Unarchigal(1976)
'Unarchigal' (transl. Feelings) is a 1976 Indian Tamil-language drama film co-written and directed by R. C. Sakthi in his directorial debut. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Srividya in lead roles, with V. Gopalakrishnan, Lalithasree, S. V. Ramadoss, and Major Sundarrajan in supporting roles. The story follows Selvam, an 18-year-old orphaned servant who faces repeated sexual harassment from his landlord's widowed sister and later from people he encounters after fleeing to Madras. The film was noted for its bold and mature handling of themes like sexual exploitation, loneliness, and societal hypocrisy. It was released on June 25, 1976, and received mixed to positive reviews for its honest storytelling and Kamal Haasan's performance.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1976
- Director
- R. C. Sakthi
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 1h 59m 0
Storyline
An innocent 18-year-old orphan named Selvam works as a servant in a village. He is sexually harassed by his landlord's widowed sister. When the landlord blames Selvam and throws him out, he flees to Madras. There, he faces more abuse until a wealthy call girl offers him shelter and friendship. But his own confused choices lead to a tragic end.
“Feelings that destroy a life.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Unarchigal
Cast reunions in this film: Kamal Haasan & Srividya (10 films together), Srividya & R. C. Sakthi (3 films together), and Kamal Haasan & R. C. Sakthi (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film was based on a novel by Tamil writer Jayakanthan, who was known for his socially conscious stories.
- Director R. C. Sakthi was also a noted playwright and often focused on themes of social injustice.
- The movie was part of a wave of 1970s Tamil films that critically examined the lives of marginalized people.
- It featured music by Shankar–Ganesh, a popular composer duo in Tamil cinema at the time.
- The film's realistic portrayal of prostitution and poverty was considered bold for its era.
- Actor Srikanth played the lead role, bringing a naturalistic style to the character of the poor man.