Mazhalai Pattalam
1980 Indian film
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mazhalai Pattalam (pronounced [maɻalaɪ paʈʈːaːɭam] transl. Army of Children) is a 1980 Indian Tamil-language children's film simultaneously filmed in Kannada as Makkala Sainya (ⓘ transl. Army of Children). The directorial debut of Lakshmi, it stars Vishnuvardhan and Sumithra.[1] The story is based on the 1968 American film Yours, Mine and Ours. Mazhalai Pattalam was released on 9 May 1980, and Makkala Sainya on 21 July that year. The film was remade in Telugu as Ramadandu.[citation needed]
D. Rajendra Babu (Kannada dialogues)
B. Doraiswamy
Sumithra
| Mazhalai Pattalam | |
|---|---|
Poster of Mazhalai Pattalam | |
| Directed by | Lakshmi |
| Written by | Visu (Tamil dialogues) D. Rajendra Babu (Kannada dialogues) |
| Produced by | P. R. Govindaraj B. Doraiswamy |
| Starring | Vishnuvardhan Sumithra |
| Cinematography | N. Balakrishnan R. Raghunatha Reddy |
| Edited by | N. R. Kittu |
| Music by | M. S. Viswanathan |
Production company | Kalaikoodam |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 130 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Languages | Tamil Kannada |
Plot
The film is a love story of the hero, taking care of his six children and the heroine, taking care of her now-orphaned sister's five children. The children, who are always at loggerheads, make their marriage an impossibility until they are forced to join forces.
Cast
- Vishnuvardhan as Shivaraman alias Gowri Manohari
- Sumithra as Uma
- Shivaram
- M. N. Lakshmi Devi (Kannada version)
- M. S. Sundari Bai as Kamakshi (Tamil version)
- Poornam Viswanathan as Shivaraman's boss
- Baby Poorani
- Baby Indira
Production
The film, announced in 1979,[2] is the directorial debut of Lakshmi,[3] who was supervised by K. Balachander. The story is based on the 1968 film Yours, Mine and Ours.[4][5] When Balachander approached Visu to write the screenplay and dialogues, he left his job at a travel company and agreed to write the screenplay while also taking care of post-production activities as per Balachander's request.[6]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The song "Gowri Manohari" is based on Gourimanohari raga.[7] The song was named after Gowri Manohari, a character from the film.[8]
All lyrics are written by Kannadasan.
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Enga Pillai" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, B. S. Sasirekha | |
| 2. | "Thallu Model Vandi" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and chorus | |
| 3. | "Gowri Manohari" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam | |
| 4. | "Gumthalakkadi Gumma" | Master Raj, T. K. Kala, L. R. Anjali, B. S. Sasirekha and S. P. Sailaja |
All lyrics are written by R. N. Jayagopal.
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Gowri Manohari" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam | |
| 2. | "Thallo Model" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and chorus | |
| 3. | "Mutthinantha" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and B. S. Sasirekha | |
| 4. | "Dhimma Thakka Dhimmi" | Master Raj, T. K. Kala, L. R. Anjali, S. P. Sailaja and B. S. Sasirekha |
Release and reception
Mazhalai Pattalam was released on 9 May 1980,[11] and Makkala Sainya on 21 July that year.[12] Kanthan of Kalki wrote that Lakshmi's direction in her debut did not speak; however her experienced maturity was evident.[13] The film opened to a poor response, but picked up by the eighth week and became a success.[14]