Thanneer Thanneer(1981)
Thanneer Thanneer is a 1981 Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Balachander. The cast includes Gemini Ganesan, Saritha, and S. V. Subbaiah. The story follows a village in Tamil Nadu suffering from a severe water shortage. The villagers struggle daily to find clean water for drinking and farming. Their pleas to local government officials are ignored, revealing deep corruption in the system. The film is noted for its realistic portrayal of rural hardship and its sharp critique of bureaucratic indifference. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. The movie was produced by P. R. Govindarajan and J. Duraisamy under the banner Kalakendra Movies.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 26 October 1981
- Director
- K. Balachander
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 23m
- Rating
- 8.4/10
Storyline
A small village in Tamil Nadu is dying from lack of water. Ramasamy, a kind villager, tries to get help from the government. But the officials are corrupt and do nothing. As the crisis worsens, Ramasamy must unite his people to fight for their basic right to water.
“Every drop is a fight for life”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Thanneer Thanneer
Cast reunions in this film: K. Balachander & M. S. Viswanathan (27 films together), Saritha & M. S. Viswanathan (13 films together), Rajesh & M. S. Viswanathan (8 films together), Radha Ravi & Charle (8 films together), Saritha & K. Balachander (7 films together), and Saritha & Rajesh (6 films together).
Trivia
- The film was adapted from a play by Komal Swaminathan, who also wrote the script.
- It was shot in a real drought-affected village near Madurai to capture authentic conditions.
- Actor-director K. Balachander played a small but pivotal role as a government officer.
- The film's realistic portrayal led to it being screened for government officials to highlight rural issues.
- It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil in 1981.
- The title song 'Thanneer Thanneer' became an anthem for water conservation movements in Tamil Nadu.