Amarkalam (Eng: First Class) is a 1999 Indian Tamil-language romantic action gangster film written and directed by Saran and produced by V. Sudhir Kumar for the banner Venkateswaralayam. The film featured Ajith, making it his 25th film and Shalini in the lead roles with Raghuvaran, Raadhika and Nassar in other pivotal roles. The film opened in August 1999 to positive reviews from critics and became a Blockbuster at the box office.
Vasu (Ajith) is a ruthless hooligan who lives in a cinema theater owned by Vinu Chakravarthy. He had a tortured childhood and wastes his days by drinking, fighting, and sleeping. It all starts when Vasu’s friend Dhamu loses an Annamalai movie reel to Mohana (Shalini). Vasu and Mohana clash when he attempts to retrieve the reel. Mohana’s family are members of the police, headed by Birla Bose (Nassar), Mohana’s father. At this point, Tulasi Das (Raghuvaran), an ex-mafia “dada” who spent many years in jail because of Bose, comes to the theater. He does not like Bose and hires Vasu to kidnap Mohana. Vasu later cries out his woes in the song “Satham Illatha.” Mohana falls in love with Vasu after hearing his pain. When Tulasi realizes that Mohana loves Vasu, he hires Vasu to pretend that he loves her back. At first it is just pretend, but then he too begins to love her. Tulasi visits Bose to inform him of his daughter’s love for a gangster and realizes that Mohana is indeed his daughter. A flashback showing the parted friendship between the two men, and Ganga (Raadhika), Tulasi’s wife, abandons him and their child when she comes to know that her husband is a don. Knowing that Mohana is his daughter, Tulasi instructs Vasu to give up his love. When Vasu refuses, Tulasi visits Mohana and tells her about his ploy and that Vasu’s love for her was fake. Eventually, Vasu proves to Mohana that his love was true and unites with her after a clash between the cops and some goons of the locality.
Directed by Saran
Produced by V. Satya Narayana, V. Sudhir Kumar & V. Sumanth Kumar
Written by Saran
Starring Ajith, Shalini, Raghuvaran, Raadhika, Nassar
Music by Bharadwaj
Cinematography A. Venkatesh
Edited by Suresh Urs
Production Venkateswaralayam
Release date 13 August 1999
Running time 155 minutes
Country India
Language Tamil
