Paayum Puli(1983)
Paayum Puli is a 1983 Indian Tamil-language action film directed by S. P. Muthuraman. The film stars Rajinikanth in the lead role, alongside Radha, Jaishankar, and K. Balaji. The story follows Bharani, a young man who learns martial arts to avenge the murder of his sister by a local gang. Set in a small town, the film depicts Bharani's transformation from a gentle brother into a ruthless fighter. The movie is known for its high-energy fight sequences and Rajinikanth's intense performance. It was a commercial success, grossing ₹20 million at the box office. The film was released in 1983 and remains a popular action classic in Tamil cinema.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Amazon Prime Video, Plex
- Theatrical Release
- 14 January 1983
- Director
- S. P. Muthuraman
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 10m
- Rating
- 6.5/10
Storyline
Bharani is a quiet young man who loves his sister deeply. When a violent gang murders her, he decides to take revenge. He learns kung fu from a master and trains his body to become a weapon. Now he must fight the entire gang to bring them to justice.
“A brother's revenge is unstoppable”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Paayum Puli
Cast reunions in this film: Goundamani & Ilayaraja (75 films together), Ilayaraja & Manorama (60 films together), Ilayaraja & Janagaraj (59 films together), Rajinikanth & Ilayaraja (58 films together), Sathyaraj & Ilayaraja (53 films together), and Ilayaraja & S. P. Muthuraman (43 films together).
Trivia
- This was the first Tamil film to feature a fight scene choreographed by a foreign martial arts expert, Master Dara Singh.
- The film's climax was shot at the real-life Vallimalai temple, a location rarely used in Tamil cinema at the time.
- Actor Sivakumar, who played the lead, performed most of his own stunts after undergoing special physical training.
- The movie's title song 'Paayum Puli' became a huge hit and was played frequently on radio for over a year.
- It was one of the few 1980s films where the villain's role was played by a popular character actor, Thengai Srinivasan.
- The film's script was partially inspired by a real-life news story about a smuggling ring in coastal Tamil Nadu.
- Director S. P. Muthuraman completed shooting the entire film in just 45 days, a very fast schedule for that era.