Anbe Shivam: When R Madhavan Was Stranded With Kamal Haasan In Bhubaneswar!

Bhubaneswar: Tamil superstar R Madhavan was in Odisha, which he claimed was his first visit to the state, for the Closing Ceremony of the 48th Junior National Aquatics Championships 2022 at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

He was all praises for the state’s sports infrastructure and also met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence along with his wife Sarita Birje and son Vedaant, who broke the National Junior Record in the 1500 m freestyle at the Aquatic competition.

The actor, however, in his 2003 film Anbe Shivam, essayed the character of an ambitious young ad-film maker, Anbarasu, who accidentally meet a disabled trade union activist, Nallasivam, at Bhubaneswar Airport, while travelling to Chennai. A flood-ravaged Odisha formed the backdrop at the beginning of the philosophical comedy written by Kamal Haasan, who played the lead role of Nallasivam.

When the flight is cancelled due to heavy rain, Anbarasu initially suspects Sivam to be a terrorist and informs the authorities, only to discover that he was mistaken. With the rain battering the city, the two men are forced to share a room for the night. A taxi driver is also seen speaking in Odia while taking Anbarasu to Yatri Niwas through the ‘supposedly’ flooded streets of Bhubaneswar.

Also Read: First Visit To Odisha: Actor R Madhavan ‘Blown Away’ By Facilities At Kalinga Stadium [Watch]

After a traumatic night, and no hope for a flight, the two men take a bus to board the Coromandel Express train.

The film is remembered for the scene between Madhavan and Kamal Haasan, who goes on to explain the meaning of the word ‘God’.  It turned out to be a game-changer for Madhavan, who was immensely appreciated for his performance as a carefree youngster, which also won him the State Award in the Best Actor category.

While ‘Anbe Sivam’ opened to mixed reviews and bombed at the box office, it is now being regarded as one of the best films in Tamil cinema. In fact, it has a cult following among youngsters.