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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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Lakshmi ([[Sridevi]]) a modern young girl, meets with an accident while returning from a party in a car and is hospitalised with severe head injuries. When she |
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Bhagyalakshmi (Sridevi) is a young, modern girl who meets with an accident that leaves her with the memory and intelligence of a seven-year-old girl. Circumstances lead her into prostitution, and in the brothel she meets Srinivas (Kamal Haasan), who had reluctantly arrived because of his friend's suggestion. He realizes that she has been tricked into the trade. He rescues her and takes her to his home in Ooty and begins to take care of her like his own. He knows Bhagyalakshmi as "Viji", which was the pseudonym given for her at the brothel. Viji reciprocates Srinivas's care as they spend several months together sharing an amazing and innocent relationship that treads the tender line between affection and love. The sub plot of the film follows the wife of Srinivas' boss who is attracted to Srinivas, though Srinivas doesn't reciprocate her feelings. It depicts how the outside world succumbs to human feelings of lust and desire which are totally missing between Srinivas and Viji. Their relation however takes a turn when Viji accidentally spills ink over Srinivas' documents, angering him, but both eventually reconcile. Later, a local woodcutter lusts for Viji and nearly molests her, later she is saved. Srinivas takes Viji to a village medical practitioner who cures her of her mental illness and brings her back to sanity as she recovers her memory up to the point of her accident a few months back. But when Srinivas comes to meet Viji later that day, she is now not able to identify him or remember him. Despite all his efforts to make her understand that he was the one who had taken care of her for several months, she is indifferent to him and leaves Ooty to go back to her hometown, thereby abandoning Srinivas and the life and relationship that she once had with him. |
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recovers, she is diagnosed with [[amnesia]] and she fails to recognise her own parents. She mentally regresses to the state of a child. While she is undergoing |
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treatment, she is kidnapped and sold to the madam (Gandhimathi) of a whorehouse through devious methods. Srinivasan, also known as Cheenu |
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([[Kamal Haasan]]), comes to Chennai to meet his old friend ([[Y. G. Mahendran]]) and together, they visit a [[brothel]] to relax. The mistress sends Lakshmi, renamed as Vijaya to his room. Cheenu realises that the call girl is still a child at heart and pities her. He understands that she is from a cultured family, was kidnapped and forced into [[prostitution]]. He returns the next day and after paying a huge sum to the mistress, takes her out in the pretext of a pleasure trip, then takes her away to [[Ooty]], where he is working as a school teacher. He takes her to his residence, where he protects her and also pampers her like a child. Viji, as she is called by Cheenu, has completely forgotten her past and becomes very close to him. Their relation however takes a turn when Viji accidentally spills ink over Cheenu' documents, angering him, but both eventually reconcile. Later, a local [[woodcutter]] lusts for Viji and nearly molests her, later she is saved. The sub-plot of the film follows the wife ([[Silk Smitha]]) of Cheenu' boss who is attracted to Cheenu, though Cheenu does not reciprocate her feelings. |
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Viji’s father Vedachalam (Veeraraghavan), who was searching her through the police, releases a newspaper advertisement about his lost daughter. A cop |
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assenger who had travelled with Cheenu and Viji from Chennai to Ooty by train gives them a lead. Cheenu takes Viji to an [[Ayurveda|Ayurvedic]] medical practitioner (Ramanamurthy) and leaves her there for treatment for a day. In his absence, the police come to his house searching for Lakshmi which he later learns from his sympathetic neighbour. Finally, the police learn that Lakshmi is getting treated at the doctor’s place and reach there. Cheenu is unable to come as he is afraid of police action. The treatment goes through successfully, Lakshmi regains her memory, becomes normal and completely forgets about the period between her accident and recovery. Vedachalam and his wife are happy and decide to leave. From the doctor, Vedachalam learns that the person who had brought her there had been taking good care of their daughter; hence he withdraws his police complaint and they begin their journey to Chennai with Lakshmi. After the police leave, Cheenu comes running after the car in which Viji (Lakshmi) is travelling. He follows them to the railway station and tries to gain the attention of Viji, but she is unable to recognise him. Cheenu plays all her favourite pranks, but Viji (Lakshmi), unable to comprehend, thinks that he is mentally challenged and begging for food. Cheenu continues his fruitless attempts to gain her attention. Finally the train leaves with Viji not recognising him. Cheenu, who was hurt while chasing her car and trying to gain her attention, is left alone and limps away heartbroken. |
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==Cast== |
==Cast== |
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Revision as of 15:39, 4 September 2013
| Moondram Pirai | |
|---|---|
| File:Moondram Pirai Poster.jpg Official Poster | |
| Directed by | Balu Mahendra |
| Written by | Balu Mahendra |
| Produced by | G. Thyagarajan |
| Starring | Kamal Haasan Sridevi Kapoor Silk Smitha Poornam Vishwanathan |
| Cinematography | Balu Mahendra |
| Edited by | D. Vasu |
| Music by | Ilaiyaraaja [1] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 139 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Moondram Pirai (English (lit.): The Crescent Moon comes on the Third day) is a 1982 Indian Tamil film written and directed by Balu Mahendra, starring Kamal Haasan and Sridevi. Ilaiyaraaja composed the music. Kamal Haasan won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role as Srinivas. Balu Mahendra did the cinematography as well for which he won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography. It was a blockbuster and completed 329-day run at the box office.
The film was dubbed in Telugu under the title Vasantha Kokila and was released on the same day (19 February 1982). The film was remade the following year as the Hindi film Sadma, with much of the cast and crew from the original reprising their roles.
Plot
Lakshmi (Sridevi) a modern young girl, meets with an accident while returning from a party in a car and is hospitalised with severe head injuries. When she recovers, she is diagnosed with amnesia and she fails to recognise her own parents. She mentally regresses to the state of a child. While she is undergoing treatment, she is kidnapped and sold to the madam (Gandhimathi) of a whorehouse through devious methods. Srinivasan, also known as Cheenu (Kamal Haasan), comes to Chennai to meet his old friend (Y. G. Mahendran) and together, they visit a brothel to relax. The mistress sends Lakshmi, renamed as Vijaya to his room. Cheenu realises that the call girl is still a child at heart and pities her. He understands that she is from a cultured family, was kidnapped and forced into prostitution. He returns the next day and after paying a huge sum to the mistress, takes her out in the pretext of a pleasure trip, then takes her away to Ooty, where he is working as a school teacher. He takes her to his residence, where he protects her and also pampers her like a child. Viji, as she is called by Cheenu, has completely forgotten her past and becomes very close to him. Their relation however takes a turn when Viji accidentally spills ink over Cheenu' documents, angering him, but both eventually reconcile. Later, a local woodcutter lusts for Viji and nearly molests her, later she is saved. The sub-plot of the film follows the wife (Silk Smitha) of Cheenu' boss who is attracted to Cheenu, though Cheenu does not reciprocate her feelings.
Viji’s father Vedachalam (Veeraraghavan), who was searching her through the police, releases a newspaper advertisement about his lost daughter. A cop assenger who had travelled with Cheenu and Viji from Chennai to Ooty by train gives them a lead. Cheenu takes Viji to an Ayurvedic medical practitioner (Ramanamurthy) and leaves her there for treatment for a day. In his absence, the police come to his house searching for Lakshmi which he later learns from his sympathetic neighbour. Finally, the police learn that Lakshmi is getting treated at the doctor’s place and reach there. Cheenu is unable to come as he is afraid of police action. The treatment goes through successfully, Lakshmi regains her memory, becomes normal and completely forgets about the period between her accident and recovery. Vedachalam and his wife are happy and decide to leave. From the doctor, Vedachalam learns that the person who had brought her there had been taking good care of their daughter; hence he withdraws his police complaint and they begin their journey to Chennai with Lakshmi. After the police leave, Cheenu comes running after the car in which Viji (Lakshmi) is travelling. He follows them to the railway station and tries to gain the attention of Viji, but she is unable to recognise him. Cheenu plays all her favourite pranks, but Viji (Lakshmi), unable to comprehend, thinks that he is mentally challenged and begging for food. Cheenu continues his fruitless attempts to gain her attention. Finally the train leaves with Viji not recognising him. Cheenu, who was hurt while chasing her car and trying to gain her attention, is left alone and limps away heartbroken.
Cast
- Kamal Haasan – Srinivas / Seenu
- Sridevi – Bhagyalaksmi / Vijaya / Viji
- Silk Smitha – school owner's Wife
- Poornam Vishwanathan – school owner
- Y. Gee. Mahendra – Srinivas's friend
Production
In an interview to Anu Haasan in the talk show Koffee with Anu, Balu Mahendra stated that the film Moondram Pirai's theme – a temporary relationship between a child-like woman and a matured man, with their relationship abruptly ending – was based on his relationship with actress Shobha who died in 1980, shortly after their marriage.[2]
Soundtrack
The film's original soundtrack was composed by Ilayaraja. The number Kannae Kalaimanae was written by Kannadasan, and was written in "about two minutes" time.[3] Co-incidentally, it was the last song which he wrote, before his death in 1981.[4]
| No. | Title | Singers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kanne Kalaimane (Lyrics: Kannadasan)" | K. J. Yesudas | 3:56 |
| 2. | "Narikkathai" | Kamal Haasan, Sridevi | |
| 3. | "Ponmeni" | S. Janaki | |
| 4. | "Poonkatru" | K. J. Yesudas | |
| 5. | "Vaanil Yengum" | S. P. Balasubramaniam, S. Janaki |
Release
Prior to release, Moondram Pirai was given an "A" certificate by the Indian Censor Board.[5]
Reception
IndiaGlitz said "Balu Mahendra's best direction till date casts Kamal and Sridevi excelling in their roles. How a simple storyline can influence the hearts of millions is the beauty of this movie."[6] In February 2013, entertainment magazine Galatta Cinema said, "Balumahendra’s Moondram Pirai is a tragedy nevertheless, and that too one that had most of us bawling our eyes out." The critic further wrote, "The love that binds them [Kamal Haasan and Sridevi] is so beautifully presented through events and songs, that when the end draws near, you just know it’s too good to end well. She gets back her memory but forgets her love..." and concluded that "Sridevi and Kamal just outdid themselves in this one..."[7]
Awards and nominations
Filmfare Awards South
National Film Awards
- Best Actor – Kamal Haasan
- Best Cinematography (colour) – Balu Mahendra
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
- Best Actor – Kamal Haasan
- Best Actress – Sridevi
- Best Male Playback – K.J. Yesudas
References
- ^ Moondram Pirai, Oosai, retrieved 2008-11-04
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-90s4Q51vFc
- ^ http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/07/01/stories/2005070103810500.htm
- ^ http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/38607.html
- ^ http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article1299771.ece
- ^ http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/89358.html
- ^ Love's Labour Lost. Galatta Cinema. 2013. pp. 98–99.
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