Pudhiya Mugam

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Pudhiya Mugam
Pudhiya Mugam.jpg
Poster
Directed bySuresh Chandra Menon
Written by
Produced bySuresh Chandra Menon
Starring
CinematographyMuthu Ganesh
Edited byR. D. Shekar
Music byA. R. Rahman
Production
company
Tele Photo Films
Release date
  • 28 May 1993 (1993-05-28)
[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Pudhiya Mugam (transl. New Face) is a 1993 Indian Tamil-language thriller film directed by Suresh Chandra Menon. It stars Revathi, Suresh Chandra Menon, Vineeth and Kasthuri. The film featured music by A. R. Rahman.

Pudhiya Mugam is an adaptation of the television miniseries Twist of Fate (1989), which tells the story of an assassin who undergoes plastic surgery and becomes a member of the army, and a hero for them while revisiting his past.[2]

Plot[]

Raja (Vineeth) and his fiancée (Kasthuri) while romancing in Sri Lanka witnesses a murder which results in the death of his fiancée. He avenges her death by killing the people responsible, and becomes an assassin, and is on the run from the police. He undergoes extensive plastic surgery on his face and leaves for Chennai, India to start a new life with a new face and identity.

When the assassin (now played by Suresh Chandra Menon) reaches Chennai Airport, he foils a terrorist attempt and saves the lives of a group of children. Later, he meets Anjali (Revathi), falls in love and gets married. Thanks to his heroism, the assassin gets into the Indian Army and rises in rank as the years go by.

A few years later, the couple's grown up son, Hari (Vineeth), now resembles his father's pre-surgery days. The son meets the dad's old terrorist accomplices in the airport by chance on his return from the US. The bad guys identify him and, curious, they follow Hari and find the truth about the assassin and his new life. As they learn that the assassin is now a very high ranked officer who has access to the army's secrets, they blackmail him into handing some over to them.

Meanwhile, the son goes for a vacation to Sri Lanka with his girlfriend. There he comes to know about the past life of his father, and hates him. On return to his homeland he tries to file a case on him, which is stopped by his family friend ACP Shekar (Nassar).

The assassin, now a changed man, and realising that his son has discovered his past life, writes a letter to his friend Shekar revealing everything, and goes to meet the terrorists alone. But instead of army secrets, he brings an explosive device which detonates killing the terrorists and himself. With only his wife not knowing the truth about a man who changed his ways and repented for it, the assassin is hailed as a hero who died killing the terrorists. His wife is not informed about his past life by his son as advised by Shekar.

Cast[]

Production[]

Suresh Menon had to portray the lead role as no actors were willing to do it.[3] This was the first film of cinematographer Muthu Ganesh. Arvind Swami and Vikram lent their voices for Suresh and Vineeth respectively.[4]

Soundtrack[]

Pudhiya Mugam
Soundtrack album by
A. R. Rahman
Released1993
RecordedPanchathan Record Inn
GenreFilm soundtrack
LabelMagnasound
Vega Music
Sony Music
Bayshore
A. R. Rahman chronology
Yodha
(1992) 		Pudhiya Mugam
(1993) 		Gentleman
(1993)

The soundtrack composed by A. R. Rahman had six songs and an instrumental theme (which was only included in the cassettes), with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The songs were later reused in the Hindi film Vishwavidhaata, Rahman was upset with the producers since the music was re-used in the film without his permission.[5] The soundtrack was also released in Telugu as Padmavyuham, with lyrics were by Rajashri. The guitarist R. Prasanna started his career with this film with the song "July Maadham"; it also marked the singing debut of Annupamaa.[6][7]

Tamil version
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Netru Illadha Matram"Sujatha5:08
2."Kannukku Mai Azhagu"P. Susheela4:24
3."Kannukku Mai Azhagu"Unni Menon4:24
4."July Matham"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Annupamaa4:30
5."Idhudhaan Vazhkai Enbada"Unni Menon, Sujatha3:52
6."Sambo Sambo"Malgudi Subha, Minmini4:03
7."Theme"Instrumental1:49
Telugu version (Padmavyuham)
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Idhiye Prema Andhuna"Sujatha5:04
2."Kannulaku Choopu Andam"P. Susheela4:22
3."Kannulaku Choopu Andam"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam4:22
4."July Maasam"Mano, Anupama4:30
5."Idhiye Brathuku Andhuna"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha3:54
6."Sambo Sambo"Malgudi Subha, Minmini3:58
7."Theme"Instrumental1:49

Reception[]

The Indian Express wrote, "What could have developed into a fast-paced, edge-of-the-seat thriller fizzles out".[8]

References[]

  1. ^ "Puthiya Mugam / புதிய முகம் (1993)". Screen4Screen. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  2. ^ "சுட்ட படம்". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 1 February 2016. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  3. ^ Mathai 2009, p. 110.
  4. ^ "This should have been AR Rahman's first film". Behindwoods. 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  5. ^ Mathai 2009, pp. 111–112.
  6. ^ Chellappa, Sukanya (19 March 2009). "Tuned in to music". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  7. ^ Michael Raj, A. A. (12 February 2002). "Singer with style". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  8. ^ Mannath, Malini (4 June 1993). "Sizzle fizzles out". The Indian Express. p. 6. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2019.

Bibliography[]

External links[]

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