Udhiri Pookkal(1979)
Udhiri Pookkal is a 1979 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by J. Mahendran. The cast includes Vijayan, Ashwini, Madhu Malini, and Charu Haasan. The story is set in a rural Tamil village and follows Raju, a wealthy landowner whose greed and cruelty poison the lives of those around him. The film is based on the short story Chitrannai. It was praised for its realistic portrayal of village life and human relationships. Udhiri Pookkal was a commercial success, running for 175 days in theatres. Mahendran won the Filmfare Award for Best Director for this film.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 19 October 1979
- Director
- J. Mahendran
- Language
- Tamil 0
Storyline
Raju is the richest man in a Tamil village. He uses his money and power to control everyone. When he desires a poor young woman named Kannamma, he destroys her relationship with Muthu. Kannamma and Muthu must fight against Raju's lies and cruelty to survive.
“Greed has a price.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Udhiri Pookkal
Cast reunions in this film: Ilayaraja & J. Mahendran (12 films together), Ilayaraja & Vijayan (8 films together), Ilayaraja & Ashwini (6 films together), and J. Mahendran & Ashwini (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film was based on a popular Tamil stage play of the same name, which was also written by J. Mahendran.
- Actor Sivakumar, who played the cruel landlord, was known for heroic roles, making this villainous part a major shift.
- The movie's realistic portrayal of rural oppression was considered bold and sparked much discussion upon release.
- It was one of the earliest films for actress Sujatha, who played the landlord's suffering wife.
- The title 'Uthiripookkal' translates to 'Scattered Flowers', symbolizing the broken lives in the story.
- Director J. Mahendran was also a noted writer and dialogue writer for many classic Tamil films.
- The film did not feature the typical song sequences common in Tamil cinema of that era, focusing only on drama.