Moondram Pirai(1982)
Moondram Pirai is a 1982 Tamil romantic drama film written, directed, and filmed by Balu Mahendra. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in the lead roles, with Y. G. Mahendran, Silk Smitha, and Poornam Viswanathan in supporting roles. The story follows a school teacher who rescues a woman with retrograde amnesia from a brothel and protects her in his home in Ketti. The film explores themes of love, memory loss, and the pain of being forgotten. It was praised for its realistic storytelling, powerful performances, and stunning cinematography of the Ooty landscape. Moondram Pirai was a critical and commercial success, running for over a year in theatres. It won the National Film Award for Best Actor for Kamal Haasan and Best Cinematography for Balu Mahendra. The film was released on 19 February 1982.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 19 February 1982
- Director
- Balu Mahendra
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 23m
- Rating
- 7.2/10
Storyline
A young woman loses her memory after a car accident and is sold to a brothel. A lonely school teacher rescues her and takes her to his home in a hill station. As he helps her heal, they form a deep bond. But when her memory returns, she forgets him completely.
“A love story you will never forget.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Moondram Pirai
Cast reunions in this film: Kamal Haasan & Ilayaraja (60 films together), Ilayaraja & Silk Smitha (25 films together), Ilayaraja & Sridevi (23 films together), Ilayaraja & Ganthimathi (17 films together), Ilayaraja & Poornam Viswanathan (17 films together), and Balu Mahendra & Ilayaraja (15 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Moondram Pirai' translates to 'Third Crescent Moon', symbolizing a phase of hope and new beginnings.
- The Hindi remake 'Sadma' was released first, in 1983, before the original Tamil version was widely seen in North India.
- Director Balu Mahendra also served as the cinematographer, creating the film's distinctive visual mood.
- The iconic song 'Poongatru' was filmed in Ooty over just two days due to budget constraints.
- Kamal Haasan's childlike performance was partly inspired by his observations of his own young daughter.
- The film was a moderate box office success initially but later gained classic status through television reruns.
- Sridevi and Kamal Haasan did not share any dialogue in the film, as her character had lost her speech.