{{More plot|date=March 2025}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox film | image = Attahasam.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[Saran (director)|Saran]] | writer = Saran | producer = N. Palanisamy<br />Jaya Prasanth N<br />P. Karthikeyan | starring = [[Ajith Kumar]]<br />[[Pooja (actress)|Pooja]] | cinematography = [[A. Venkatesh (cinematographer)|Venkatesh Anguraj]] | editing = [[Suresh Urs]] | music = [[Bharadwaj (composer)|Bharadwaj]] | studio = Vijayam Cine Combines | distributor = [[Ayngaran International]] | released = {{Film date|df=y|2004|11|12}} | runtime = 157 minutes | country = India | language = Tamil }}
'''''Attahasam''''' ({{audio|Ta-அட்டகாசம்.ogg|pronunciation}}) ({{translation|Havoc}}) is a 2004 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[action film]] written and directed by [[Saran (director)|Saran]]. The film stars [[Ajith Kumar]] in dual roles alongside [[Pooja (actress)|Pooja]] while [[Sujatha (actress)|Sujatha]], [[Nizhalgal Ravi]], [[Babu Antony]], [[Karunas]], and [[Ramesh Khanna]] play supporting roles. The score and soundtrack were composed by [[Bharadwaj (composer)|Bharadwaj]] with cinematography by [[A. Venkatesh (cinematographer)|Venkatesh Anguraj]] and editing by [[Suresh Urs]]. ''Attahasam'' was released on 12 November 2004.
== Plot == Jeeva, a driving instructor, leads a happy life with his mother. He falls in love with Swapna after several mishaps. Jeeva's mother hides the truth from her son that his father was murdered by a rowdy named Manthiram. The mother, much against Jeeva's wish, packs off his elder twin brother Guru with a family who offers to adopt him, who was a witness to the murderer from a close quarter, to a distant town. Guru runs away from the family, goes to [[Thoothukudi]], and grows up to become a gangster there. When Jeeva visits Thoothukudi, he comes across Guru, also called Thala. Seizing the opportunity, Guru kidnaps Jeeva, and decides to go to Chennai and pass himself off as Jeeva. Initially, he plans to take revenge on his mother for giving him away at a very young age. He hurts her at every step and even plans to sell off all their property. On the other hand, Jeeva is mistaken as the gangster and is subject to attacks by the local gangsters of Thoothukudi. He escapes from them and returns to Chennai to save his mother. In the meantime, Guru learns of his father's death and that Manthiram was the cause of their fate. He avenges his father's death and leaves Jeeva to live happily with their mother and then goes to jail to keep his mother in belief that he is somewhere else living happily.
== Cast == <!-- As per the film's opening and end credits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhai_ipEdn0 --> {{Cast listing| * [[Ajith Kumar]] in a [[dual role]] as Thoothukudi Guru (Thala) and Jeeva * [[Pooja (actress)|Pooja]] as Swapna, Jeeva's love interest * [[Sujatha (actress)|Sujatha]] as Guru's and Jeeva's mother * [[Babu Antony]] as Manthiram * [[Mahadevan (actor)|Mahadevan]] as Samuthrakani Annachi * [[Nizhalgal Ravi]] as Mayilu, Guru's and Jeeva's father * Ilavarasan as Samuthrakani's brother-in-law * [[Jasper (actor)|Jasper]] as Fernandez * [[Ramesh Khanna]] as Surula, Guru’s sidekick * [[Karunas]] as Pangu * [[Vaiyapuri]] as Kumbudren Saamy * [[Cochin Haneefa|V. M. C. Haneefa]] as Swapna's father * [[Ilavarasu]] as Driving Student's father * [[Manobala]] as Semi Joseph * [[Crane Manohar]] as Driving School Staff * [[Scissor Manohar]] * [[Nellai Siva]] as Samuthrakani's assistant * [[M. S. Bhaskar]] as Sex Doctor * Rajendranath as Police Officer * Ramkumar and Lakshman as young Guru and Jeeva<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=பாலா |date=14 November 2004 |title='அட்டகாச' ட்வின்ஸ்! |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2004-11-14/page/40/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240216111919/https://archive.org/details/kalki2004-11-14/page/40/mode/2up |archive-date=16 February 2024 |access-date=19 January 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=40 |language=Ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> * [[Ragasya]] (special appearance in the song "Therkku Cheemayile") ;Uncredited * [[Vellai Subbaiah]] * [[Anu Mohan (Tamil actor) | Anu Mohan]] as Veterinarian }}
== Production == Saran and Ajith Kumar collaborated for the third time after the successes of ''[[Kaadhal Mannan]]'' (1998) and ''[[Amarkkalam]]'' (1999). Between then and 2004, the pair began shooting for another project for Poornachandra Rao titled ''Erumugam'', before Ajith pulled out and the pair subsequently fell out. However Ajith's wife, former actress [[Shalini (actress)|Shalini]], played a role in reconciling the pair and they reunited for ''Attahasam''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 2003 |title=Ajith – Charan resolves differences! 'Erumugam' gets life... |url=http://ajithkumar.free.fr/news/news_09.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012074428/http://ajithkumar.free.fr/news/news_09.htm |archive-date=12 October 2013 |access-date=19 June 2013 |website=ajithkumar.fr.fm}}</ref> [[Kiran Rathod]] was initially chosen to play a second lead female role, but Saran later deleted her character from the project.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R. |date=2 November 2004 |title='Your photograph said it all' |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/11/02/stories/2004110200460100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041128153524/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/11/02/stories/2004110200460100.htm |archive-date=28 November 2004 |access-date=19 June 2013 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Filming was kept on hold for few months as Saran got an opportunity to direct ''[[Vasool Raja MBBS]]''.<ref name="casting">{{Cite web |last=காந்தி |first=உ. சுதர்சன் |date=18 August 2020 |title="அஜித் ஓகே சொல்லலைனா 'வசூல் ராஜா' படமே எடுத்திருக்க முடியாது!"- இயக்குநர் சரண் #16YearsofVasoolRaja |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/director-saran-shares-his-experience-about-vasool-raja-mbbs-movie |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930184151/https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/director-saran-shares-his-experience-about-vasool-raja-mbbs-movie |archive-date=30 September 2020 |access-date=19 August 2020 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref>
The shooting progressed in October 2004 around [[Tuticorin]] and a scene created a ruckus among the public as they mistook the action to be real, as the region had seen similar daylight murders and fights among local mafia in the past.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 October 2004 |title='Attagasam'- Action scene creates tension |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/attagasam-action-scene-creates-tension-news-tamil-kkfvHiieaga.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022134515/http://www.sify.com/movies/attagasam-action-scene-creates-tension-news-tamil-kkfvHiieaga.html |archive-date=22 October 2012 |access-date=19 June 2013 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref> Songs from the film were shot in [[Romania]] and [[Pollachi]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=CR |first1=Balajee |last2=Purushothaman |first2=Kirubhakar |date=2017-10-18 |title=The story behind Deepavali releases |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/181017/the-story-behind-deepavali-releases.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250301094839/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/chiranjeevi-set-to-explore-new-genres-with-young-directors-1864226 |archive-date=1 March 2025 |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |language=en}}</ref> The film released on Diwali 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |date=8 November 2004 |title=Treat from tinseldom |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/11/08/stories/2004110801810500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050503213916/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/11/08/stories/2004110801810500.htm |archive-date=3 May 2005 |access-date=19 June 2013 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 October 2004 |title=Ajit doubles up |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/10/11/stories/2004101101180200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041031160019/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/10/11/stories/2004101101180200.htm |archive-date=31 October 2004 |access-date=19 June 2013 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
== Soundtrack == The music was composed by [[Bharadwaj (composer)|Bharadwaj]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 November 2011 |title=Attagasam |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/attagasam/a99mFhHfCtc_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727080243/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/attagasam/a99mFhHfCtc_ |archive-date=27 July 2022 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=[[JioSaavn]]}}</ref>
{{Track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | all_lyrics = [[Vairamuthu]] | total_length = 25:09 | headline = Track listing | title1 = Therkku Cheemayile | extra1 = [[Mano (singer)|Mano]] | length1 = 4:42 | title2 = Pollachi Ilaneere | extra2 = [[Karthik (actor)|Karthik]], [[Anuradha Sriram]] | length2 = 4:04 | title3 = Nachendru Ichondru | extra3 = [[Srinivas (singer)|Srinivas]], [[Ujjayinee Roy]] | length3 = 4:25 | title4 = Imaya Malaiyil En Kodi | extra4 = [[Tippu (singer)|Tippu]] | length4 = 4:33 | title5 = Thala Pola Varuma | extra5 = Donnan, Arjun Thomas, Tippu | length5 = 3:39 | title6 = Attagasam | extra6 = Donnan, Ujaini, Tippu, Arjun Thomas | length6 = 3:46 }}
== Release and reception == Despite a last minute financial crunch, ''Attahasam'' was released on 300 screens worldwide as Ajith agreed to pay a hefty amount to the producer for settling his liability to the financier. [[V. Ravichandran (film producer)|Oscar Ravichandran]] gave a significant amount to clear the producer’s debt in lieu of the satellite rights of the film, which in turn were sold to [[Jaya TV]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2004 |title=Diwali- Pre-release trade buzz! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/diwali-pre-release-trade-buzz-news-tamil-kkfvEEbegjfsi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902184255/http://www.sify.com/movies/diwali-pre-release-trade-buzz-news-tamil-kkfvEEbegjfsi.html |archive-date=2 September 2017 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 November 2004 |title=Diwali films are released! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/diwali-films-are-released-news-tamil-kkfvE2cfchesi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902190427/http://www.sify.com/movies/diwali-films-are-released-news-tamil-kkfvE2cfchesi.html |archive-date=2 September 2017 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref>
Visual Dasan of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' called ''Attahasam'' a dramatic breakthrough for Ajith.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=தாசன் |first=விஷுவல் |date=28 November 2004 |title=அட்டகாசம் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2004-11-28/page/96/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240216112327/https://archive.org/details/kalki2004-11-28/page/96/mode/2up |archive-date=16 February 2024 |access-date=19 January 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=96 |language=Ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> Malini Mannath wrote for ''Chennai Online'', "''Attagasam'' is a fun film, unpretentious and light-hearted, an enjoyable time-pass film."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mannath |first=Malini |date=23 November 2004 |title=Attagasam |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/film/Moviereviews/11Attagasam.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106052350/http://www.chennaionline.com/film/Moviereviews/11Attagasam.asp |archive-date=6 November 2006 |access-date=19 January 2023 |website=Chennai Online}}</ref> ''[[Sify]]'' wrote, "The director and script-writer Saran has no original story to say and just lets his maddeningly zany characters indulge in buffoonery in the name of entertainment".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Attakasam |url=http://sify.com/movies/tamil/review.php?id=13608855&ctid=5&cid=2429 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041208085809/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/review.php?id=13608855&ctid=5&cid=2429 |archive-date=8 December 2004 |access-date=16 February 2024 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref> ''[[Deccan Herald]]'' wrote "Saran has given a light-hearted film with action, comedy and sentiment in a right mix. He could have avoided double meaning dialogues. Bharadwaj’s background score is impressive".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deccanherald.com/deccanherald/dec262004/mr5.asp|title=Attagasam|first=G.|last=Ulaganathan|date=26 December 2004|website=[[Deccan Herald]]|access-date=16 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041229190712/http://deccanherald.com/deccanherald/dec262004/mr5.asp|archive-date=29 December 2004}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
{{Saran (director)}}
[[Category:2004 Indian films]] [[Category:2000s masala films]] [[Category:2004 Tamil-language films]] [[Category:2004 action films]] [[Category:2004 films]] [[Category:Films about twin brothers]] [[Category:Films directed by Saran (director)]] [[Category:Films scored by Bharadwaj (composer)]] [[Category:Films shot in Kanyakumari]] [[Category:Films shot in Pollachi]] [[Category:Films shot in Romania]] [[Category:Films shot in Thoothukudi]] [[Category:Indian action films]] [[Category:Tamil-language action films]] [[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]] [[Category:Twins in Indian films]]