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Pallandu Vaazhga

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Pallandu Vaazhga
Theatrical release poster
Directed byK. Shankar
Screenplay byS. Maniyan
Vidwan V. Lakshmanan
Thamarai Manalan
Na. Pandurangan
Story byV. Shantaram
Produced byS. Maniyan
Vidwan V. Lakshmanan
Starring
CinematographyT. V. Rajaram
Edited byK. Shankar
Music byK. V. Mahadevan
Production
company
Udhayam Productions
Release date
  • 31 October 1975 (1975-10-31)
Running time
154 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Pallandu Vaazhga (pronounced [pallaːɳdu ʋaːɻɡa] transl. Long live!) is a 1975 Indian Tamil-language prison drama film directed and edited by K. Shankar. A remake of the 1957 Hindi film Do Aankhen Barah Haath, it stars M. G. Ramachandran and Latha. The film revolves around a prison warden (Ramachandran) who takes six paroled convicts (M. N. Nambiar, V. K. Ramasamy, Thengai Srinivasan, R. S. Manohar, P. S. Veerappa and Gundumani) to work on a dilapidated country farm in an attempt to rehabilitate them.

The script of Pallandu Vaazhga was written to be substantially different from Do Aankhen Barah Haath, by including references to politics in Tamil Nadu, adding new characters, and changing the fate of the lead character. The film was produced by S. Manian and Vidwan V. Lakshmanan, who also contributed to the screenplay alongside Thaamarai Manaalan, and Na. Pandurangan, while cinematography was handled by T. V. Rajaram. Shooting took place predominantly at Karnataka.

Pallandu Vaazhga was released on 31 October 1975. The film broke even and ran for over 100 days in theatres, but was not as successful as the original Hindi film.

Plot

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Rajan is a prison warden. He takes six paroled convicts – Bhaiyaravan (who stabbed a businessman), Mayandi (an ex-barber who knifed a customer), Mounkannu (who stabbed a man and his daughter), Sangili (who drowned his wife), David (who killed a policeman) and Kalayr (who killed his family) – to work with him on a dilapidated country farm, with the intention of rehabilitating them through hard work and kindly guidance. He is, however, given an ultimatum: he will be arrested if even one of the convicts attempts to escape.

The group comes across Saroja, an itinerant seller who they get attracted to, but she only gets close to Rajan, after he saves her from a bunch of goons. As Saroja is homeless, the six convicts plead with Rajan to let the girl stay with them and he subsequently agrees. When Sangili coincidentally runs into his long-lost family, he tearfully reunites with them. But they appear homeless, so Rajan allows them also to stay with him and the other convicts. This angers the other convicts who feel that Rajan did not give them freedom, compelling them to try killing him to escape.

Mayandi agrees to give Rajan a shave, plotting to cut his neck, and Rajan remains unaware of the threat to his life. Mayandi sees Rajan's magical eyes and gets hypnotised, forcing him to abort the idea of murder. The convicts who were attempting escape during this time see a statue of C. N. Annadurai and because they see Rajan's spirit in it, they get hypnotised and return. The escape attempt is seen by the other policemen around, leading to Rajan's stay in jail for one day. However, when they hear that the convicts have returned, Rajan is released and returns to duty. The convicts gradually reform and become attached to Rajan, who dreams of marrying Saroja, in his mother's presence.

One night, the convicts are invited to a bar by a corrupt businessman and Rajan is unaware of this. They return drunk and almost attack Rajan and Saroja. Rajan is not pleased with their status and commands them to kill him if that is what they want. Hypnotism and conscience again strike the convicts, causing them to drop their weapons. The next morning, the convicts fall at Rajan's feet and explain that the corrupt businessman forced them to drink; they earn the forgiveness of both Rajan and Saroja.

Later, the corrupt businessman orders that Rajan and his convicts surrender, or else their plantation and home will be destroyed. Rajan refuses, so the businessman sends his thugs and elephants to destroy everything in sight. However, Rajan and his men vigorously battle all the thugs and emerge victorious, while the local police capture the corrupt businessman and arrest him. Rajan, having been praised for transforming the six convicts into reformed people, frees them and tearfully sees them off.

Cast

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Production

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Pallandu Vaazhga is a remake of V. Shantaram's 1957 Hindi film Do Aankhen Barah Haath. It was directed and edited by K. Shankar, and produced by S. Manian and Vidwan V. Lakshmanan under the banner Udhayam Productions. The screenplay was written by a team consisting of Manian, Lakshmanan, Thaamarai Manaalan, and Na. Pandurangan. Cinematography was handled by T. V. Rajaram.[1] Unlike the original, this did not feature the male lead being killed, a measure which was taken after Ramachandran's character in an earlier film Paasam (1962) died and caused negative fan reactions, that resulted in the film's failure.[3] It also featured a love interest for the male lead, unlike the original, and included many references to politics in Tamil Nadu.[4] P. S. Veerappa, M. N. Nambiar and R. S. Manohar, who were regular villains in Ramachandran's films, played three of the six convicts. The other three were played by comedians Thengai Srinivasan, V. K. Ramasamy and stunt actor Gundumani.[5][6] Much of the film was shot at Karnataka.[7]

Soundtrack

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The soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan.[8]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Ondrae Kulamendru (Anbilaar)" (solo)PulamaipithanK. J. Yesudas3:20
2."Maasi Maasa"PulamaipithanVani Jairam3:24
3."Poi Vaa Nadhi"Na. KamarasanK. J. Yesudas, T. K. Kala3:14
4."Sirens" (instrumental) —K. V. Mahadevan1:19
5."Enna Sugam"PulamaipithanK. J. Yesudas, P. Susheela3:09
6."Sorgatthin Thirappuvaizha"PulamaipithanK. J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam3:19
7."The Tease" (instrumental) —K. V. Mahadevan1:44
8."Ondrae Kulamendru (Anbilaar)" ((Reprise 1)PulamaipithanK. J. Yesudas, chorus3:17
9."Ondrae Kulamendru (Anbilaar)" (Reprise 2)PulamaipithanK. J. Yesudas, chorus3:17
10."Chella Papa"PulamaipithanVani Jairam4:22
11."Ondrae Kulamendru (Anbilaar)" (Reprise 3)PulamaipithanK. J. Yesudas, chorus3:17
12."Puthiyathor Ulagam"BharathidasanT. M. Soundararajan, Vani Jairam3:29
13."Ondrae Kulamendru (Anbilaar)" (Reprise 4)PulamaipithanK. J. Yesudas, chorus3:17
Total length:40:28

Release

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Pallandu Vaazhga was released on 31 October 1975.[9] The film ran for over 100 days in theatres,[10] but did not achieve the same success as the 1957 original.[11] Critic V. A. K. Ranga Rao noted that the film broke even because of Ramachandran's "power over the box-office".[12]

Reception

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Ananda Vikatan stated that Pallandu Vaazhga is a film not only for Ramachandran fans, but a good film for everyone.[13] Arthur Paris of Film World wrote, "Pallandu Vaazhga has lost the simplicity and charm of the original but has, in doing so, acquired much more mass appeal."[14] Kanthan of Kalki praised the film primarily for the songs and cinematography.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Guy, Randor (19 March 2016). "Pallandu Vazhga (1975)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b காந்தன் (16 November 1975). "பல்லாண்டு வாழ்க!". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 31. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  3. ^ Vaasanthi (2008). Cut-outs, Caste and Cine Stars: The World of Tamil Politics. New Delhi: Penguin Books. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-14-306312-4. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  4. ^ "ஜெயிலுக்கு போய் வந்த சிரேஷ்டர் – 3". Dinamalar (in Tamil). Nellai. 19 August 2019. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ Sri Kantha, Sachi (19 February 2019). "MGR Remembered – Part 49 | A Vibrant 'Vaathiyar' to the Illiterates". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  6. ^ Nambiar, M.N. Dipak (2019). Nambiarswami: The Good, the Bad and the Holy. HarperCollins. p. 45. ISBN 9789353028442.
  7. ^ "எம்ஜிஆர் 100 | 25 - திரையுலகில் முடிசூடா மன்னர்!". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 19 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Pallandu Vazhga (1975)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  9. ^ Chellaiah, Rajeswari (20 November 2017). "மாணவியாக... நடிகையாக... அரசியல்வாதியாக எம்.ஜி.ஆருடன் பயணித்த லதா..! - ஒப்பனையும் ஒரிஜினலும்! எம்.ஜி.ஆர் 100 #MGR100 அத்தியாயம்-22". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 24 April 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  10. ^ "'பல்'லாண்டு வாழ்க'...எம். ஜிஆர். ரசிகர்கள் ஏற்றுக்கொள்வார்களா...?" ['Pal'aandu Vazhga'... Will MGR fans accept this...?]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 22 November 2014. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  11. ^ Joshi, Priya; Dudrah, Rajinder, eds. (2016). The 1970s and its Legacies in India's Cinemas. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-83658-6.
  12. ^ Rao, VAK Ranga (23 March 2014). "V Shantsrsm [sic]: silver screen's shining focus". The Hans India. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  13. ^ "சினிமா விமர்சனம்: பல்லாண்டு வாழ்க". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 16 November 1975. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  14. ^ Paris, Arthur (1976). "Decline and Fall of Sridhar". Film World. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
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