I Love India

I Love India
Poster
Directed by	Pavithran
Written by	Pavithran
Produced by	Janaki G. K. Reddy
Starring	Sarathkumar Tisca Chopra Shenbagam
Cinematography	Ashok Kumar
Edited by	B. Lenin V. T. Vijayan
Music by	Ilaiyaraaja
Production company	Sri Sai Thejaa Films
Release date	14 October 1993 (1993-10-14)
Running time	130 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

I Love India is a 1993 Indian Tamil-language action film written and directed by Pavithran. The film stars Sarathkumar, débutante Tisca Chopra and Shenbagam. It was released on 14 October 1993 and failed at the box office.

Plot

Diwakar, an Indian Brigadier, is charged to eradicate terrorism in Kashmir. Diwakar lives with his sister Anu. His neighbour Priya falls in love with him. One day, the terrorists kidnap Anu and they kill her thereafter. In the past, Diwakar promised Anu to marry Priya. To fulfil his sister's wish, Diwakar eventually marries Priya. But Diwakar cannot live happily as long as he does not eliminate the terrorists.

Cast

• Sarathkumar as Brigadier Diwakar
• Tisca Chopra as Priya
• Shenbagam as Anu
• Manorama as Priya's mother
• Goundamani as Diwakar's uncle
• Puneet Issar
• Babu Antony
• C. S. Rao as Rao
• Kalidoss as Rosario
• Ramachandran
• Prasanth
• Jaya Prahasam
• John Babu in a special appearance
• Pallavi in a special appearance in a song
• Yamuna in a special appearance in a song
• Meeta Gupta in a special appearance in a song
• Shagufta Ali in a special appearance in a song
• Kavithasri in a special appearance in a song

Production

After scoring back-to-back successes like Vasanthakala Paravai (1991) and Surieyan (1992), producer K. T. Kunjumon of A. R. S. Film International wanted to collaborate again with director Pavithran and actor R. Sarathkumar; they started a project called India Today.[1][2] However Kunjumon left the project due to creative differences with Pavithran, the project was taken over by a different production house and underwent a change of title: I Love India.[3]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Vaali.[4][5] The song "Adi Aadivarum Pallaakku" is set to the Carnatic raga Madhyamavati.[6]

Song	Singer(s)	Length
"Adi Aadivarum Pallaakku"	S. Janaki	5:58
"Engiruntho Ennai Azhaithathu"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki	6:11
"Kaatru Poovai"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Minmini	5:58
"Kurukku Paathaiyile"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Minmini	5:04
"Paasam Vaitha Mullai"	Ilaiyaraaja	5:02

Release and reception

I Love India was released on 14 October 1993.[7][8] R. P. R. of Kalki wrote that Pavithran made an omelette out of basic ingredients like Tamil culture, Indian culture and patriotism.[9] According to Pavithran, the film failed at the box office, potentially due to the censor board making 14 cuts, and Tamil audiences feeling alienated due to the abundance of Hindi dialogues.[10] Pavithran had planned dubbed versions in English and Hindi, but those plans did not come to fruition.[11]

References

1. "கே.டி.குஞ்சுமோனின் கௌரவப் பிரச்சனையில் உருவான ஷங்கரின் ஜென்டில்மேன்". News18 (in Tamil). 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
2. Menon, Vishal (21 July 2018). "KT Kunjumon and 25 years of 'Gentleman'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
3. "தமிழுக்கு வந்த ஹிந்தி முகம்..." [Hindi actor debuting in Tamil...]. Kalki (in Tamil). 14 February 1993. pp. 32–33. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2022 – via Internet Archive.
4. "I Love India (1993)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
5. "Sakkarai Thevan / I Love India / Sevvanthi". AVDigital. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
6. Sundararaman (2007) [2005]. Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music (2nd ed.). Pichhamal Chintamani. p. 121. OCLC 295034757.
7. "I Love India". The Indian Express. 5 November 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 31 March 2022 – via Google News Archive.
8. "ஐ லவ் இந்தியா / I Love India (1993)". Screen 4 Screen. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
9. ஆர். பி. ஆர். (7 November 1993). "ஐ லவ் இந்தியா". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 23. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023 – via Internet Archive.
10. Chandra, Tha. "An interview with Director Pavithran". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 21 October 2003. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
11. Chandra, Anupama (31 August 1994). "A PATRIOTIC HIT PARADE". India Today. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.

External links

• I Love India at IMDb
• I Love India at Rotten Tomatoes