Pallandu Vazhga

Pallandu Vazhga (transl. Long live!) is a 1975 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed and edited by K. Shankar. The film, which is a remake of the 1957 Hindi film Do Aankhen Barah Haath, stars M. G. Ramachandran and Latha. In Pallandu Vazhga, a prison warden (Ramachandran) takes six paroled prisoners to work on a dilapidated country farm in an attempt to rehabilitate them. The film was released on 31 October 1975 and ran for over 100 days in theatres, but was not as successful as the original Hindi film.

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

Plot

Rajan, a jail warden, takes six paroled prisoners – Bhaiyaravan, Mayandi, Mounkannu, Sangiili, David and Kalayr – and makes them work hard 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 prisoners attempts to escape.

They all come 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 prisoners plead with Rajan to let the girl stay with them and he subsequently agrees. When Sangiili 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 prisoners. This angers the other prisoners who feel that Rajan did not give them freedom, compelling them to try killing him to escape.

Mayandi, a former barber, 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 prisoners 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 prisoners have returned, Rajan is released and returns to duty. The prisoners gradually turn into good people and become attached to Rajan, who dreams of marrying Saroja, in his mother's presence.

One night, the prisoners 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 prisoners, causing them to drop their weapons. The next morning, the prisoners 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 prisoners 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 prisoners into reformed people, frees the prisoners and tearfully sees them off.

Cast

Production

Pallandu Vazhga 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. V. S. Manian and Vidwan Ve. 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.[2] It also featured a love interest for the male lead, unlike the original.[3] 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.[4][5] Much of the film was shot at Karnataka.[6]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack of the film has been composed by K. V. Mahadevan.[7]

Track list
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Ondrae Kulamendru (Anbilaar)"PulamaipithanK. J. Yesudas (Solo version)3.20
2."Maasi Maasa"PulamaipithanVani Jairam3.24
3."Poi Vaa Nadhi"Na. KamarasanK. J. Yesudas & T. K. Kala3.14
4."Sirens (Instrumental)"No lyricsK. 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)"No lyricsK. 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

Release and reception

Pallandu Vazhga was released on 31 October 1975.[8] Ananda Vikatan stated, "எம்.ஜி.ஆர். ரசிகர்களுக்கு மட்டுமல்ல, எல்லோருக்குமே பல்லாண்டு வாழ்க ஓர் இனிய சித்திரம்" (Pallandu Vazhga is a film not only for MGR fans, but a good film for everyone).[9] The film ran for over 100 days in theatres,[10] but did not achieve the same success as the 1957 original.[11]

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References
  1. Guy, Randor (19 March 2016). "Pallandu Vazhga (1975)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  2. 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.
  3. "ஜெயிலுக்கு போய் வந்த சிரேஷ்டர் – 3". Dinamalar. Nellai. 19 August 2019. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  4. Kantha, Sachi Sri (19 February 2019). "MGR Remembered – Part 49". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  5. Nambiar, M.N. Dipak (2019). Nambiarswami: The Good, the Bad and the Holy. HarperCollins. p. 45.
  6. "எம்ஜிஆர் 100 | 25 - திரையுலகில் முடிசூடா மன்னர்!". The Hindu (Tamil). 19 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  7. "Pallandu Vazhga (1975)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  8. 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.
  9. "சினிமா விமர்சனம்: பல்லாண்டு வாழ்க". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 16 November 1975. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  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.
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