30 facts of Vikram 1986 before you watch Lokesh Kanagaraj's Vikram
Once Upon a Time, there was the OG Vikram.... And here is the comprehensive trivia about the 1986 film..
Team CE
1) After making his debut as a producer with his 100th film Raja Paarvai, Vikram was the second production venture for Kamal Haasan's Raaj Kamal Films International.2) Before the film's release, Sujatha wrote the serialised version of Vikram as a weekly story on Kumudham and stopped it midway through the story to pique the audience and make them visit the theatre3) Sujatha had written the story and dialogues for the film. The screenplay is credited to both Sujatha and Kamal Haasan.4) Kamal initially wanted Mani Ratnam to direct Vikram. The duo would go on to work in Nayakan the very next year.5) Vikram is Kamal's second film with director Rajashekar. The duo had collaborated the year before for the superhit film Kaakki Sattai.6) Interestingly, Rajashekar's frequent collaborator is Rajinikanth with whom he did films like Thambikku Entha Ooru, Padikkadavan, Maaveeran, Mappillai and Dharma Durai7) Vikram stars Sathyaraj as the villain. Interestingly, Sathyaraj made his acting debut in Kamal Haasan's Sattam En Kaiyil (1978).8) The duo later shared screen space in films like Pagadai Panirendu, Enakkul Oruvan, Kaakki Sattai, Mangamma Sapatham, Japanil Kalyanaraman.9) Despite not starring in a film together after Vikram, Kamal bankrolled Sathyaraj's Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu which was the banner's first non-Kamal film.10) Sathyaraj's single-sided sunglasses looks similar to the one Vijay Sethupathi is sporting in a still from the latest Vikram.11) Vikram marked the Tamil debut of Malayalam actor Lissy. Interestingly, the film credits her as Preethi, her character in Vikram, instead of Lissy.12) Actor Raadhika Sarathkumar had voiced the character of Preethi, played by Lissy, who later went on to do a few more films in Tamil.13) Kamal, who is known for bringing Bollywood talents to Tamil cinema, brought in Amjad Khan for the role of Salamia's king. He is best known for the role of Gabbar Singh in the 1975 classic Sholay.14) Vikram is also Dimple Kapadia's first and only Tamil film to date. The actor plays the role of Salamia's princess.15) The film also stars Chinni Jayanth in an uncredited role. He would go on to do films like Kalaignan and Vetri Vizha with Kamal Haasan.16) A photo of a young Kamal Haasan from his first film, Kalathur Kannamma (1960) is used as a childhood photo in Vikram.17) Just like Na'vi (Avatar), Klingon (Star Trek), Dothraki (GoT) and Kiliki (Baahubali), a new language was created by Kamal for the fictional land of Salamia.18) Rajasthan was the spot chosen by the makers to shoot the barren lands of the fictional Salamia kingdom.19) The film was also inside the Karni Mata Temple, known famously as the Temple of Rats.20) The soldiers of Salamia wear a mask that is very similar to the one made famous by the Friday the 13th film franchise which started in 1980.21) Given the resemblance to James Bond films, Kamal's brother and actor Charuhasan played the role of the chief of the Research and Analysis Wing, similar to M from the Bond films.22) Even the title track, 'Vikram Vikram' is similar to the ones from yesteryear Bond films, with the use of colourful lights. As we know, the song is remixed for the 2022 film too.23) Apart from Vikram, Raja Paarvai is the only film in which the brothers have shared screen space. Kamal though had starred in cameo roles in Charuhasan's films like Agni Sakshi and Rani Theni.24) The late stunt choreographer Dharmaseelan, commonly known as Vikram Dharma, got the moniker after starring in Vikram25) While Velamuri Ranganathan is the cinematographer of Vikram, Kamal brought in Sholay's cameraman SM Anwar to handle the special effects in photography.26) Vikram was edited by C Lancy and director-turned-editor R Vittal who edited various Kamal films like Aadu Puli Attam, Japanil Kalyanaraman and Sakalakala Vallavan.27) The film's album by Ilaiyaraaja is the first Indian soundtrack album recorded through a computer.28) The track 'Sippikkul Oru Muthu' sung by KJ Yesudas, S Janaki doesn't appear in the film. Check out the song online, it's beautiful!29) According to the book The Liverpool Companion to World Science Fiction Film, Vikram was the first Tamil film to cross the budget of Rs 1 crore.30) Despite receiving mixed reviews, Vikram apparently collected Rs 8 crore and Kamal donated the proceeds of the film's first show to UNICEF for the welfare of underprivileged children in Africa.