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Priyanka (1994 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Priyanka' is a 1994 Indian Tamil-language legal drama film produced and directed by Neelakanta in his debut. A remake of the 1993 Hindi film 'Damini', it stars Prabhu, Jayaram and Revathi. The film had musical score by Ilaiyaraaja and was released on 27 May 1994. For her performance, Revathi won numerous awards including the Filmfare Award for Best Actress Tamil.
Plot
Priyanka is a straightforward person and daughter of Krishnan, a postmaster. Her father looks for a groom for her elder sister and her. Later, her sister elopes with another man. Shekar, a rich businessman, falls in love with Priyanka at first sight. Shekar's father, Sriram, is business partners with Gokulnath and they make a decision: to arrange the marriage between Shekar and Gokulnath's daughter, Kamini. Shekar reveals his love to his family and they accept it. Then, Shekar marries Priyanka. Gokulnath feels betrayed and decides to take revenge on Shekar's family. Priyanka moves into his bungalow. One day, Priyanka and Shekhar witness, Shekhar's younger brother Vinoth and his friends, raping the young maid-servant Ganga.
Afterwards, Ganga, in a serious condition, files a complaint against Vinoth. Ravi, a police officer, compels Priyanka to become the principal witness. To save Vinoth from this odd affair, Shekar's family including Priyanka try to smother it. Thereafter, Priyanka decides to become the witness after seeing Ganga in hospital. Ravi is, in fact, Shekar's man and arrests Vinoth. Susila, Shekar's mother, orders Priyanka to leave the bungalow while Shekar is abroad. Priyanka decides to live with her sister.
The matter is taken up in court and Sriram appoints Rudrayya, a criminal lawyer who has never lost a case. In return, Shekar asks Priyanka to forget everything and to come back home but she refuses. At the court, Priyanka is portrayed as a mentally unstable person by Rudrayya, Shekar's family and surprisingly by her father Krishnan. Priyanka is subsequently sent to a mental hospital by a judicial order and Vinoth orders to kill her. Unable to bear the mental torture in the hospital, she escapes and runs into Arjun, an alcoholic lawyer. Arjun re-opens the rape case. Ganga dies in hospital with a suicide note written by Ravi, but Ganga was illiterate. What transpires later forms the crux of the story.
Cast
*Prabhu as Arjun
*Jayaram as Shekar
*Revathi as Priyanka
*Jaishankar as Sriram
*Nassar as Rudrayya
*Nizhalgal Ravi as Ravi
*Captain Raju as Gokulnath
*Venniradai Moorthy as Susila's brother
*Delhi Ganesh as Krishnan
*Manjula as Susila
*Sachu's Susila's sister-in-law
*Sudha as Priyanka's sister
Production
'Priyanka', a remake of the 1993 Hindi film 'Damini', is the directorial debut of Neelakanta.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Vaali, Pulamaipithan and Mu. Metha. The song "Durga Durga" is set in the Carnatic raga Revati, "Nyabagam Illaiyo" is set in Simhendramadhyamam, and "Vanakkuyile Kuyil" is set in Lalitha.
Release and reception
'Priyanka' was released on 27 May 1994. 'The Indian Express' praised Neelakanta's direction, saying that he "displays a lot of confidence in handling the script [..] and the essence of the film is not list" and also praised artistes for "giving very credible and satisfying performances". 'The Hindu' wrote, "The portrayal of [Prabhu] will be the talking point for some time to come". K. Vijiyin of 'New Straits Times' wrote, "'Priyanka' is saved by good performances by Revathi, [Jayaram], Prabhu and [Nassar] and the drama in the court scenes". T. K. Balaji wrote for 'Indolink', "Revathi carries off her role with [consummate] ease, as does Prabhu and [Nassar]. Its [Jayaram], who disappoints, as her husband, with a strong Mallu accent. A good screenplay, pleasing score by [Ilaiyaraaja], well scripted and directed by Neelakanta all make for [pleasant] viewing", and praised the absence of a comedy subplot and "over done melodrama". Independent critics Jaisankar and Sudhakar wrote, "'Priyanka' is a very serious, but, good movie."
Accolades
References
Bibliography
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