Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam

{{More plot|date=February 2024}}

Srinivasan, a convict, escapes from jail and hitches a ride on a truck to meet his love Thulasi. He reveals his flashback to the lorry driver, telling him of the disputes between his ambitious father and himself. When the parents leave home for a week, Srinivasan is left in the maid's care. Soon, he meets the maid's daughter, Thulasi, his childhood playmate, and they fall in love. But his father objects to his son falling in love with Thulasi. One day, Srinivasan and his friends land up in prison for crashing their car on a police vehicle. While at the police station, Srinivasan locks horns with an inmate in jail and when he pushes him in a fit of rage, he sustains a serious head injury subsequently killing him. Eventually Srinivasan gets convicted for 10-year-rigorous imprisonment. His mother dies, and Thulasi's family goes bankrupt and leaves to their native village in Ooty. A dejected Srinivasan escapes from prison to meet Thulasi. Whether the two join forms the rest of the story.

{{Cast listing|

• Dhanush as Srinivasan
• Priyamani as Thulasi (Voice dubbed by Prameela)
• Delhi Ganesh as Ganesh
• Kalairani as Sathya
• Karunas
• Thalaivasal Vijay
• Shanmugarajan
• Amarasigamani as Inspector
• Munnar Ramesh
• Usha
• Jashik
• Kovai Babu
• Rail Ravi
• Tejashree in a special appearance

}}

Following the success of Kaadhal Kondein (2003) starring Dhanush, Balu Mahendra signed on the actor to appear in his next film in July 2003.{{Cite web |last=Warrier |first=Shobha |author-link=Shobha Warrier |date=6 August 2003 |title=Target Dhanush! |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/aug/06kadhal.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183618/https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/aug/06kadhal.htm |archive-date=9 July 2021 |access-date=5 July 2021 |website=Rediff.com}} Initially the director revealed that the film titled Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam would be an extension to his 1979 film Azhiyatha Kolangal stating that Dhanush would play a teenager infatuated by a woman who is fifteen years older than him to be played by Ramya Krishnan.{{Cite web |last=Warrier |first=Shobha |author-link=Shobha Warrier |date=18 August 2003 |title=Sex and teenage fantasies |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/aug/18balu.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183508/https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/aug/18balu.htm |archive-date=9 July 2021 |access-date=5 July 2021 |website=Rediff.com}} However he opted against doing that story and decided to build his film around his 1985 film Yathra, and the title of the film was subsequently changed to Unakkae Uyiranaen.{{Cite web |title=Changing Titles |url=https://triple101.tripod.com/advancedtamil/id4.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190646/https://triple101.tripod.com/advancedtamil/id4.html |archive-date=9 July 2021 |access-date=5 July 2021 |website=triple101.tripod.com}} It was later changed back to the original title before release.{{Cite web |title=An Exclusive Interview With Dhanush |url=http://kollywood.allindiansite.com/interviews/dhanush.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501152032/http://kollywood.allindiansite.com/interviews/dhanush.html |archive-date=1 May 2012 |access-date=22 April 2012 |website=All Indian Site}}

The shoot for the film began in December 2003 with scenes featuring the lead pair shot in Chennai.{{Cite web |last=Rozario |first=Rayan |date=19 January 2004 |title=Graceful debut |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/12/22/stories/2003122202210300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040119095610/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/12/22/stories/2003122202210300.htm |archive-date=19 January 2004 |access-date=22 April 2012 |website=The Hindu}} The film was shot in Hogenakkal Falls in November 2004, with Dhanush marrying Aishwarya Rajinikanth in between schedules.{{Cite web |date=3 November 2004 |title=Dhanush hopes for an award |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/11236.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041103215819/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/11236.html |archive-date=3 November 2004 |access-date=22 April 2012 |website=IndiaGlitz}} He consequently also delayed his honeymoon, to commit to a fifteen-day schedule for the film in December 2004.{{Cite web |date=26 November 2004 |title=Dhanush postpones honeymoon! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/dhanush-postpones-honeymoon-news-tamil-kkfvDLigcja.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021191307/http://www.sify.com/movies/dhanush-postpones-honeymoon-news-tamil-kkfvDLigcja.html |archive-date=21 October 2012 |access-date=22 April 2012 |website=Sify}} During the making of the film, Dhanush also struck up a friendship with assistant director Vetrimaaran, and the pair have since come together for multiple films.{{Cite web |last=Aravind |first=C. V. |date=28 May 2011 |title=Enigmatic likability |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/164707/enigmatic-likability.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516144332/https://www.deccanherald.com/content/164707/enigmatic-likability.html |archive-date=16 May 2023 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}} The film was delayed through late 2004 after the director fell ill.

The film faced criticism for an early promotional hoarding put up in Chennai which featured photographs of Priyamani and Dhanush in a compromising position, and was removed by police. Further trouble occurred in October 2005, Balu Mahendra approached the police seeking action to secure a sum of Rs 3.75 lakh, an outstanding amount of his salary for directing the film, from the film's producer and matters were resolved quickly.{{Cite web |date=17 September 2013 |title=Controversies galore! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/controversies-galore-news-tamil-kkfvzvgggig.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917073037/http://www.sify.com/movies/controversies-galore-news-tamil-kkfvzvgggig.html |archive-date=17 September 2013 |access-date=22 April 2012 |website=Sify}} Post release, members of the regional censor board complained that the promos of Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam were being shown on television without mentioning that the film had an "A" (adults only) certificate. At the time of censoring, Balu Mahendra was not willing to cut the deep lip-to-lip kissing scenes between the lead pair of Dhanush and Priyamani and opted for an A certificate, which he subsequently refused to note down in the promotions.{{Cite web |date=13 November 2005 |title=Censors crackdown on 'Athu Oru...'! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/censors-crackdown-on-athu-oru-news-tamil-kkfvywfdjbd.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121112741/http://www.sify.com/movies/censors-crackdown-on-athu-oru-news-tamil-kkfvywfdjbd.html |archive-date=21 November 2015 |access-date=22 April 2012 |website=Sify}}

The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.{{Cite web |title=Athu Oru Kanakkalam - Tamil Audio CD by Ilayaraaja |url=https://mossymart.com/product/athu-oru-kanakkalam-tamil-audio-cd-by-ilayaraaja/ |access-date=12 June 2024 |website=Mossymart |language=en-US |archive-date=18 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118083614/https://mossymart.com/product/athu-oru-kanakkalam-tamil-audio-cd-by-ilayaraaja/ |url-status=live }}

Sify wrote, "A fragile looking Dhanush looks bewildered and lost throughout while Priya Mani has tried her best to do justice to her character [...] The songs tuned by Ilayaraja falls flat. All in all, a disappointing venture from a prominent member of the earlier off-beat brigade of film makers".{{Cite web |title=Athu Oru Kana Kalam |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/athu-oru-kana-kalam-review-tamil-13975843.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628023112/http://www.sify.com/movies/athu-oru-kana-kalam-review-tamil-13975843.html |archive-date=28 June 2013 |access-date=10 August 2022 |website=Sify}} Shobha Warrier of Rediff.com stated that the film "disappointed", criticising the film in comparison to Mahendra's earlier work, Yathra.{{Cite web |last=Warrier |first=Shobha |author-link=Shobha Warrier |date=8 November 2005 |title=Athu Oru Kana Kaalam disappoints |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/nov/08athu.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185703/https://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/nov/08athu.htm |archive-date=9 July 2021 |access-date=5 July 2021 |website=Rediff.com}} SRA of The Hindu noted that "excelling in technical aspects, the film falls short in the area of storyline."{{Cite web |last=SRA |date=6 November 2005 |title=The dream continues |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/11/04/stories/2005110402330200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051106051330/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/11/04/stories/2005110402330200.htm |archive-date=6 November 2005 |access-date=22 April 2012 |website=The Hindu}} Lajjavathi of Kalki praised Dhanush's acting and added that the moderate storyline and melodious music can both please the fans with quality taste like peacock feathers.{{Cite magazine |last=லஜ்ஜாவதி |date=11 December 2005 |title=அது ஒரு கனாக் காலம் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2005-12-11/page/12/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240429021536/https://archive.org/details/kalki2005-12-11/page/12/mode/2up |archive-date=29 April 2024 |access-date=28 April 2024 |magazine=Kalki |page=12 |language=ta |via=Internet Archive}} K. N. Vijiyan of New Straits Times gave the film a favourable review.{{Cite news |last=Vijiyan |first=K. N. |date=24 November 2005 |title=Dhanush at his best |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T7ctAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UXoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2631%2C2724559 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214160057/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T7ctAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UXoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2631%2C2724559 |archive-date=14 February 2025 |access-date=14 February 2025 |work=New Straits Times |via=Google News Archive}}

Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam opened alongside other big films like Vijay-starrer Sivakasi and the Vikram-starrer Majaa. The film was described by trade pundits as a "complete wash-out".{{Cite web |date=7 November 2005 |title='Sivakasi' super, 'Majaa' miserable! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/sivakasi-super-majaa-miserable-news-tamil-kkfvy0hbhdd.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912110931/http://www.sify.com/movies/sivakasi-super-majaa-miserable-news-tamil-kkfvy0hbhdd.html |archive-date=12 September 2012 |access-date=10 August 2022 |website=Sify}}

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{{Improve categories|date=February 2025}}

Category:2000s Indian films

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Category:2005 romantic drama films

Category:Films directed by Balu Mahendra

Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja

Category:Films shot in Ooty

Category:Indian romantic drama films

Category:Tamil remakes of Malayalam films

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Category:Tamil-language romantic drama films