Ahead of Aranmanai 4, stream the cult classic that changed Sundar C as a director
By Sundar C's own admission, the commercial failure of Anbe Sivam, which came out in 2003, drastically changed his approach to filmmaking.
Apr 29, 2024
Kamal Haasan in Anbe Sivam.
Filmmaker Sundar C is now awaiting the release of Aranmanai 4, the fourth film in his horror-comedy series. He has become unapologetic in his approach to cinema, making commercial entertainers that are loud and even obnoxious. For instance, all the movies in the Aranmanai series follow the same narrative style and themes, to a great extent telling the same story repeatedly. In other words, it's deeply formulaic and made to appeal to the lowest common denominator among the audience.
However, there is a strong reason behind Sundar C's pivot towards such mindless entertainers. By the director's own admission, the commercial failure of Anbe Sivam, which came out in 2003, drastically changed his approach to filmmaking.
"The losses that I suffered due to directing Anbe Sivam outweighed the benefits," the director revealed during a television show a few years ago.
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Sundar C helmed Anbe Sivam from a script penned by Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan. Besides writing the screenplay, Kamal also played the lead role, along with R. Madhavan.
Anbe Sivam's success on streaming
"I enjoyed making that film and I made it with a lot of love. But after the release of the film, I sat at home without any work. Today wherever I go, people ask me why I am no longer making movies like Anbe Sivam. When I hear such questions, I don't feel happy; instead, it irks me. I feel like asking them where were they when it was released in cinemas. Now, everyone appreciates the movie after watching it on DVD and the internet. If the audience had welcomed such movies, it would have inspired me to keep making such films," he added.
Despite receiving glowing reviews, Anbe Sivam tanked at the box office after its initial release. The film's reputation, however, has grown significantly, and it has developed a cult following over the years.
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One of the main reasons for the post-theatrical success of Anbe Sivam is its easy availability on streaming platforms. The film can be found on platforms such as Aha, OTTplay Premium, Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar.
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