After two decades, Sundar C overcomes Anbe Sivam's failure, thanks Kamal Haasan

Filmmaker Sundar C is known for his unapologetic approach to storytelling. His movies, including his latest "Aranmanai 4," are typically over-the-top and out-and-out mindless entertainers. The only film that revealed his sobering side as a filmmaker, exploring profound themes and heartfelt humour and showing great sensitivity to humankind, was "Anbe Sivam."

In addition to writing the screenplay, Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan played the lead role in "Anbe Sivam." The film opened in cinemas in 2003 to great reviews but failed at the box office. Sundar has never missed an opportunity to express his disappointment over the failure of cinephiles to give the film its due credit back in the day.

During one of the events a few years ago, he expressed his bitterness about the career setback he suffered after helming "Anbe Sivam." In a recent media interaction, the director talked about the film again, but this time he showed more gratitude for the film.

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He revealed that he has realized that at many distinguished stages across the world, he is identified as the director of "Anbe Sivam."

"I can never forget what Kamal Haasan sir told me after we finished this film. He said, 'We have done a good thing and only good things will come out of this.' Actually, when it was released, the film didn't do well commercially and I always had that regret. But, many good things have happened to me because of this film till this moment," remarked Sundar.

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Sundar recalled an incident that happened following the release of "Anbe Sivam." He revealed that he and his wife sought to enrol their daughter at a big school. But they were too late, and the school's admission process was already completed. The staff, however, advised them to meet the principal so they could re-apply next year.

"The principal was a person from North India and she had no idea who we were. She started talking about movies with us. A Hindi film was released at the time, I think it's "Mr. and Mrs. Iyer." She told me that the movie was very good and asked why such good movies were not made in the South. But, 'recently I saw a movie, it was fantastic. It's called 'Anbe Sivam'. Why don't you make movies like that?' she asked me. My wife was overjoyed, and she informed the principal that I was the director of 'Anbe Sivam'. She asked me whether it was true, and I said yes. She told me, 'How can I refuse a seat to your daughter?'. She immediately approved our application," noted Sundar.