Padhinaru Vayadhiniley(1977)
16 Vayathinile is a 1977 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film co-written and directed by Bharathiraja in his directorial debut. The film stars Kamal Haasan, Sridevi, and Rajinikanth in lead roles, with Gandhimathi, Sathyajith, and Goundamani in supporting roles. Set in a rural Tamil village, the story follows 16-year-old Mayil as she navigates love, betrayal, and social ostracism after falling for a city veterinarian. The film was the first Tamil feature shot predominantly outdoors, breaking away from studio-bound traditions. It received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of village life, Ilaiyaraaja's music, and the performances of its lead cast. 16 Vayathinile won four Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, including Best Director for Bharathiraja and Best Actor for Kamal Haasan. It was released on 15 September 1977 and became a commercial success, running for over 175 days in theatres.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1977
- Director
- Bharathiraja
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 25m
- Rating
- 8.4/10
Storyline
A 16-year-old village schoolgirl named Mayil dreams of becoming a teacher and marrying an educated man. She falls for a charming city veterinarian, but he betrays her. When a violent thug spreads lies about her, her life falls apart. The only person who stands by her is a limping orphan she once ignored.
“Love can break you. Or save you.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Padhinaru Vayadhiniley
Cast reunions in this film: Goundamani & Ilayaraja (75 films together), Kamal Haasan & Ilayaraja (60 films together), Rajinikanth & Ilayaraja (58 films together), Ilayaraja & Sridevi (23 films together), Bharathiraja & Ilayaraja (21 films together), and Rajinikanth & Sridevi (16 films together).
Trivia
- This was the first Tamil film to be shot entirely outdoors in a real village, not in a studio.
- Director Bharathiraja discovered the lead actress, Sridevi, after seeing her photo in a magazine.
- The film's famous song 'Senthoora Poove' was shot over 17 nights because the crew only filmed after sunset.
- Actor Rajinikanth, who played the rowdy Parattai, was not a major star when this film was made.
- The movie was a huge hit and inspired remakes in several other Indian languages like Hindi and Telugu.
- The village setting was so realistic that many thought it was a documentary when they first saw it.
- This film is credited with starting a new style of realistic storytelling in Tamil cinema.