Ottran

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}

{{Use Indian English|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox film

| image = Ottran poster.jpg

| caption = Poster

| director = Ilankannan

| writer = Ilankannan

| producer = Gandhilal Bansali

| starring = Arjun
Simran

| cinematography = K. S. Selvaraj

| editing = P. Sai Suresh

| music = Pravin Mani

| studio = Popular Movies

| released = {{Film date|2003|10|24|df=y}}

| country = India

| language = Tamil

}}

Ottran ({{Translation|Spy}}) is a 2003 Indian Tamil-language spy thriller film directed by Ilankannan in his debut. The film stars Arjun and Simran, while Manorama, Vadivelu, Tejashree, and Sarath Babu play supporting roles. The score and soundtrack were composed by Pravin Mani. The film was released on 24 October 2003 and was a success.{{Cite news |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |date=29 December 2003 |title=Reel of fortune |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/12/29/stories/2003122900170100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040506225110/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/12/29/stories/2003122900170100.htm |archive-date=6 May 2004 |access-date=6 September 2013 |work=The Hindu}}

Plot

Karthik is an upright RAW agent who is on the trail of an anti-national group who are out to destabilize the country. He lives in a palatial house with his mother in New Delhi. The police in Chennai nab Ali, a terrorist behind the Parliament and temple attack. Sudha and Shiva are the children of Manikkavel IPS, IG-Prisons, police officer who is in charge of bringing Ali to court.

Ali's people kidnap Sudha and blackmails her brother to bring home three terrorists and give them shelter, so he is forced to introduce them as his friends and keep them in his father's official bungalow. Karthik saves Sudha from the terrorist and comes to Chennai to uncover the ISI plan to rescue Ali and create communal tension in the state. How Karthik emerges the winner single-handedly forms the rest of the story.

Cast

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Production

After the success of the Arjun-directed film Ezhumalai (2002), Arjun and Simran came together again for Ottran. It is the directorial debut of Ilankannan, who earlier apprenticed under S. Shankar. Shooting commenced in Chennai in a 40-day schedule.{{Cite web |last=Manath |first=Malini |date=3 February 2003 |title=Ottran |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/location/index.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030210121457/http://www.chennaionline.com/location/index.asp |archive-date=10 February 2003 |access-date=5 March 2017 |website=Chennai Online}}

Soundtrack

Soundtrack was composed by Pravin Mani.{{Cite web |title=Ottran (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |url=https://gaana.com/album/ottran-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-tamil |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129160150/https://gaana.com/album/ottran-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-tamil |archive-date=29 January 2024 |access-date=29 January 2024 |website=Gaana}} The song "Chinna Veeda" became popular.{{Cite web |date=26 December 2023 |title=Manikka Vinayagam Memorial Day: கண்ணுக்குள்ள கெளுத்தி முதல் நாலுகாலு பாய்ச்சலுல வரை பாடகர் மாணிக்கவிநாயகத்தின் நினைவலைகள் |url=https://tamil.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/a-special-article-on-the-memorial-day-of-playback-singer-manikka-vinayagam-131703546403778.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129160151/https://tamil.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/a-special-article-on-the-memorial-day-of-playback-singer-manikka-vinayagam-131703546403778.html |archive-date=29 January 2024 |access-date=29 January 2024 |website=Hindustan Times |language=ta}} Bharadwaj was originally chosen to compose the music; however he left the film due to Arjun's intrusion in his work and he was replaced by Pravin Mani.{{Cite web |date=11 October 2003 |title=Arjun's music troubles Bharadwaj! |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/11102003-1.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031212010059/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/11102003-1.shtml |archive-date=12 December 2003 |access-date=28 April 2024 |website=Cinesouth}}

Critical reception

Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote, "first half of the film is the screenplay that allows no room for sluggishness or dampeners. The film moves on at breakneck speed and by the time you take a breather it's intermission".{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=24 October 2003 |title=Ottran |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/10/24/stories/2003102401450200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040728115227/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/10/24/stories/2003102401450200.htm |archive-date=28 July 2004 |access-date=10 June 2013 |work=The Hindu}} Visual Dasan of Kalki called it a combination of patriotism and screen masala.{{Cite magazine |last=தாசன் |first=விஷுவல் |date=9 November 2003 |title=ஒற்றன் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2003-11-09/page/80/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240129163414/https://archive.org/details/kalki2003-11-09/page/80/mode/2up |archive-date=29 January 2024 |access-date=29 January 2024 |magazine=Kalki |page=80 |language=ta |via=Internet Archive}} Malini Mannath of Chennai Online wrote "Director Ilankannan (apprenticed with Pavitran, Abhavanan, Shanker), reveals his firm grip on the medium in his very first film. The action follows in such swift succession ,that the attention of the audience is glued to the screen, with barely a moment for straying thoughts or mulling over flaws. Well choreographed stunts by Peter Hayen, KS Selvaraj's striking visuals, Saisuresh's slick editing and Pravin Mani's background score ensure that the pace is maintained till the end".{{Cite web |last=Mannath |first=Malini |date=23 October 2003 |title=Ottran |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/moviereviews/tammov304.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031128184238/http://www.chennaionline.com/moviereviews/tammov304.asp |archive-date=28 November 2003 |access-date=27 October 2024 |website=Chennai Online}}

References

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