Pasi(1979)
'Pasi' (1979) is a Tamil-language drama film written and directed by Durai. It stars Shoba, Vijayan, and Delhi Ganesh in lead roles. The story follows a poor family living on the streets of Chennai, struggling with hunger and shame. The father, a rickshaw puller, drinks away his earnings. The eldest daughter falls into a tragic relationship that leads to her death. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil and Best Actress for Shoba. It also won two Filmfare Awards South and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film. 'Pasi' was screened at the Tashkent Film Festival in 1980. It was remade in Hindi as 'Pet Pyaar Aur Paap' in 1984. The film is known for its realistic portrayal of slum life and its lack of songs.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 21 December 1979
- Director
- Durai
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 18m
- Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
Kuppamma is a young girl living on the streets with her family. Her father drinks away their money. She picks rags to help feed her siblings. When a lorry driver shows her kindness, she falls for him. But her choices lead to tragedy and loss.
“Hunger is not just for food”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Pasi
Cast reunions in this film: Senthil & Delhi Ganesh (22 films together), Senthil & Sankar Ganesh (19 films together), Sankar Ganesh & Vijayan (13 films together), Sankar Ganesh & Durai (13 films together), Ganesh & Sankar Ganesh (11 films together), and Delhi Ganesh & Sankar Ganesh (8 films together).
Trivia
- The film was based on a real-life rickshaw puller named Muniyan, whose story was documented by director Durai.
- It was one of the earliest Tamil films to shoot extensively on the actual streets of Chennai, using real locations and bystanders.
- Actor Sivakumar, known for heroic roles, played the alcoholic protagonist, a rare and risky departure at the time.
- The movie's stark realism led to it being screened at international film festivals, including in Moscow.
- The title 'Pasi' means 'hunger' in Tamil, directly reflecting the family's central struggle.
- Despite critical praise, the film was a commercial failure upon its initial release.
- Director Durai was also a noted journalist and writer, which influenced the film's documentary-like style.