''Punarjanmam'' () is a 1972 Indian

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

-language

erotic thriller The erotic thriller is a film subgenre defined as a thriller with a thematic basis in illicit romance or sexual fantasy. Though exact definitions of the erotic thriller can vary, it is generally agreed "bodily danger and pleasure must remain i ...

film starring

Prem Nazir Prem Nazir (born Abdul Khader; 6 April 1926 – 16 January 1989) was an Indian actor known as one of Malayalam cinema's definitive leading man, leading men of his generation. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential actors in the hist ...

and

Jayabharathi Jayabharathi (born 28 June 1954 as Lekshmi Bharathi) is an Indian actress and two-time recipient of the Kerala State Film Award, Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress and National Film Award – Special Mention (feature film), Nationa ...

. The film is directed by

K. S. Sethumadhavan Kurukkalpadam Subrahmanyam Sethumadhavan (15 May 1931 – 24 December 2021) was an Indian film director and screenwriter who worked predominantly in Malayalam cinema. He also directed films in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu. Since the early ...

and is based on a case study published by famous atheist and psychiatrist A. T. Kovoor in ''

Mathrubhumi ''Mathrubhumi'' is a Malayalam newspaper that is published from Kerala, India. It was founded by K. P. Kesava Menon, an active volunteer in the Indian freedom struggle against the British. The word "Mathrubhumi" translates to 'mother land'. ...

'' weekly. The film, as well as Prem Nazir's performance, won immense critical acclaim. The film was remade in Tamil as ''

Maru Piravi ''Maru Piravi'' () is a 1973 Indian Tamil-language erotic thriller film directed by T. R. Ramanna. It stars R. Muthuraman and Manjula. It is the Tamil remake of the 1971 Malayalam film '' Punarjanmam''. The film was released on 9 February 1973. ...

'' with Muthuraman and

Manjula Manjula (Sanskrit: मंजुला) is a Hindu and Sanskrit female given name, which means, "melodious". Notable people named Manjula * Manjula (Kannada actress) (1954–1986), Indian actress * Manjula Chellur (born 1955), Indian doctor an ...

in the lead roles and in Telugu as ''Vintha Katha'', starring

Krishna Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...

and

Vanisri Vanisri (born Rathna Kumari) is an Indian actress known for her works predominantly in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada films. In a film career spanning 40 years, she has received three Filmfare Awards South, the Nandi Awards and the Tamil Nadu St ...

. The film is considered to be the first erotic psychic thriller in Indian film history.

Plot

Aravindan, a college lecturer, falls in love with his student Radha and marries her. However, the couple's sexual life is a failure, causing intense agony to Radha's father, Panikkar who is keen to have grandchildren. When all other means fail, Panikkar approaches a psychiatrist, who finds out that Aravindan's inability to have sex with Radha may have something to do with his intense affection for his mother, who had died just six months before Aravindan met Radha. How the doctor cajoles Radha into solving her husband's illness forms the climax.

Cast

as Aravindan ** Master Raghu as Young Aravindan *

in double role as Radha / Aravindan's mother *

Bahadoor Padiyath Kochumoideen Kunjalu (1930 22 May 2000), better known by his stage name Bahadoor, was an Indian actor who appeared in Malayalam films, primarily in comedic roles. He, along with Adoor Bhasi, were the two major comedians in Malayalam ...

as Kurup *

Adoor Bhasi K. Bhaskaran Nair (1 March 1929 – 29 March 1990), professionally credited by his stage name Adoor Bhasi, was an Indian actor and film director. He was mostly cast as a sidekick to protagonists, particularly Prem Nazir. His comedic roles were w ...

as Narayana Panikkar *

Sankaradi Paravoor memana Kanakku Chembakaraman Parameswaran Chandrashekara Menon, better known by his screen name Sankaradi (14 July 1924 – 8 October 2001), was an Indian actor. He was a veteran Malayalam comedian and character artist, who had over 70 ...

as Ashan *

Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai Shivanandakumar (22 February 1924)He was an Telugu Superstar and Violnist and who was well known in the role of Ashaan in Kavyamela. Early life He was born on 22 February 1924 in Visakhapatnam, a small village near Peddapalli in Visakh ...

as Jyotsyan *

Paravoor Bharathan Vadakkekarayil Koran Bharathan (16 January 1929- 19 August 2015), better known as Paravoor Bharatan was an Indian actor who acted in Malayalam films. He started his career in movies during the 1950s. Bharathan is known as a versatile actor and ...

as College Principal * Sujatha as Jaanu *

Prema Menon Prema was an Indian actress in Malayalam cinema. She acted mainly in supporting and character roles as a mother, during the 1960s and 1970s and appeared in more than 50 films in her career. She was the mother of actress Shoba. Personal life Pr ...

as Sankari *

Khadeeja ''Khadeeja'' is a 1967 Indian Malayalam film, directed by M. Krishnan Nair and produced by Kalaratnam. The film stars Sathyan, Madhu, Sheela and Sukumari in the lead roles. The film had musical score by M. S. Baburaj. Cast * Sathyan *Madhu ...

as Ashan's wife

Soundtrack

Awards

* The film won Filmfare Award for Best Director - Malayalam received by

(1972)

References

External links

* 1972 films 1970s erotic thriller films 1970s Malayalam-language films 1970s Indian films Indian erotic thriller films Indian films based on actual events Films based on non-fiction books Malayalam films remade in other languages Films directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan Films with screenplays by Thoppil Bhasi {{erotic-thriller-film-stub