Unnal Mudiyum Thambi
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''Unnal Mudiyum Thambi'' () is a 1988 Indian
Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...
-language
musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...
-
drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
written and directed by
K. Balachander Kailasam Balachander (9 July 1930 – 23 December 2014) was an Indian film maker and playwright who worked mainly in the Tamil cinema. He was well known for his distinct film-making style, and the Indian film industry knew him as a master of un ...
. Produced by
Kavithalayaa Productions Kavithalayaa Productions is an Indian film production and distribution company based in Chennai. It was founded by filmmaker K. Balachander in 1981. It has a library of 50+ films in three languages and 3500+ hours of television content. Kavitha ...
, the film stars
Kamal Haasan Kamal Haasan (born 7 November 1954) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, playback singer, television presenter and politician who works mainly in Tamil cinema and has also appeared in some Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada and Bengali l ...
,
Gemini Ganesan Ramasamy Ganesan (17 November 1920 – 22 March 2005), better known by his stage name Gemini Ganesan, was an Indian actor who worked mainly in Tamil cinema. He was referred to as the ''Kaadhal Mannan'' (King of Romance) for his romantic roles ...
, and
Seetha Sita (; ) also called as Janaki and Vaidehi is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, ''Ramayana''. She is the consort of Rama, the avatar of the god Vishnu, and is regarded as a form of Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi. She ...
.
Janagaraj Janagaraj is an Indian actor who has appeared in over 200 films predominantly in Tamil cinema as a comedian or in supporting roles. He also starred in few Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi films. Early life Janagaraj was born to Vadivelu and Muthu ...
,
Prasad Babu Prasad Babu is an Indian actor who acts in predominantly Telugu films and also TV serials. Filmography * ''Punadhirallu'' * ''Anthuleni Katha'' * ''Mana Voori Pandavulu'' (1978) * '' I Love You'' (1979) * '' Aarani Mantalu'' (1980) * ''Bobbi ...
, Manorama,
Delhi Ganesh Delhi Ganesh is an Indian actor who mostly acts in supporting roles in Tamil cinema and serials. He has acted in more than 400 films from 1976 to present. Before films, he was a member of the Delhi-based theatre troupe, ''Dakshina Bharata Natak ...
, and
Nassar Nassar ( ar, نصار, lit=helper, protector, supporter, victory-maker), is a given name and surname, commonly found in the Arabic language. Alternative spellings of this name, possibly due to transliteration include Naser, Nasser, Nasir, Naseer ...
play supporting roles. The film was a remake of Balachander's own
Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India *Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language ** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode S ...
film ''
Rudraveena The ''Rudra veena'' ( sa, रुद्र वीणा) (also spelled ''Rudraveena'' or ''Rudra vina'')—also called ''Bīn'' in North India—is a large plucked string instrument used in Hindustani Music, especially dhrupad. It is one of the ...
'' (1988). ''Unnal Mudiyum Thambi'' focuses on the ideological conflicts between 'Bilahari' Marthandam Pillai, a reputed Carnatic musician, and his younger son Udayamoorthy. Pillai's discrimination towards the people belonging to lower caste is met with criticism from Udhayamoorthy, who believes in society's welfare and walks out for good later. The events that led to change in Pillai's views form the remaining part of the story.
Ilaiyaraaja Ilaiyaraaja (born R. Gnanathesikan, 3 June 1943) is an Indian musician, composer, arranger, conductor, orchestrator, instrumentalist, lyricist and singer, popular for his works in Indian Cinema, prominently in Tamil films. Reputed to be one of ...
composed the film's soundtrack and background score. R. Raghunatha Reddy was the film's director of photography, R. Bhaskaran edited the film, and Mohanam was the art director. The film was released on 12 August 1988 to positive critical reception.


Plot

A car makes an entry into the village. An MP ( V. K. Ramasamy) gets out of the car and finds that the village is self-disciplined in terms of cleanliness, and the villagers get rid of bad habits, such as drinking. He learns that the cause of all this is a young man named Udaymoorthy. The MP wonders how only a young man was able to achieve this and expresses this to Udayamoorthy; a flashback begins. Adolescent Udayamoorthy, from a high society family, sees an old, blind beggar woman struggling to pick up a banana thrown by a passerby. Udayamoorthy doesn't help the woman, and an old man helps the beggar woman instead. The old man calls Udayamurthy and advises him to be helpful to others. The struggle of that elderly woman pinches his mindset due him not helping her in need. Now and adult, Udayamoorthy is a very mischievous and happy-go-lucky guy who likes to pull pranks on his family members and gets punished by his father Bilahari Marthandam Pillai, an ardent devotee and short-tempered
Carnatic music Carnatic music, known as or in the Dravidian languages, South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, an ...
singer. Pillai's elder son is born mute and hence had to take in instrument, the
nadhaswaram The Nagaswaram (nādḥasvaram) is a double reed wind instrument from South India. It is used as a traditional classical instrument in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala. This instrument is "among the world's loude ...
, which he is quite adept at. One day, Pillai shouts at Udayamoorthy, saying that it is better to die than to live an irresponsible life like this, and this hurts Udayamoorthy. The next morning, family members are shocked on seeing Udayamurthy hanging himself at the middle of the hall. But actually, it is another prank played by him, and he did not die so. Angayarkanni ( Manorama), hurt by the mischief, feels sad for not playing her role as a sister-in-law and not raising Udayamoorthy properly and making him as an irresponsible boy. Udayamoorthy changes his mind and start to be responsible, making his family happy. He comes to a decision of being helpful to the society by reminding of the temple incident in his adolescent life and on seeing an old gardener who wants to live usefully for the society at least by planting trees. Udayamoorthy sees a woman in a government office who protests against an official for rejecting her application for a teacher job for not mentioning her
caste Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultura ...
and religion in the application. Udayamoorthy again sees the woman at a theatre when she slaps a thug for misbehaving. Udayamoorthy gets attracted to the girl named Lalithakamalam (
Seetha Sita (; ) also called as Janaki and Vaidehi is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, ''Ramayana''. She is the consort of Rama, the avatar of the god Vishnu, and is regarded as a form of Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi. She ...
), on knowing that she and her thoughts are very much secular. Both Udayamoorthy and Lalitha fall in love with each other. Udayamoorthy could not concentrate on singing when he hears the begging of a night beggar. This angers Pillai, and he shouts that Udayamoorthy is not fit to be his disciple. Pillai also gets angry on seeing Udayamoorthy loving a girl who come from the caste of untouchables. Udayamoorthy and Pillai get into a fight when the latter brings another man Charukesi (
Ramesh Aravind Ramesh Aravind is an Indian actor, director, screenwriter and television presenter who predominantly works in Kannada films and television. In a career of over 34 years, Aravind has been appeared in over 140 films including several Tamil and T ...
) to become his disciple, stating reasons that Udayamoorthy can live as a man going behind humanity and not as a devoted singer. At another incident, Udayamoorthy gets vexed when Pillai does not care to save a dying man by giving a lift in his car to the hospital but cared only to be punctual for his music program, leading to the man's death due to delay in treatment. Pillai challenges Udayamoorthy to become a man making his father proud without using the name of his father in the society and then he will listen to what he says. Udayamoorthy could not bear to be neglected by his father, and he leaves the house. Udayamoorthy meets the dead man's wife and finds that the government did not give any compensation to the family as the man was drunk while on duty. Udayamoorthy finds a lot of men laying always at drunkard state and their children going for work to earn for their drinking expense instead of going to school. Hence he sets out to change the people and bring them out of drinking habit. He becomes unsuccessful in his attempt, and at the same time gets attacked by a liquor-selling group. Lalitha provokes the wives of the drunkards to protest their husbands, to which the women cooperate. Udayamoorthy gains the enmity of the drunkards for destroying the liquor shops and provoking their wives against them. Hence they set out to stop the wedding of Udayamoorthy with Lalitha by promising that they would stop drinking if he cancels his wedding, to which Udayamoorthy accepts. His sacrifice earns up the respect upon the whole village, and the drunkards start to obey him. Udayamoorthy and Lalitha together start 'Amaidhi Puratchi Iyyakam' (Silent Revolution Society) and bring many reforms. The MP, on hearing the whole story, appreciates him a lot and brings the reformation to the light of the government. Udayamurthy becomes famous overnight and gets 'Best Indian' award from the
prime minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
for transforming the village in the good path. Pillai finds that his son achieved his mission and proudly announces that Pillai is Udayamoorthy's father, rather Udayamurthy is Pillai's son. He also accepts the marriage of his son with Lalitha and unites them.


Cast

*
Kamal Haasan Kamal Haasan (born 7 November 1954) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, playback singer, television presenter and politician who works mainly in Tamil cinema and has also appeared in some Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada and Bengali l ...
as Udayamoorthy *
Gemini Ganesan Ramasamy Ganesan (17 November 1920 – 22 March 2005), better known by his stage name Gemini Ganesan, was an Indian actor who worked mainly in Tamil cinema. He was referred to as the ''Kaadhal Mannan'' (King of Romance) for his romantic roles ...
as Bilhari Marthandam Pillai *
Seetha Sita (; ) also called as Janaki and Vaidehi is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, ''Ramayana''. She is the consort of Rama, the avatar of the god Vishnu, and is regarded as a form of Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi. She ...
as Lalithakamalam * Manorama as Angayarkanni *
Meesai Murugesan Meesai Murugesan (13 January 1930 - 8 November 2014) was a veteran actor and musician who appeared in Tamil films. He starred in more than 100 films and has done supporting roles in various films. Music career He started his career by playing t ...
as Anjayya *
Prasad Babu Prasad Babu is an Indian actor who acts in predominantly Telugu films and also TV serials. Filmography * ''Punadhirallu'' * ''Anthuleni Katha'' * ''Mana Voori Pandavulu'' (1978) * '' I Love You'' (1979) * '' Aarani Mantalu'' (1980) * ''Bobbi ...
as Udayamoorthy's mute brother * Dhaarini as Udayamoorthy's sister *
Ramesh Aravind Ramesh Aravind is an Indian actor, director, screenwriter and television presenter who predominantly works in Kannada films and television. In a career of over 34 years, Aravind has been appeared in over 140 films including several Tamil and T ...
as Charukesi *
Delhi Ganesh Delhi Ganesh is an Indian actor who mostly acts in supporting roles in Tamil cinema and serials. He has acted in more than 400 films from 1976 to present. Before films, he was a member of the Delhi-based theatre troupe, ''Dakshina Bharata Natak ...
as Arasiyalvathi *
Nassar Nassar ( ar, نصار, lit=helper, protector, supporter, victory-maker), is a given name and surname, commonly found in the Arabic language. Alternative spellings of this name, possibly due to transliteration include Naser, Nasser, Nasir, Naseer ...
as Wine Shop Owner *
K. S. Jayalakshmi K. S. Jayalakshmi is an Indian actress who works in the Tamil cinema, Tamil film and television industries. She has acted in comedy roles in movies. Jayalakshmi made her acting debut in the Tamil film ''Etharkum Thuninthavan'' released in 1976 ...
*
Charle Velmurugan Thangasamy Manohar (born 6 March 1960), professionally credited as Charle, is an Indian actor who works in Tamil cinema. He has acted in more than 800 Tamil films as a comedian and supporting actor. He was named after the English co ...
*
Kavithalayaa Krishnan T. Krishnan, popularly known as Kavithalayaa Krishnan, is an Indian actor known for playing supporting roles in Tamil film and television. He is a regular artist in many K. Balachander's films and television serials produced by Kavithalayaa Pro ...
*
Janagaraj Janagaraj is an Indian actor who has appeared in over 200 films predominantly in Tamil cinema as a comedian or in supporting roles. He also starred in few Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi films. Early life Janagaraj was born to Vadivelu and Muthu ...
*
Vizag Prasad Korlam Parvati Vara Prasada Rao, better known by his stage name Vizag Prasad, was a Telugu theatre artist actor known for his negative character artiste roles. Career He started acting in plays at age 16. He acted in hundreds of plays befor ...
*
Vasanth Vasanth is an Indian director well known in Tamil language films for directing films such as ''Keladi Kanmani'' (1990), '' Aasai'' (1995), '' Nerrukku Ner'' (1997), ''Rhythm'' (2000) and '' Satham Podathey'' (2007). Career Vasanth began his ...
as Reporter * V. K. Ramasamy as "Bloody" MP (special appearance)


Production

''Unnal Mudiyum Thambi'' is a remake of the Telugu film ''
Rudraveena The ''Rudra veena'' ( sa, रुद्र वीणा) (also spelled ''Rudraveena'' or ''Rudra vina'')—also called ''Bīn'' in North India—is a large plucked string instrument used in Hindustani Music, especially dhrupad. It is one of the ...
''. Kamal Haasan's character was inspired by, and named after a real life social activist M. S. Udayamurthy. Gemini Ganesan was cast as the Carnatic musician Bilahari Marthandam Pillai, reprising his role from the Telugu original. Vishweswaran, husband of Bharatanatyam artist Chithra Vishweswaran portrayed the role of Chief-minister who appears in the climax. During the pre-production phases, the film was tentatively titled ''Sundarakandam''.


Soundtrack

The songs were composed by
Ilaiyaraaja Ilaiyaraaja (born R. Gnanathesikan, 3 June 1943) is an Indian musician, composer, arranger, conductor, orchestrator, instrumentalist, lyricist and singer, popular for his works in Indian Cinema, prominently in Tamil films. Reputed to be one of ...
while lyrics written by Pulamaipithan, Muthulingam and Ilaiyaraaja. Ilaiyaraaja has reused some tracks from Telugu original ''
Rudraveena The ''Rudra veena'' ( sa, रुद्र वीणा) (also spelled ''Rudraveena'' or ''Rudra vina'')—also called ''Bīn'' in North India—is a large plucked string instrument used in Hindustani Music, especially dhrupad. It is one of the ...
''. The song "Idhazhil Kathai" is based on Lalitha raga, "Nee Ondruthaan" is set in
Bilahari Bilahari is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale) from the 29th ''melakarta'' scale ''Sankarabharanam''. It is a ''janya'' scale, as it does not have all the seven ' ...
, "Akkam Pakkam" is set in
Punnagavarali Punnagavarali, a raga in Carnatic Music, is a derived scale from Hanumatodi, which is the 8th melakarta Raga in the 72 melakarta system. Punnagavarali raga is associated with karuna rasa and snakes (''naga'' means snake). Snake charmers play ...
and "Punjai Undu" is set in
Suddha Dhanyasi Udayaravichandrika is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an ''audava'' rāgam (or ''owdava'' rāgam, meaning pentatonic scale ). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale), as it does not have all the ...
.


Reception

''Unnal Mudiyum Thambi'' was released on 12 August 1988. ''
The Indian Express ''The Indian Express'' is an English-language Indian daily newspaper founded in 1932. It is published in Mumbai by the Indian Express Group. In 1999, eight years after the group's founder Ramnath Goenka's death in 1991, the group was split betw ...
'' wrote, " 'Unnal Mudiyum Thambi''has not only something to say, the manner in which it says this is, within the parameters of Tamil cinema's idiom, quite lively."
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam (4 June 1946 – 25 September 2020), also referred to as SPB or SP Balu or Balu, was an Indian playback singer, television presenter, actor, music composer, dubbing artist, and film producer. He is wi ...
won Best male playback singer award at the 10th
Cinema Express Awards Cinema Express Awards are presented annually by Indian Express Group on behalf of Cinema Express film magazine to honour artistic excellence of professionals in the south Indian film industry which comprises Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam ...
.


References


Bibliography

*


External links

* {{Kavithalaya Productions 1980s musical drama films 1980s Tamil-language films 1988 drama films 1988 films Films about alcoholism Films about music and musicians Films about social issues in India Films about the caste system in India Films directed by K. Balachander Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja Films with screenplays by K. Balachander Indian musical drama films Tamil remakes of Telugu films