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Atlee's Blockbuster Journey: Celebrating His Birthday With 5 Memorable Films, From Raja Rani To Jawan!
Atlee Celebrates 37th Birthday with a 'Jawan' Triumph: Atlee, a highly acclaimed filmmaker primarily recognised for his contributions to Tamil cinema, marks his 37th birthday on September 21st.
Apart from his directorial prowess, Atlee is also an accomplished screenwriter and producer. Currently, he is enjoying the triumph of the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "Jawan."
Atlee, renowned for his crowd-pleasing commercial hits, revealed in a recent interview that 'Jawan' serves as his love letter to Shah Rukh Khan. Moreover, he hinted that 'Jawan' is only the first of many such 'Love Letters' planned for the future. During the interview, Atlee heaped praise on the superstar.
Atlee embarked on his career at the young age of 19 by serving as an assistant director to renowned filmmaker S. Shankar for two movies, "Enthiran" (2010) and "Nanban" (2012), which was a remake of the Hindi blockbuster "3 Idiots." His short film titled "Mugaputhagam" (2011) garnered significant attention from the public and various media platforms.
Atlee has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Tamil cinema. His directorial debut, 'Raja Rani,' starred Nayanthara as the female lead. His well-known partnership with Thalapathy Vijay is widely recognised.
Atlee's movies are renowned for their mass appeal, featuring exhilarating action sequences, compelling characters, and thought-provoking social commentary. He has captivated audiences with his masterful use of slow-motion shots, close-ups, and wide-angle shots, crafting an exceptional cinematic experience. His ability to address societal concerns effectively in mainstream commercial movies often strikes a chord with viewers. Additionally, Atlee has a talent for crafting memorable and relatable characters that leave a lasting impact on cinephiles.
Atlee's Blockbuster Journey: From 'Raja Rani' To 'Jawan,' Five Memorable Films
On his special day today, let's take a glimpse at the five blockbuster films directed by this accomplished filmmaker.
Raja
Rani
In 2013, Atlee took his first step as a director with the romantic comedy "Raja Rani," produced by A. R. Murugadoss, Fox Star Studios, and Next Big Films. The film featured a cast including Arya, Jai, Nayanthara, Nazriya Nazim, and Sathyaraj. It not only achieved success at the box office but also earned Atlee the prestigious Best Debut Director award at the Vijay Awards.
Theri
After the triumph of "Raja Rani," Atlee proceeded to helm his next project, "Theri" (2016), an emotionally charged action thriller. Produced by Kalaipuli S. Thanu, the film starred Vijay, Samantha, and Amy Jackson in pivotal roles. While it garnered mixed reviews from critics, they lauded the performances of the cast, the soundtrack, the score, the cinematography, the production design, and the action sequences. "Theri" proved to be a massive commercial hit, grossing over ₹156 crores at the box office and securing the position of the second highest-grossing Tamil film of 2016.
Mersal
In 2017, Atlee continued his directorial journey with "Mersal," an action thriller produced by Thenandal Studio Limited. The film once again featured Vijay in the lead role, alongside a talented ensemble cast including Nithya Menen, Kajal Aggarwal, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, S. J. Surya, Sathyaraj, Vadivelu, Hareesh Peradi, and Kovai Sarala in significant supporting roles. "Mersal" achieved remarkable commercial success, emerging as one of the highest-grossing films in Tamil cinema, with a global box office collection exceeding ₹250 crores. The film received numerous awards and recognitions.
In an exciting development, "Mersal" was released on December 6, 2018, in China by HGC Entertainment, reflecting its international appeal. Due to overwhelming demand, the film was screened at the prestigious Grand Rex cinema, the largest cinema theatre in Europe, located in France. Additionally, it received screenings at prominent international film festivals, including the Hainan International Film Festival in Hainan, China, and the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in South Korea.
Bigil
Next in line, Atlee directed "Bigil" in 2019, a sports action drama produced by AGS Entertainment. This marked his third collaboration with Vijay and the second with Nayanthara. The film also featured prominent actors like Jackie Shroff, Vivek, and Kathir in key roles, while the music was composed by the legendary A. R. Rahman.
"Bigil" received a range of reviews upon its release, with a mix of positive and constructive feedback. However, it swiftly rose to become the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2019, amassing an impressive ₹310 crores at the box office during its initial release. Furthermore, it secured its place as one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of all time, establishing a new record in Vijay's illustrious career.
Jawan
Atlee marked his debut in Hindi cinema with "Jawan," a star-studded film featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, Ridhi Dogra, and an array of talented actors. The movie also featured special appearances by Deepika Padukone and a cameo by Sanjay Dutt. "Jawan" was produced by Gauri Khan, Shah Rukh Khan's wife, and Gaurav Verma under the banner of Red Chillies Entertainment. Anirudh Ravichander composed the film's music.
Upon its release on September 7, 2023, "Jawan" garnered generally positive reviews from both critics and audiences. It made headlines by setting a new record for a Hindi film, grossing ₹75 crores (US$9.4 million) on its opening day. During its opening weekend itself, the film achieved remarkable success by grossing ₹520.79 crores worldwide.
Atlee is celebrated for the entertainment his films offer, and his previous works are a testament to this. He has a knack for weaving narratives that captivate, thrill, and tug at the heartstrings. Here's extending heartfelt birthday wishes to the filmmaker extraordinaire, Atlee, along with hopes for numerous future blockbusters.
