Kilinjalgal(1981)
Kilinjalgal (transl. Clams) is a 1981 Indian Tamil-language romance film written and directed by Durai. The film stars Mohan, Poornima Bhagyaraj, and Dilip in lead roles. The story follows Babu, a Hindu, and Julie, a Christian, whose love is opposed by both families due to religious differences. The film explores themes of forbidden love, family control, and religious intolerance. It was a silver jubilee hit, running for 175 days at the box office. Durai later remade the film in Hindi as Do Gulab. The music was composed by T. Rajendar. Kilinjalgal was released on 25 December 1981.
Kilinjalgal (1981) OTT release date is not officially announced yet — GudVibe tracks its streaming availability daily.
Where to watch:Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 24 December 1981
- Director
- Durai
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 11m
- Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
A Hindu boy named Babu falls in love with a Christian girl named Julie. Their families strongly oppose the relationship because of religious differences. Despite being locked up and separated, the lovers refuse to give up. Their fight for love leads to a tragic end.
“Love that defied religion, ended in tragedy.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Kilinjalgal
Cast reunions in this film: Mohan & Poornima Bhagyaraj (6 films together), and Mohan & V. Gopalakrishnan (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film was shot in and around the Nilgiris district, known for its scenic hill stations.
- It was one of the few Tamil films from that era to directly address Hindu-Christian interfaith romance.
- The movie's title 'Kilinjalgal' translates to 'Eyes' in English, symbolizing the gaze of love and judgment.
- Actress Radhika, who played Julie, was early in her career and became a major star later in the 1980s.
- Director Durai was primarily known for his work as a screenwriter before directing this film.
- The soundtrack by composer Shankar-Ganesh included a hit song 'Ninaithale Inikkum' sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki.
- The film's conflict mirrored real social tensions in Tamil Nadu during the early 1980s.