{ "id": "ephpkt7n4r", "slug": "amaran-1992-film", "title": "Amaran (அமரன்) (1992 film)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000", "label": "Tamil films before 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "label": "Released 1992 to 1999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000: Released 1992 to 1999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000", "label": "Tamil films before 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "label": "Released 1992 to 1999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Amaran (அமரன்), also known as Amar, is a 1992 Tamil action gangster film written, directed, and produced by K. Rajeshwar, starring Karthik and Bhanupriya, with music by Adithyan and cinematography by P. C. Sreeram; distinct from the 2024 Sivakarthikeyan biopic of the same title.", "snippet": "Amaran (அமரன்), also known as Amar, is a 1992 Tamil action gangster film written, directed, and produced by K. Rajeshwar, starring Karthik and Bhanupriya, with music by Adithyan and cinematography by P. C. Sreeram; distinct from the 2024 Sivakarthikeyan biopic of the same title.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "markdown": "# Amaran (அமரன்) (1992 film)\n\n**Amaran** (அமரன்; transl. The immortal) is a 1992 Indian Tamil-language action gangster film written, directed, and produced by K. Rajeshwar, starring Karthik and [Bhanupriya](https://www.edgepedia.org/bhanupriya) in the lead roles.[1](https://www.venpura.com/movie/Amaran-1992) It follows an orphaned boy who is adopted by the man he saves, grows into a kind-hearted slum lord, and is drawn into a deadly conflict with the don Aandava Perumal.[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/3203/1992-amaran) The film introduced composer Adithyan to [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) and is remembered for its songs, particularly \"Vethala Potta\", sung by Karthik himself.[3](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/110041-.html)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | Theatrically released 15 January 1992 (some sources list 16 January; IMDb lists August 8, 1992)[4](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/amaran-1992/cast-crew.html) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10713436/) |\n| Director, writer, producer | K. Rajeshwar (also spelled Rajeswar; Apple TV and Rotten Tomatoes list \"K. Rajeshwari\")[1](https://www.venpura.com/movie/Amaran-1992) • [6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/amaran) |\n| Lead cast | Karthik (as Amaran), Bhanupriya (as Sivagaami), with Radha Ravi as Aandava Perumal and Shammi Kapoor as Don Miranda[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/amaran) |\n| Music | Adithyan, his debut as a film composer; lyrics by Vairamuthu and Piraisoodan[3](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/110041-.html) • [7](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/1608/amaran-tamil-movie-review) |\n| Technical crew | Cinematography by P. C. Sreeram; editing by Raghu and Babu; production company Annalakshmi Films[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/3203/1992-amaran) |\n| Runtime | Reported variously as 130 minutes (IMDb, Apple TV), 135 minutes (Letterboxd), 150 minutes (Filmibeat, TamilMDb), and 160 minutes (MovieCrow)[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10713436/) • [4](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/amaran-1992/cast-crew.html) |\n| Audience rating | IMDb 7.2/10 from 56 ratings (unweighted mean 6.6); Cinegraph lists IMDb 6.8[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10713436/ratings/) • [9](https://cinegraph.org/movies/amaran-1992) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nAn orphaned child helps Govindan (Vijayakumar) escape from a gang of gangsters. The grateful Govindan adopts the boy and names him Amaran; after Govindan's death, his wife (Manjula Vijayakumar) raises him. Amaran grows up to become a kind-hearted slum lord.[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/3203/1992-amaran)\n\nA stranger, Raja Varma (Prathap K. Pothan), repeatedly urges Amaran to take on the heartless don Aandava Perumal ([Radha Ravi](https://www.edgepedia.org/radha-ravi)), who has a violent and brutal past. Amaran ignores him until Raja Varma is murdered by Perumal's goons, at which point Amaran learns that Aandava Perumal had destroyed his own family when he was a child. He gives refuge to Raja Varma's daughter Sivagaami (Bhanupriya), and the two fall in love.[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/3203/1992-amaran)\n\nThe conflict with Perumal brings deadly consequences to Amaran's adopted family. Sivagaami and a grievously injured Amaran escape to Goa, where the underworld don Miranda ([Shammi Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/shammi-kapoor)) shelters them; Amaran works for him for a while and marries Sivagaami. Years later he returns to [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu) to face his sworn enemy. In the ensuing bloody conflict Amaran's son is killed, and the film ends with Amaran killing Aandava Perumal, saying, \"This wouldn't have happened if you had not killed my son\".[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/3203/1992-amaran)\n\n## Cast\n\nKarthik plays the title role of Amaran, and Bhanupriya plays Sivagaami. Radha Ravi plays the antagonist Aandava Perumal, Prathap K. Pothan plays Raja Varma, and Shammi Kapoor plays Don Miranda. Vijayakumar appears as \"Sepoy\" Govindan, Manjula Vijayakumar as Amaran's foster mother, and Livingston as Inspector Duraipandi; the supporting cast includes [Janagaraj](https://www.edgepedia.org/janagaraj), Latha Sethupathi, Silk Smitha, and Disco Shanti.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/amaran) • [9](https://cinegraph.org/movies/amaran-1992)\n\nShammi Kapoor, a leading figure of [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) as actor, producer, and director, appeared in this Tamil film as Don Miranda, a young rival don opposed by Karthik's character. The Tamil newspaper Dinamalar describes *Amaran* as the only film in which Shammi Kapoor acted in Tamil.[10](https://www.dinamalar.com/cinemanews/141497)\n\n## Music\n\n*Amaran* was the debut film of composer Adithyan, who emerged in 1992 without any trace of Ilaiyaraaja's influence, at a time when [Ilaiyaraaja](https://www.edgepedia.org/ilaiyaraaja) dominated Tamil film music and listeners had grown tired of his uniform rhythmic patterns. The film's songs, with their distinct rhythm and unusual sound design, drew listeners in immediately.[3](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/110041-.html)\n\nThe film contains eight songs, each in a completely different musical style. \"Vethala Potta\", sung by the film's star Karthik, received a reception the Hindu Tamil review compares to that of Ilaiyaraaja's \"Maanguyile Poonguyile\"; the same review calls it a forerunner of the gaana genre of Tamil film songs.[3](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/110041-.html) The song list includes \"Musthafa Musthafa\" (sung by Karthik), \"Vasanthame Arugil Vaa\" ([S. P. Balasubrahmanyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-p-balasubrahmanyam)), \"Chandirane Suriyane\" ([K. J. Yesudas](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-j-yesudas)), and \"Paanja Janiyam Oothiduvaen\" (T. M. Sounderarajan), with lyrics by [Vairamuthu](https://www.edgepedia.org/vairamuthu) and Piraisoodan.[7](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/1608/amaran-tamil-movie-review) Through this film, Karthik and Srividya also made their debuts as playback singers.[11](https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/story/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/34149-.html)\n\n## Release and reception\n\nThe film was released theatrically on 15 January 1992 according to Filmibeat, TamilMDb, and MovieCrow; Filmibeat's English site lists 16 January 1992, and IMDb lists August 8, 1992 (India).[4](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/amaran-1992/cast-crew.html) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10713436/) IMDb estimates the budget at ₹500,000.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10713436/) The film received a big reception, according to a Hindu Tamil retrospective.[11](https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/story/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/34149-.html)\n\nOn IMDb the film holds a rating of 7.2/10 from 56 user ratings, with an unweighted mean of 6.6; Cinegraph, drawing on IMDb and TMDb data, lists an audience score of 6.8.[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10713436/ratings/) • [9](https://cinegraph.org/movies/amaran-1992) Rotten Tomatoes lists no professional reviews for the film.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/amaran) Viewer reviews on [Letterboxd](https://www.edgepedia.org/letterboxd) note that the second half borrows visibly from *The Godfather*, including a scene in which Radha Ravi's character objects to his son interrupting a conversation, mirroring [Marlon Brando](https://www.edgepedia.org/marlon-brando)'s scene, and a lead don named Don Miranda.[12](https://letterboxd.com/film/amaran/reviews/)\n\n## Legacy\n\nIn 2015, following the positive reception of Karthik's film *Aanegan*, work began on a sequel to *Amaran*, with Karthik planning to star and K. Rajeshwar again directing, and shooting planned for May or June of that year.[11](https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/story/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/34149-.html)\n\nThe title returned to prominence with the 2024 Tamil biographical film *Amaran*, about Major Mukund Varadarajan, starring [Sivakarthikeyan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sivakarthikeyan). Director Rajkumar Periasamy revealed that *Amaran* was the first word he wrote for the screenplay, meaning \"Immortal, Warrior and Godly\", and thanked the 1992 film's director K. Rajeshwar for magnanimously agreeing to give up the nostalgic title, with actor Karthik and his son [Gautham Karthik](https://www.edgepedia.org/gautham-karthik) reaching out to Rajeshwar and vouching for him.[13](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/director-rajkumar-periasamy-reveals-the-story-behind-choosing-amaran-title-for-sivakarthikeyans-film/amp_articleshow/107775959.cms) Tamil-language media list the 1992 and 2024 films among the Tamil films that have reused the same title.[14](https://tamil.samayam.com/web-stories/entertainment/tamil-movie-titles-which-have-been-used-more-than-once/photoshow/117265628.cms)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Amaran (1992), Venpura Tamil Movies](https://www.venpura.com/movie/Amaran-1992)\n2. [Amaran (1992), TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/3203/1992-amaran)\n3. [அஞ்சலி: இசையில் வாழும் அமரர், Hindu Tamil Thisai (2017)](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/110041-.html)\n4. [அமரன் (1992) Cast & Crew, Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/amaran-1992/cast-crew.html)\n5. [Amaran (1992), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10713436/)\n6. [Amaran (1992), Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/amaran)\n7. [Amaran Tamil Movie Overview, MovieCrow](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/1608/amaran-tamil-movie-review)\n8. [Amaran (1992) Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10713436/ratings/)\n9. [Amaran (1992), Cinegraph](https://cinegraph.org/movies/amaran-1992)\n10. [பிளாஷ்பேக்: ஷம்மி கபூர் தமிழில் நடித்த ஒரே படம், Dinamalar](https://www.dinamalar.com/cinemanews/141497)\n11. [உறுதியானது அமரன் இரண்டாம் பாகம், Hindu Tamil Thisai (2015)](https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/story/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/34149-.html)\n12. [Reviews of Amaran (1992), Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/amaran/reviews/)\n13. [Director Rajkumar Periasamy reveals the story behind choosing 'Amaran' title, The Times of India (2024)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/director-rajkumar-periasamy-reveals-the-story-behind-choosing-amaran-title-for-sivakarthikeyans-film/amp_articleshow/107775959.cms)\n14. [பிளாஷ்பேக்: ஒரே பெயரில் வெளியான இரண்டு திரைப்படங்கள், Tamil Samayam](https://tamil.samayam.com/web-stories/entertainment/tamil-movie-titles-which-have-been-used-more-than-once/photoshow/117265628.cms)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Tamil films before 2000 › Released 1992 to 1999*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/amaran-1992-film", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/amaran-1992-film.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Amaran (அமரன்) (1992 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/amaran-1992-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Amaran (அமரன்) (1992 film)](https://www.edgepedia.org/amaran-1992-film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/amaran-1992-film](https://www.edgepedia.org/amaran-1992-film). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Amaran (அமரன்) (1992 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/amaran-1992-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Amaran, also known as Amar, is a 1992 Tamil action gangster film written, directed, and produced by K." }