Arunachalam

Arunachalam centers on a privileged son in a close-knit village whose easy life shifts when hidden facts about his background come to light. As the truth emerges, he has to rethink who he trusts, what he stands to inherit, and how his choices affect neighbors and rivals. The revelations spark a string of clashes, comic set pieces, and tense confrontations, pushing the protagonist into sharper moral choices than before. Romantic threads and community expectations add levity and conflict, so the film moves between action, family drama, and broad comedy while keeping questions of identity and social standing at its core.

Released in 1997, Arunachalam was directed by Sundar C, with writing credits to Vairamuthu, Pazhani Bharathi, and Kalidasan, and stars Rajinikanth alongside Rambha and Soundarya, positioned as a mass-market entertainer mixing action sequences with broad comic moments and catchy songs.

On release it performed strongly at the box office, reinforcing Rajinikanth's commercial pull across Tamil Nadu and beyond, becoming one of his notable late 90s mainstream entertainers that kept theatres busy for weeks across urban and rural circuits, drawing crowds.

Fans remember Arunachalam for its blend of punchy mass moments and broad comedy, and it's often cited among Rajinikanth's 90s crowd-pleasers. Songs and on-screen swagger kept it in popular conversation for years. It also helped shape expectations for star-led entertainers and influenced later filmmakers aiming for similar mass appeal today.

Critical response leaned from positive to mixed, reflected in a 7.3/10 user rating from a small sample of 28 votes, with praise for Rajinikanth's screen presence. The film deals with identity, duty, social standing, and the comic side of power struggles. Critics noted tonal unevenness, but audiences embraced the star moments.