The other releases were Jeeva-Nayanthara’s E, based on medical crimes. Rahman and it featured the star in multiple roles, including that of an effeminate classical dancer. In what was a reasonably low-key release season with the biggest release and the biggest grosser being Ajith’s Varalaru, AKA Godfather. Ģ006: Varalaru, E, Vattaram, Vallavan, Thalaimagan Same goes with Vikram’s first post-superstardom Deepavali release Majaa, a remake of the Malayalam comedy Thommanum Makkalum. Balu Mahendra’s film Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam, starring Dhanush, received little love from either critics or the audience. The same could not be said about the other films. 2005 was no different with his film running well into 2006. After Ghilli, Vijay’s stardom had reached a whole other level and subsequent Deepavali releases would reflect his mass appeal. Or should one say, “corrected machi”?Ģ005: Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam, Sivakasi, Majaa, Ambuttu Imbuttu EmbuttuĪfter a gap of one year, Vijay returned to his biggest release date with Perarasu’s Sivakasi, a full-fledged mass entertainer with music by Srikanth Deva. It started a trend of the younger stars taking bigger release dates and the market corrected itself to accommodate all. It clicked with youngsters in a major way and the album by Yuvan Shankar Raja became an even bigger hit. The other major release (smaller films were Niranja Manasu and Sarathkumar’s Chatrapathy ) was Manmadhan, which Simbu also wrote and directed. Despite mixed reviews and the star coming off the lacklustre Jana and Anjaneya, the film was a success. Ajith was back in a double role after Villain Attakasam was also his second film with Saran after the blockbuster Amarkalam. This mix was missing the following year with Ajith’s Attakasam releasing alongside Simbu’s Manmadhan. A perfect season with a mix of mass and class with something for all filmgoers.Ģ004: Attakasam, Manmadhan, Dreams, Chatrapathy In terms of being a more serious film, there was also Pithamagan, a classic celebrated for its novel plot and heartbreaking performances. It was Vijay’s Thirumalai that ended up winning big this year. Ajith and Vijay returned (his third consecutive festival release) with action films. Although bigger stars today, it’s not too often that you see films of Vikram, Suriya, Vijay and Ajith taking on each other. In terms of star voltage, not many years will come close to 2003. Murugadoss’s second film-starring Vijayakanth became a big hit too, spawning many remakes in Tamil and Hindi.Ģ003: Anjaneya, Pithamagan, Thirumalai, Ottran Ajith’s Villain, with him featuring in a negative shade, was lapped up by the audience and ended up becoming the big hit of the season. It was about a common man turning into a gangster but it could not do what his romantic films did. Unlike his earlier films, Vijay was now attempting an action film with a more massy avatar. Vijay’s Bagavathi took on Ajith’s Villian. The first of the major Vijay-Ajith clashes of the decade began in 2002. The film worked in a big way and gave us a star in Suriya.Ģ002: Bagavathi, Villain, Ramana, Andipatti Arasampatti, Kadhal Azhivathillai, Padai Veetu Amman, Solla Marantha Kathai, Game Shahjahan added another much-loved romance to Vijay’s filmography while Vijaykanth’s Thavasi and Prabhu Deva’s Manadhai Thirudivittai clicked with the family audience. Although celebrated in retrospect, it proved a box office failure with the other releases performing better. With Kamal Haasan’s double role and a second version releasing in Hindi titled Abhay, Aalavandhan was the most hyped film of the season. The Kamal-Vijay clash continued into the second year as well with Aalavandhan taking on Shahjahan. Both films did well and neither fans had reasons to complain.Ģ001: Aalavandhan, Manandhai Thirudivittai, Nandha, Shahjahan, Thavasi, Aandan Adimai, Parthale Paravasam, Kasi, Ponnana Neram Thenali is a comedy co-starring Jayaram and Jyothika. The former was a romance featuring Simran and lovely songs by S.A. Vijay’s Priyamanavale, directed by K Selva Bharathy, released with Kamal Haasan’s Thenali, directed by K.S. The first Deepavali of the new millennium did not feature a mass movie, although it had movies of two big stars. 2000: Priyamanavale, Thenali, Vaanavil, Palayathu Amman, Kannuku Kanaga