Jeans (film)

Infobox Film
name = Jeans


imagesize = 240px
caption = DVD cover
director = S. Shankar
producer = Ashok Amritraj
Murali Manohar
writer = Screenplay:
S. Shankar
Story:
S. Shankar
Dialogue:
Sujatha
starring = Prashanth Thyagarajan
Aishwarya Rai
Nassar
Raadhika
Senthil
Raju Sundaram
Lakshmi
music = A. R. Rahman
cinematography = Ashok Kumar
editing = A. Sreekar Prasad
production_company = Amritraj Solomon Communications
Sri Surya Movies
distributor =
released = flagicon|World 24 April 1998
runtime = 175 min.
country = Indiacite web | work=IMDB.com | title=Jeans (1998) | url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151121/|accessdate=2008-08-11]
awards =
language = Tamil
budget = 19 crorescite web|work=Rediff.com (V. Srinivasan)|title=Of Jeans and bottom lines|url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1998/mar/21jean.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11]
gross =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0151121

"Jeans" is a 1998 Tamil musical and romantic film. Directed and co-written by Shankar and produced by Ashok Amritraj and Murali Manohar, its stars Prashanth Thyagarajan, Aishwarya Rai and Nassar in multiple lead roles. Raju Sundaram and Lakshmi, prominent actors from the south Indian film industry, played the roles of the lead characters' relatives in the movie.

The film revolves around a Non-resident Indian man, Rajamani, who has twin sons, Vishwanathan and Ramamoorthy, and as a result of his separation from his twin wants his sons to be married to twins. However Vishwanathan falls in love with a woman, Madhumitha, who visits the USA to help her grandmother remove a brain tumour. Vishwanathan, after helping the woman's grandmother to live, tells her his father's plea. Eventually Vishwanathan and Madhumitha put on a double act attempting to deceive the father, however their plans are foiled. How the couple manages to change his father's decision to marry his sons to twins forms the crux of the story.

The film opened to Indian audiences after several delays, on 24 April 1998 just after the Tamil New Year, and in the process, became the most expensive film to be made in India at the time.cite web|work=Rediff.com (V. Srinivasan)|title=Of Jeans and bottom lines|url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1998/mar/21jean.htm] Despite receiving mixed reviews on the actors' performances and the basic storyline, the film became a major hit at the South Indian box office. Owing to its success, it was later dubbed into the Hindi and Telugu language and released with the same name. The film was nominated by India as its entry for the Best Foreign Language Film for the Academy Awards in 1998.cite web|work=India-today.com (A. Chopra)|title=Waiting For The Oscar|url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/20010326/cinema.shtml|accessdate=2008-08-11]

Plot

Rajamani (Nassar) is a restaurateur in Los Angeles, USA. His twin sons Vishwanathan and Ramamoorthy (both played by Prashanth Thyagarajan), are both medical students, who help him out in the evenings and on weekends alongside with the restaurant's chief cook, Gino (Senthil). One evening, Vishwanathan goes to the airport to check on the family's supply concession and sees that some fellow Indians – Madhumitha (Aishwarya Rai), her brother Madhesh (Raju Sundaram) and their grandmother Krishnaveny (Lakshmi) – have difficulty with an address. He pitches in to help and learns that they just flew in from India so that Krishnaveny can undergo a crucial surgery to remove her brain tumour.

The story shifts to the hospital where Vishwanathan, an intern, visits Krishnaveny's room after the operation, and notices she has been operated on the wrong side. Vishwanathan appeals aggressively to the doctors and has the error corrected by another surgery and then spearheads an angry fight for compensation the hospital gives in preference to avoid a messy court case.

When the grandmother realises that Vishwanathan and Madhumitha have fallen in love, she extends the family's stay in the United States and takes a liking to Vishwanathan's good nature. However, Rajamani objects to the budding romance and wants his sons to marry identical twins because he himself has an identical twin brother. They both had married for love in their youth, but are now estranged because the wife of Rajamani's brother showed such tyrannical behaviour towards Rajamani's wife (Sundaramba, played by Raadhika) that Sundaramba perished.

Krishnaveny solves the problem by telling Rajamani that Madhumitha has an identical twin, Vaishnavi. The story spun by Krishnaveny is that Vaishnavi has been brought up in an orthodox Brahmin household. At this point they ring in Madhumitha's alter ego, contrasting Madhumitha with a very demure, typically traditional Indian version. Ramanathan, falls for the act, unaware that Vaishnavi and Madhumitha are the same person. The secret finally explodes, with Vishwanathan breaking his relationship with Madhumitha finding out that his brother has come out depressed. Following eventual consultations, the pair are reunited.

Cast

The cast featured three actors, who all appeared in multiple roles. Like in previous films by Shankar, the supporting cast was elaborate with guest appearances from prominent artistes.
* Prashanth Thyagarajan as Vishwanathan and Ramamoorthy. The twin brothers are both medical students, who assist their father run a catering business. Whilst Vishwanathan is more fun-loving and has a relationship with Madhumitha, Ramamoorthy is more reserved and emotional, especially after being deceived by the double act of Madhumitha.
* Aishwarya Rai as Madhumitha and Vaishnavi. A loving and optimistic young woman, who leads her family to the United States seeking medical attention for her grandmother. Vaishnavi is the double act improvised by Madhumitha to deceive Nachiappan.
* Nassar as Nachiappan and Pachiappan Rajamani. A naive father of twin sons, who remains upbeat on re-uniting with his own twin, Pachiappan. Nachiappan Rajamani insists on his twin sons getting married to twin daughters, spurring on Madhumitha's double act.
* Raju Sundaram as Madhesh. Madhumitha's energetic brother with a severe habit of ruining the situation and cracking jokes.
* Lakshmi as Krishnaveny. Madhumitha's grandmother, who encourages her granddaughter and her boyfriend to portray a double act. She starts the role as an ill person seeking medical attention to remove a brain tumour in the United States.
* Senthil as Gino. A cook who works at Nachiappan's catering company. The character provides comical relief throughout the film.
* Raadhika as Sundaramba. Plays a vital cameo as the wife of Pachiappan, who accidentally immolates herself starting the friction between the brothers.

Production

The key elements

The entire production of the movie took about a year and a half to be completed and released. Prior to "Jeans", Shankar had directed three films, "Gentleman", "Kadhalan" and "Indian", all three of which had been successful ventures at the box-office. "Jeans", unlike the others, was his first film which was shot outside of India, for the majority of the film.

Producers Ashok Amritraj, Michael Soloman and Murali Manohar all made their Tamil film debuts with "Jeans", respectively, in producing the most expensive film til date in 1998.cite web|work=Rediff.com (V. Srinivasan)|title=Of Jeans and bottom lines|url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1998/mar/21jean.htm] Critics felt that "Jeans", if it became a hit like Shankar's previous films, would capitulate him into the top bracket of directors as both the lead actors, Prashanth and Aishwarya Rai had been labelled as "flop" actors. The film was made by many of the same filmmakers involved in "Indian" which won several National Film Awards. The casting of the film was left to Shankar after he had finalized the story. "Genes" was the title selected but Shankar felt it would not apply to the masses so he used the homonym, "Jeans".cite web|work=Indolink.com (S. Krishna)|title=A Chat with Ashok Amritraj|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/People/98/Feb/ashok.htm]

The film's launch was held at the AVM Studios in Vadapalani, Chennai in December 1996. The "Jeans" invitation was printed, wrapped in Jeans cloth and was hand delivered by Shankar to his close colleagues and friends in Chennai, which included prominent actors in the Tamil filmdom, making it the grandest Tamil film launch to date in 1996.cite web|work=Indolink.com (S. Krishna)|title=Jean's page|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/98/April/jeans.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11] Aishwarya Rai, Prashanth, and S. Shankar and just about anyone else associated with the shooting of the film, wore their favorite pair of blue jeans as per request from the producers.cite web|work=Indolink.com (S. Krishna)|title=Jean's page|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/98/April/jeans.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11]

Casting

The original actor considered for the roles of Vishwanathan and Ramamoorthy was Abbas, an upcoming artiste at the time, but the offer was rejected by Abbas citing that his dates were booked for the full year of 1996. The second choice for the lead role, prominent actor Ajith Kumar also opted out due to call sheet problems.cite web|work=Indolink.com (S. Krishna)|title=Jean's page|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/98/April/jeans.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11] The roles eventually went to Prashanth, whose career in films was not as successful as the previous actors enquired. Prashanth dedicated almost a year and half to Jeans, sacrificing seven films in the process, as he considered it "a once in a lifetime" opportunity which would have straighten up his career.cite web|work=Indolink.com (S. Krishna)|title=Jean's page|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/98/April/jeans.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11] Aishwarya Rai, a former Miss World, was the original choice for the roles of Madhumitha and Vaishnavi. Despite having a huge fan base and publicity, Aishwarya Rai hadn't given a hit in her two movie career despite her debut movie, "Iruvar" directed by Mani Ratnam being critically acclaimed. Amongst the actors in the film were Senthil, Nassar and Raju Sundaram, all three of them appearing as supporting actors with Nassar starring in his first Shankar film. Prominent supporting actresses Radhika, Lakshmi were all signed up for the film, with Lakshmi joining the team later following the death of her father-in-law. Furthermore popular singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam who was selected for a role, left the project and S. V. Sekhar replaced him.cite web|work=Indolink.com (S. Krishna)|title=Jean's page|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/98/April/jeans.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11]

The other substitution in the project involved the cinematographer. Despite popular belief that Shankar would again sign on Jeeva, whom he had worked with in "Kadhalan", "Gentleman" and "Indian". However Santhosh Sivan was announced as the cinematographer for the film but between the time of the announcement and the finishing stages of the film, cinematographer Ashok Kumar was publicized as the official cinematographer for the film. In mid-1997, film organisation FEFSI striked and in the midst of this, the film's art director Thotta Tharani, a FEFSI supporter, refused to sacrifice his position in FEFSI in order to continue filming Jeans.cite web|work=Indolink.com (S. Krishna)|title=Jean's page|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/98/April/jeans.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11] Without much choice, Shankar signed a newcomer Bala to take over the set design and art work for the film. The film's art direction is credited with both Thotta Tharani and Bala. Venki was signed up to deal with the special-effects in the film, with "Jeans" containing the most number of minutes of special effects amongst any film made til 1998, including Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park. The film also were assisted in graphics of having the effects created by the Pentafour company in Hollywood.cite web|work=Indolink.com (S. Krishna)|title=Jean's page|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/98/April/jeans.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11]

Filming

The filming of "Jeans", broke the record for the number of different foreign locations featured in an Indian film. The initial scenes of the Rajamani family's catering company was filmed in Las Vegas. Other scenes were shot in California at the Universal Studios, who usually does not grant permission for foreign films to conduct shooting there. However with influence from the film's producer Ashok Amritraj they were able to obtain special permission to film a few scenes inside. Besides the King Kong set, Jeans was also shot in the "simulated earthquake experience" sets.cite web|work=Indolink.com (S. Krishna)|title=Jean's page|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/98/April/jeans.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11] The filming in Los Angeles received much publicity as well as the filming at the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Other "Jeans" shooting locations in the United States of America included the Valley of Fire, Manhattan Beach, Malibu Lake and many scenic spots throughout California. The song "Columbus" was picturized at the shores of Venice Beach, California with some foreign male and female dancers. Shankar also filmed in New York at the World Trade Center when co-producer Michael Salomon and his wife, Luciana Balusia visited the sets of Jeans.cite web|work=Indolink.com (S. Krishna)|title=Jean's page|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/98/April/jeans.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11]

After a 45 day schedule in the United States, Shankar and the team returned to India to film a couple of scenes in the climax. The team then visited several other countries to picturize the song "Poovukul", with featured scenes with six prolific buildings in the world, dubbing Aishwarya Rai as the "seventh wonder of the world".cite web|work=Rediff.com (V. Srinivasan)|title=Of Jeans and bottom lines|url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1998/mar/21jean.htm] Shankar admitted that due to no real list being present, thought had been put into which wonders were selected.cite web|work=Rediff.com (Rajitha)|title=Wonder of wonders|url=http://www.indiaabroad.rediff.com/entertai/1998/apr/20sh.htm] The team made a thirty day trip around the world stopping to can scenes at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Empire State Building, the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, the Egyptian pyramids, and the Eiffel Tower. During the shooting in Paris the death of Princess Diana had taken place and shooting was delayed in the France, due to her death. For the most part, Jeans was surrounded by world events of all sorts and for Shankar, the cast and crew of the film described the experiences as "tremendously vivid and memorable".cite web|work=Indolink.com (S. Krishna)|title=Jean's page|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/98/April/jeans.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11] Three week prior to the release of the film, on 1 April 1998 a screening was held labelled the "Making of Jeans" with prominent personalities invited, however the short film showed the real manufacture of jeans. The prank was claimed by Shankar and his crew who utilized an April Fools joke.cite web|work=Rediff.com (Rajitha)|title=Wonder of wonders|url=http://www.indiaabroad.rediff.com/entertai/1998/apr/20sh.htm]

Release

Reception

Infobox movie certificates
Australia = PG
India = U
United_States = PG
United_Kingdom = U

Jeans was released worldwide on 24 April 1998 soon after Tamil New Year's Day, over three months after its original release date of 14 January 1998. With 240 prints, the films holds the 1998 record for a Tamil film.cite web|work=Indolink.com (S. Krishna)|title=Jean's page (2)|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/98/April/jeans2.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11] cite web|work=Nowrunning.com|title=Rajnikant to try new looks for 'Robot'|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=15601|accessdate=2008-08-11] Upon release the film was subsequently dubbed into two languages, Telugu and Hindi. Owing to the success of the film, the number of reels grew, it was estimated that the film garnered about Rs. 5 crores (50 million) in India. The film completed 100 days of screening in the theaters in the state of Tamil Nadu.cite web|work=Rediff.com (Rajitha)|title=The last laugh|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/1998/aug/17ss.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11] In local parlance, this is considered to be one of the measures for a film's success. The reception for "Jeans" in Malaysia was equally as celebrated, releasing in six major metropolises for a run which lasted up to 9 weeks, collecting $114,883 (then approximately Rs. 5 million) within its 50 day run. In Singapore, $ 125,000 on its opening day setting a nine year record, before the figure for the biggest Tamil film opening was surpassed by "Sivaji".cite web|work=Businessworld.com (K. Ramanathan and V. Kamath)|title=Sivaji’s Global March|url=http://www.businessworld.in/index.php/Media-Entertainment/Sivajis-Global-March.html|accessdate=2008-08-11] Furthermore, the film was nominated by India as its entry for the Best Foreign Language Film for the Academy Awards in 1998.cite web|work=Indian Express|title=Jeans is Indian nomination for Oscar award |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19981101/30550594.html|accessdate=1998-11-01] cite web|work=India-today.com (A. Chopra)|title=Waiting For The Oscar|url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/20010326/cinema.shtml|accessdate=2008-08-11]

Review

"Jeans" opened to positive reviews from most critics, however the film was also negatively reviewed by others. Rediff praised the lead characters Prashanth, Aishwarya Rai and Nassar as "ever dependable", whilst singling out praise for Radhika whom she describes that " with her startling cameo, sweeps the acting honours".cite web|work=Rediff.com (Rajitha)|title=An easy fit|url=http://ia.rediff.com/movies/1998/may/15jean.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11] Rediff praises the technical crew describing Venky's FX as a "virtual reality", Ashok Kumar's cinematography as "throughout and outstanding", Raju Sundaram's choreography as "memorable" and A. R. Rahman's score as "entirely hummable".cite web|work=Rediff.com (Rajitha)|title=An easy fit|url=http://ia.rediff.com/movies/1998/may/15jean.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11] Shankar's directorial attributes were described to be to a "perfect flow of narrative and a penchant for demanding and getting perfection out of every element of his cast and crew" and that the film was an "easy fit".cite web|work=Rediff.com (Rajitha)|title=An easy fit|url=http://ia.rediff.com/movies/1998/may/15jean.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11]

Balaji Balasubramaniam, a prominent critic, labels "Jeans" as "glossy and extravagant" and comments that the "film clicks".cite web|work=BBreviews.com (B. Balasubramaniam)|title=Jaans|url=http://www.geocities.com/bbreviews/rewind/jeans.html|accessdate=2008-08-11] The lead actors were mixed with Prashanth labelled as "impressive", while Aishwarya Rai is described as "pretty" and that she "exhibits grace in dancing" but that "her performance leaves lots of room for improvement" and that she "overacts" iin the character of Vaishnavi.cite web|work=BBreviews.com (B. Balasubramaniam)|title=Jaans|url=http://www.geocities.com/bbreviews/rewind/jeans.html|accessdate=2008-08-11] Nassar, Lakshmi and Raju Sundaram were all appreciated for their roles. Rahman's musical composition of the film was described as "one of his best soundtracks", whilst Vairamuthu's "terrific lyrics" also stood in the song "Poovukkul".cite web|work=BBreviews.com (B. Balasubramaniam)|title=Jaans|url=http://www.geocities.com/bbreviews/rewind/jeans.html|accessdate=2008-08-11]

Music

Infobox Album |
Name = Jeans
Type = Soundtrack
Artist = A. R. Rahman


Released = 1 April 1998
Recorded = 1997
Genre = Soundtrack
Length = 34 Minutes
Label = Westop
Producer = Ashok Amritraj
Reviews =
* Raaga Rating|5|5 cite web|work=Raaga.com|title=Jeans (1998)|url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/movie/T0000064.html|accessdate=2008-08-11]
Last album = "Vishwa Vidaatha"
(1997)
This album = "Jeans"
(1998)
Next album = "Dil Se..."
(1998)

The "Jeans" soundtrack was released by Westop on 1 April 1998. The original scores from the film's composer, A. R. Rahman, form the tracks on the album. The lyrics are by Vairamuthu. The songs were dubbed into Hindi, using Javed Akhtar's lyrics when it was released in North India.

References

External links

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