Mazhalai Pattalam

Mazhalai Pattalam
Poster of Mazhalai Pattalam
Directed byLakshmi
Written byVisu (Tamil dialogues)
D. Rajendra Babu (Kannada dialogues)
Produced byP. R. Govindaraj
B. Doraiswamy
StarringVishnuvardhan
Sumithra
CinematographyN. Balakrishnan
R. Raghunatha Reddy
Edited byN. R. Kittu
Music byM. S. Viswanathan
Production
company
Kalaikoodam
Release dates
  • 9 May 1980 (1980-05-09) (Tamil)
  • 21 July 1980 (1980-07-21) (Kannada)
Running time
130 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguagesTamil
Kannada

Mazhalai Pattalam (pronounced [maɻalaɪ paʈʈːaːɭam] transl. Army of Children) is a 1980 Indian Tamil-language children's film simultaneously filmed in Kannada as Makkala Sainya (transl. Army of Children). The directorial debut of Lakshmi, it stars Vishnuvardhan and Sumithra.[1] The story is based on the 1968 film Yours, Mine and Ours. Mazhalai Pattalam was released on 9 May 1980, and Makkala Sainya on 21 July that year. The film was remade in Telugu as Ramadandu.[citation needed]

Plot

The film is a love story of the hero, taking care of his now-orphaned brother's children and the heroine, taking care of her now-orphaned sister's children. The children, who are always at loggerheads, make their marriage an impossibility until they are forced to join forces.

Cast

Production

The film, announced in 1979,[2] is the directorial debut of Lakshmi,[3] who was supervised by K. Balachander. The story is based on the 1968 film Yours, Mine and Ours.[4][5] When Balachander approached Visu to write the screenplay and dialogues, he left his job at a travel company and agreed to write the screenplay while also taking care of post-production activities as per Balachander's request.[6]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The song "Gowri Manohari" is based on Gourimanohari raga.[7] The song was named after Gowri Manohar, a character from the film.[8]

All lyrics are written by Kannadasan

Tamil[9]
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Enga Pillai"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and B. S. Sasirekha 
2."Thallu Model Vandi"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and chorus 
3."Gowri Manohari"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vani Jairam 
4."Gumthalakkadi Gumma"Master Raj, T. K. Kala, L. R. Anjali, B. S. Sasirekha and S. P. Sailaja 

All lyrics are written by R. N. Jayagopal

Kannada[10]
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Gowri Manohari"Vani Jairam 
2."Thallo Model"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and chorus 
3."Mutthinantha"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and B. S. Sasirekha 
4."Dhimma Thakka Dhimmi"Master Raj, T. K. Kala, L. R. Anjali, S. P. Sailaja and B. S. Sasirekha 

Release and reception

Mazhalai Pattalam was released on 9 May 1980,[11] and Makkala Sainya on 21 July that year.[12] Kanthan of Kalki wrote that Lakshmi's direction in her debut did not speak; however her experienced maturity was evident.[13] The film opened to a poor response, but picked up by the eighth week and became a success.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Ten children's movies in Kannada". Deccan Herald. 14 November 2017. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  2. ^ Piousji (1 July 1979). "Khaas Baat". Sunday. Vol. 7. p. 45. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ Raman, Mohan (3 January 2015). "KB: Kollywood's Discovery Channel". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  4. ^ "தமிழ் சினிமாவில் பெண் இயக்குநர்கள்!" [Female directors in Tamil cinema!]. Minnambalam (in Tamil). 14 December 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  5. ^ "மறக்க முடியுமா? மழலைப் பட்டாளம்" [Forgettable? Army of children]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 28 May 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  6. ^ "வசிஷ்டர் வாயால்..." Kalki (in Tamil). 21 December 1980. p. 64. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ^ Mani, Charulatha (25 October 2013). "Godly Gowrimanohari". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  8. ^ Vandhana (24 June 2017). "MSV & Kannadasan: The Geniuses Who Shared A Birthday And A Lasting Friendship". Silverscreen India. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Mazhalai Pattalam Tamil Film Ep Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Makkala Sainya Kannada Film EP Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Mazhalai Pattalam (1980)". Screen 4 Screen. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Makkala Sainya (ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಸೈನ್ಯ)". Chiloka. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  13. ^ காந்தன் (1 June 1980). "மழலைப் பட்டாளங்கள்" [Army of children]. Kalki (in Tamil). p. 58. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  14. ^ Piousji (29 June 1980). "Khaas Baat". Sunday. p. 47. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023 – via Internet Archive.