Aelay
Poster
GenreComedy drama
Written byHalitha Shameem
Directed byHalitha Shameem
StarringSamuthirakani
K. Manikandan
Music byAruldev
Country of originIndia
Original languageTamil
Production
ProducersS. Sashikanth
Chakravarthy Ramachandra
Pushkar–Gayathri
CinematographyTheni Eswar
EditorsRaymond Derrick Crasta
Halitha Shameem
Production companiesYNOT Studios
Reliance Entertainment
Wallwatcher Films
Original release
NetworkStar Vijay
Release
  • 28 February 2021 (2021-02-28)

Aelay is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama television film written and directed by Halitha Shameem, and produced by S. Sashikanth and Ramachandra of YNOT Studios while creative produced by Pushkar–Gayathri of Wallwatcher Films. Co-produced by Reliance Entertainment, The film stars Samuthirakani and K. Manikandan, and has music composed by Kaber Vasuki and Aruldev, with cinematography handled by Theni Eswar and editing done by Shameem and Raymond Derrick Crasta respectively.

The film was scheduled for theatrical release on 12 February 2021, but the producers later opted for a direct-to-television premiere through Star Vijay on 28 February 2021 and internationally on Netflix on 5 March 2021.[1]

Plot

An unexpected life event forces a young man to reconsider the past and his opinions about his father, who was an ice-cream seller.

Cast

  • Samuthirakani as Muthukkutty and Sudhakar (Imbuttu Kanji)
  • K. Manikandan as Parthi
  • Madhumathi as Nachiya
  • Deepa Shankar as village school teacher
  • Sana Udhyakumar as Parthi's elder sister
  • Sudharshan Gandhi as Parthi's friend

Production

In May 2019, YNOT Studios announced their collaboration with director duo Pushkar–Gayathri's newly launched production studio Wallwatcher Films, for Halitha Shameem's new project titled Aelay.[2] Both the directors also joined the film's team as the creative director, with Shameem revealed that she had written the script nine years back,[3] and was waiting for the right producer.[2] She earlier worked as an assistant to Pushkar and Gayathri, whom agreed to produce the film after her narration.[2] The film was touted to be a neo-realistic comedy set in rural areas, with the relationship dynamics between a father and son at its core.[4] Shameem decided to cast Samuthirakani and Manikandan, whom were a part of the director's Sillu Karuppatti (2019), essaying the roles of father and son, whereas the rest of the cast were non-actors from the village of Manjunayakanpatti in Dindigul district.[5] Principal photography began in Palani on 3 May 2019, where the makers planned to shoot the film in a single stretch,[4] and wrapped on 1 July 2019.[6]

Soundtrack

Aelay
Soundtrack album by
Kaber Vasuki, Aruldev
Released1 February 2021
Recorded2020
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length15:03
LanguageTamil
LabelSony Music
ProducerKaber Vasuki
Aruldev

The songs are composed by Kaber Vasuki and Aruldev. The original score is composed by Aruldev, as he earlier worked with Shameem in her debut film Poovarasam Peepee (2014). The soundtrack album features six songs with lyrics written by Kaber Vasuki, Halitha Shameem, M. K. Kadal Vendhan and K. Chitrasenan. The album was released by Sony Music on 1 February 2021.[7]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicSinger(s)Length
1."Aelay"–AruldevAruldev2:14
2."Ettuthikkum Oorum"M. K. Kadal VendhanAruldevM. K. Kadal Vendhan2:02
3."Kooduvittu"K. ChitrasenanAruldevK. Chitrasenan1:57
4."Magaraasa"Kaber VasukiKaber VasukiKaber Vasuki2:10
5."Muthukutti Settai"Halitha ShameemKaber VasukiAlexander Babu2:45
6."Seevanukke"Halitha ShameemKaber VasukiYogi Sekar, Roja Adithya3:55
Total length:15:03

Release

The film was initially scheduled for a theatrical release in September 2019, but was postponed due to the post-production delays and the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] The official trailer of the film was released on the occasion of Republic Day, 26 January 2021 and the film's release date of 12 February 2021 was announced.[8]

A day before the scheduled release, the makers withdrew plans for theatrical release and further announced that the film will be aired directly through Star Vijay on 28 February 2021.[9] Exhibitors demanded a film should have its streaming premiere only after 30-days of theatrical run, this was one of the reasons that the makers went for a straight-to-television premiere.[10] After its television premiere, the film began streaming via Netflix from 5 March 2021.[11]

Reception

M. Suganth of The Times of India called out "Aelay" as "a journey that leaves you with a smile even if the ride was sort of bumpy for some parts", giving 3 out of 5 stars for the film.[12] Behindwoods called the film as a "delightful watch"; giving 3 out of 5, the review further stated "With an in-form Samuthirakani and a high humour quotient, Aelay will surprise you in ways you wouldn't expect it to".[13] Avinash Ramachandran of Cinema Express also gave 3 out of 5, writing "The film stays afloat, courtesy its efficient humour, some good performances from the leads, and impressive music".[14]

Sify called the film "a breezy feel-good drama", adding "it makes you smile in several places but it falls short due to the overstretched second half and climax.".[15] Srinivasa Ramanujam from The Hindu noted "director Halitha Shameem’s latest offering lacks pace but the performances and characterisation make up for it."[16] Despite criticising its lengthy pace, Haricharan Pudipeddi of Hindustan Times called Aelay as a "fun, sweet film that gets so much right about life in a small village and their tradition".[17] Reviewing for Film Companion, Baradwaj Rangan stated the film as watchable, despite its issues. He wrote "There’s always something fresh and interesting and “quirky” enough to match the score, like the father and son giving up a chase while halfway up a tree. But you wish Halitha had leaned one way and stayed that course".[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Samuthirakani's 'Aelay' to have a direct television premiere". The Times of India. 11 February 2021. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Prabhu, Mani (3 May 2019). "Pushkar-Gayatri to team up with director Halitha". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "Samuthirakani :Halithaa Shameem first script was 'Aelay'". Sify. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  4. 1 2 Prabhu, Mani (4 May 2019). "First look of director Halitha's neo-realistic comedy Aelay out". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  5. ↑ Subramanian, Anupama (3 May 2019). "Aelay is a neo-realistic comedy". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Samuthirakani's 'Aelay' shooting wrapped up". The Times of India. 1 July 2019. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "Aelay (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". JioSaavn. 1 February 2021. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  8. ↑ "Halitha Shameem's Aelay: Makers to reveal the most awaited film's trailer; See post". Pinkvilla. 26 January 2021. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  9. ↑ "Halitha Shameem's 'Aelay' skips theatrical release, to have television premier". The News Minute. 13 February 2021. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  10. ↑ "Aelay to release directly on OTT? Here's what we know". Moviecrow. 10 February 2021. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  11. ↑ "Netflix announces Samuthirakani's Aelay release date". Thandoratimes.com. 2 March 2021. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  12. ↑ Suganth, M. (25 February 2021). "Aelay Movie Review: Aelay is overlong, but leaves you with a smile". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  13. ↑ "Aelay movie review". Behindwoods. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  14. ↑ Ramachandran, Avinash (28 February 2021). "Aelay Movie Review: A warm, funny tale bogged down by some missteps". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  15. ↑ "Aelay review: A breezy feel-good drama". Sify. 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  16. ↑ Ramanujam, Srinivasa (26 February 2021). "'Aelay' film review: A well-crafted rural film on a problematic father son relationship". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  17. ↑ Pudipeddi, Haricharan (28 February 2021). "Aelay movie review: A fun, sweet rural drama that's let down by its length". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  18. ↑ Rangan, Baradwaj (26 February 2021). "Review Of Halitha Shameem's Aelay On Vijay TV, With Samuthirakani And Manikandan: A Low-Key Charmer Saddled With A Shrill Second Half". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
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