Wikipedia
Nanban may refer to:
- Nanban (film), 2012 Tamil comedy film directed by Shankar
- Nanban art, Japanese art of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries influenced by contact with the Namban
- Nanban trade, trade between Japan and Western countries from 1543 to 1614
Nanban (English: Friend) is a 2012 Indian Tamil coming-of-age comedy-drama 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.