Polladhavan(1980)
'Polladhavan' is a 1980 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film directed by Muktha Srinivasan. It stars Rajinikanth, Lakshmi, and Sripriya in lead roles. The story follows a wealthy estate owner who holds his daughter's nanny captive after she witnesses him commit a murder. The film is a remake of the 1976 Kannada film 'Premada Kanike'. It was shot in CinemaScope at locations including Bangalore, Mysore Palace, and Shimla. The film was a commercial success and helped solidify Rajinikanth's reputation for playing vengeful characters. It was released on Diwali 1980.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Plex, YouTube, Airtel Xstream Play
- Theatrical Release
- 6 November 1980
- Director
- Mukta V. Srinivasan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 18m
- Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
A young woman named Seetha witnesses a murder on a train. She takes a job as a nanny at a remote estate. She discovers her employer Manohar is the killer. He threatens to harm her nephew if she tells anyone. Seetha must find a way to escape or expose the truth without endangering her family.
“The ruthless man has a broken heart.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Polladhavan
Cast reunions in this film: Lakshmi & M. S. Viswanathan (36 films together), Sripriya & M. S. Viswanathan (22 films together), Rajinikanth & M. S. Viswanathan (20 films together), M. S. Viswanathan & Suruli rajan (18 films together), M. S. Viswanathan & Mukta V. Srinivasan (17 films together), and Rajinikanth & Suruli rajan (15 films together).
Trivia
- This film was remade in Hindi as 'Dharm Adhikari' starring Dilip Kumar, which was a rare instance of a Tamil film being remade with such a major Bollywood star at the time.
- The movie's plot is loosely inspired by the 1974 American film 'The Girl Who Knew Too Much', adapting its thriller elements for a Tamil audience.
- Actress Sripriya, who played the lead role, was already an established star in Tamil and Telugu cinema, but this film showcased her in a more intense, dramatic role.
- Director Muktha Srinivasan was also a successful producer and co-founded the production company Muktha Films, which produced many classic Tamil films.
- The film's title 'Polladhavan' translates to 'The Dangerous Man', directly hinting at the mysterious and threatening nature of the boss character.
- Despite being a thriller, the film included several songs composed by Shankar–Ganesh, who were a popular music duo in Tamil cinema during that era.
- The movie was released during a period when Tamil cinema was experimenting with more urban, suspense-driven stories alongside the usual masala entertainers.