En Swase Kattre ( My Life Breath)
Cast - Aravind Swamy, Isha Gopikar,
Director - KS.Ravi
Banner - Nimbaka Film International
Music - AR Rahman
Release - 1999
Sound- 5.1 DD/DTS
En Swasa Katre (My Life Breath) is a
Tamil language motion picture released in 1999. The film stars
Arvind Swamy, Isha Koppikar, Prakash Raj and Raghuvaran. The music
is by A.R.Rahman. The director of this film is K.S.Ravi who is
relatively unknown and has not been seen in the
industry after this film was released. The film was released in Feb
1999 in India and worldwide. The lead actress, a newcomer Isha
Koppikar debuted in the South Indian film industry with this film.
She stars alongside one of the famous hearthrob of 1990s,
Arvindswamy as the male lead. En Swasa Katre is a desi version of
typical Hollywood romance with commercial elements. The film
despite not winning box office acclaim, was much remembered for its
endearing creative music and song sequences best described as
innovative and fresh. The breathtaking cinematography complements
the romantic musical nature of the film very well with the song
sequences filmed in exotic locales and settings. The soundtrack of
this film was well received upoun its initial release. Notably,
song sequences in this film got considerable TV audience via music
dedication through various primetime programs on Indian television
and remained on the top 10 charts for a period of time.
The motion picture is produced by Nikaba films. The film's
background score also done by A.R Rahman manages to seamlessly flow
into the story and draws the viewer into the scene. The soundtrack
has been acknowledged as one of A.R. Rahman's best works to date in
the 1990s. Parts of the song "En Swasa Katre" are syncopated as in
Karnatak music compositions. In the style of Enigma, the French
group which blends religious music and pop, a church chorus is used
in one of the interludesThe re-recording of the film is done on DTS
5.1 sound. Coupled with vibrant cinematography, a wide variety of
locales such as the temples of Indonesia, Sand mines, Indoor studio
apartments for film and song sequences has been used. An impressive
song sequence found in the film was filmed entirely in rain in
contemporary city settings to a foot tapping melody.
A seemingly down to earth guy Arun (played by Arvind Swamy) by
day leads a life of a computer hacker and thief by night. When he
meets a girl (Isha Koppikar) whom he fancies, he wishes to turn
into a new leaf. But Arun's rogue brother whom has been
blackmailing him since young to do his dirty deeds does not think
likewise. A deep love hate relationship between them which unfolded
during their childhood days traps Arun into a life of crime. How
Arun must chooses between his family and his love forms the crux of
the story.
Trivia
The director K.S. Ravi had not been seen in new projects in the
film industry since the release of this film.
This is the last film of Arvind Swamy in a commercial lead role who
seems to have retired from the acting scene.The actor then
re-appeared in a low profiled arthouse movie "Sasanam" in
2006
Actress Isha Koppikar moved on to have a brief successful stint in
Bollywood.
The shelved film Engineer which was to have Arvind Swamy and
Madhuri Dixit in lead roles has been restarted in 2007 with a
different cast.
