a Tamil movie after a long gap, and the film has a tag line which goes "My fair lady".
- Actress Saritha dubbed for Meenakshi Seshadri.
References[edit]
- ^ a b Kumar, S. Shiva (6 March 2014). "The age of remakes". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ Joseph, Meedhu Miriyam (12 December 2011). "When small-budget is beautiful…". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (28 January 2010). "Spreading cheer …". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ "The Hindu : Changing lanes". www.thehindu.com. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ "Crowning glory". The Hindu. 7 March 2008. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ Mani, Charulatha (22 June 2012). "Mesmeric Maand". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ Mani, Charulatha (28 October 2011). "A Raga's Journey - The allure of Anandabhairavi". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ "New Straits Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
External links[edit]
- Tamil-language films
- 1994 films
- Indian films
- 1990s musical films
- Films directed by K. Balachander
- 1990s Tamil-language films
- Films based on Cyrano de Bergerac (play)
- Films scored by A. R. Rahman
- Films with screenplays by K. Balachander
- Indian romantic musical films
- Indian romantic drama films
- Indian romance films
- Films about music and musicians
