Engineer (film)

Engineer
Directed byGandhi Krishna
Written bySujatha
Produced byJ. S. Ramachandra Rao
StarringArvind Swamy
Madhuri Dixit
Napoleon
CinematographyJeeva
Edited byK. Thanigachalam
Music byA. R. Rahman
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Engineer is a shelved Indian Tamil-language film directed by Gandhi Krishna and written by Sujatha originally slated to be released in 1999.[1] Based on the true incidents revolving around the Sardar Sarovar Dam project, the film would have starred Arvind Swamy and Madhuri Dixit, with music composed by A.R. Rahman and cinematography and editing being handled by Jeeva and K. Thanigachalam respectively.[2][3]

It was originally filmed in Tamil with dubbed versions in Telugu and Hindi. The film was shelved after 80 percent of shooting was completed.[4]

Plot

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Further information: Narmada Bachao Andolan

The original film was based on a dam being built across a village. The story of the film is set in a village that faces the threat of perishing if the dam is constructed. The engineer (played by Arvind Swamy) undertakes the project for corporate interests. The wife of the engineer (Madhuri Dixit), fights against insensitive authorities that do not seem to be concerned with villagers' woes. She is left numb when she learns that her husband is also a part of the dam project.

Cast

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Production

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The film was announced on 16 January 1997 with the film's shooting beginning a week later.[5] Initially the production team had offered the film to Madhuri Dixit, but she declined due to the controversial aspects of the subject.[6] After the Supreme Court order on the Sardar Sarovar dam project, Gandhi approached Dixit with renewed interest and she agreed to play the role, thus marking her debut in Tamil cinema.[7] The costumes of the film were handled by fashion designer duo Anu-Aneez.[8] Graphics artist Venky had worked in the film to multiply crowds, clone characters and serve up a 3-D song sequence.[9][10]

The film ran into financial trouble after 80% of the film's shoot had been shot and has since remained unreleased.[11] Director Shankar, mentor of Gandhi Krishna, attempted to revive the project through his production house, as well as producer Kalaippuli S. Thanu, but was unsuccessful in doing so.[12] The film became one of three Arvind Swamy projects which ran into financial troubles in the mid-1990s, with only Sasanam being belatedly released in 2006. The other venture, Azhagam Perumal's Mudhal Mudhalaaga had also featured music by A. R. Rahman and a leading Hindi actress Karisma Kapoor, like Engineer.[13]

In 2002, the makers attempted to revive the project and agreed dates with Madhuri Dixit. However, the film did not restart production.[14][4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Interview with Sujatha". oocities.org. Archived from the original on 13 March 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Aravinthasamy-Mathuri Dixit In Scotland". Dinakaran. 28 July 1998. Archived from the original on 12 March 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  3. ^ "1997-98'ன் கொடம்பாக்கக் குஞ்சுகள்" [1997-98 Kodambakkam babies]. Indolink. Archived from the original on 8 October 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Kamal Haasan's 'Marudhanayagam' to Rajinikanth's 'Jaggubhai': 5 Tamil films that were shot, but scrapped". News18. 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 15 July 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Engineer". starbacks. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Maduri Dixit, Arvind Swamy in a trilingual". Screen. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  7. ^ Kummar, S. R. Ashok (13 February 1998). "Spurt of films and fresh talent". The Hindu. p. 26. Archived from the original on 8 October 1999. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  8. ^ "A cut above". Rediff.com. 17 August 1998. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  9. ^ "Seeing Is Believing". Outlook. 22 December 1997. Archived from the original on 26 April 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  10. ^ Gobichetipal, Chandra (12 January 1998). "Queen Bee La Dixit heads toward South". Minnoviyam. Archived from the original on 20 April 1999. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  11. ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (15 February 2008). "My first break". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 February 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Mani-talk". Rediff.com. 13 July 1999. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  13. ^ "A.R. Rahman Facts!! [long article]". Google Groups. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  14. ^ "Gossip:". Dinakaran. 13 March 2002. Archived from the original on 6 March 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
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