Neeya(1979)
Neeya is a 1979 Indian Tamil-language horror thriller film directed by Durai. It stars Kamal Haasan, Sripriya, Jai Ganesh, Vijayakumar, Ravichandran, Srikanth, and M. N. Nambiar. The story follows Naga Rani, a shape-shifting snake woman who seeks revenge on six men she holds responsible for her lover's death. The film is a remake of the 1976 Hindi film Nagin. It was produced by Sripriya's mother after Sripriya admired a song from the original. Neeya was released on 13 January 1979 during the Pongal festival. It was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres and attaining cult status in Tamil cinema.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube, Airtel Xstream Play
- Theatrical Release
- 15 November 1979
- Director
- Durai
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 17m
- Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
A researcher named Kamal discovers two magical snakes that can become human. He brings his friends to see them. One friend kills the male snake, thinking it is a threat. Now the female snake woman wants revenge. She will hunt down all six men one by one.
“Revenge has a new face”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Neeya
Cast reunions in this film: Sripriya & Kamal Haasan (19 films together), Sripriya & Sankar Ganesh (16 films together), Sripriya & Vijayakumar (13 films together), Sankar Ganesh & Durai (13 films together), Manjula Vijayakumar & Vijayakumar (12 films together), and Ganesh & Sankar Ganesh (11 films together).
Trivia
- The film was inspired by a real-life incident where a snake was killed, leading to superstitions about revenge.
- Director Durai was known for horror films but this was his only movie featuring a shape-shifting serpent theme.
- The special effects for the serpent transformation were considered advanced for low-budget Tamil cinema in the 1970s.
- It was one of the early Tamil films to blend horror with thriller elements, predating similar supernatural thrillers.
- The movie's climax involving the serpent in human form was shot using basic makeup and camera tricks.
- Despite its horror plot, the film included typical Tamil commercial elements like songs and comedy scenes.
- It performed moderately at the box office but gained a cult following over the years for its unique premise.