Thillu Mullu
Encyclopedia
Thillu Mullu is a 1981 Tamil
movie starring Rajinikanth, Madhavi
, 'Thengai' Srinivasan
, Nagesh
, Sowkar Janaki and music composed by M. S. Viswanathan
. The film is directed by noted filmmaker, K. Balachander
.The film is actually a remake of the Hindi Blockbuster comedy film Gol Maal
released in 1979. The film became a blockbuster upon release and is in the top 10 Tamil movies made of all time.
During the job interview, Chandran followed his uncle's advice perfectly and gets the job along with a beaming smile from his boss. However Chandran eventually got caught ,when Sri Ramachandramurthy watches him at a football match, which he attends with his friends. Whereas he actually took leave on that day by telling his boss that his mother (who died many years ago) was in a serious medical condition. To escape from the ire of his boss and being fired he makes his boss believe that it was his (fake) twin brother Indran (without a moustache) who was at the match and not himself.This idea was inspired by a dual-role played by his actor friend Nagesh (played by Nagesh himself) in a fictional movie where he is in two roles :- one with a moustache and one without. Sri Ramachandramurthy (although not convinced but feeling guilty due to suspecting his top employee) wants to see Chandran's brother Indran as well as his mother,and wanted Indran to teach music to his daughter Sarojini (Madhavi).
Chandran was startled at the request but agreed to it anyway.He seeks his friend Nagesh for help. Nagesh advises Chandran to remove his moustache and go ahead acting as Indran. Chandran was reluctant to remove his moustache but goes ahead with it as there is no other way to continue the drama. The now moustache less Indran was the anti-thesis of the Chandran as seen by Sri Ramachandramurthy. Indran takes music classes for Sri Ramachandramurthy's daughter Sarojini and the two fall in love.
For most of the remaining part of the movie Chandran was leading a dual life: a sincere hardworking employee to his boss, and a typical cool youngster(Indran) while teaching music to his boss' daughter. The story takes an unexpected turn when Sri Ramachandramurthy meets socialite Meenakshi Doriasamy (Sowkar Janaki) who was then pretending to be Chandran's widowed mother.A series of rib-tickling and logic defying scenarios follow, all involving Sri Ramachandramurthy being fooled by Chandran. One scene leads to another and eventually Sri Ramachandramurthy wants to marry off his daughter to Chandran(she knows the truth about the fake Indran by then).
But in the pre-climax Sri Ramachandramurthy finds out that he was fooled (although the extent of his knowledge was no way near to what actually happened prior to that scene) and in a fit of rage chases Chandran across Madras to kill him. Due to his rash driving, it appears as if he might have crippled Chandran's sister during the hilarious chase scene.
In the climax actor Kamal Hassan makes a cameo appearance as a fake lawyer who wants to sue Sri Ramachandramurthy on Chandran's behalf.Sri Ramachandramurthy was , for the most part , scared during the lawyer's monologue but in the end realized that he was being fooled again , this time by the lawyer. At this point all the main characters in the story approach Sri Ramachandramurthy and begin to narrate to him the truth(for example Chandran's sister was not actually crippled). Disillusioned by all this , a visibly confused and shaken Sri Ramachandramurthy locks himself in a room, only to come out clean shaven after a few minutes, feeling that he doesnt need something which was only a couple of inches long but which caused so much trouble.
When lamenting to his God Murugan about his foolishness, the picture of lord Murugan changes into that of the elephant God Vinayagar; and a voice from heaven (Lord Vinayaga's) apologizes to Sri Ramachandramurthy as he was also one of the people involved in fooling him for so long!
, this film was also very well received during its theatrical run and has since become a classic film in Tamil cinema
.
Kollywood
Kollywood is a word referring two different movie industries in India and Nepal, derived from the word Hollywood and their local movie centers.* Tamil cinema, the Tamil language film industry based on Kodambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu,...
movie starring Rajinikanth, Madhavi
Madhavi (actress)
Madhavi is a South Indian film actress. She played lead roles for 17 years in seven languages: Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Bengali, and Hindi. She has acted in more than 300 films.-Early life:...
, 'Thengai' Srinivasan
Thengai Srinivasan
Thengai Srinivasan was a Tamil film comedian popular in the 1970s and 1980s. He has been given the title Thengai after he acted as a coconut-seller in the drama Kal Manam, staged by actor K. Kannan. Though basically a comedian, he proved himself an all-rounder by excelling in roles other than...
, Nagesh
Nagesh
Nagesh , was a Tamil film actor, mostly remembered for his roles as a comedian during the 1960s. He is regarded as one of the most prolific comedians in Tamil cinema....
, Sowkar Janaki and music composed by M. S. Viswanathan
M. S. Viswanathan
Manayangath Subramanian Viswanathan , is a Tamil music director. He is popularly known as "Mellisai Mannar" . His major works over the past five decades have been in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films...
. The film is directed by noted filmmaker, K. Balachander
K. Balachander
K. Balachander is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. Balachander is known for his distinct film-making style. His films analyse unusual or complicated interpersonal relationships and social themes. He has directed nearly 80 films and has worked in 100 films either as director or...
.The film is actually a remake of the Hindi Blockbuster comedy film Gol Maal
Gol Maal
Gol Maal is a 1979 Bollywood comedy movie directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. The film was produced by Mukherjee and N.C.Sippy with music by Rahul Dev Burman...
released in 1979. The film became a blockbuster upon release and is in the top 10 Tamil movies made of all time.
Plot
Aiyampettai Arivudainambi Kaliyaperumal Chandran (for short, A.A.K.Chandran) (Rajinikanth) is a playful youngster. Upon completion of his degree, his uncle (Poornam Viswanathan) advises him to attend an interview for a job at his friend Sri Ramachandramurthy's (Thengai Srinivasan) company . The doctor advises Chandran to act in a manner most appreciated by Sri Ramachandramurthy namely wearing a Nehru kurta ,telling his full name always, giving importance to his moustache,showing a lack of interest in sports and drama,giving respect to his father's words (i.e. by repeating the phrase "My Father always told me" often) and detesting the concept of recommendations.During the job interview, Chandran followed his uncle's advice perfectly and gets the job along with a beaming smile from his boss. However Chandran eventually got caught ,when Sri Ramachandramurthy watches him at a football match, which he attends with his friends. Whereas he actually took leave on that day by telling his boss that his mother (who died many years ago) was in a serious medical condition. To escape from the ire of his boss and being fired he makes his boss believe that it was his (fake) twin brother Indran (without a moustache) who was at the match and not himself.This idea was inspired by a dual-role played by his actor friend Nagesh (played by Nagesh himself) in a fictional movie where he is in two roles :- one with a moustache and one without. Sri Ramachandramurthy (although not convinced but feeling guilty due to suspecting his top employee) wants to see Chandran's brother Indran as well as his mother,and wanted Indran to teach music to his daughter Sarojini (Madhavi).
Chandran was startled at the request but agreed to it anyway.He seeks his friend Nagesh for help. Nagesh advises Chandran to remove his moustache and go ahead acting as Indran. Chandran was reluctant to remove his moustache but goes ahead with it as there is no other way to continue the drama. The now moustache less Indran was the anti-thesis of the Chandran as seen by Sri Ramachandramurthy. Indran takes music classes for Sri Ramachandramurthy's daughter Sarojini and the two fall in love.
For most of the remaining part of the movie Chandran was leading a dual life: a sincere hardworking employee to his boss, and a typical cool youngster(Indran) while teaching music to his boss' daughter. The story takes an unexpected turn when Sri Ramachandramurthy meets socialite Meenakshi Doriasamy (Sowkar Janaki) who was then pretending to be Chandran's widowed mother.A series of rib-tickling and logic defying scenarios follow, all involving Sri Ramachandramurthy being fooled by Chandran. One scene leads to another and eventually Sri Ramachandramurthy wants to marry off his daughter to Chandran(she knows the truth about the fake Indran by then).
But in the pre-climax Sri Ramachandramurthy finds out that he was fooled (although the extent of his knowledge was no way near to what actually happened prior to that scene) and in a fit of rage chases Chandran across Madras to kill him. Due to his rash driving, it appears as if he might have crippled Chandran's sister during the hilarious chase scene.
In the climax actor Kamal Hassan makes a cameo appearance as a fake lawyer who wants to sue Sri Ramachandramurthy on Chandran's behalf.Sri Ramachandramurthy was , for the most part , scared during the lawyer's monologue but in the end realized that he was being fooled again , this time by the lawyer. At this point all the main characters in the story approach Sri Ramachandramurthy and begin to narrate to him the truth(for example Chandran's sister was not actually crippled). Disillusioned by all this , a visibly confused and shaken Sri Ramachandramurthy locks himself in a room, only to come out clean shaven after a few minutes, feeling that he doesnt need something which was only a couple of inches long but which caused so much trouble.
When lamenting to his God Murugan about his foolishness, the picture of lord Murugan changes into that of the elephant God Vinayagar; and a voice from heaven (Lord Vinayaga's) apologizes to Sri Ramachandramurthy as he was also one of the people involved in fooling him for so long!
Cast
- RajnikanthRajnikanthRajinikanth is an Indian film actor, media personality, and cultural icon. He made his debut as an actor in the National Film Award-winning motion picture Apoorva Raagangal , directed by K. Balachander, whom the actor considers his mentor....
as Ayyampettai Arivudainambi Kaliyapperumal(AAK) Chandran / Indiran - MadhaviMadhavi (actress)Madhavi is a South Indian film actress. She played lead roles for 17 years in seven languages: Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Bengali, and Hindi. She has acted in more than 300 films.-Early life:...
as Sarojini - Thengai SrinivasanThengai SrinivasanThengai Srinivasan was a Tamil film comedian popular in the 1970s and 1980s. He has been given the title Thengai after he acted as a coconut-seller in the drama Kal Manam, staged by actor K. Kannan. Though basically a comedian, he proved himself an all-rounder by excelling in roles other than...
as Sri Ramachandramurthy - Sowkar Janaki as Meenakshi Doraiswamy
- NageshNageshNagesh , was a Tamil film actor, mostly remembered for his roles as a comedian during the 1960s. He is regarded as one of the most prolific comedians in Tamil cinema....
as Nagesh - Kamal Hassan as a drama artist who acts as a lawyer
- Poornam Viswanathan as a family friend and doctor
- Viji Chandrasekhar as Chandran' sister (Uma)
- Lakshmi (actress)Lakshmi (actress)Lakshmi Narayan is an Indian National Film Award winning actress who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Lakshmi has acted in more than 300 films in all south Indian languages apart from few in Bollywood. She has won a Filmfare Best Actress Award and eight Filmfare Awards South.-Early...
and Prathap K. PothanPrathap K. PothanPrathap K. Pothan , popularly known by his first name , is an Indian actor, director, writer, producer who has acted in about 95 films. He has acted in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu as well as Hindi films...
in guest appearances
Soundtrack
- "Raagangal Pathinaaru" - S. P. Balasubramaniam
- "Thillu Mullu" - S. P. Balasubramaniam
- "Antha Neram Poruthirunthal" - Uma Ramanan
- "Thangangale Thambigale" - Malaysia VasudevanMalaysia VasudevanVasudevan Nair , known as Malaysia Vasudevan was a Tamil playback singer and actor in the Tamil film industry. He was known for singing songs for Indian actor Rajnikanth and many more.- Early life :...
Reception
Like the originalGol Maal
Gol Maal is a 1979 Bollywood comedy movie directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. The film was produced by Mukherjee and N.C.Sippy with music by Rahul Dev Burman...
, this film was also very well received during its theatrical run and has since become a classic film in Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
.
Trivia
- Kamal HaasanKamal HaasanKamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
plays his real-life actor-lawyer brother Charu Hassan in the film. He appears alongside several junior artists during the climax of the movie. - Kamal will be seen wearing spectacles during the climax. However, his spectacles, does not have glasses in it.
- This is Madhavi's first Tamil movie. The actress would later go on to become very popular in Tamil filmdom.
- This movie is Rajinikanth's first full-length comedy. Reportedly, he agreed to it solely due to the strong suggestion by his mentor, K.Balachander. Balachander suggested that Rajinikanth should do non-commercial roles, to break the stereotyped action-hero mould for which he was getting famous at that time. The movie went on to become one of the biggest hits of the year and is now an accepted classic, regarded by many as Rajni's best comedy. The first scene of A.A.K.Indiran character, is one of the best stylish intro of a hero in tamil cinema history.
- Upon release, both the moustachioed carefree character (a typical Rajini character) and the clean shaven alter-ego (a break from stereotype) were extremely well received.
- Actor-Director VisuVisuVisu , born 1941 is a Tamil writer, director, stage, film and television actor and talk show host from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Visu fine tuned his directorial skills under the mentor-ship of legendary K. Balachander until becoming a full fledged director...
appears in a cameo role during a film-shooting scene. In some scenes his voice can be heard.