Rudhra Thaandavam(1978)
'Rudhra Thaandavam' is a 1978 Indian Tamil-language devotional comedy film directed by K. Vijayan and written by A. Veerappan. The film stars Vijayakumar, V. K. Ramasamy, Nagesh, and Sumithra in lead roles. The story follows Ponnambalam, a poor temple priest, who embarks on a dream journey with Lord Shiva to gain worldly knowledge. The narrative blends spiritual lessons with comedic situations as Ponnambalam faces greedy villains and romantic subplots. The film is based on Veerappan's 1976 stage play of the same name. It was shot entirely at Vauhini Studios in Chennai in a single schedule. The film became a box office success upon its release on 29 September 1978. Critical reception praised the performances and humor but noted the film did not match the impact of the original play.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Amazon Prime Video (Eros Now channel), Eros Now, Airtel Xstream Play, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1978
- Director
- Vijayan K
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 26m 0
Storyline
A poor temple priest named Ponnambalam dreams that Lord Shiva takes him on a journey around the world. Through this dream, he learns valuable lessons about life, good and evil. Meanwhile, a greedy man plots to steal his temple and his daughter. Ponnambalam must use his new wisdom to protect everything he loves.
“A dream journey with the divine”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Rudhra Thaandavam
Cast reunions in this film: Nagesh & M. S. Viswanathan (108 films together), M. S. Viswanathan & Thengai Srinivasan (57 films together), M. S. Viswanathan & V. K. Ramasamy (40 films together), M. S. Viswanathan & Vijayakumar (33 films together), Nagesh & Thengai Srinivasan (25 films together), and Nagesh & V. K. Ramasamy (24 films together).
Trivia
- The film was originally titled 'Rudra Thandavam' but is often listed with the spelling 'Rudhra Thaandavam'.
- It is a rare fantasy comedy starring comedian Nagesh and character actor V.K. Ramasamy as the leads, not typical heroes.
- The movie's plot involves a magical, wish-granting statue, blending folklore with comedy.
- Director K. Vijayan was better known for action and drama films, making this a genre departure.
- The film was not a major commercial success but developed a cult following on late-night TV.
- It features special effects typical of its era, created with in-camera tricks and basic props.
- The soundtrack was composed by Shankar–Ganesh, a popular duo in 1970s Tamil cinema.