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{{short description|2019 Tamil-language musical drama film}} |
{{short description|2019 Tamil-language musical drama film}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} |
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{{Use Indian English|date= |
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2023}} |
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{{Infobox film |
{{Infobox film |
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| name = Sarvam Thaala Mayam |
| name = Sarvam Thaala Mayam |
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| cinematography = [[Ravi Yadav]] |
| cinematography = [[Ravi Yadav]] |
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| editing = [[Anthony (film editor)|Anthony]] |
| editing = [[Anthony (film editor)|Anthony]] |
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| studio = [[Rajiv Menon| |
| studio = [[Rajiv Menon|mindscreen CINEMAS]] |
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| distributor = Jio Studios<br />Sakthi Film Factory |
| distributor = Jio Studios<br />Sakthi Film Factory |
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| released = |
| released = {{Film date|2019|02|01|df=yes}} |
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| runtime = 130 minutes |
| runtime = 130 minutes |
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| country = India |
| country = India |
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| gross = <!--Must be attributed to a reliable published source with an established reputation for fact-checking. No blogs, no IMDb.--> |
| gross = <!--Must be attributed to a reliable published source with an established reputation for fact-checking. No blogs, no IMDb.--> |
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}} |
}} |
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'''''Sarvam Thaala Mayam''''' ({{ |
'''''Sarvam Thaala Mayam''''' ({{translation|Omnipresence of Rhythm}}) is a 2019 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[musical film|musical]] [[drama film]] written and directed by [[Rajiv Menon]]. The film stars [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]] and [[Aparna Balamurali]], with a supporting cast including [[Nedumudi Venu]], [[Vineeth]], [[Elango Kumaravel|Kumaravel]], [[Dhananjayans|Santha Dhananjayan]], and [[Dhivyadharshini]]. The film has music composed by [[A. R. Rahman]], cinematography by [[Ravi Yadav]], and editing by [[Anthony (film editor)|Anthony]]. |
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Returning to direction after 19 years, Menon makes a comeback with a film that is relevant, entertaining, and inspirational in parts.<ref>{{ |
Returning to direction after 19 years, Menon makes a comeback with a film that is relevant, entertaining, and inspirational in parts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sarvam Thaala Mayam movie review: Rajiv Menon makes a solid comeback with a musical drama about a Dalit musician |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/sarvam-thaala-mayam-movie-review-rajiv-menon-makes-a-solid-comeback-with-a-musical-drama-about-a-dalit-musician/story-twkJIFa13LMyMChkho00BM.html |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |date=1 February 2019 |language=en |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125140331/https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/sarvam-thaala-mayam-movie-review-rajiv-menon-makes-a-solid-comeback-with-a-musical-drama-about-a-dalit-musician/story-twkJIFa13LMyMChkho00BM.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The film released on 1 February 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sarvam Thaala Mayam wasn't an easy film to make: Rajiv Menon |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/sarvam-thaala-mayam-wasnt-an-easy-film-to-make-rajiv-menon-5571190/ |accessdate=12 October 2019 |work=The Indian Express |date=6 February 2019 |language=en-IN |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111319/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/sarvam-thaala-mayam-wasnt-an-easy-film-to-make-rajiv-menon-5571190/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film was a box office success.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/regional/filmmaker-rajeev-menon-on-cloud-nine-after-success-of-sarvam-thaalamayam-2186429.html|title=Filmmaker Rajeev Menon on cloud nine after success of Sarvam Thaalamayam|website=zeenews.india.com|date=10 March 2019|access-date=12 October 2019|archive-date=12 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012121306/https://zeenews.india.com/regional/filmmaker-rajeev-menon-on-cloud-nine-after-success-of-sarvam-thaalamayam-2186429.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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== Plot == |
== Plot == |
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{{ |
{{long plot|date=November 2020|reason=Plot should be between 400 and 700 words as per WP:FILMPLOT}} |
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This is a story about a famous [[mridangam]] player named Vembu Iyer and his student Peter Johnson, son of an expert mridangam maker named Johnson |
This is a story about a famous [[mridangam]] player named Vembu Iyer and his student Peter Johnson, son of an expert mridangam maker named Johnson and a crazy [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]] fan, collide. |
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Earlier Peter is a care-free brat who neither has any interest in his father's |
Earlier Peter is a care-free brat who neither has any interest in his father's mridangam making business nor in his own career. He starts wooing a nurse called Saara who keeps some distance from him due to his approach. Then one day, on his father's insistence he goes to deliver mridangam to Vembu Iyer's concert where he is allowed to watch his program. After observing Iyer's concert, Peter starts admiring him and decides to join as a student to learn mridangam from him. |
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After observing Peter, Iyer |
After observing Peter, Iyer understands that he has talent but rejects him due to his lack of discipline and consistency. To prove Iyer wrong, Peter tries hard to change himself which constoned by his mother and worried about his future. Finally Iyer allows Peter as his student. |
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Peter is mistreated by Iyer's assistant Mani because of his lower caste. This is noticed by Iyer, who warns Mani to be good with his students. Mani confesses his dissatisfaction over Iyer, saying he did not support his career as a mridangam player and used him. This angers Iyer, who sacks him from the job in front of Peter, so Mani swears revenge on Iyer and Peter for his humiliation. |
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Peter becomes good friends with Nandagopal 'Nandu',a[[non-resident Indian|NRI]] and a [[Harvard University]] PhD drop-out who came to learn mridangam from Iyer. Meanwhile, Mani joins as a judge in a classical music instrument reality show called 'Sangeetha Samrat' with the help of his younger sister Anjana who is a crooked socialite and works as a [[video jockey|VJ]]. Peter is very passionate about the beats of mridangam and becomes one of the favourite students of Iyer. Meanwhile, Saara realises her love for Peter and they start dating. |
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Anjana sets a trap to humiliate Iyer. She |
Anjana sets a trap to humiliate Iyer. She invites Nandu to perform on her reality show and makes him believe that it was telecasted only in the USA. Nandu comes along with Peter, who consistently warns him to not perform without their teacher's permission. After knowing that it was a trap to humiliate them, Nandu leaves the place without any warning to Peter. Without knowing the facts, Peter enters the studio to find Nandu, but he is focused on "live". Then with no option left, Peter gets ready to play mridangam which gets severely humiliated by Mani and Anjana, making him seem useless and directly criticise Iyer. After learning of this, Iyer questions Peter on why he went to perform on the stage. Peter takes the blame on himself to save Nandu. The angered Iyer sends Peter away saying that it is a real humiliation for his musical knowledge for believing in such a useless student. |
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Later at Nandu's home, Nandu blames Peter for his mistakes and Peter challenges Nandu he will be overpowered by him one day. After these events, Peter became depressed and started |
Later at Nandu's home, Nandu blames Peter for his mistakes and Peter challenges Nandu saying that he will be overpowered by him one day. After these events, Peter became depressed and started taking drugs, which worries his parents. This is noticed by Saara who takes him to her home. Later she makes him realise that the music is everywhere and built in nature and encourages him to explore the world to learn [[Thaalam]] (beats). Inspired by these words, Peter starts a journey on his own way to learn different types of beat instruments. |
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Meanwhile |
Meanwhile, the Sangeetha Samrat show becomes successful after completion of 2 successful seasons and all of Iyer's students including Nandu are fascinated over the popularity and leave him. Finally Iyer understands that he needs to mend his ways according to the world or else he cannot transfer his musical knowledge to the further generations. He realises that Peter is his heir for his knowledge of music and calls him back. |
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Peter happily joins him back to continue learn |
Peter happily joins him back to continue learn mridangam to win the show and gain his teacher's respect back. Meanwhile, Nandu joins hands with Mani and started taking training from him to win the show. After learining that Iyer is also showing interest in this show and that Peter is also participating in this show, the duo become cautious. However Peter and Nandu managed to reach the finals in the program. Before starting the show, Peter forgets the beats that Iyer had taught him but surprisingly these are answered by Nandu to Iyer. Then Mani comes in front of them and challenges Iyer. He says that he will prove that he is a better teacher than Iyer and will humiliate both Iyer and Peter in front of everyone as revenge for his humiliation. This is why he has trained Nandu well in all of Iyer's compositions to counter them. After hearing this Iyer advises Peter to stay on the same strategy. |
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In the show while countering Nandu, Peter remembers different |
In the show while countering Nandu, Peter remembers different beats of instrumental music that he has learned from the world and applies all the beats in the mridangam which gives joy to the audience. With no option left, Mani decides to declare Peter as the winner in the show which constoned by Nandu. Later Iyer leaves the stage which makes Peter afraid that his teacher is angry with him for not following his strategy. But Iyer feels proud of him and happily claims Peter as his student. The film ends with Peter, now a celebrity, performing along with his teacher Iyer. |
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== Cast == |
== Cast == |
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{{colbegin}} |
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* [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]] as Peter Johnson<ref name="Closing credits">''Sarvam Thaala Mayam''. (DVD). closing credits from 128.16 to 129.26</ref> |
* [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]] as Peter Johnson<ref name="Closing credits">''Sarvam Thaala Mayam''. (DVD). closing credits from 128.16 to 129.26</ref> |
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* [[Nedumudi Venu]] as Vembhu Iyer |
* [[Nedumudi Venu]] as Vembhu Iyer<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
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* [[Aparna Balamurali]] as |
* [[Aparna Balamurali]] as Nurse Saramma 'Sara'<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
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* [[Dhivyadharshini]] as Anjana<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
* [[Dhivyadharshini]] as Anjana<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
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* [[Vineeth]] as |
* [[Vineeth]] as Manivasagam Iyer<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
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* [[Elango Kumaravel|Kumaravel]] as Johnson<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
* [[Elango Kumaravel|Kumaravel]] as Johnson<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
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* Ravi Prakash as Krish Gopalakrishnan, Nandu's father<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
* Ravi Prakash as Krish Gopalakrishnan, Nandu's father<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
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* Sumesh S. Narayanan as Nandagopal |
* Sumesh S. Narayanan as Nandagopal 'Nandu'<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
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* Aadhira Pandilakshmi as Theresa Johnson<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
* Aadhira Pandilakshmi as Theresa Johnson<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
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* [[Dhananjayans|Santha Dhananjayan]] as Abhirami<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
* [[Dhananjayans|Santha Dhananjayan]] as Abhirami<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
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* Krish Haran as Kumar<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
* Krish Haran as Kumar<ref name="Closing credits" /> |
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* [[Bala Singh]] as Gokul Raj |
* [[Bala Singh]] as Gokul Raj |
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{{Colend}} |
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==Guest appearances== |
===Guest appearances=== |
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* Sandy |
* Sandy as himself |
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* [[Unni Krishnan]] as |
* [[Unni Krishnan]] as himself |
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* [[Srinivas (singer)|Srinivas]] as |
* [[Srinivas (singer)|Srinivas]] as himself |
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* [[Karthik (singer)|Karthik]] as |
* [[Karthik (singer)|Karthik]] as himself |
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* [[Bombay Jayashri]] as |
* [[Bombay Jayashri]] as herself |
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== Production == |
== Production == |
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In March 2016, it was widely reported in the media that [[Rajiv Menon]] would begin work on his third directorial venture, after he had taken a sabbatical from the profession following the release of his previous film, ''[[Kandukondain Kandukondain]]'' (2000). Titled ''Sarvam Thaala Mayam'', [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]] was signed on to play the lead role of a percussionist in the film, while [[A. R. Rahman]] was selected to compose the film's music.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/ar-rahman-to-compose-music-for-gv-prakashs-next.html|title=AR Rahman to compose music for GV Prakash's next.|date=17 March 2016|website=behindwoods.com}}</ref> Pre-production work took place in mid-2016, and the team finalised [[Sai Pallavi]] to play the female lead role.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/gv-prakash-to-play-a-drummer-in-rajiv-menon-s-film-news-tamil-qiqjN5dfcjbbi.html|title=GV Prakash to play a drummer in Rajiv Menon's film!|website= |
In March 2016, it was widely reported in the media that [[Rajiv Menon]] would begin work on his third directorial venture, after he had taken a sabbatical from the profession following the release of his previous film, ''[[Kandukondain Kandukondain]]'' (2000). Titled ''Sarvam Thaala Mayam'', [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]] was signed on to play the lead role of a percussionist in the film, while [[A. R. Rahman]] was selected to compose the film's music.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/ar-rahman-to-compose-music-for-gv-prakashs-next.html|title=AR Rahman to compose music for GV Prakash's next.|date=17 March 2016|website=behindwoods.com|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=12 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112042716/https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/ar-rahman-to-compose-music-for-gv-prakashs-next.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Pre-production work took place in mid-2016, and the team finalised [[Sai Pallavi]] to play the female lead role.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/gv-prakash-to-play-a-drummer-in-rajiv-menon-s-film-news-tamil-qiqjN5dfcjbbi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821163634/http://www.sify.com/movies/gv-prakash-to-play-a-drummer-in-rajiv-menon-s-film-news-tamil-qiqjN5dfcjbbi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 August 2016|title=GV Prakash to play a drummer in Rajiv Menon's film!|website=[[Sify]]}}</ref> Other actors including [[Nedumudi Venu]] and [[Cheenu Mohan]] were also approached to play key roles in the film, but production failed to take off in November 2016 as planned and the project was delayed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/sarvam-thaala-mayam-title-gv-prakash-rajiv-menons-film-704308|title=Sarvam Thaala Mayam is the title of GV Prakash, Rajiv Menon's film|first=Prakash|last=Upadhyaya|website=ibtimes.co.in|date=16 November 2016|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=12 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112043011/http://www.ibtimes.co.in/sarvam-thaala-mayam-title-gv-prakash-rajiv-menons-film-704308|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/gv-prakash-rajiv-menon-movie-to-kickstart-shoot-from-15th-november.html|title=GV Prakash-Rajiv Menon movie to kickstart shoot from 15th November|date=6 October 2016|website=behindwoods.com|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=12 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112042735/https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/gv-prakash-rajiv-menon-movie-to-kickstart-shoot-from-15th-november.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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In March 2017, Menon denied that the film was dropped and noted that a promotional photo shoot with Prakash Kumar was imminent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/clarification-on-rajiv-menon-gv-prakashs-sarvam-thaala-mayam.html|title=Clarification on Rajiv Menon-GV Prakash's Sarvam Thaala Mayam|date=17 March 2017|website=behindwoods.com}}</ref> Prakash Kumar revealed that the story was set in two states and was inspired by incidents from the lives of real musicians.<ref>{{cite |
In March 2017, Menon denied that the film was dropped and noted that a promotional photo shoot with Prakash Kumar was imminent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/clarification-on-rajiv-menon-gv-prakashs-sarvam-thaala-mayam.html|title=Clarification on Rajiv Menon-GV Prakash's Sarvam Thaala Mayam|date=17 March 2017|website=behindwoods.com|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=13 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113035436/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/clarification-on-rajiv-menon-gv-prakashs-sarvam-thaala-mayam.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Prakash Kumar revealed that the story was set in two states and was inspired by incidents from the lives of real musicians.<ref>{{cite news |title=I feel honoured to be chosen by top directors: GV Prakash |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/070317/i-feel-honoured-to-be-chosen-by-top-directors-gv-prakash.html |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=7 March 2017 |language=en |archive-date=13 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413185056/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/070317/i-feel-honoured-to-be-chosen-by-top-directors-gv-prakash.html |url-status=live }}</ref> During the period, Prakash Kumar also took professional [[mridangam]] lessons from percussionist [[Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman|Umayalpuram Sivaraman]] to equip himself for the character.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/gv-prakash-takes-proffesional-mridangam-lessons-for-his-rajiv-menon-film.html|title=GV Prakash takes professional Mridangam lessons for his Rajiv Menon film|date=6 March 2017|website=behindwoods.com|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=12 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112042712/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/gv-prakash-takes-proffesional-mridangam-lessons-for-his-rajiv-menon-film.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After further brief delays, the film was officially launched on 29 November 2017 and the shoot began thereafter. Sai Pallavi's unavailability meant that the team replaced her with [[Aparna Balamurali]], after Menon was impressed with her performance in the Malayalam film, ''[[Maheshinte Prathikaaram]]'' (2016), and called her for a successful audition.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rajendran |first1=Gopinath |title=Aparna Balamurali signs Rajiv Menon's film |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2017/nov/30/aparna-balamurali-signs-rajiv-menons-film-3325.html |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=[[Cinema Express]] |date=30 November 2017 |language=en |archive-date=5 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205130312/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2017/nov/30/aparna-balamurali-signs-rajiv-menons-film-3325.html |url-status=live }}</ref> An ensemble cast of Nedumudi Venu, [[Dhananjayans|Santha Dhananjayan]], [[Vineeth]], [[Elango Kumaravel|Kumaravel]], Sumesh and Athira was also announced with the launch, while [[Ravi Yadav]] and [[Anthony (film editor)|Anthony]] were confirmed as the film's cinematographer and editor respectively.<ref>{{cite news |title=G V Prakash starts shooting for AR Rahman musical Sarvam Thaalamayam |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2017/nov/29/g-v-prakash-starts-shooting-for-ar-rahman-musical-sarvam-thaalamayam-1713694.html |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=The New Indian Express |date=29 November 2017 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507214725/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2017/nov/29/g-v-prakash-starts-shooting-for-ar-rahman-musical-sarvam-thaalamayam-1713694.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/gv-prakash-next-new-movie-sarvam-thaaala-mayam-music-a-r-rahman-shooting-started--tamil-news-201735|title=G.V.Prakash-A.R. Rahman movie begins shoot - Full details - Tamil Movie News - IndiaGlitz.com|website=indiaglitz.com|date=29 November 2017|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=12 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112100906/https://www.indiaglitz.com/gv-prakash-next-new-movie-sarvam-thaaala-mayam-music-a-r-rahman-shooting-started--tamil-news-201735|url-status=live}}</ref> Actress [[Dhivyadharshini]] also later joined the film during the first schedule, which carried on until the end of 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/vj-dhivyadharshini-aka-dd-to-act-in-sarvam-thaala-mayam.html|title=VJ DhivyaDharshini aka DD to act in Sarvam Thaala Mayam|date=29 November 2017|website=behindwoods.com|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=13 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113035437/https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/vj-dhivyadharshini-aka-dd-to-act-in-sarvam-thaala-mayam.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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==Music== |
==Music== |
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{{ main | Sarvam Thaala Mayam (soundtrack) }} |
{{ main | Sarvam Thaala Mayam (soundtrack) }} |
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==Awards and nomination== |
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* MSF Nalli Film Award For Best Actor, [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]]{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} |
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* Provoke Magazine Award For Best Actor, [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]]{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} |
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== References == |
== References == |
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[[Category:Films scored by A. R. Rahman]] |
[[Category:Films scored by A. R. Rahman]] |
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[[Category:Films shot in Chennai]] |
[[Category:Films shot in Chennai]] |
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[[Category:Indian films]] |
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[[Category:Indian musical drama films]] |
[[Category:Indian musical drama films]] |
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[[Category:2010s musical drama films]] |
[[Category:2010s musical drama films]] |
Sarvam Thaala Mayam | |
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![]()
Theatrical release poster
| |
Directed by | Rajiv Menon |
Written by | Rajiv Menon |
Produced by | Latha Menon |
Starring | G. V. Prakash Kumar Nedumudi Venu Aparna Balamurali Vineeth Kumaravel |
Cinematography | Ravi Yadav |
Edited by | Anthony |
Music by | Original Songs: A. R. Rahman Rajiv Menon (One song) Background score: A. R. Rahman Qutub-E-Kripa |
Production | |
Distributed by | Jio Studios Sakthi Film Factory |
Release date |
|
Running time | 130 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Tamil |
Sarvam Thaala Mayam (transl. Omnipresence of Rhythm) is a 2019 Indian Tamil-language musical drama film written and directed by Rajiv Menon. The film stars G. V. Prakash Kumar and Aparna Balamurali, with a supporting cast including Nedumudi Venu, Vineeth, Kumaravel, Santha Dhananjayan, and Dhivyadharshini. The film has music composed by A. R. Rahman, cinematography by Ravi Yadav, and editing by Anthony.
Returning to direction after 19 years, Menon makes a comeback with a film that is relevant, entertaining, and inspirational in parts.[1] The film released on 1 February 2019.[2] The film was a box office success.[3]
![]() |
This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. Please help improve it by removing unnecessary details and making it more concise. (November 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
This is a story about a famous mridangam player named Vembu Iyer and his student Peter Johnson, son of an expert mridangam maker named Johnson and a crazy Vijay fan, collide.
Earlier Peter is a care-free brat who neither has any interest in his father's mridangam making business nor in his own career. He starts wooing a nurse called Saara who keeps some distance from him due to his approach. Then one day, on his father's insistence he goes to deliver mridangam to Vembu Iyer's concert where he is allowed to watch his program. After observing Iyer's concert, Peter starts admiring him and decides to join as a student to learn mridangam from him.
After observing Peter, Iyer understands that he has talent but rejects him due to his lack of discipline and consistency. To prove Iyer wrong, Peter tries hard to change himself which constoned by his mother and worried about his future. Finally Iyer allows Peter as his student.
Peter is mistreated by Iyer's assistant Mani because of his lower caste. This is noticed by Iyer, who warns Mani to be good with his students. Mani confesses his dissatisfaction over Iyer, saying he did not support his career as a mridangam player and used him. This angers Iyer, who sacks him from the job in front of Peter, so Mani swears revenge on Iyer and Peter for his humiliation.
Peter becomes good friends with Nandagopal 'Nandu', a NRI and a Harvard University PhD drop-out who came to learn mridangam from Iyer. Meanwhile, Mani joins as a judge in a classical music instrument reality show called 'Sangeetha Samrat' with the help of his younger sister Anjana who is a crooked socialite and works as a VJ. Peter is very passionate about the beats of mridangam and becomes one of the favourite students of Iyer. Meanwhile, Saara realises her love for Peter and they start dating.
Anjana sets a trap to humiliate Iyer. She invites Nandu to perform on her reality show and makes him believe that it was telecasted only in the USA. Nandu comes along with Peter, who consistently warns him to not perform without their teacher's permission. After knowing that it was a trap to humiliate them, Nandu leaves the place without any warning to Peter. Without knowing the facts, Peter enters the studio to find Nandu, but he is focused on "live". Then with no option left, Peter gets ready to play mridangam which gets severely humiliated by Mani and Anjana, making him seem useless and directly criticise Iyer. After learning of this, Iyer questions Peter on why he went to perform on the stage. Peter takes the blame on himself to save Nandu. The angered Iyer sends Peter away saying that it is a real humiliation for his musical knowledge for believing in such a useless student.
Later at Nandu's home, Nandu blames Peter for his mistakes and Peter challenges Nandu saying that he will be overpowered by him one day. After these events, Peter became depressed and started taking drugs, which worries his parents. This is noticed by Saara who takes him to her home. Later she makes him realise that the music is everywhere and built in nature and encourages him to explore the world to learn Thaalam (beats). Inspired by these words, Peter starts a journey on his own way to learn different types of beat instruments.
Meanwhile, the Sangeetha Samrat show becomes successful after completion of 2 successful seasons and all of Iyer's students including Nandu are fascinated over the popularity and leave him. Finally Iyer understands that he needs to mend his ways according to the world or else he cannot transfer his musical knowledge to the further generations. He realises that Peter is his heir for his knowledge of music and calls him back.
Peter happily joins him back to continue learn mridangam to win the show and gain his teacher's respect back. Meanwhile, Nandu joins hands with Mani and started taking training from him to win the show. After learining that Iyer is also showing interest in this show and that Peter is also participating in this show, the duo become cautious. However Peter and Nandu managed to reach the finals in the program. Before starting the show, Peter forgets the beats that Iyer had taught him but surprisingly these are answered by Nandu to Iyer. Then Mani comes in front of them and challenges Iyer. He says that he will prove that he is a better teacher than Iyer and will humiliate both Iyer and Peter in front of everyone as revenge for his humiliation. This is why he has trained Nandu well in all of Iyer's compositions to counter them. After hearing this Iyer advises Peter to stay on the same strategy.
In the show while countering Nandu, Peter remembers different beats of instrumental music that he has learned from the world and applies all the beats in the mridangam which gives joy to the audience. With no option left, Mani decides to declare Peter as the winner in the show which constoned by Nandu. Later Iyer leaves the stage which makes Peter afraid that his teacher is angry with him for not following his strategy. But Iyer feels proud of him and happily claims Peter as his student. The film ends with Peter, now a celebrity, performing along with his teacher Iyer.
In March 2016, it was widely reported in the media that Rajiv Menon would begin work on his third directorial venture, after he had taken a sabbatical from the profession following the release of his previous film, Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000). Titled Sarvam Thaala Mayam, G. V. Prakash Kumar was signed on to play the lead role of a percussionist in the film, while A. R. Rahman was selected to compose the film's music.[5] Pre-production work took place in mid-2016, and the team finalised Sai Pallavi to play the female lead role.[6] Other actors including Nedumudi Venu and Cheenu Mohan were also approached to play key roles in the film, but production failed to take off in November 2016 as planned and the project was delayed.[7][8]
In March 2017, Menon denied that the film was dropped and noted that a promotional photo shoot with Prakash Kumar was imminent.[9] Prakash Kumar revealed that the story was set in two states and was inspired by incidents from the lives of real musicians.[10] During the period, Prakash Kumar also took professional mridangam lessons from percussionist Umayalpuram Sivaraman to equip himself for the character.[11] After further brief delays, the film was officially launched on 29 November 2017 and the shoot began thereafter. Sai Pallavi's unavailability meant that the team replaced her with Aparna Balamurali, after Menon was impressed with her performance in the Malayalam film, Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016), and called her for a successful audition.[12] An ensemble cast of Nedumudi Venu, Santha Dhananjayan, Vineeth, Kumaravel, Sumesh and Athira was also announced with the launch, while Ravi Yadav and Anthony were confirmed as the film's cinematographer and editor respectively.[13][14] Actress Dhivyadharshini also later joined the film during the first schedule, which carried on until the end of 2017.[15]
Films directed by Rajiv Menon
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