Sattam Oru Iruttarai(1981)
Sattam Oru Iruttarai is a 1981 Indian Tamil-language vigilante action film directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar from a story by his wife Shoba. The film stars Vijayakanth, Poornima Devi, and Vasumathi, with Sangili Murugan, Nithin, and Chowdry in supporting roles. The story follows Vijay, a man who seeks to kill three men who murdered his father and sister, while his sister Sheela, a police inspector, tries to stop him legally. The film borrows its title from a dialogue in the 1949 film Velaikari, meaning 'The Law is a Dark Room'. It was a major commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres and establishing Vijayakanth as a star. The film was released on 14 February 1981.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 23 November 1981
- Director
- S. A. Chandrasekhar
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 30m
- Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
Vijay's father and sister are murdered by three men who escape punishment using a clever alibi. Fifteen years later, Vijay decides to take revenge by killing them one by one. His sister Sheela, a police inspector, wants to stop him and punish the killers through the legal system. Brother and sister clash as Vijay executes his plan.
“The law is a dark room.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Sattam Oru Iruttarai
Cast reunions in this film: Vijayakanth & Sankar Ganesh (33 films together), Shankar & Sankar Ganesh (22 films together), S. A. Chandrasekhar & Vijayakanth (18 films together), S. A. Chandrasekhar & Sankar Ganesh (13 films together), Sankar Ganesh & Ambika (13 films together), and Vijayakanth & Ambika (8 films together).
Trivia
- This was the first film to pair director S. A. Chandrasekhar with actor Vijayakanth, starting a long collaboration.
- The film's title translates to 'Law is a Darkness', reflecting its theme of justice outside the system.
- It was a major commercial success, running for over 100 days in many theatres across Tamil Nadu.
- The story is noted for its revenge plot, a theme that became very popular in Tamil cinema of the early 1980s.
- Actress Sujatha played the female lead, marking one of her early prominent roles in a action-oriented film.
- The film's success helped establish Vijayakanth's image as an action hero and a champion of the common man.
- Director S. A. Chandrasekhar also wrote the screenplay, drawing from popular commercial cinema tropes of the era.