Details

Release year: 1996

Storyline

A veteran freedom fighter enraged with the rising crime and corruption in the society murders all the wrong doers one by one using an ancient martial arts technique.

Top credits

Directors

S. Shankar

Writers

Cast

Kamal Haasan — Senapathy, Chandra Bose
Sukanya — Amrithavalli
Manisha Koirala — Ishwarya
Urmila Matondkar — Sapna

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Did you know

• The Film Federation of India selected the production as the official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 69th Academy Awards. The selection committee favored the film over other domestic contenders following its commercial performance and technical scale in the South Indian market. Despite the official submission status, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did not include the title in the final list of five nominees for the 1997 ceremony.

• Graphic designer Venky classified the production as his most technically demanding assignment as of 1997 due to the digital integration of Kamal Haasan into historical archival footage. The sequence required the extraction of Subhas Chandra Bose from degraded film stock sourced from the Films Division of India archives. Venky utilized digital restoration tools to eliminate physical blemishes, scratches, and emulsion artifacts from the original celluloid reels. The final composite involved matching the grain structure and lighting contrast of the newly filmed elements with the archival plates to simulate the appearance of both individuals marching in synchronous tandem.

• The production budget reached an estimated 150 million rupees, establishing the film as the most expensive Indian cinematic venture at the time of its 1996 release. Producer A.M. Rathnam allocated significant capital toward a high volume of animatronic work and specialized prosthetic makeup designed by Michael Westmore and Michael Jones. The studio utilized extensive location filming in Australia and diverse international settings, increasing logistical costs beyond standard industry averages for the mid-1990s. The schedule spanned nearly two years of principal photography to accommodate complex action sequences and the integration of advanced visual effects.