Udaya Geetham
| Udhaya Geetham | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | K. Rangaraj |
| Produced by | Kovai Thambi[1] |
| Screenplay by | K. Rangaraj |
| Story by | R. Selvaraj |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Cinematography | Dinesh Babu |
| Edited by | R. Bhaskaran |
Production company |
Motherland Pictures[2] |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Udhaya Geetham (also spelt as Udaya Geetham) is a 1985 Indian Tamil language film directed by K. Rangaraj. The film stars Mohan, Lakshmi and Revathi in the lead, while Goundamani and Senthil appear in the comic subplot. The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Udhaya Geetham tells the story of a successful stage singer who is in jail for a murder he did not commit, and a young girl who believes his story, and promises to free him from prison. The film was commercially successful upon release.
Plot
Arun, a prominent singer is in jail with a death sentence looming over his head. He meets Shanthi, a fan, during one of his concerts and is followed by her on many occasions into the jail and outside too. He shows nothing but animosity towards her behaviour, and keeps pushing her out of sight. But Shanthi is persistent and does not give up either. Maari, an inmate, attempts to escape from jail, but is stopped by Arun. Maari later tells Arun about his sick daughter, and his inability to pay for her operation. Arun sympathises with him, and promises to raise funds for the sick child through his next concert, which he also plans shall be his final one.
Leela Chowdhry, the newly appointed Superintendent of Police for the Madras Central Jail, is merciless. Shanthi, with her smartness, talks Leela into getting her married to Arun. Arun also agrees to it after a lot of thought and deliberation. Leela arranges for the wedding to take place in her home. During their first night, Shanthi stabs Arun's stomach and reveals herself as the sister of Anand, whom Arun was accused of killing. Arun and Anand sang and danced for a music troupe before Anand's murder. Arun claims he was wrongfully accused and arrested. Shanthi, realising her mistake, now starts to set things right.
Leela allows Shanthi and Arun to go to a nearby temple, but sends policemen along with them to prevent Arun from escaping. Shanthi outsmarts them and takes Arun to her home where she imprisons him, much to his dislike. She makes it impossible for him to escape, until she is able to prove his innocence. Leela is later punished for having let Arun "escape", and simultaneously realises that Arun is her long lost son, becoming heartbroken. However, she remains bound to her duty of capturing Arun, and a manhunt for him begins.
Shanthi later meets Shankar, the real killer of Anand. He admits to the murder, but states that did so because he witnessed Anand sleeping with his wife. Shanthi, knowing that Shankar's wife is unfaithful to her husband (it was she who seduced the reluctant Anand), takes him to her and Shankar is angered on seeing his wife with another man in bed. He kills her, but not before she mortally wounds him. Arun, having escaped from custody, is confronted by Leela who he realises is his mother. She allows him to perform his final concert which he had earlier planned to raise funds for Maari's sick daughter, but has to have him hanged to death him after that. Right after he finishes his concert he is arrested, but Shanthi and Shankar finally arrive and tell the truth about Anand's death, after which Shankar succumbs. Arun's death sentence is revoked, and he returns to his normal life.
Cast
- Mohan as Arun[1]
- Lakshmi as Leela Chowdhry[1]
- Revathi as Shanthi[1]
- Anand Babu as Anand
- Prathapachandran as Shankar
- J. Lalitha as Shankar's wife
- Shekhina Shawn as the sick child[3]
Soundtrack
The film's original soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja,[4] this being his 300th film.[5] The song "Thene Thenpaandi" is set in the carnatic raga known as Dheerasankarabharanam,[6] "Paadu Nilavae" is set in the Kusumadharini raga,[7] and the title song is set in Dhenuka.[8]
| Tracklist[9] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Sangeetha Megam" | Muthulingam | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 4:28 |
| 2. | "Paadu Nilavae" | Mu. Metha | S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki | 5:02 |
| 3. | "Ennodu Paattu Paadungal" | M. G. Vallabhan | S.P. Balasubrahmanyam | 5:58 |
| 4. | "Thene Thenpaandi" | Vaali | S.P. Balasubrahmanyam | 4:12 |
| 5. | "Uthaya Geetham" | Vairamuthu | S.P. Balasubrahmanyam | 4:49 |
| 6. | "Thene Thenpandi" (female) | Vaali | S. Janaki | 3:22 |
| 7. | "Maane Thene" | N. Kama Rajan | S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki | 4:19 |
Release and reception
Udaya Geetham was released on 13 April 1985.[10] The film was a commercial success, with a theatrical run of over 200 days in theatres.[11]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Balabharathi 2012, p. 299.
- ↑ Balabharathi 2012, pp. 298-299.
- ↑ Kumar, Divya (5 April 2012). "Vocal Score". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ↑ "Udhaya Geetham - Tamil Bollywood Vinyl LP". Bollywood Vinyl. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ↑ "இசைப்பயணம் தொடர்கிறது!" [Music Tour Continues!]. Dina Thanthi (in Tamil). 9 February 2018. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ↑ Sundararaman 2007, p. 161.
- ↑ Sundararaman 2007, p. 151.
- ↑ Sundararaman 2007, p. 163.
- ↑ "Udhaya Geetham (1985)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ↑ "உதயகீதம்". Vellitthirai.com (in Tamil). Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20091126003218/http://www.actormohan.com/achievements.html
Bibliography
- Balabharathi (2012). தமிழ் சினிமா 80 பாகம்-2 [Tamil Cinema 80 Part-2] (in Tamil). Chennai: Nakkheeran Publications. ISBN 978-93-81828-41-0.
- Sundararaman (2007) [2005]. Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music (2nd ed.). Pichhamal Chintamani.