Udaya Geetham

Udaya Geetham (also spelt as Udhaya Geetham) is a 1985 Indian Tamil language film directed by K. Rangaraj. The film stars Mohan, Lakshmi and Revathi in the lead, while Goundamani and Senthil appear in the comic subplot. It revolves around a singer who is facing a death sentence for a murder he did not commit, and the efforts of a young girl to clear his name. The film was released on 13 April 1985 and was a commercial success, running for 148 days in theatres and thereby becoming a silver jubilee film.

Udaya Geetham
Theatrical release poster
Directed byK. Rangaraj[1]
Produced byKovaithambi[2]
Screenplay byK. Rangaraj
Story byR. Selvaraj
Starring
Music byIlaiyaraaja
CinematographyDinesh Babu
Edited byR. Bhaskaran
Production
company
Motherland Pictures[3]
Release date
  • 13 April 1985 (1985-04-13)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

Arun is a singer sentenced to death. He meets Shanthi, a fan, during one of his concerts and she follows him on many occasions both within and outside prison. Arun shows deep animosity towards Shanthi's behaviour and continuously shuns her, but a persistent Shanthi refuses to give up. Maari, an inmate, attempts a prison escape but is stopped by Arun. He tells Arun about his sick daughter, and his inability to pay for her operation. A sympathetic Arun promises to raise funds for the sick child through his next concert, which he also plans shall be his final one.

Leela Chowdhry is the newly appointed Superintendent of Police for the Madras Central Jail, where Arun is imprisoned. Shanthi talks her into getting her married to Arun, who also agrees to it after deeply thinking and deliberating. The wedding takes places in Leela's house. During their wedding night, Shanthi stabs Arun and reveals herself as the sister of Anand, for whose murder Arun was convicted. Anand was Arun's musical partner in their troupe before his murder. Arun claims he was wrongfully convicted and Shanthi, believing him, promises to clear his name.

Leela allows Shanthi and Arun to go to a nearby temple, but sends policemen along with them to prevent Arun from escaping. Shanthi outsmarts them and takes Arun to her home where she imprisons him, much to his dislike. She makes it seemingly impossible for him to escape, until she is able to prove his innocence. Leela is later punished for having let Arun "escape", and simultaneously realises that Arun is her long lost son, becoming heartbroken. However, she remains bound to her duty of capturing Arun, and a manhunt for him begins.

Shanthi later meets Shankar, the real killer of Anand. He admits to the murder, but states that did so because he witnessed Anand sleeping with his wife. Shanthi, knowing that Shankar's wife is promiscuous (it was she who seduced the reluctant Anand), takes him to her and Shankar is angered on seeing his wife with another man in bed. He kills her, but not before she mortally wounds him. Arun, having escaped, is confronted by Leela who he realises is his mother. She allows him to perform his final concert, but has to have him hanged to death him after that. Right after he finishes his concert he is arrested, but Shanthi and Shankar finally arrive and tell the truth about Anand's death, after which Shankar succumbs. Arun's death sentence is revoked.

Cast

Soundtrack

The film's original soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja,[8] this being his 300th film.[9] The song "Thene Thenpaandi" is set in the carnatic raga known as Dheerasankarabharanam,[10] "Paadu Nilavae" is set in the Kusumadharini raga,[11] and the title song is set in Dhenuka.[12]

Tracklist[13]
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Sangeetha Megam"MuthulingamS. P. Balasubrahmanyam4:28
2."Paadu Nilavae"Mu. MethaS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki5:02
3."Ennodu Paattu Paadungal"M. G. VallabhanS. P. Balasubrahmanyam5:58
4."Thene Thenpaandi"VaaliS.P. Balasubrahmanyam4:12
5."Uthaya Geetham"VairamuthuS. P. Balasubrahmanyam4:49
6."Thene Thenpandi" (female)VaaliS. Janaki3:22
7."Maane Thene"N. Kama RajanS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki4:19

Release and reception

Udaya Geetham was released on 13 April 1985, a day before Puthandu. Despite facing competition from other films released in the same week such as Pillai Nila and Deivapiravi,[14] the film became a commercial success, with a theatrical run of over 148 days,[15] thereby becoming a silver jubilee film.[16]

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References
  1. Balabharathi 2012, p. 300.
  2. Balabharathi 2012, p. 299.
  3. Balabharathi 2012, pp. 298–299.
  4. Balabharathi 2012, p. 301.
  5. Balabharathi 2012, p. 298.
  6. Umashanker, Sudha (8 June 2001). "From scratch to success". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  7. Kumar, Divya (5 April 2012). "Vocal Score". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  8. Ilaiyaraaja (1985). Udhaya Geetham (liner notes) (in Tamil). Echo. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018.
  9. "இசைப்பயணம் தொடர்கிறது!" [Music Tour Continues!]. Dina Thanthi (in Tamil). 9 February 2018. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  10. Sundararaman 2007, p. 161.
  11. Sundararaman 2007, p. 151.
  12. Sundararaman 2007, p. 163.
  13. "Udhaya Geetham (1985)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  14. ராம்ஜி, வி. (19 April 2020). "'உதயகீதம்', 'பிள்ளைநிலா', 'தெய்வப்பிறவி'; ஒரேநாளில் ரீலீஸ்; மூன்றுமே செம ஹிட்டு; 35 வருடங்களாச்சு!" [Udaya Geetham, Pillai Nila and Deivapiravi released on the same day; all three were big hits; 35 years have passed!]. Hindu Tamil Thisai. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  15. "மணிரத்னம் டைரக்ஷனில் இதயக்கோயில்" [Idhaya Kovil in Mani Ratnam's direction]. Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 3 July 2016. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  16. Balabharathi 2012, p. 302.

Bibliography
  • Balabharathi (2012). தமிழ் சினிமா 80 பாகம்-2 [Tamil Cinema 80 Part-2] (in Tamil). Chennai: Nakkheeran Publications. ISBN 978-93-81828-41-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Sundararaman (2007) [2005]. Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music (2nd ed.). Pichhamal Chintamani.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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