B
Billa(1980)
Tamil175 mins
Billa (1980) is a 175-minute Tamil film directed by R Krishnamurthy. Starring R Krishnamurthy, G. R. Nathan and Major Sundarrajan. With an audience rating of 7.5/10, Billa stands as one of the notable Tamil releases of 1980.
Director:R Krishnamurthy
Mood:
darksuspensefulemotional
Where to watch:
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Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 26 January 1980
- Director
- R Krishnamurthy
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 55m
- GudVibe Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
A powerful criminal named Billa kills a former gang member who wanted to leave that life. The victim's fiancée and sister then swear to get revenge on Billa for his murder.
“He killed a man. Now two women want him dead.”
Film Details
7.5Rating
175Minutes
TamilLanguage
UCertificate
Release Date26 January 1980
Release Typetheatrical
Parental Guide
Violence
High
Language
Low
Sex / Nudity
Mild
Drugs
Mild
Intensity
High
Vibe & Tags
Mood
darksuspensefulemotional
Themes
revengecorruptionjusticefamily
Tonegritty
Pacingfast-paced
Complexitylight
Audiencemass
Best Withfriends
Violence4
Emotion4
Humor1
Rewatchability3
Reviews & Ratings
Your Rating
7.5/10Rating
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Cast & Crew
Photos Gallery
No Photos Found
Videos Gallery
No Videos Found
Trivia
- The film was a remake of the Hindi blockbuster 'Don' (1978), but with significant changes to suit Tamil audiences.
- This was the first Tamil film to be shot extensively in Singapore, giving it a unique international look.
- Actor Rajinikanth was not the first choice for the lead role; the producers initially considered another major star.
- The movie's climax scene was filmed at a real-life five-star hotel in Singapore, which was a rare practice at the time.
- A special fight sequence required a helicopter, which was a novel and expensive stunt for Tamil cinema in 1980.
- The film's success led to the name 'Billa' becoming a popular nickname for stylish, powerful characters in Tamil culture.
- Despite being a remake, the soundtrack by M.S. Viswanathan included original songs that became very popular.
Notable Collaborations
Frequent partnerships reunited in Billa
Music Composer-Rajappa's friend63 films →
Music Composer-JJ57 films →
Music Composer-Gokulnath54 films →
JJ-Gokulnath32 films →
Rajappa's friend-JJ29 films →
Rajappa's friend-Gokulnath29 films →
Actor-Composer22 films →
Actor-Composer20 films →
Music Composer-Ranjith20 films →
Actor-JJ18 films →
Actor-Rajappa's friend17 films →
Actor-Rajappa's friend17 films →
Actor-Gokulnath15 films →
Actor-Actor13 films →
Actor-Composer12 films →
Actor-Gokulnath10 films →
JJ-Ranjith9 films →
Gokulnath-Ranjith9 films →
Director-Composer8 films →






