
Mullum Malarum(1978)
Tamil135 mins
Mullum Malarum (1978) is a 135-minute Tamil film directed by J. Mahendran. Starring Sarath Babu, Rajinikanth and Balu Mahendra. With an audience rating of 8.3/10, Mullum Malarum stands as one of the notable Tamil releases of 1978.
Director:J. Mahendran
Mood:
darkemotionalsuspenseful
Where to watch:
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Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 15 August 1978
- Director
- J. Mahendran
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 15m
- GudVibe Rating
- 8.3/10
Storyline
A young man named Kaali and his sister Valli are very close after being orphaned as kids. Their strong bond gets tested when Kaali repeatedly clashes with a new engineer who comes from the city.
“Brotherhood tested by a city outsider.”
Film Details
8.3Rating
135Minutes
TamilLanguage
UCertificate
Release Date15 August 1978
Release Typetheatrical
Parental Guide
Violence
Low
Language
Low
Sex / Nudity
Mild
Drugs
Mild
Intensity
Low
Vibe & Tags
Mood
darkemotionalsuspenseful
Themes
familyidentityrevengecorruption
Tonegritty
Pacingslow-burn
Complexitymoderate
Audiencemultiplex
Best Withwith-partner
Violence3
Emotion5
Humor1
Rewatchability4
Reviews & Ratings
Your Rating
8.3/10Rating
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Cast & Crew
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Trivia
- The film was based on a short story by writer Uma Chandran, which was first published in a Tamil magazine.
- This was the debut film for director J. Mahendran, who would later be known for his realistic filmmaking style.
- Actor Rajinikanth, who played Kaali, reportedly performed many of his own stunts, including the famous rope-climbing scene.
- The film's title, 'Mullum Malarum', translates to 'Thorn and Flower', symbolizing the contrasting elements in life and relationships.
- Composer Ilaiyaraaja's background score for the film is considered a landmark, with its use of folk and classical motifs.
- The character Valli was played by actress Shoba, who was noted for her natural performance in her first major Tamil role.
- The film's climax was shot in the hilly regions of Kodaikanal, with the crew facing challenging weather conditions during production.
Notable Collaborations
Frequent partnerships reunited in Mullum Malarum
Actor-Composer58 films →
Murugesa-Music Composer42 films →
Actor-Composer16 films →
Director of Photography-Music Composer15 films →
Director-Composer12 films →
Actor-Murugesa7 films →
Director-Actor5 films →
Director-Actor4 films →
Murugesa-Director3 films →
Actor-Actor2 films →
Murugesa-Actor2 films →
Murugesa-Actor2 films →
Director of Photography-Actor2 films →
Actor-Actor2 films →






