Gayathri (1977 film)

Gayathri
DVD cover
Directed byR. Pattabhiraman
Screenplay byPanchu Arunachalam
Based onGayathri
by Sujatha
Produced byVijaya–Meena
StarringJaishankar
Sridevi
Rajinikanth
CinematographyVinayagam
Edited byB. Kanthasamy
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Vijaya Meena Films
Release date
  • 7 October 1977 (1977-10-07)[1]
Running time
122 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Gayathri is a 1977 Indian Tamil-language crime thriller film directed by R. Pattabhiraman and written by Panchu Arunachalam. It stars Jaishankar, Sridevi and Rajinikanth. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Sujatha. It was released on 7 October 1977.

Plot

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Rajarathnam is a rich man who lives with his sister Sarasu and a young house maid in Madras. His sister arranges a marriage for him with Gayathri, a sixteen-year old who lives in Tiruchirappalli. Soon after they marry, Gayathri moves to Rajarathnam's house and realises that the family has dark secrets.

Rajarathnam is actually a blue-film producer – he secretly records himself and his new wife in their bedroom scenes without her knowledge, and sells the films on the black market. Gayathri initially gives Rajarathnam the benefit of the doubt, but later discovers that Rajarathnam is already married to another woman, who is now insane. Ganesh, a friend of the writer Chellappa, tries to free Gayathri from the hands of Rajarathnam, without avail.

Cast

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Production

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Gaayathri is based on Sujatha's novel of the same name,[5] and was conceived during the Emergency.[1] The screenplay was written by Panchu Arunachalam.[3]

Soundtrack

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The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics by Panchu Arunachalam.[6][7] Sujatha Mohan made her debut as a playback singer through this film.[8] The song "Kaalai Paniyil Aadum" is set to the raga Hamir Kalyani,[9] and "Vaazhve Mayama" is set to Dharmavati.[10][11]

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Kaalai Paniyil Aadum"Sujatha Mohan4:00
2."Vaazhve Mayama"B. S. Sasirekha3:57
3."Aattam Kondattam"P. Susheela4:06
4."Unnai Thaan"A. L. Raghavan, S. Janaki3:40
Total length:15:43

Reception

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Film World wrote, "But for the wrong portrayal by Jaishankar, the movie would have maintained its pre-interval tempo. Yet, Gayatri is certainly off beat, contributing to salvage the losing face of Tamil Cinema".[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Ramachandran 2014, p. 71.
  2. ^ a b c Ramachandran 2014, p. 70.
  3. ^ a b c ராம்ஜி, வி. (7 October 2020). "சுஜாதாவின் நாவல்; வில்லன் ரஜினி; பரிதாப ஸ்ரீதேவி; காப்பாற்றும் ஜெய்சங்கர்; பஞ்சு அருணாசலத்தின் 'காயத்ரி' - உயிரை உருக்கும் 'வாழ்வே மாயமா' பாடல்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Gayatri (1977)". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Rajni, the villain". Rediff.com. 21 May 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Kavithaikuyil-Gayathri-Kaatrinile Varum Geetham Tamil Film Audio Cassette". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Gayathri (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – EP". Apple Music. 31 December 1977. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Ten Interesting Facts About Sujatha Mohan, Judge Of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Keralam". ZEE5. 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  9. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 135.
  10. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 167.
  11. ^ ராமானுஜன், டாக்டர் ஆர். (21 September 2018). "ராகயாத்திரை 22: பொன்வானம் பன்னீர் தூவுது!". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  12. ^ Ramachandran, T. M., ed. (1978). "Suspenseful drama". Film World. pp. 9–10.

Bibliography

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