Neengal Kettavai
1984 film by Balu Mahendra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Neengal Kettavai (pronounced [n̪iːŋɡaɭ keːʈʈaʋaɪ] transl. What you asked for) is a 1984 Indian Tamil-language masala film[1] written and directed by Balu Mahendra. It stars Thiagarajan, Bhanu Chander, Archana and Silk Smitha in major roles, while Jaishankar had an extended cameo. The film was released on 28 June 1984 and was commercially successful.
| Neengal Kettavai | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Balu Mahendra |
| Story by | Akila Mahendra |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Balu Mahendra |
| Edited by | D. Vasu |
| Music by | Ilaiyaraaja |
Production company | Filmco |
Release date |
|
Running time | 132 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
A widow living in Ooty, leads a peaceful life with her two sons. Muthulingam, a tourist who visits the place rapes her. In the act, she dies leaving her two sons who witness the murder. The older son Ramu is raised by his maternal uncle while the younger brother Arun joins a blind music teacher as he has great interest in music. Years later, he becomes a great singer. Meanwhile, Ramu is trained effectively by his uncle learning martial arts with the intention of avenging the death of his mother as he very well remembers the culprit's face. With a turn of events leading to both sons joining and taking revenge for their mother's death forms the rest of the story.
Cast
- Thiagarajan as Arun
- Bhanu Chander as Ramu
- Archana as Radha
- Smitha as Arun's girlfriend
- Poornima Bhagyaraj as Ramu and Arun's mother
- Y. G. Mahendran as James
- Somayajulu as the music teacher
- Balan K. Nair as the stunt master's friend and uncle of Ramu and Arun
- Senthamarai as the stunt master and Radha's father
- Thengai Srinivasan as the director
- Jaishankar as Muthulingam
- Madhan Bob as the keyboardist in "Adiye Manam" sequence
Production
Archana made her Tamil cinema debut with the film.[2] The film, unlike Balu Mahendra's previous offbeat ventures, was an "outright commercial picture". He claimed that he made the film to prove his critics that he could make such films.[3] Hence he titled the film Neengal Kettavai (transl. What you asked for).[4] The film was launched at Prasad Studios. Prabhu and Radha were reported to be initial cast members.[5] The filming began at Mysore.[6] A few scenes were shot at the VGP Golden Beach.[2] The song "Oh Vasantha Raja" was shot at various locations including the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple.[7] It took nine days to finish filming the song.[8]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[9][10] The song "Kanavu Kaanum" is based on "Kasme Vaade" from the Hindi film Upkar (1967).[11][12] For the dubbed Telugu version Kodama Simhalu, the lyrics were written by L. Aathma Rao and Rajasri.[13] The song "Adiye Manam Nilluna" was later interpolated by Ilaiyaraaja's son Yuvan Shankar Raja for Daas (2005) as "Vaa Vaa".[14]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Adiye Manam Nilluna" | Gangai Amaran | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki | 5:14 |
| 2. | "Kanavu Kaanum" | Vairamuthu | K. J. Yesudas | 5:18 |
| 3. | "Naane Raja" | Na. Kamarasan | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki | 4:25 |
| 4. | "Oh Vasantha Raaja" | Pulamaipithan | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki | 4:23 |
| 5. | "Pillai Nila" (female) | Vairamuthu | S. Janaki | 4:20 |
| 6. | "Pillai Nila" (male) | Vairamuthu | K. J. Yesudas | 4:51 |
| Total length: | 28:31 | |||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Nene Raja" | L. Aathma Rao | Ravichandra | 3:53 |
| 2. | "Edhi Paapam Edhi Shaapam" | Rajasri | Ramakrishna | 4:25 |
| 3. | "Edhi Bomma Muddula Gumma" | L. Aathma Rao | Chinna, Padma | 4:58 |
| 4. | "Poochendulo Viruyu" | Rajasri | P. Susheela | 4:13 |
| 5. | "O Vasantha Raagam" | L. Aathma Rao | P. Susheela, Radha Mohan | 4:06 |
| 6. | "Poochendulo Viruyu" (Sad) | Rajasri | Ramakrishna | 4:39 |
| Total length: | 26:14 | |||
