Palaivana Solai (1981 film)

Palaivana Solai
DVD cover
Directed byRobert–Rajasekar
Screenplay byRobert–Rajasekar
Story byS. Rajasekar
Produced byR. Vadivel
Starring
CinematographyRobert–Rajasekar
Edited byD. Raj
Music byShankar–Ganesh
Production
company
R. V. Creations
Release date
  • 1 May 1981 (1981-05-01)
Running time
131 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Palaivana Solai (/pɑːlaɪvənə soʊlaɪ/ transl. Oasis) is a 1981 Indian Tamil-language buddy drama film written, directed and photographed by the duo Robert–Rajasekar in their directorial debut. The film stars Chandrasekhar, Janagaraj, Rajeev, Kailash Nath, Thyagu and Suhasini. It revolves around five friends whose lives are transformed by a new girl arriving in their locality.

Palaivana Solai was released on 1 May 1981. The film became a box-office success, running for over 200 days in theatres. In 1982, it was remade in Telugu as Manchu Pallaki (with Suhasini reprising her role) and in Malayalam as Ithu Njangalude Katha. In 2009 it was again remade in Tamil under the same title.

Plot

Bachelors Sekhar, Senthil, Kumar, Vasu and Siva are friends. Sekhar is a factory worker, Senthil and Kumar are unemployed (with Kumar dependent on his wealthy father), Vasu works at an office and Siva is an aspiring actor. They spend their time sitting on a wall and teasing people, particularly young girls, seeking neighbouring girls to befriend.

A girl named Geetha arrives in the locality and stays in a rented house. The friends initially tease her in their usual manner, but she sportingly retaliates and gradually becomes friendly with them. Her purpose of visiting the city is not known to them. Each of them tries to attract her and come closer to her. However, her focus is on helping others.

Geetha helps Vasu to find a groom for his sister; she changes Senthil's aggressive behaviour and helps him secure a job; she financially helps Siva to send money to his family; makes Kumar understand the importance of respecting his father; and gives emotional support to the rebellious Sekhar. She becomes the centre of all the friends' activities.

Sekhar develops a soft corner for Geetha. She too likes him, but understands her limitations and does not express it. Vasu learns through a pharmacist from whom she purchases medicines that Geetha is terminally ill. When he asks her about this, she requests him not to reveal this fact to his friends.

When the marriage of Vasu's sister is fixed, one of his colleagues promises to provide money for the dowry. But on the day of the marriage, he is unable to keep his word and the marriage is cancelled due to this. Geetha requests Sekhar to marry Vasu's sister if he respects her and wishes to make her happy. She reveals her terminal illness and that her days are numbered; Sekhar assents to the marriage. Before the event ends, Geetha faints and is hospitalised.

The five friends go out of their way to organise funds for Geetha's treatment, forgetting their egos and past issues. Though the operation eventually takes place, Geetha dies after requesting the five friends to be happy and kind to everyone.

Cast

Production

Palaivana Solai is the directorial debut of Robert–Rajasekar (Robert Asirvatham and S. Rajasekar). Both also handled cinematography and wrote the screenplay based on Rajasekar's story.[5] The film was shot predominantly on the Nungambakkam Highway, Chennai.[6]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by the duo Shankar–Ganesh, with lyrics written by Vairamuthu.[7][8] "Megame Megame" is set in the raga known as Karnaranjani,[9] and was based on "Tum Nahi Gham Nahi Sharab Nahi", a Ghazal by Jagjit Singh.[10][11] The song "Engal Kathai" was banned by All India Radio as it was alleged to be promoting communism.[12]

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Aalanaalum Aalu"Malaysia Vasudevan4:12
2."Engal Kathai"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam4:14
3."Megame Megame"Vani Jairam4:29
4."Pournami Neram"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam5:04
Total length:17:59

Release and reception

Palaivana Solai was released on 1 May 1981.[3] Ananda Vikatan gave the film an A score, praising Suhasini's performance and the unconventional screenplay.[13] Sindhu Jeeva of Kalki felt the makers who chose a different plot failed to realise that screenplay is the main focus and the film crawls without any focus while also panning the background score and cinematography but praised the acting of lead actors and concluded they expected a lot considering the title and directors.[14] The film became a box-office success, running for over 200 days in theatres.[15]

Remakes

Palaivana Solai was remade in Telugu as Manchu Pallaki (1982), with Suhasini reprising her role.[16] It was also remade in Malayalam as Ithu Njangalude Katha (1982),[17] and again in Tamil in 2009 under the same title. This version featured remixed versions of "Aalanaalum Aalu" and "Megame Megame".[18] A Hindi remake was planned in the early 1980s and Suhasini was offered to reprise her role, but did not come to fruition.[19]

Legacy

Commentators regard Palaivana Solai as a landmark film in Tamil cinema for proving that males can be friends with females without falling in love.[20][21] Other Tamil films that followed the trope include Pudhu Vasantham (1990) and Punnagai Desam (2002).[13]

References

  1. ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 450.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Palaivanacholai (1981)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b Dhananjayan 2011, p. 60.
  4. ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 451.
  5. ^ செல்லப்பா (13 September 2019). "அவர் ஒரு பொன்மாலைப் பொழுது" [He is a golden twilight time]. Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  6. ^ Indian Cinema 1981, p. 32.
  7. ^ "Paalaivana Cholai (1981)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  8. ^ "Paalaivana Cholai Tamil FIlm EP VInyl Record by Shankar Ganesh". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  9. ^ Mani, Charulatha (31 August 2012). "Two for joy". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  10. ^ Gopalakrishnan, P V (15 May 2017). "FIlmy Ripples- Inspired plagiarism in early music". The Cinema Resource Centre. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  11. ^ S, Karthik. "Tamil [Other Composers]". ItwoFS. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  12. ^ "பாடல்களுக்கு தடை ஏன்?" [Why is the song banned?]. Kalki (in Tamil). 14 June 1981. p. 63. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  13. ^ a b Dhananjayan 2011, p. 61.
  14. ^ சிந்து-ஜீவா (7 June 1981). "பாலைவனச்சோலை". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 52. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  15. ^ செல்வராஜ், என். (20 March 2017). "வெள்ளி விழா கண்ட தமிழ் திரைப்படங்கள்". Thinnai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  16. ^ Sri (10 September 2008). "Retrospect: Manchu Pallaki (1982)". Telugucinema.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  17. ^ "தமிழ் டூ மலையாளம் உண்டல்லோ?". Puthiya Thalaimurai (in Tamil). 16 July 2015. p. 12.
  18. ^ "Palaivana Cholai Audio and Trailer launched". Ayngaran International. 26 August 2009. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  19. ^ Shiva Kumar, S. "Look! Suhasini arrives". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ Kolappan, B. (1 December 2018). "Cinematographer, director Robert dead". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  21. ^ கண்ணன், சுரேஷ் (12 June 2020). "மரபைக் கலைத்து மறுமலர்ச்சி ஏற்படுத்திய மல்டிஸ்டாரர்... 'பாலைவனச் சோலை'யும் அதன் முன், பின் கதைகளும்!". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

Bibliography