Aalappirandhavan(1987)
Aalappirandhavan is a 1987 Indian Tamil-language action film written and directed by A. S. Prakasam. The film stars Sathyaraj in the lead role, with Ambika, Silk Smitha, Tinku, and Vinu Chakravarthy in supporting roles. The story follows Durai, a theatre artist who becomes a vigilante after a woman is raped and murdered. He systematically hunts down the killers, but his obsession blurs the line between performance and reality. The film was noted for its dark tone and Sathyaraj's intense performance. It was produced by M. K. M. Jawahar and Imayam Pragasam. The movie was released in theatres in 1987 and remains a cult classic among fans of 1980s Tamil cinema.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube, Eros Now, Amazon Prime Video
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1987
- Director
- A. S. Pragasam
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 16m
- Rating
- 6.8/10
Storyline
Durai is a theatre actor who cannot separate his roles from real life. When a young boy's mother is brutally raped and killed, Durai decides to take revenge. He hunts down each criminal one by one. But his quest for justice turns into a spiral of violence and madness.
“An actor who became a killer”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Aalappirandhavan
Cast reunions in this film: Sathyaraj & Ilayaraja (53 films together), Venniradai Moorthy & Ilayaraja (42 films together), Ilayaraja & Vinu Chakravarthy (34 films together), Ilayaraja & Ambika (32 films together), Ilayaraja & Silk Smitha (25 films together), and Ilayaraja & Senthamarai (23 films together).
Trivia
- The film's director A. S. Pragasam was primarily a successful film distributor before turning to direction.
- The movie is noted for its unique plot where the hero's psychological transformation is triggered by stage acting.
- Actor Ramarajan, known for his rural-centric roles, played a dual character in this urban crime drama.
- The soundtrack by composer Shankar–Ganesh included a hit song 'Poo Mazhai Thuli Thuli' sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.
- The film's narrative explores the theme of vigilante justice, a less common motif in Tamil cinema of the late 1980s.
- It was released during a period when Tamil cinema was experimenting with psychological thrillers alongside mainstream masala films.
- The title 'Aalappirandhavan' poetically translates to 'a man born for others', reflecting the protagonist's mission.