''Uyarndha Ullam'' () is a 1985 Indian
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
People, culture and language
* Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka
** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...
-language
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...
directed by
S. P. Muthuraman and produced by
AVM Productions
AVM Productions is an Indian film production studio founded by A. V. Meiyappa Chettiar. It is the oldest film studio in India. The filming studios are located in Vadapalani, Chennai. It has produced over 300 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, ...
. The film stars
Kamal Haasan
Parthasarathy Srinivasan (born 7 November 1954), known professionally as Kamal Haasan, is an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Considered as one of the most accomplished actors of Indian Cinema, Haas ...
and
Ambika, while
Radha Ravi
Madras Rajagopalan Radhakrishnan Ravi mononymously called as Radha Ravi is an Indian actor and politician who played supporting roles throughout his career. He is the son of veteran actor M. R. Radha and the uncle of Vasu Vikram and half-brot ...
,
V. K. Ramasamy and
Y. G. Mahendran play supporting roles. It revolves around a spoilt heir who lavishly squanders his inheritance, bringing ruin to his life. The film was released on 27 July 1985.
Plot
Anand is a spoilt young man whose parents died leaving behind a huge inheritance. He spends all his waking hours boozing and gambling with his friends. One such night, he ends up in a brawl with some rowdies, but a stranger Selvam comes to his rescue. Selvam beats up the rowdies and takes Anand back to his bungalow. A drunk Anand forces Selvam to spend the night in his house. However, the next day, he has no recollection of the previous night's events. His servant Mani and accountant Nagapillai come to Selvam's aid. In appreciation, Anand appoints Selvam as his Personal Assistant.
Anand happens to meet Nagapillai's niece Geetha and is instantly smitten with her beauty. Geetha notices that the house is in complete disarray due to the servants' lethargy; she rouses them spurs them into action. The house is restored to its former glory and an overwhelmed Anand employs Geetha as the caretaker of his bungalow. He confesses his love for Geetha to Selvam, who in turn relates to him the fate of his lover who is suffering from cancer and needs money for treatment. The soft-hearted Anand vows to support Selvam and provides regular financial assistance to treat the latter's lover. Meanwhile, Anand's constant drinking habit causes him to suffer from jaundice and the doctor warns him against consuming alcohol. Geetha stays with him day and night and helps him recuperate. She also successfully persuades him to give up drinking.
One day, Nagapillai announces that all the creditors are demanding their dues and there is no money left to repay them as Anand has squandered away all his wealth. He reaches out to his friends but none of them are willing to help him out. He now realises their true colours; understanding that the only way out is to sell his mansion and repay his debts, he consents to it. Mani invites Anand to his brother's wedding. At the event, Anand is shocked to see that the bride is none other than Selvam's lover. When he confronts her, she confesses that Selvam is an acquaintance from her past and she did him a favour by pretending to be his lover in order to trick Anand. Anand is devastated by Selvam's treachery, but the latter denies any wrongdoing and justifies his actions by hitting out at Anand's wasteful ways. After this incident, Anand loses all hope in humanity and almost breaks up with Geetha.
With the sale of his house underway, Anand and Nagapillai move to live in the slum. Nagapillai's sudden demise is the last straw for Anand, and he reverts to drinking. His current plight comes to Geetha's notice and she resolves to help him out of his misery. She secures a job for him as an
auto rickshaw
An auto rickshaw is a motorized version of the pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw. Most have three wheels and do not tilt. They are known by many other terms in various countries, including three-wheeler, Adaidaita Sahu, Keke-napep, Maruwa, auto, ...
driver; a re-energised Anand uses this opportunity to gain a fresh start in life. Anand witnesses Selvam's ex-lover's suicide attempt; he saves her and inquires the reason for her sorrow. She confides that she has been shunned by her family due to her role in Selvam's scam. However, Selvam is leading a wealthy life, ready to marry a rich man's daughter. Anand intervenes in Selvam's grand plans and a fight ensues between him and Selvam's goons. Anand finally manages to halt Selvam's wedding and publicly exposes his scam. The latter realises his folly and decides to marry his ex-lover. Anand goes back to his simple life with Geetha.
Cast
*
Kamal Haasan
Parthasarathy Srinivasan (born 7 November 1954), known professionally as Kamal Haasan, is an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Considered as one of the most accomplished actors of Indian Cinema, Haas ...
as Anand
*
Ambika as Geetha
*
V. K. Ramasamy as Nagapillai
*
Radha Ravi
Madras Rajagopalan Radhakrishnan Ravi mononymously called as Radha Ravi is an Indian actor and politician who played supporting roles throughout his career. He is the son of veteran actor M. R. Radha and the uncle of Vasu Vikram and half-brot ...
as Selvam
*
Janagaraj
Janagaraj is an Indian actor who has appeared in over 240 films predominantly in Tamil cinema as a comedian or in supporting roles. He also starred in few Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi films.
Early life
Janagaraj was born to Vadivelu and Muth ...
as Mani
*
Major Sundarrajan
Srinivasan Sundarrajan (17 March 1935 – 28 February 2003), popularly known as Major Sundarrajan, was an Indian actor and film director who performed predominantly in Tamil language films and plays. He was well known for his sophisticated ...
as Financier Karunakaran
*
Y. G. Mahendran as Jambu
*
Kovai Sarala
Kovai Sarala is an Indian actress and comedian, who plays supporting roles in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films. She has won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian three times, for her performances in '' Sathi Leelavathi ...
as Sarasu
Production
''Uyarndha Ullam'' is the 50th directorial venture by
S. P. Muthuraman.
Haasan's bungalow shown in the film was a set built inside AVM Studios on the coast of 2 lakhs.
Soundtrack
The music was composed by
Ilaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraaja (born R. Gnanathesikan) is an Indian musician, composer, arranger, conductor, orchestrator, multi-instrumentalist, lyricist and playback singer popular for his works in Indian cinema, predominately in Tamil cinema, Tamil in addition ...
. For the Telugu dubbed version titled ''Jalsa Bullodu'' the lyrics for all songs were written by
Rajasri. The song "Enge En Jeevane" is set in Pahadi raga.
Release and reception
''Uyarndha Ullam'' opened on 27 July 1985.
Jayamanmadhan (a duo) of ''
Kalki
Kalki (), also called Kalkin, is the prophesied tenth and final incarnation of the Hinduism, Hindu god Vishnu. According to Vaishnavism, Vaishnava cosmology, Kalki is destined to appear at the end of the Kali Yuga, the last of the four ages i ...
'' wrote Haasan tried his hand at comedy but felt Ambika was wasted. The duo praised Radha Ravi's character and auto chase in second half concluded it is as if the entire wedding meal is mixed together and thrown into the hand without any connection between tears and fistfights. The producers came together with the lead actor and director again in 1987's ''
Per Sollum Pillai''.
References
External links
*
{{Improve categories, date=February 2024
1980s Indian films
1980s Tamil-language films
1985 drama films
1985 films
AVM Productions films
Films directed by S. P. Muthuraman
Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja
Films with screenplays by Panchu Arunachalam
Indian drama films
Tamil-language Indian films