Thaayillamal Naan Illai(1979)
Thaayillamal Naan Illai is a 1979 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by R. Thyagarajan. It stars Kamal Haasan, Sridevi, Major Sundarrajan, and Jai Ganesh, with Rajinikanth and Nagesh in guest appearances. The story follows Raja, a talented performer from a poor background, who must choose between his mother and his love for a wealthy zamindar's daughter. The film explores themes of maternal devotion, class conflict, and personal sacrifice. It was a commercial success, running for over 200 days in theatres. The soundtrack was composed by Shankar–Ganesh. The film was released on 14 April 1979.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 1 May 1979
- Director
- R. Thyagarajan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 15m
- Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
A poor washerwoman's son, Raja, is a gifted singer and actor. He falls in love with Bhuvana, a rich zamindar's daughter. Her father agrees to the marriage only if Raja abandons his mother. Raja refuses, and the lovers must fight against a greedy villain to protect their family.
“A son's love for his mother”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Thaayillamal Naan Illai
Cast reunions in this film: Kamal Haasan & Ilayaraja (60 films together), Rajinikanth & Ilayaraja (58 films together), Ilayaraja & Thengai Srinivasan (50 films together), Nagesh & Major Sundarrajan (43 films together), Thengai Srinivasan & Major Sundarrajan (32 films together), and Nagesh & Thengai Srinivasan (25 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title is a famous line from a popular Tamil song by poet Subramania Bharati.
- This was one of the few films where actor Sivakumar played a character named Raja, a common hero name in his early career.
- Director R. Thyagarajan was also a successful producer and co-founded the famous film distribution company, Sujatha Cine Arts.
- The movie's conflict between love for a partner and duty to a parent reflected common family drama themes of 1970s Tamil cinema.
- Actress Sripriya, who played Bhuvana, was a leading star in both Tamil and Telugu films during this period.
- The film's music was composed by Shankar-Ganesh, a popular duo known for their work in many MGR and Sivaji Ganesan movies.