Paayum Puli (1983 film)

Paayum Puli
Theatrical release poster
Directed byS. P. Muthuraman
Written byPanchu Arunachalam
Produced byM. Kumaran
M. Saravanan
M. Balasubramanian
M. S. Guhan
StarringRajinikanth
Radha
CinematographyBabu
Edited byR. Vittal
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Release date
  • 14 January 1983 (1983-01-14)
Running time
130 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil
Box office₹20 million

Paayum Puli (transl. Pouncing Tiger) is a 1983 Indian Tamil-language martial arts film[1] directed by S. P. Muthuraman, written by Panchu Arunachalam and produced by AVM Productions. The film, inspired from the 1978 film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, stars Rajinikanth and Radha, alongside Jaishankar, Silk Smitha and R. N. Sudarshan, with K. Balaji making a cameo appearance. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, while cinematography and editing were handled by Babu and R. Vittal respectively. Paayum Puli was released on 14 January 1983, coinciding with Pongal, and became a commercial success.

Plot

Bharani, a meek person, joins a martial arts school and trains to become a martial artist, to exact revenge against Balram, a smuggler responsible for the death of his sister Sumathi.

Cast

Cameo appearances

Production

Director S. P. Muthuraman and writer Panchu Arunachalam, cashing on the popularity of Bruce Lee and his martial arts films, designed the story of Paayum Puli with Judo Rathnam being hired as the action choreographer.[3] and it was inspired by the 1978 film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin.[4] AVM Productions initially wanted A. C. Tirulokchandar to play the antagonist, but he declined the offer.[5] Karate Mani, a stuntman was later cast in the role, but he walked out and the role finally went to Jaishankar.[6][7] Filming took place primarily in a village near Andhra Pradesh.[8]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics were written by Vaali.[9][10] For the dubbed Telugu version Debbaku Debba, the lyrics were written by Rajasri.[11] The disco song "Aadi Maasam" was well received, and it was later remixed by Srikanth Deva in Thottupaar.[12]

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Appakada Annakili"Malaysia Vasudevan, P. Susheela3:20
2."Aadi Maasa Kaathadikka"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki5:34
3."Pothukkittu Oothuthadi"Malaysia Vasudevan, P. Susheela4:25
4."Vaa Vaa Maama"S. Janaki4:32
Total length:17:51
Telugu (dubbed) track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Joru Vana Kurishindhi"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja 
2."Ra Ra Mama"S. P. Sailaja 
3."Aata Paata"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja 
4."Ammayi Andalani"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja 

Release and reception

Paayum Puli was released on 14 January 1983, coinciding with Pongal.[13][14] Thiraignani of Kalki said the real pouncing tigers of the film were the hero and the technicians.[15] Paayum Puli was a commercial success, completed a 133-day run at theatres and grossed over ₹20 million (equivalent to ₹340 million or US$4.0 million in 2023).[16][17]

The makers wanted to release the film in Sri Lanka, but got into trouble as the title had "Puli" (Tiger), perceived as alluding to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. It was decided to release the film in the country with the title Irumbu Karangal (transl. Iron hands), but the film still did not release there.[18]

References

  1. ^ Barkan, Jonathan (28 June 2019). "DREAD X: SOMETHING ELSE's Arvind Harinath Picks 10 Intro To Indian Horror Films". Dread Central. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  2. ^ Saravanan 2013, p. 265.
  3. ^ Ramachandran 2014, p. 147.
  4. ^ Ghosh, Devarsi (29 May 2018). "Bruce Lee died in 1973, but Indian filmmakers refuse to let his memory fade". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 18 August 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  5. ^ சரவணன், ஏவி.எம். (26 June 2005). "பாக்யராஜின் மனைவி பட்ட கவலை!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 44–47. Retrieved 16 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ Saravanan 2013, pp. 263–264.
  7. ^ முத்துராமன், எஸ். பி. (20 April 2008). "சண்டைக்குப் போன ரஜினி!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). Retrieved 16 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ Siva, Bala (3 August 2023). "படப்பிடிப்பு ரத்தானதால் மொட்டை மாடியில் தங்கி, ஆற்றில் குளித்த ரஜினி.. அப்போவே அவ்வளவு எளிமை!". Tamil Minutes (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Paayum Puli (1983)". Music India Online. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Paayum Puli Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraaja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Debbaku Debba Telugu Film EP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraaja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  12. ^ "Script matters: Director Tarun Gopi". The New Indian Express. 9 December 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  13. ^ Saravanan 2013, p. 263.
  14. ^ "Baashha to Darbar: Here is a list of Rajinikanth's Pongal releases that turned super hits". Asianet News. 8 January 2020. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  15. ^ திரைஞானி (30 January 1983). "பாயும் புலி". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 63. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Here's why Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan owe their success to late Panchu Arunachalam". The Times of India. 11 August 2016. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  17. ^ Raghu, Sunita (4 May 2014). "The top 10 grossers so far". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 23 November 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  18. ^ Saravanan 2013, p. 266.

Bibliography