7 Aum Arivu (2011)

A genetic engineering student tries to bring back the skills of a legend of the past and use his skills to save India from a deadly virus attack by China.

Director:

A.R. Murugadoss

Writers:

A.R. Murugadoss (dialogue), A.R. Murugadoss (screenplay)

Stars:

Suriya, Shruti Haasan, Johnny Nguyen

1 win & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Suriya	...	Bodhidharma / Aravind
Shruti Haasan	...	Subha Srinivasan (as Shruti K. Haasan)
Johnny Nguyen	...	Dong Lee
Abhinaya	...	Bodhidharma's Wife
Ramanathan	...	Professor Imran Saahil (as Chitkara Saahil)
Ajaykumar	...	Circus Artist
Ilavarasu	...	Aravind's Cousin (as Illavarasu)
Ashwin Kakumanu	...	Ashwin
Dhanya Balakrishna	...	Malathi
Sujatha	...	Aravind's cousin
Azhagam Perumal	...	Museum Officer (as Alagam Perumal)
Misha Ghoshal	...	Nisha
A.R. Murugadoss	...	TV Show Director
Steven Dasz	...	Dancer Staff
Jill Kelsey	...	Dancer Staff

Storyline

The story revolves around Subha, a genetic engineering student and Arvind, a worker at Bombay Circus. Arvind is a Descendent of the legendary Bhodi Dharma, who lived during the 6th Century AD. As per the story, Bhodi Dharma is an exceptionally skilled fighter and a Medic. Subha's theory is that the DNA sample of a person contains the memory strands of their ancestors. Subha's main aim is to perform a genetic experiment on Arvind and to revive Bhodi Dharma's skill once again. She submits her thesis to various countries. Apparantly,China is being a bad girl and is plotting to wage a bio-war against India. They get shocked on seeing Subha's thesis and send Dong Lee to carry out OPERATION RED to make sure that Bhodi Dharma's truth remains uncovered. The fate of the country rests on Subha's research and how she does it covers the rest of the story.

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Plot Keywords:

genetic engineering | virus | martial arts | actor playing multiple roles | biological weapon | 

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Country:

India

Language:

Tamil Hindi Telugu

Release Date:

26 October 2011 (India)

Also Known As:

7th Sense

Filming Locations:

Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India

Box Office

Budget:

INR 850,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Makuta, Red Giant Movies, Red Giant

Technical Specs

Runtime:

168 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first kollywood film to have a special premiere show.

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Quotes

Aravind: Namballa Malaysia la adichanga, elangaila adichanga. Ippo Tamil naatukae vanthu adikuraan. Nambalaala avangakitta irunthu odamattum than mudiyuthu la?

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Connections

Referenced in Masss (2015)

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Soundtracks

Yamma Yamma
Lyrics by: Kabilan
Composed by: Harris Jayaraj
Sung by: Balasubramaniam S.P. and Shweta Mohan

User Reviews

7aum arivu - Got my seventh sense

Social messages and connecting back to the history are two themes that have awed movie makers of this part of the country. Murugadoss, once again finds his path in the same. Well done this time to kindle the curiosity in you and provoke some native jingoism. We have seen that in plenty in the past of Tamil cinema, thankfully this time, its not the loud war-cry-kind of jingoism but done in its subtle way. However that said, 7aum Arivu is loaded with the 'templated movie formats' needed to appease all classes of audience as the movie circuit popularly puts it.

7aum Arivu starts of brilliantly connecting back to history as how Bodhidharma went past Tamilnadu, past India to China to preach medicine and self defense, two most important elixirs. And then how centuries later, the Chinese attempt to use the same against India and thrawt the very roots of it. Thoughts of a bio-war and Tamil oppression in the movie gives that tinge of the current political undercurrent prevalent, Murugadoss scores here. Long story short, no spoilers, Aravind is in the line of progeny of Bodhidharma and Subha the research scholar trying to prove that DNAs carry hereditary characteristics of ancient forefathers and hence the DNA of Bhodidharama's descendants may have the immense sense of healing and protection, which if invoked is of great benfit to mankind. Of course the Chinese unhappy about this pursuit, the economical intentions that are revealed later, have their martial arts specialist Dong Lee on a mission to end the research of Subha and naturally begin the bio-war against India. Now why just India? Thats leaves you pondering, maybe the subtle political undercurrent between India-China.

Suriya is a treat to watch. Graceful as Bhodhidharma and stylish as Aravind, you can't ask for more from this professional. Doubt if anybody else could have pulled of this with such ease. Shruti has her part pretty well played as Subha. Women playing significant roles in a Murugadoss movie doesn't surprise us and naturally deserves due apperciation. The stone-cold bad man,Johnny Tri Nguyen from China does his part neatly. His stunts are probably the only note-worthy martial arts expo in the movie. Songs are catchy, well placed and passes on with the movie. Ravi K Chandiran leaves his magic behind in the songs as usual. With that said, the movie though kindles your curiosity to go google and run thru wikipedia to ascertain facts and fiction, the movie leaves you with the big lows of the typical format-movie problem. The stunts are thoroughly disappointing. A movie about a martial arts legendary with no spectacle of martial arts is on the downside. Peter Hein's trademark flying cars and human bodies are plenty and leaves a sore in the mind.

A great storyline, a subtle jingoism, good performances from Surya and Shruti and a few here and there 'so-called-appease-all' movie making style,leaves you wanting a bit more from Murugadoss, maybe he has reserved it for the Hindi version with Aamir Khan if he does one. :) 7am Arivu, a neat entertainer, picks your thoughts at places and leaves you wanting for more at certain others.