Rishimoolam(1980)
Rishimoolam is a 1980 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by S. P. Muthuraman and written by Mahendran. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan as a police officer with a hidden past and K. R. Vijaya as his principled wife. The story follows their marriage falling apart when she discovers he was once a petty thief. The narrative spans years as the couple separates, their son grows up, and the family struggles with forgiveness. The film is an adaptation of Mahendran's stage play of the same name. It was originally titled Dhisaigal Thirumbum before release. The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Kannadasan. Rishimoolam was released on 26 January 1980.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- ZEE5, Watcho, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1980
- Director
- S. P. Muthuraman
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 25m 0
Storyline
A respected police officer hides his criminal past from his wife. When she discovers the truth, she leaves him and takes their son. Years later, their grown son hates his mother. The father must find a way to reunite his broken family.
“Can love forgive a hidden past?”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Rishimoolam
Cast reunions in this film: Ilayaraja & Manorama (60 films together), Ilayaraja & S. P. Muthuraman (43 films together), K. R. Vijaya & Sivaji Ganesan (32 films together), Sivaji Ganesan & Manorama (32 films together), Ilayaraja & Sivaji Ganesan (24 films together), and K. R. Vijaya & Ilayaraja (20 films together).
Trivia
- This was the only film where S. P. Muthuraman directed the legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan in a full-length comedy role.
- The movie's title 'Rishi Moolam' translates to 'The Origin of a Sage', hinting at a character's moral transformation.
- Actress Vijaya, who played the principled wife, was a major star in Kannada cinema and rarely acted in Tamil films.
- The film was released during a period when family dramas about moral conflicts were very popular in Tamil cinema.
- Composer M. S. Viswanathan, who scored the music, was a frequent collaborator with director S. P. Muthuraman.
- The story revolves around the wife leaving her husband upon discovering his crime, a bold theme for its time.
- Despite the serious theme, the film included typical comedy tracks common in 1980s Tamil cinema to entertain audiences.