Sathan Sollai Thattathe

Sathan Sollai Thattathe (English: Do not disobey Satan) is a 1990 Indian Tamil fantasy film directed by Rama Narayanan, starring Senthil in the lead role with an ensemble supporting cast including Pandiyan, Chandrasekhar, Janagaraj, Kanaka, S. S. Chandran, K. K. Soundar, Kovai Sarala and Ilavarasan.^[1] The film is a comedy drama dealing with the exploits of a Genie (Bootham or Sathan in Tamil) and how he helps 3 innocent and poor men with their lives. The film was a major turning point in Senthil's career. It received positive reviews and has developed a cult following over the years.

Plot

Murthy (Pandiyan), Gopinath (Janagaraj) and Sekar (Chandrasekhar) are three friends who live together and share a close bond with each other. Even though they are highly qualified, they find it extremely difficult to get a job and spend most of their days in poverty. They do any small chores available to keep their daily lives rolling. K. K. Soundar, his wife and daughter Bhuvana are their neighbours. Bhuvana feels pity for the three friends and helps them whenever possible, by giving them 'kaka' food when they are hungry, and offering them butter and medicines when Gopinath burns his stomach after eating a bag of green chillies to win a bet to buy clothes for Sekar's interviews.

One day on his way home, Murthy enters an auction sale (while trying to hide from his money lenders). The auction sale is run by S. S. Chandran and Kovai Sarala who cheat people by portraying unused and old items as ancient and priceless artefacts. Due to a misunderstanding during the auction, Murthy is forced to buy a violin from S. S. Chandran. Even though Gopinath and Sekar are angry with Murthy for spending money on an unnecessary item, they forgive him later on. Murthy, Sekar and Gopinath happen to meet Chitra (Kanaka) in separate incidents, and each of them develop a liking for her. Chitra is the daughter of S. S. Chandran. Murthy tries to use his violin to impress Chitra, but fails miserably at his attempt. After a few days, while the three friends are walking in a remote place, Sekar in a bout of frustration breaks the violin. They are shocked to see a Genie (Senthil) come out of the violin. Though initially scared, they find the Genie extremely friendly and helpful and the four of them become good friends. They name the Genie as 'Sathaiya' as a respectful form of the term 'Sathan'. Sathaiya was Empreror Alauddin's 12th Genie, and was locked up in the violin after a magician cast a spell on him. He has remained in the violin for many centuries. Since the three friends rescued him from the violin, Sathaiya officially declares himself as their slave and helps them with magical powers. Sathaiya is visible only to them, and nobody else. He sings the hymn 'Ding Ding Digaana Dang Dang Dagaana' whenever he uses his powers to create things. Sathaiya, with his magical powers provides them with food, a new house and wealth. The three friends become extremely rich now.

Madan (Ilavarasan) is Kovai Sarala's brother, and wants to marry Chitra, but S. S. Chandran wants to offer his daughter's hand only to the person who gives him 1 million rupees as dowry. Madan is part of a smuggling gang, and uses his brother-in-law's auction business to move diamonds and other smuggled items. After he gives 1 million to his brother-in-law, his wedding with Chitra is arranged. Chitra, after being disappointed with the wedding arrangement to Madan, runs away from her home and hides in a bungalow. To her surprise, the bungalow happens to belong to Murthy, Sekar and Gopinath. The three of them agree to let Chitra stay in their bungalow. Slowly the three friends enter into arguments with each other and their friendship starts turning sour, as all three of them woo Chitra. After Sathaiya advises them not to fight and let Chitra choose whom she wants to marry, they agree. Chitra finally decides to marry Murthy.

One day, Sathaiya reveals to the three friends that his grandfather was also trapped in an old lamp many centuries ago, and requests the three friends to get such lamps from ancient artefact auctions. Murthy and Sekar go to S. S. Chandran's auction again and get fooled into buying a lamp from him. But unbeknownst to them, Madan had hidden some diamonds in that lamp for his smuggling trade, and is now frustrated that the lamp is gone. Sathaiya suggests to the three friends to use the diamond to impress S. S. Chandran, so that he will agree to offer Chitra's hand to Murthy. Upon finding that his wedding dreams are going to be shattered, Madan informs the police about the diamonds. After police confiscate the diamonds, Sathaiya converts them into sugar cubes, thus saving all of them from being imprisoned. S. S. Chandran now disappointed with the fake diamonds, berates the three friends and asks them to leave, and decides to get Chitra married to Madan. At home, while Sathaiya is making delicious Pal Payasam, Gopinath and Murthy get into an argument with him as Murthy's wedding is now stopped. Gopinath tells Sathaiya that they should've given the diamonds to the police on the very first day rather than use it for the wedding. After Gopinath and Murthy start hurling insults at Sathaiya, he becomes heart-broken and decides to leave them. He tells them that he will re-appear when they truly believe in him and think of him in their hearts again.

After a few days, the three friends read an article in the paper where someone offers his kidney and other organs for sale. When they visit the house of that person, they find that he is their old neighbour K. K. Soundar. K. K. Soundar has lost his job and is forced to take this extreme step to get Bhuvana married. The three friends promise to help him get his daughter married and solve all his problems. But Bhuvana reveals to them that a person called Ashok had betrayed her after making her pregnant and that Ashok is getting married to another girl soon. They find out that Ashok is none other than Madan. Madan's henchmen inform Madan that the three friends are coming to stop the wedding. Upon hearing this, Madan kidnaps Chitra after tying up S. S. Chandran. Now, the three friends desperately seek the help of Sathaiya to save Chitra and her family. Sathaiya appears and helps in chasing down the bad guys with his magical powers. He conjures up incredible state-of-the-art vehicles which function as a car and also transforms into a boat when needed. He drives the vehicles up buildings and rooftops, and finally they manage to chase down the criminals and overpower them. After Chitra and Murthy are re-united, the three friends request Sathaiya to stay with them, but Sathaiya tells them that he has to go, but will forever remain in good people's hearts and will help the kind-hearted whenever necessary.

Cast

• Senthil as Sathaiya/Sathan
• Pandiyan as Murthy
• Chandrasekhar as Sekar
• Janagaraj as Gopinath
• Kanaka as Chitra
• S. S. Chandran as Chitra's father / Auction businessman
• Kovai Sarala as Chitra's mother
• K. K. Soundar as Bhuvana's father
• Ilavarasan as Madan

References

External links