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Puthiya Vaarpugal
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Wikipedia article
'Puthiya Vaarpugal' is a 1979 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by Bharathiraja. The film stars K. Bhagyaraj and Rati Agnihotri (in her debut), with Goundamani and G. Srinivasan in supporting roles. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film also marked the debut of Bhagyaraj as a lead actor. The film was remade in Telugu as 'Kotha Jeevithalu' (1981).
Plot
Shanmugamani arrives in the village of Thaayamangalam as the new school teacher and soon falls in love with a local damsel Jothi. The village head, revered as "Periyavar", is a lecherous and sinister man who has a lustful eye on Jothi. Amavasai is Periyavar's stooge who also has a long-standing desire to marry Jothi. Periyavar frames Shanmugamani for the rape and murder of a woman social activist and gets him evicted from the village and gets Jothi married by deceit to Amavasai. He asks Amavasai and Jothi to stay with him in order to satiate his lust with Jothi. Jothi kills the village head before Amavasai and Shanmugamani can. Amavasai decides to hide it from the villagers. He feels guilty for cheating and marrying her, so he removes the mangalsutra he tied and asks her to live happily with Shanmugamani. The film ends with Shanmugamani and Jyothi leaving the village.
Cast
*K. Bhagyaraj as Shanmugamani (Vaathiyaar )(Voice-over by Gangai Amaran)
*Rati Agnihotri as Jothi (Voice over by Hemamalini)
*Goundamani as Amavasai
*Usha Rajendar as Social Activist
*G. Srinivasan as Landlord
*Janagaraj as Landlord's Son
*K. K. Soundar as Jothi's Father
*Manobala as Panchayat Member (Cameo)
*Master Haja Sheriff as Jothi's Brother Doraisamy
*Chandrasekhar as Mappilai
Production
'Puthiya Vaarpugal' was the debut film for Rati Agnihotri.
Soundtrack
The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics by Kannadasan, Gangai Amaran and Muthulingam. The song "Thamthananam Thana" is set in Shanmukhapriya raga.
Reception
'Ananda Vikatan' rated the film 59 out of 100.
Legacy
Bhagyaraj is the dialogue writer and hero of this film. He later used this fact in his own film 'Dhavani Kanavugal' where he cast his mentor Bharathiraja in a cameo role (film director) as himself who decides to cast an extra (Bhagyaraj) as hero and dialogue writer of his film after accidentally discovering his skills.
References
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