Pistha(1997)
Pistha is a 1997 Indian Tamil-language comedy film directed by K.S. Ravikumar. The film stars Karthik as Manigandan and Nagma as Vennila, with Mouli, Manivannan, and Jayashree in supporting roles. The story follows a sincere hotel waiter who hides his criminal past and marries a spoiled heiress to help her inherit her grandfather's property. Set in Ooty, the film blends humor with family drama and features a soundtrack composed by S.A. Rajkumar. The film was a commercial success and was later remade in Kannada as Rusthum (2001). It received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dance Director for the choreography duo Lalitha-Mani. Pistha was released on 9 May 1997.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video
- Theatrical Release
- 9 May 1997
- Director
- K. S. Ravikumar
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 32m
- Rating
- 3.6/10
Storyline
A simple, honest waiter named Manigandan gets a job at a rich man's factory. He falls in love with the owner's spoiled daughter, Vennila. She marries him to inherit her grandfather's property. But on the wedding day, Manigandan reveals he is actually an ex-convict and a crook. Now Vennila must deal with her new husband's true nature.
“The crook who stole her heart”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Pistha
Cast reunions in this film: Mansoor Ali Khan & Manivannan (12 films together), Manivannan & Karthik (9 films together), Manivannan & S. A. Rajkumar (9 films together), Mansoor Ali Khan & K. S. Ravikumar (7 films together), Manivannan & Pyramid Natarajan (4 films together), and Manivannan & K. S. Ravikumar (3 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Pistha' is a Tamil slang word for a naive or gullible person, which reflects the character played by Karthik.
- This was one of the few films where actor Karthik and director K.S. Ravikumar collaborated, as Ravikumar usually worked more frequently with other leading stars.
- Actress Roja, who played Vennila, was a popular heroine in Telugu cinema and this film was part of her successful run in Tamil films during the mid-90s.
- The comedy track featuring Vadivelu and 'Charlie' Chaplin was noted for its timing and became a highlight for audiences.
- The film's soundtrack by Deva was a commercial success, with the song 'Kadhal Vanthu' remaining popular for its melody.
- A subplot involving the grandfather's will and property conditions was a common trope in 90s Tamil cinema used to drive the story.
- The movie's climax, set in a village, was shot in typical rural Tamil Nadu locations common for films of that era.