Nanban (film)

Nanban
Promotional poster
Tamil	நண்பன்
Directed by	Shankar
Produced by	Manohar Prasad Ravi Shankar Prasad
Written by	Shankar Madhan Karky (Dialogues)
Screenplay by	Original Screenplay: Rajkumar Hirani Abhijat Joshi Vidhu Vinod Chopra Adapted Screenplay: Shankar (uncredited)
Story by	Rajkumar Hirani Abhijat Joshi
Based on	Five Point Someone – What not to do at IIT! by Chetan Bhagat
Starring	Vijay Jiiva Srikanth Ileana D'Cruz
Music by	Harris Jayaraj
Cinematography	Manoj Paramahamsa
Edited by	Anthony
Production company	Gemini Film Circuit
Release date	January 12, 2012 (2012-01-12)
Running time	181–188 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil
Budget	₹50 crore (US$7.4 million)
Box office	₹105 crore (US$16 million)

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Nanban (English: Friend) is a 2012 Indian Tamil coming-of-age comedy film directed by Shankar. It was a remake of Rajkumar Hirani's 3 Idiots (2009), which itself was adapted from the novel Five Point Someone – What not to do at IIT! by Chetan Bhagat. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Vijay, Jiiva, Srikanth, Ileana D'Cruz, Sathyan and Sathyaraj.

The plot of the film illustrates the embankment of two friends on a quest for a lost buddy, who was once an optimistic and successful student. On their journey, they recount their college life and special moments that the three shared up until their lost friend secretly parted ways after convocation. During their quest, the two encounter a rival classmate who once made a long forgotten bet with them, a funeral that goes impossibly out of control, and a wedding they must crash.

The film's soundtrack and background score were composed by Harris Jayaraj and cinematography was handled by Manoj Paramahamsa. The film was produced by Gemini Film Circuit, who had purchased the remake rights of 3 Idiots in early 2010. A lengthy and controversial delay in casting delayed filming by a year. Filming took place for a total of eight months in various locations in Europe and India. The film was released on 12 January 2012 and received critical acclaim and eventually became a blockbuster at the box office . Its dubbed version in Telugu, Snehithudu, released on 26 January 2012 in Andhra Pradesh to positive reviews. The film was also screened at the Melbourne Film Festival.