En Jeevan Paduthu(1988)
En Jeevan Paduthu (transl. My soul is singing) is a 1988 Indian Tamil-language romance film directed by R. Sundarrajan. The film stars Karthik and Saranya Ponvannan in lead roles, with Sudha Swarnalakshmi, Captain Raju, and Kapil Dev in supporting parts. The story follows Narmada, a lonely college student who becomes fascinated by the art of a deceased student named Surendran, and later encounters his ghost. The film blends romance with supernatural elements, exploring themes of love, betrayal, and sacrifice. It received mixed reviews upon release, with critics noting the humorous handling of the ghost concept. The music, composed by Ilaiyaraaja, remains popular. The film was released on 23 June 1988.
En Jeevan Paduthu is streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Airtel Xstream Play.
Where to watch:Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Amazon Prime Video, Airtel Xstream Play, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 23 June 1988
- Director
- Sundarrajan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 1h 50m 0
Storyline
A bored college student named Narmada discovers the paintings and books of Surendran, a talented student who committed suicide. She becomes obsessed with him and starts visiting his grave. When his ghost appears, she falls in love with him. But her father forces her to marry a rich businessman, and she must choose between a life she does not want and a love that exists beyond death.
“Love that death could not end.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for En Jeevan Paduthu
Cast reunions in this film: Ilayaraja & Manorama (60 films together), Karthik & Ilayaraja (45 films together), Ilayaraja & Jaishankar (34 films together), Manorama & Jaishankar (27 films together), Ilayaraja & Panchu Arunachalam (26 films together), and Chinni Jayanth & Ilayaraja (25 films together).
Trivia
- The film's director, Sundarrajan, was also a well-known actor who played supporting roles in many Tamil films.
- This movie was one of the early Tamil films to blend a romantic drama with a supernatural ghost story.
- The soundtrack, composed by Ilaiyaraaja, features a famous song 'Poo Maalai' sung by S. Janaki and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.
- Actress Radha, who played the lead, was at the peak of her career and known for her expressive performances in emotional roles.
- The film's plot involving a ghostly romance came before similar Hollywood-inspired concepts became more common in Tamil cinema.
- It was produced by Sujatha Cine Arts, a company associated with several successful films in the late 1980s.
- The movie's title translates to 'My Life Sings,' reflecting its themes of love and tragedy through art and music.