Autograph

Autograph (2004), directed by and starring Cheran, is a heartfelt masterpiece that beautifully captures the essence of love, friendship, and nostalgia. A gem of Tamil cinema, the film takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster, recounting pivotal chapters of a man's life through a series of flashbacks, each resonating with universal emotions.

The narrative unfolds as Senthil (Cheran) travels across India to invite people from his past to his wedding. What starts as a simple journey soon evolves into a deeply reflective exploration of his school days, first love, heartbreak, and the friendships that shaped his life. Each phase is distinct, yet seamlessly woven together, making the story feel deeply personal yet universally relatable.

The film excels in its authenticity. Cheran's subtle direction and natural performance lend an understated charm to the narrative. The cast, including Gopika, Sneha, and Mallika, deliver moving performances, bringing Senthil's relationships to life. Bharadwaj's soul-stirring music, especially songs like "Ovvoru Pookalume" and "Manasukkulle Dhagam Vanthucha," elevate the emotions, making every scene linger in the heart long after the credits roll.

It's surprising that Autograph has so few reviews despite its timeless impact. Two decades later, it still captivates, evoking vivid memories of high school crushes, bittersweet first loves, and the irreplaceable friendships of youth. The film's ability to transport viewers back to their own cherished moments is a testament to its enduring brilliance.

Autograph was a rare movie in that it is artsy but not boring like the other art films. It can be enjoyed by both commercial movie lovers and parallel cinema lovers. I truly enjoyed this movie. I can say that I loved the second part and the 4 th (last) part of the movie. 1st part and 3rd parts were OK. 3rd part was a little overdone. But yes, definitely worth watching. The music was very pleasant to hear. The song picturizations were definitely a plus.

Special mention about Gopika. She has a fresh face and acted pretty well considering that she is a new comer. The director and the lead guy Cheran also wins my appreciation.

Congrats with this movie and expecting more of such movies from him..

P.S - Kerala is depicted so beautifully. I must appreciate the camera work.

Actually guys Cheran is a director turned actor. He's directed quite a lot of rural-India based movies and most of them captivating. Just to clarify I would like to say that the song sequences where Senthil and his gf dance is actually based on song sequences in tamil movies from about 30 years ago. The costumes, the way they dance and everything was made to look like those sequences were made in 1970 Kollywood. Also its kollywood not tollywood. There's a place called Kodambakkam in Chennai (4th largest city in India) which mirrors Hollywood in the sense that most of the tamil actors live there. So Kollywood obviously comes from the Ko in Kodambakkam.

ps: Wonderful Movie :)

I don't watch much Tamil cinema (mostly because I'm not familiar with it), but when I was last in India I heard many people talking about this film. They were saying it was moving and touching, something which i generally equated to overwrought melodrama.

Almost eight months later, I came across the DVD for "Autograph" by accident, and decided to give it a try. I was shocked.

This was an excellent picture, done with care and a lot of heart. Sure there are a few (and only a rare few) overly melodramatic moments, but overall it really touched me. Anyone (especially men) who have gone through the turmoils of relationships broken or incomplete will feel a joyfully sorrow connection to this film. I was moved by its honesty and quite frank look at relationships, and it brought a smile to my face when the film reveled in the exuberance and innocence of childhood crushes and young infatuation.

I rarely recommend modern commercial Indian cinema (because most of it is unfortunately subpar), but this is a lovely little film, definitely an engaging romantic drama. Kudos to the director/ writer Cheran for doing excellent work with visuals and performances, and I hope he continues to make such honest films in the future. 8/10

This ranks in my top 10 movies of allied. Just everything about it gives me a warm glow. I have to admit the courtship of Lathika by Senthil is the nut of the movie, but his scenes with Mallika, Divya, and his bride are just as nice. I could watch this an infinite number of times. Its my own personal taste, but I find it just a wonderful movie. This movie also make Gopika one of the actresses I follow. Can't quite explain what it is about her, but she warms my soul.

I think the best scene in the entire movie is when Senthil brings a present to Lathika when she is in her classical dance class. She doesn't realize at all what effect she is having on him, and the look on her face is so sweet and subtle. And another great scene is when they are trying to converse and neither really understands the other's language. But she is saying to him "until you disturb my dreams I cannot accept your love".

Anyway, if you're romantic, see this movie. I think it will give you a warm soft glow.