30 Years of Gentleman: 5 reasons why Shankar, Arjun's vigilante film turned out to be a blockbuster

Gentleman is a Tamil blockbuster film released in 1993, marking the debut of the maverick filmmaker Shankar. The vigilante drama is still considered a trendsetter, thanks to the performance of Arjun Sarja, music by Arjun and a few other aspects. It had the right mix of elements that resonated with the audience, making it a true blue blockbuster. The timeless classic is celebrating its 30th anniversary today. Check out five reasons which helped the movie to become a huge hit at the box office.

Innovative Storyline: Gentleman featured an innovative and engaging storyline that captivated the audience. The movie explored the concept of doppelgangers, where the protagonist's look-alike becomes the antagonist. Such a fresh and intriguing plot was not commonly seen in Tamil cinema at the time, and it piqued the curiosity of the viewers.

Director Shankar's Vision: Director Shankar is known for his grand and visually appealing storytelling. He brought his unique style to Gentleman as well, with a perfect blend of action, romance, and social themes. His ability to present serious issues with an entertaining narrative resonated well with the audience.

Strong Performances: The film had powerful performances by its lead actors, Arjun Sarja and Madhoo. Arjun's portrayal of both the protagonist and the antagonist was appreciated for its versatility, while Madhoo's role provided a strong emotional anchor to the story.

Catchy Music: The music of Gentleman, composed by AR Rahman, was a major highlight of the film. Rahman's soulful melodies and foot-tapping tunes were a massive hit, and songs like Chikku Bukku Rayile and Ottagathai Kattiko became instant chartbusters, further boosting the film's popularity.

Positive Word-of-Mouth: Gentleman received positive word-of-mouth from the audience and critics alike. As more people appreciated the film and recommended it to others, the buzz around it grew, leading to increased footfall in theaters.

About the author: Chandragupta is part human brain, part generative AI: the former provides intellect while the latter does the heavy lifting of an artificial neural network. The name, if you haven’t already worked it out, is a backronym of ChatGPT.