As the mega-budget film completes 13 years, we give you some interesting trivia on its making

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Revisiting Dasavathaaram: A look back at Kamal's one-man show; 40 lesser-known facts & memorabilia

Team CE

Published:13th Jun, 2020 at 5:13 PM

The first three minutes of the film cost the producer 4 crores.

The first three minutes of the film cost the producer 4 crores.

Vidya Balan, Jyotika, Mumtaj, Kiran, Meena, Bhoomika, Sameera, Kamalini, Meera Jasmine, Simran, Trisha, Nayanthara, Shriya were all offered characters in the film.

Asin Thottumkal and Mallika Sherawat were finally selected as the film's heroines owing to date clashes.

AR Rahman and actress Shriya Saran were initially part of the film. However, AVM passed a rule that nobody from Rajinikanth's Sivaji (2007) should be involved in this film.

Kamal Haasan make-up as the US President took six hours to apply.

The 'Kaa...Karuppanukkum' song on Mallika Sherawat, was to be shot in the USA, but the actress had issues with her visa which meant she could not enter the States, so the song was shot in Malaysia.

This is Mallika Sherawat's first Tamil film and her only one in a full-fledged role.

Dasavathaaram is Asin Thottumkal's first film in a double role.

The film was originally meant to release on August 12 2006, but was delayed by six months to release on Tamil New Year's day. Unfortunately, the release was delayed further until June.

The tsunami VFX was shot at a 50,000 square foot area near Muttukadu, on which a 100-ft. wall was built. 6 machines, which generated 20-foot-high waves, were imported from the US, for 3.5 crores.

In Sept 2006, an AD by name Senthil Kumar filed a case at the Madras High Court, claiming he had written the same story for a script titled 'Ardhanari.' In Sept 2007, the court dismissed his petition.

The renowned Tamil writer Sujatha who also happens to be a friend of Kamal Hassan was part of the pre-production, but was not credited.

The film completed a 175-day run at the box office.

About 20 million tickets were sold worldwide.

Dasavathaaram was the first Tamil film to beat the record set by 'Sivaji' a year earlier. However, this new record was beaten two years later by 'Enthiran'.

The 'Ulaga Nayaganey' song tune was the same as that of the track 'Why Does It Happen in Love?' from Dil Maange More!!! (2004), which also had music by Himesh Reshammiya.

By starring in 10 roles, Kamal beat the nine-role records held by Sivaji - Navarathri (Tamil 1964), Akkineni Nageswara Rao - Navarathri (Telugu 1966) & Sanjeev Kumar in Naya Din Nai Raat (Hindi 1974).

KS Ravikumar and Kamal came together for the fourth time following their three previous successful ventures, Avvai Shanmughi, Thenali and Panchatanthiram.

Ashmith Kunder was signed up to edit the film, despite early indications that Sreekar Prasad might have landed the offer.

Jeeva was initially announced as the cinematographer of the film, and he had been in that role for a day of the shooting. Later, he was replaced by Ravi Varman for unknown reasons.

Actors Jayaram and Vadivelu opted out of the film during production, citing date problems.

The sets for the 12th century sequence resembled the Airavatesvara Temple in Kumbakonam, and scenes with Kamal in an Iyengar get-up was accompanied by over 750 extras,

The sequence was initially planned to be shot in the temple itself, but permission could not be obtained as the structure was a heritage site.

Further plans to use a hundred elephants were shelved after the transport and accommodation for the animals was deemed impossible.

A relatively new stunt master, Thyagarajan was given the opportunity to take over, following a controversy that the original master Kanal Kannan used derogatory words at the stuntmen.

Major portions of the films were shot extensively in overseas locations which included the US, Tokyo, Malaysia and Thailand.

A replica of the White House was erected at the Taramani Film City for the film.

For the climax, another scene was shot dramatically above the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with the permission of the then chief minister, M Karunanidhi.

The film's background score was composed by Devi Sri Prasad.

The satellite rights of the film were sold to Kalaignar TV for 45 million, one of the highest prices at the time.

The film was dubbed and released in Telugu on the same date, with later release dates set for the Hindi, Malayalam, and Bengali versions.

Following the audio launch on 25 April 2008, a police complaint filed by Hindu Makkal Katchi, against Mallika Sherawat, citing the issue of improper attire at a film function.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad claimed that the film portrayed the clash between Shaivism and Vaishnavism in the 12th century in bad taste.

A special show was arranged exclusively for the then CM, M. Karunanidhi by the request of the producer on 8 June 2008.

The film, made at a budget of 60 crores, made a collection of 200 crores at the BO.

Dasavathaaram was released in the US with 42 prints, an unprecedented record in U.S. movie history for a South Indian film. With print sharing facility, it was screened in 50 cities across the country

A spin off film Sabaash Naidu, based on this film's character Balaram Naidu (the RAW operative from AP) was planned but due to some financial issues the film was dropped.

Here are a few more snapshots and rare posters from the movie...