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Vallal
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| Vallal | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Raj Kapoor |
| Written by | Raj Kapoor |
| Produced by | Ramanathan |
| Starring | Sathyaraj Meena Sangita Roja |
| Cinematography | Ramji |
| Edited by | B. Lenin V. T. Vijayan |
| Music by | Deva |
Production company | Raaj Films International |
Release date |
|
Running time | 147 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Vallal (transl. Generous) is a 1997 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by Raj Kapoor. The film stars Sathyaraj, Meena, Sangita and Roja. It was released on 19 April 1997.[1] The film was remade in Telugu in 1998 as Raayudu.
Plot
[edit]Durairasu loves Madhavi but she doesn't reciprocate his love and marries her uncle. Once Virumandi and Madhavi's husband get into a fight. Unfortunately Madhavi & her husband passes away. So Durairasu does not marry anyone & devotes his life for Madhavi's daughter Chella kili. Because of this issue there was a break in the family, Thulasi who is Virumandi's wife and Durairasu's Sister and he were separated. This made Virumandi very angry so he always wants to avenge. Durairasu save a girl Annam from the sea, who doesn't want to divulge her past. As time passes, Annam gets closer into the family and Kamakshi Durairasu's mother asks Durairasu to marry Annam. And this creates a problem for Chella kili as she loses Durairasu's attention, she comes out of her family and stays in Virumandi's house. Later Thulasi explains the whole story to her and lets her go to her father. In the end Annam, Durairasu, Chella kili, Kamakshi, Chithapu live together happily.
Cast
[edit]- Sathyaraj as Durairasu
- Meena as Annam
- Roja as Madhavi (Extended Cameo)
- Sangita as Chella Kili
- Manorama as Kamakshi
- Goundamani as Thangarasu
- Senthil as Azhagan
- Lakshmi as Thulasi
- Manivannan as Virumandi
- M N Nambiar as Dharmarasu (Guest Appearance)
- Ponnambalam as Ponnambalam
- Sanjay Bhargav as Maruthu
- Sabitha Anand as Selvi (Guest Appearance)
- Nizhalgal Ravi as Kalingarayan (Guest Appearance)
Production
[edit]Shobana Vignesh was initially selected to play a role in the film alongside fellow actresses Meena and Roja. The first promotional campaign however featured Sangita's name instead of Shobana, prompting Meena to attempt to leave the project, citing potential reduced prominence owing to a third lead actress. The director Raj Kapoor subsequently asked her to stay on, assuring importance. After the film's release, Meena criticised Kapoor for his false assurances.[2] The film marked the debut of cinematographer Ramji who earlier assisted P. C. Sreeram.[3]
Soundtrack
[edit]Soundtrack was composed by Deva and lyrics were written by Vaali.[4]
| Song | Singers | Length |
|---|---|---|
| "Aagayam Rendaaga" | Chorus | 00:30 |
| "Aasai Vecha" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 04:56 |
| "Kadharu Sattaiya" | K. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 04:47 |
| "Kiliye Pachakiliye" | Mano | 00:41 |
| "Kulebagavali" | Pushpavanam Kuppusamy, Anuradha Sriram | 05:19 |
| "Poove Poove" | Mano | 00:44 |
| "Puliyampatti" | Manorama | 01:38 |
| "Samba Samba" | Deva, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Anuradha Sriram | 05:13 |
| "Thala Thalakira" | Mano, Harini | 04:21 |
| "Thoppul Enna" | Mano, Anuradha Sriram | 05:03 |
| "Vethala Vethala" | Febi Mani | 01:12 |
| "Yetti Uthachathamma" | Nagore E. M. Hanifa | 03:29 |
Release and reception
[edit]When the film was struggling with its release, it was Vijayakanth who helped the film in getting its release.[5] R. P. R. of Kalki praised the performance of Sangeetha who equally performed with Sathyaraj while also praising Deva's music and Meena's performance but felt the film's lengthy first half could have been reduced to avoid lagging.[6] K. N. Vijiyan of New Straits Times wrote, "Though the story may be nothing new, in Raj Kapoor's hands, the movie proves praiseworthy".[7] The film did well at the box-office.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Vallal (1997)". Screen 4 Screen. Archived from the original on 6 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "I want to be like Sridevi". Screen. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Shotcuts: Behind the scenes". The Hindu. 10 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Vallal Tamil film audio cassette by Deva". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "சத்யராஜ் படம் வெளிவர விஜயகாந்த் உதவி!" [Vijayakanth helped a Sathyaraj film's release!]. Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 12 August 2013. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ ஆர். பி. ஆர். (4 May 1997). "வள்ளல்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 80. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Vijiyan, K. N. (3 May 1997). "Praiseworthy effort from Raj Kapoor". New Straits Times. pp. Arts 4. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "A-Z Continued..." Indolink. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
External links
[edit]- Vallal at IMDb
- Vallal at Rotten Tomatoes
Vallal
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background and development
Development
Raj Kapoor, known for his work in Tamil cinema, wrote the screenplay and took on directing duties for Vallal, envisioning it as a family-oriented drama. The project was announced in 1996 and entered pre-production under the production banner of Raaj Films International, led by producer Ramanathan. The film focused on themes of sacrifice and family loyalty, drawing from contemporary social dynamics in Tamil society. The script evolved through initial drafts emphasizing emotional depth in character relationships. Initial casting deliberations included considerations for supporting roles to complement the leads, Sathyaraj and Meena. Shobana Vignesh was initially selected for the role of the daughter but was replaced by Sangita, which raised concerns for Meena about her character's prominence; Kapoor persuaded her to remain committed to the project.[5]Casting
Sathyaraj was cast in the lead role of Durairasu, the protagonist depicted as a generous landlord whose character embodies themes of benevolence and resilience.[6] At the time of the film's production in 1997, Sathyaraj was a prominent figure in Tamil cinema, having transitioned from villainous roles to heroic leads in social dramas and action films, with notable successes like Amman that year showcasing his versatility.[7] Meena was selected as Annam, Durairasu's love interest, bringing her established reputation as a leading actress known for emotive performances in family-oriented narratives.[6] Sangita portrayed Chella Kili, a key female character, while Roja Selvamani took on the supporting role of Madhavi, adding depth to the ensemble with her experience in dramatic roles.[6] The supporting cast featured Nizhalgal Ravi as Kalingarayan in a guest appearance, where he contributed to interpersonal conflicts central to the story's dynamics.[8] M. N. Nambiar appeared as Dharmarasu, the protagonist's father, in a guest role that highlighted his signature authoritative presence, often seen in advisory or antagonistic capacities in Tamil films.[9] Other key supporting actors included Manorama as Kamakshi, Goundamani as Thangarasu, Senthil as a comedic foil, Manivannan as Virumandi, and Lakshmi as Thulasi, all renowned character artists who enhanced the film's rural and familial elements.[10] Overall, Vallal assembled a cast of approximately 12 prominent actors, reflecting the era's reliance on seasoned Tamil cinema talents to drive audience engagement through familiar faces and nuanced portrayals.[10]Production
Filming
Principal photography for Vallal utilized 35mm film stock processed at Gemini Laboratories.[11] The cinematography was handled by Ramji in his feature film debut, following his tenure as an assistant to P. C. Sreeram.[12]Post-production
The post-production of Vallal was handled by editors B. Lenin and V. T. Vijayan, who assembled the footage into a cohesive narrative focusing on the film's dramatic elements.[13] The process resulted in a final runtime of 145 minutes.[1] The film was certified U (Universal) by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 1997, indicating suitability for all audiences without any reported mandatory cuts.[13] Sound design incorporated the background score composed by Deva, with dubbing completed in Tamil to enhance dialogue clarity for emotional and action sequences.Soundtrack
Composition
The soundtrack of Vallal was composed by Deva, a prominent Tamil film music director known for his gaana-infused melodies and folk elements that align well with rural drama narratives.[14] Deva's compositional style drew from semi-classical elements, tweaked with energetic rhythms to capture the emotional resonance of the story's themes of love and sacrifice.[14] The album consists of six principal songs, featuring an array of playback singers including S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra on the duet "Katharu Chattai," alongside Mano and Anuradha Sriram in "Thoppul Enna," Mano and Harini in "Thala Thalkkira," and others like Nagoor Haniffa and Manorama in additional tracks.[15] The lyrics were written by Vaali, emphasizing rustic and heartfelt expressions that complemented Deva's melodic structures.[15] Deva's use of folk rhythms and accessible harmonies underscored the film's cultural setting, blending traditional Tamil musical motifs with contemporary appeal.[14]Track listing
The soundtrack for Vallal was released in early 1997 by Pyramid Audio in both cassette and CD formats, featuring 12 tracks composed by Deva with lyrics penned by Vaali throughout.[16] The album includes melodic songs alongside shorter interludes and comedic segments that underscore the film's lighthearted moments.| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aagayam Rendaaga | Chorus | 0:29 | Opening theme interlude setting a dramatic tone. |
| 2 | Aasa Vecha Annakkiliye | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 4:55 | Upbeat solo number expressing youthful longing. |
| 3 | Kadharu Sattaiya | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra | 4:46 | Romantic duet highlighting emotional connection between characters. |
| 4 | Kiliye Pachakiliye | Mano | 0:39 | Brief melodic snippet evoking playful romance. |
| 5 | Kuleybagavali | Pushpavanam Kuppusamy, Anuradha Sriram | 5:18 | Folk-inspired duet celebrating rural festivities. |
| 6 | Poovae Poovae | Mano | 0:42 | Short romantic interlude with poetic flair. |
| 7 | Pulliyampatti | Manorama | 1:37 | Humorous track featuring comedic dialogue. |
| 8 | Samba Samba | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Anuradha Sriram | 5:13 | Energetic duet driving a celebratory sequence. |
| 9 | Thala Thalakira Sreedevi | Mano, Harini, Chorus | 4:19 | Lively group number emphasizing joyful interactions. |
| 10 | Thoppul Enna | Mano, Anuradha Sriram | 5:02 | Catchy duet underscoring flirtatious banter. |
| 11 | Vethala Vethala | Febi Mani | 1:12 | Whimsical interlude adding quirky humor. |
| 12 | Yetti Uthachathamma | Nagoor Haniffa | 3:28 | Comedic folk track with rhythmic storytelling. |