Engaeyum Eppothum

<p>The film focuses on two love stories in and ; one takes place in the period of a day, while the other ensues for months. The film starts with a road accident. Then it flashes back several months before when Amudha, a native village girl from Tiruchirappalli, arrives in Chennai for a , but her sister is unable to meet her to direct her to her destination. Amudha enlists the aid of a stranger named Gautham, who agrees to take her as far as the bus stop. However, he ends up travelling with her the entire day, waiting for her during her interview, and dropping her off at her sister’s home in the evening. In the course of the day, she comes to understand him and becomes fond of him. While remaining calm and reserved, Gautham reciprocates her feelings. The following day, Amudha returns to Tiruchirappalli, where she realizes that she has fallen in love with Gautham and rejects marriage proposals that come her way. She decides to return to Chennai to meet him. Meanwhile, Gautham realizes that he has fallen in love with Amudha and decides to go to Tiruchi to find her, despite not knowing her address and other any details except her name. A parallel story follows. Kathiresan, a metal shop worker, harbors feelings towards his neighbor Manimegalai, a nurse. Being shy and soft-spoken, he does not talk to her but continues to watch her every morning for 6 Months. Manimegalai is bold and forthcoming; she agrees to his love and orders him around mercilessly. She puts him through several tests: having him meet her father (a policeman), her former 1-side lover on his own, makes him undergo an , and gets him to agree to . She wants him to decide on the basis of all that she has put him through as to whether he wants to marry her and spend the rest of his life with her; Kathiresan responds affirmatively. The two grow to love each other unconditionally with their families’ consent. Kathiresan decides to take Manimegalai to visit his family in Arasur, a village near Villupuram, and the two board a bus to take them there. Meanwhile, Gautham boards a bus to return from Tiruchirappalli– the same one that Kathiresan and Manimegalai are travelling in. Simultaneously, Amudha boards a bus to return from Chennai. A few glimpses of other passengers are also seen: a mother and her child, a girls’ athletic team, a newly married couple, two college students who are attracted to each other, and a man returning from to see his 5 years old daughter for the first time. At a distance from on the Chennai-Tiruchirappalli (GST road), The SETC bus is redirected into the opposite lane, as one of the lanes is under construction. However, before a contract carriage (omni) bus named Sky travels is redirected, a tarp from a truck blows off and blocks the windshield. Unable to see where he is going, the terrified driver accidentally swerves into the path of the SETC bus. Both the buses , killing about 35 people on the spot. Many others die en route to or at the hospital. Gautham sees a severely injured Amudha on the other bus, and she is rushed to a hospital. She reaches the hospital along with Gautham, Kathiresan has succumbed to and he died. At the hospital, Gautham confesses his love to Amudha at her bedside, and she manages to regain consciousness. Kathiresan’s dead body is taken away by a hysteric Manimegalai and his grieving parents. The site of the crash is declared an accident prone-area, and the film ends with a message on . The film was initially launched in late 2010 with and playing a pair in the film. However they pulled out due to prior commitments and were replaced by and . was also replaced as music composer by debutant . The film’s score and soundtrack were composed by debutant . The album consists of five tracks, featuring lyrics penned by and . It was released on 3 August 2011 in released by actors , and Music Director . opened to very positive reviews. GetCinemas.com gave it 3.5/5 rating with a tag “must watch”, saying “it is a rare film, and has come out as perfect as a dream” and appreciating for a clearly sketched script and perfect characterisation. Pavithra Srinivasan of gave the film 3 out of 5, calling it a “genuinely story, not just about romance, but about the fabric of life itself”. A critic from wrote that was “riveting cinema with a difference. Everything is new about it from characters to the plot, accompanied by superb performances by the lead actors notably Anjali”. reviewer Karthik Subramanian noted that it was a “laudable effort” adding that “despite some clichés, the film works well”. G Sai Shyam, another critic from , wrote that it was “a novel attempt by the director” and that “the compelling screenplay with a strong message to everyone makes it a must watch film”. gave 50 out of 100 marks, ranking it among the best in recent times. Venkateswaran Narayanan from gave 3 out of 5 and wrote that it was “the perfect example of a film relying solely on its screenplay and performances to strike it rich at the box office”. On the contrary, Gautaman Bhaskaran of gave it 2.5 and praised the lead performances, while criticising the screenplay and the plot. Sources reported that actor may remake it in . Producer K Manju acquired the Kannada remake rights of the film and it was remade in Kannada as . was honoured with an award by the on 18 December at for directing with a very relevant social message which is the need of the hour. He also secured 50% of votes and was declared as the Best Director of 2011 in the year-end public poll conducted by Oneindia.in for directing Engeyum Eppodhum. secured 35.2% of votes and was declared as the Best Actress of 2011 for her performance in the film. was honoured with the Best Actress Award at V4 Entertainment Awards 2011. was declared as the Best Supporting Actress. appeared on the following top five lists of the best films of 2011. The character portrayed by Jai makes a cameo appearance in 2015 film .</p>