Indira (film)

Indira is a 1995 Indian Tamil-language drama film co-written and directed by Suhasini Maniratnam. It features Arvind Swamy with Anu Hasan (cousin of Suhasini) in the title role, Radharavi, Nassar and Ashwini. A. R. Rahman composed the film's score and soundtrack, while Santosh Sivan handled the film's cinematography.

Plot
The film revolves around a group of villagers from Maranur, India, and their clash with a neighbouring village leader as their community begins to prosper. Soon, money and greed threaten a will for peaceful coexistence between the two rivalling communities. The main theme involves the role of the caste system and how the younger generation strive to overcome it.

Production
Suhasini offered the title role – Indira, to her cousin Anuradha, daughter of producer Chandrahasan, and the actress has since noted that "it was a heavy subject for a newcomer. But I was moved by the story line and there were occasions when I was overwhelmed with emotion. Not once did I use glycerine for tearful scenes". V. Priya worked as an assistant director during the making of the film.

Release and reception
Indira was later dubbed and released in Hindi as Priyanka. The film won two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, winning Santosh Sivan the award for Best Cinematographer as well as a Special Jury Award for the film itself. The film however remains the only feature film that Suhasini has directed in her career.

R. P. R. of Kalki wrote it is understood that Suhasini has a healthy way of thinking; whether she changes the fate of Tamil cinema or not, it will be favourable if she is not changed. Reviewing the film at the Indian Panorama section of the International Film Festival of India, S. R. Ashok Kumar of The Hindu wrote that "In certain scenes Anuradha Hassan does not look like a new find at all".