28 years since the Shankar directed vigilante blockbuster Indian (1996) starring Kamal Haasan in the lead released, its sequel Indian 2 is gearing up to hit theater screens on July 12, 2024. Indian 3, another sequel in this franchise is also set to release in the next 6 months. 

At this time, MovieCrow brings you some throwback facts about the original movie, which was produced by AM Rathnam and had music by AR Rahman [Indian 2, Indian 3 are backed by Lyca Productions, Red Giant Movies and have Anirudh Ravichander for music]. 

The monumental hype for Indian 2, the latest sequel in director Shankar's franchise starring Kamal Haasan, is due to the lasting impact the original vigilante action Indian, left 28 years ago.

1. Core Idea was Reverse Approached 

Director Shankar felt that movies on big scale corruption, were by and large in Tamil cinema, and wanted to walk down the untaken path, and address the everyday issue of petty bribery - a very relatable and direct issue for a common man. The director himself had been affected by this during his college days, while trying to get certificates from government offices.

The filmmaker thought that the right person to address this Rs. 50/100 bribery problem, should be someone who was part of India's freedom fight, a follower of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose considering the anger, boldness, and skills required to do so. Once Shankar fixed this character (Senapathy), his age, and everything, the director reverse approached the subject, story of Indian movie. 

2. Original Netaji Footage & Outstanding Graphics/Special Effects

To establish the authenticity of the strong connection between Senapathy, and the Netaji-lead Indian National Army (INA) in Indian movie, director Shankar used original documented footage of Subhas Chandra Bose, fixing Kamal Haasan into it using special effects.

ST Venki and team found this job extremely challenging, due to the limited technical advancements back in 1996. But the job was pulled off convincingly, earning Indian film the 'Best Special Effects' National Film Award. It was S. T. Venki's third consecutive win, and second for a Shankar movie after Kaadhalan (1994).

3. Aishwarya Rai was approached pre-debut

Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made her film debut with the Mani Ratnam directed Tamil movie Iruvar (1997). Even before that she was at the receiving end of multiple film offers, one of them being Indian (1996). Kamal Haasan was cast in the Shankar directed movie in June 1995, but the 1994 Miss World beauty pageant winner was under contract with an ad agency till October 1995. This made Aishwarya miss out on this film, but she ended up working with Shankar in Jeans (1998), and Enthiran (2010). 

In Picture: Aishwarya Rai photographed in June, 1995

Shankar then cast Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala, impressed with her performance in Mani Ratnam's Bombay (1995). Producer AM Rathnam impressed with Urmila Matondkar in the Hindi movie Rangeela (1995), a PAN Indian hit for music composer AR Rahman at that time, added the actress as the second Bollywood female lead in Indian.

L-R: Urmila Matondkar, Kamal Haasan, Manisha Koirala 

4. Academy Award winning makeup artist

The prosthetic makeup of a 70+ Senapathy, portrayed by a then 40+ Kamal Haasan was done by Michael Westmore, the Oscar winning Hollywood makeup artist known for Mask (1985), Star Trek: First Contact (1996). Westmore went on to work with the Ulaganayagan in two more movies - Avvai Shanmugi (1996), and Dasavathaaram (2008), but nothing has come close to the trademark he left with the 'Indian thatha' (Indian grandpa) look in 1995.

5. Fun Fact: Kamal Haasan assisted Michael Westmore on Star Trek: First Contact (1996). 

Kamal Haasan with Oscar award winning makeup artist Michael Westmore in July 2023

6. Kamal learned real 'varma kalai' from Aasaan Rajendran

Director Shankar came to know of the Indian martial master 'Aasaan' Rajendran by reading one of his books, and asked him to compose the stunts for Indian. Post the movie starring Kamal Haasan, people started hearing. and talking about this form of regional yet powerful martial arts.

7. Indian interval fight scene/chair scene was written with Rajinikanth in mind

Shankar pitched the idea of 'Periya Manushan' to Rajinikanth, when the script of Indian was not fully formed. But Rajini due to other commitments could not do the project. Shankar, to news paper media informed that the popular mass scene of Kamal Hassan in Indian interval (chair fight scene with Nedumudi Venu), was written with Rajinikanth in mind.

Rajinikanth during a 1995 interview

Kamal Haasan in Indian interval fight scene

Kamal Haasan never knew this, and did the Indian interval fight scene, where a 70+ Senapathy knocks down a middle aged IPS officer (Nedumudi Venu) while seated in a wooden easy chair, in his own way. 

8. Plan B if Kamal Haasan said no

Both director Shankar and his AD at that time, director Vasantha Balan have confirmed that Indian, at its nascent stage was written with Rajinikanth in mind. When the team approached Kamal Haasan, they were gearing up for a plan B as well, incase the full script of Indian got rejected by the Ulaganayagan. 

According to director Vasantha Balan, plan B was to make the movie in Telugu with Tollywood actor Venkatesh as son, and Rajasekhar as the father. Kamal Haasan fortunately said yes to playing both roles, and the rest is history.

9.  India's Official entry for Oscars

Indian released in theaters on May 9, 1996 and was selected by India as the country's official entry for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' for the Academy Awards that year. The Shankar, Kamal Haasan film however did not land a nominations at the Oscars.

10. Kappal Yeari Poyachu & 2.4 million AR Rahman cassettes 

AR Rahman’s music for Indian was a major backbone of the film. The now late Vaali penned lyrics for Kappaleri Poyaachu, one of the evergreen hits in the Indian album. Director Shankar initially wanted the ace lyricist to rewrite his words for the song, as the director felt that they might be interpreted in the negative connotation of 'the ship of dignity has sailed'.

But Vaali educated the director that the Tamil phrase 'Kappal Yearichu' in itself is derived from the British colonizers leaving India in ships, and the usage of ''Kappal Yeari Poyachu' in the song indicates the same.

28 years ago, the iconic AR Rahman composed Indian album sold a whopping 24 lakh cassette units, in Tamil (Pyramid Saimira music label), and Hindi (Tips music label) versions.

28 years later, Indian (1996) is the movie that is referenced even today, when it comes to the subject of corruption. A sequel to this big budget blockbuster, sees the return of Senapathy as the 106 year old vigilante, ironically with the relevance of corruption in India still intact. Cannot wait to see what the 'Indian thatha' aka Kamal Haasan has in store in Indian 2 (2024), and the immediate sequel that is to follow i.e. Indian 3.