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=== Critical reception ===
=== Critical reception ===
Reviews were mostly positive. In December 2012, ''IndiaGlitz'' said "How a simple storyline can influence the hearts of millions is the beauty of this movie."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/89358.html|title=End of the world movies|publisher=IndiaGlitz|date=20 December 2012|accessdate=14 December 2014|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20141214072913/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/89358.html|archivedate=14 December 2014|deadurl=no}}</ref> 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..."<ref>{{cite book|title=Love's Labour Lost|date=February 2013|publisher=Galatta Cinema|pages=98–99}}</ref> S. Saraswathi of ''[[Rediff]]'' included ''Moondram Pirai'' in her list of the "10 best Films of Kamal Haasan".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/slide-show-1-the-10-best-films-of-kamal-haasan-south/20131107.htm#1|title=The 10 BEST Films of Kamal Haasan|publisher=Rediff.com|date=7 November 2013|accessdate=14 December 2014|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20141214073232/http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/slide-show-1-the-10-best-films-of-kamal-haasan-south/20131107.htm#1|archivedate=14 December 2014|deadurl=no}}</ref>
Reviews were mostly positive. In December 2012, ''IndiaGlitz'' said "How a simple storyline can influence the hearts of millions is the beauty of this movie."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/89358.html|title=End of the world movies|publisher=IndiaGlitz|date=20 December 2012|accessdate=14 December 2014|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20141214072913/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/89358.html|archivedate=14 December 2014|deadurl=no}}</ref> 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..."<ref>{{cite book|title=Love's Labour Lost|date=February 2013|publisher=Galatta Cinema|pages=98–99}}</ref> S. Saraswathi of ''[[Rediff]]'' included ''Moondram Pirai'' in her list of the "10 best Films of Kamal Haasan".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/slide-show-1-the-10-best-films-of-kamal-haasan-south/20131107.htm#1|title=The 10 BEST Films of Kamal Haasan|publisher=Rediff.com|date=7 November 2013|accessdate=14 December 2014|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20141214073232/http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/slide-show-1-the-10-best-films-of-kamal-haasan-south/20131107.htm#1|archivedate=14 December 2014|deadurl=no}}</ref> In contrast, the magazine ''Aside'' called it "neon moon" and said, "There was at one time a brooding, premonitory quality about Balu Mahendra's movies ... but (he) has now gone into the trade of picture postcards and pani puri." And after a brief word of praise for Haasan's performance in the climax ("darkly luminescent, like a rain drenched monsoon night") added, "Kamal makes a very amusing monkey, but should he not rather be playing a human character?"{{sfn|Lakshmi|2004|p=46}}


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==
Line 109: Line 109:
* {{cite book|author=Asiaweek|authorlink=Asiaweek|title=Asiaweek, Volume 10|year=1984|publisher=Asiaweek Limited|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=4UMLAQAAMAAJ|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|author=Asiaweek|authorlink=Asiaweek|title=Asiaweek, Volume 10|year=1984|publisher=Asiaweek Limited|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=4UMLAQAAMAAJ|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Dhananjayan|first=G.|authorlink=G. Dhananjayan|title=The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1977–2010|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=t6CGLgEACAAJ|year=2011|publisher=Galatta Media|isbn=978-81-921043-0-0|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Dhananjayan|first=G.|authorlink=G. Dhananjayan|title=The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1977–2010|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=t6CGLgEACAAJ|year=2011|publisher=Galatta Media|isbn=978-81-921043-0-0|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|author1=Lakshmi, C. S.|title=The Unhurried City: Writings on Chennai|year=2004|publisher=Penguin Books India|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=LnflUVu0w2QC&dq=moondram+pirai+neon+moon&source=gbs_navlinks_s|ref=harv}}


== External links ==
== External links ==

Revision as of 16:21, 14 December 2014

Moondram Pirai
File:Moondram Pirai Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBalu Mahendra
Written byBalu Mahendra
Produced byG. Thyagarajan
G. Saravanan
StarringKamal Haasan
Sridevi
CinematographyBalu Mahendra
Edited byD. Vasu
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Sathya Jyothi Films
Distributed bySathya Jyothi Films
Release date
  • 19 February 1982 (1982-02-19)
Running time
134 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Moondram Pirai (English: The crescent seen on the third day following New Moon day.) is a 1982 Indian Tamil drama film written, directed and filmed by Balu Mahendra. The film features Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in the lead roles, while Silk Smitha, Poornam Vishwanathan and Y. Gee. Mahendran play supporting roles. The film's soundtrack album and background score were composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Kannadasan, Vairamuthu and Gangai Amaran.

The film is a morality tale about a school teacher, R. Srinivas, who rescues a woman, Bhagyalakshmi who is suffering from amnesia, from a brothel, and looks after her in his house located in Ketti. The rest of the film shows how Bhagyalakshmi recovers her memory with Srinivas's help. Moondram Pirai was shot in Ketti, a small town situated close to Ooty, with further shooting also taking place in Bangalore. A total of 30 days was taken to complete the filming. The final length of the film was 3,918 metres (12,854 ft).

Moondram Pirai was released on 19 February 1982 to positive critical reception. It had a 300-day run in the theatres and was declared a "blockbuster" at the box office.[1] Kamal Haasan won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role, while Mahendra won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography. The film was dubbed in Telugu under the title Vasantha Kokila and was released on the same day as the original version. The film was remade the following year as the Hindi film Sadma, with most of the cast and crew members from the original version reprising their roles.

Plot

Bhagyalakshmi (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 (Ganthimathi) of a brothel through devious methods. Srinivasan alias Cheenu (Kamal Haasan), comes to Chennai to meet his old friend (Y. G. Mahendran) and together, they visit the brothel to relax. The mistress sends Bhagyalakshmi, 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, and that she 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 Ketti, 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, Nataraj (Nataraj), lusts for Viji and nearly molests her, but she manages to save herself. When she tells Cheenu about it, he becomes livid with rage and almost kills Nataraj, but is stopped by his neighbours who were informed of the incident by Viji. The sub-plot of the film follows the wife (Silk Smitha) of Cheenu's boss who is attracted to Cheenu, though he 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 co-passenger 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 Bhagyalakshmi which he later learns from his sympathetic neighbour. Finally, the police learn that Bhagyalakshmi 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, Bhagyalakshmi 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 Bhagyalakshmi.

After the police leave, Cheenu comes running after the car in which Viji (Bhagyalakshmi) 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 (Bhagyalakshmi), 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 get her attention, is left alone and limps away heartbroken.

Cast

Production

Development

In an interview to Anu Haasan in the talk show Koffee with Anu, Balu Mahendra stated that Moondram Pirai's theme – a temporary relationship between a childlike woman and a matured man, with their relationship ending abruptly, and in a tragic way – was based on his relationship with actress Shobha who died in 1980, shortly after their marriage.[2] According to S. Shiva Kumar of The Hindu, the climax of the film was a clear metaphor of how Shobha left Mahendra without even saying goodbye.[3] A Kannada film, Maanasa Sarovara, with a similar theme was made by director Puttanna Kanagal during the same year.[4] The film was produced by G. Thyagarajan and G. Saravanan under their production banner, Sathya Jyothi Films.[5] A. Ramaswamy and D. Vasu were in charge of art direction and editing respectively.[6]

In C. B. Rao's review of the film's Hindi version, Sadma, the English translation of the film's title, Moondram Pirai is given as "The Third Generation." Actually the term Moondram Pirai means "The crescent seen on the third day following New Moon day."[7] In February 2014, Kamal Haasan, in an interview with The Hindu Business Line, said that when Mahendra narrated the story of Moondram Pirai to him, Haasan listened to Mahendra for about 20 minutes and then told Mahendra to include him in the film,[8] after Mahendra assured Haasan that he would walk away with the applause.[9] The role of Bhagyalakshmi was initially offered to Sripriya, who could not accept the role due to her prior commitments, before Sridevi was chosen for it.[10]

Filming

Moondram Pirai was shot in Ketti, a small town situated close to Ooty. Shooting also took place in Bangalore.[4] A total of 30 days was taken to complete the filming. Overall, 36,000 feet of film negative was used to make the film. [4] Mahendra did not find hiring a train expensive at that time, as a result, he hired a train for the film's scene where Haasan and Sridevi depart for Ketti, and another train for the film's climax. The film's climax which was shot at the Ketti railway station. Since it was raining on the day the climax was shot, Mahendra decided to shoot the climax even though the rain was not part of the film's script.[11] Silk Smitha's voice in the film was dubbed by Anuradha. Mahendra supervised Anuradha's dubbing session and taught her the methods to emote the dialogues for Smitha in the film.[12]

While the film was under production the team was scoffed at for making a film about a youth falling in love with an amnesia patient, and that the film wouldn't be a box office success.[13] The film uses intense Violin music in both its opening and closing credits.[14] In April 2006, Balu Mahendra said that the inclusion of the song "Ponmeni Uruguthey" in his film was "absolutely unneccessary", stating that the sole reason for its inclusion in the film was the presence of Smitha in the song to help promote the film.[15]

Soundtrack

The film's original soundtrack was composed by Ilayaraja. The number Kannae Kalaimane, which is based on the Kaapi raga,[16] was written by Kannadasan, and was written in "about two minutes" time, after Kannadasan listened to the film's story and the situation for the song.[17] It was the last song which Kannadasan wrote, before his death in 1981,[18] during the making of the film.[4] "Poongatru" was based on the Sindhu Bhairavi raga.[19] The song "Ponmeni Uruguthey" that was picturised on Kamal Haasan and Silk Smitha developed cult status.[20]

No. Song Singers Lyrics Length (m:ss)
1 Kannae Kalaimane K. J. Yesudas Kannadasan 04:13
2 Kanne Kalaimane (Sad) K. J. Yesudas 01:09
3 Nari Kathai Kamal Haasan, Sridevi Vairamuthu 04:05
4 Ponmeni Uruguthey S. Janaki Gangai Amaran 04:35
5 Poongatru K. J. Yesudas Kannadasan 04:22
6 Vaanengum Thanga S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki Vairamuthu 04:34

Release

Prior to release, Moondram Pirai was given an "A" certificate by the Indian Censor Board.[21]

Critical reception

Reviews were mostly positive. In December 2012, IndiaGlitz said "How a simple storyline can influence the hearts of millions is the beauty of this movie."[22] 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..."[23] S. Saraswathi of Rediff included Moondram Pirai in her list of the "10 best Films of Kamal Haasan".[24] In contrast, the magazine Aside called it "neon moon" and said, "There was at one time a brooding, premonitory quality about Balu Mahendra's movies ... but (he) has now gone into the trade of picture postcards and pani puri." And after a brief word of praise for Haasan's performance in the climax ("darkly luminescent, like a rain drenched monsoon night") added, "Kamal makes a very amusing monkey, but should he not rather be playing a human character?"[25]

Legacy

Balu Mahendra's telugu film Nireekshana (1982) was dubbed and released in Tamil as "Kanne Kalaimane".[26] In July 2007, S. R. Ashok Kumar of The Hindu asked eight Tamil film directors to list their all-time favourite Tamil films; two of them – Mani Ratnam and Ameer – named Moondram Pirai.[27] In Manadhai Thirudivittai (2001), Valayapathi (Vivek) pretends to have lost both his hands. His lover then promises to take care of him. The song "Kanne Kalaimane" is heard as the background music for the scene.[28] In a comedy scene from Run (2002), Mohan (Vivek) imitates Haasan's mannerisms from the climax scene in Moondram Pirai to make his friend Shiva (Madhavan) to recognize him but fails.[29]

Awards and nominations

Filmfare Awards South
National Film Awards
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

References

  1. ^ B. Kolappan (14 February 2014). "Balu Mahendra passes away". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Interview with Balu Mahendra - Koffee with Anu - Part 1". YouTube. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  3. ^ Kumar, S. Shiva (6 February 2014). "More than meaning". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b c d Dhananjayan 2011, p. 73.
  5. ^ Kumar, S. R. Ashok (15 September 2006). "A saga of success". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Dhananjayan 2011, p. 72.
  7. ^ Asiaweek 1984, p. 156.
  8. ^ Haasan, Kamal (14 February 2014). "Kamal Haasan's tribute to Balu Mahendra". The Hindu Business Line. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Kumar, S. Shiva (28 November 2008). "Matters of the heart". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Sampath, Janani (25 January 2014). "Eighties Flavour Keen to Leave Imprint". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Varma, K. Dinesh (2 January 2014). "Kollywood's romance with trains unstoppable". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Padmanabhan, Geeta (7 August 2014). "When voices do the acting". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Stalwarts to zoom in on creative, commercial secrets of celluloid". The Hindu. 3 October 2012. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Rangan, Baradwaj (21 February 2014). "Marketplace art". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Kamath, Sudhish (25 April 2006). "'Don't let the fire die out'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Karmic Kaapi". IndiaGlitz. 26 December 2013. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (1 July 2005). "Of a poet unsurpassed". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  18. ^ "We will not miss Kavignar Kannadasan any more". IndiaGlitz. 17 May 2008. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ T. Saravanan (20 September 2013). "Ragas hit a high". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Warrier, Shobha (4 March 2003). "'Julie Ganapathy was a big risk'". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ "'Don't judge a film by its Censor certificate'". The New Indian Express. 16 October 2012. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "End of the world movies". IndiaGlitz. 20 December 2012. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ Love's Labour Lost. Galatta Cinema. February 2013. pp. 98–99.
  24. ^ "The 10 BEST Films of Kamal Haasan". Rediff.com. 7 November 2013. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ Lakshmi 2004, p. 46.
  26. ^ "Kanne Kalai Mane". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ Kumar, S. R. Ashok (13 July 2007). "Filmmakers' favourites". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ Manathai Thirudivittai (DVD). Scene from 1:45:55 to 1:47:25.
  29. ^ Run (DVD). Scene from 1:27:49 to 1:28:19.

Bibliography

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