Solla Marandha Kadhai
| Solla Marandha Kadhai | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Thangar Bachan |
| Screenplay by | Thangar Bachan |
| Based on | Thalaikeezh Vigithangal by Nanjil Nadan |
| Produced by | Meena Panju Arunchalam |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Thangar Bachan |
| Music by | Ilaiyaraaja |
Production company | P. A. Art Productions |
| Distributed by | Chandra Sekar |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Solla Marandha Kadhai (transl. The story that was forgotten to be told) is a 2002 Indian Tamil-language film written and directed by Thangar Bachan. The film stars Cheran and Rathi. It is based on Nanjil Nadan's novel Thalaikeezh Vigithangal.[1] The film was released on 4 November 2002.[2]
Plot
Sivadhanu is the eldest son of a poor family and an educated but unemployed person. He has the responsibility of marrying his sister and taking care of his younger brothers. Once, Chokkalingam, a rich hotelier notices Sivadhanu at the market. Impressed with his genuineness and enthusiasm, he inquires Mudhaliar about Sivadhanu. Though being rich he approaches Sivadhanu's family to marry Sivadhanu to his elder daughter Parvathi and make the son-in-law look after his businesses. Though Sivadhanu does not like the idea of living in Chokkalingam's house after marriage, Mudhaliar convinces Sivadhanu and his family, that his father-in-law is capable of fetching him a job.
Soon after moving into Chokkalingam's house, Sivadhanu feels he is treated as a manservant, his independence is lost, and is made to look after the restaurant of Chokkalingam unwillingly. One day his friend Panneer stumbles upon him and sees Sivadhanu being publicly insulted by his father-in-law for his decisions. Panneer remarks that the poor should never be married to a rich bride and live at their father-in-law's place because the in-laws will always treat them as inferiors. Sivadhanu also learns that his father-in-law has advised one of his close relatives, P. D. Elangovan MP not to recommend for any government jobs for which Sivadhanu had requested him earlier. When Sivadhanu's younger brother comes to see his brother, Sivadhanu's in-laws insult him for their poverty, which was overheard by Sivadhanu. Unable to bear the humiliation of his brother, Sivadhanu returns to his home without telling anyone but is again convinced by Mudhaliar to return to his in-laws' house. Sivadhanu calms Parvathi for leaving her uninformed but is overjoyed to know that an appointment letter from NLC as a geologist has arrived. Despite Chokkalingam's resistance Sivadhanu leaves alone to join the job.
In a few months, Parvathi becomes pregnant while Sivadhanu arranges for his younger sister's marriage. For that, when Sivadhanu tries to take his wife to his home a couple of days before the wedding, Parvathi's parents refuse to send her citing health reasons. Unreachable and hectic at work, a situation arises where he cannot even visit Parvathi during her delivery, and a girl child is born. After making adequate arrangements in the quarters, Sivadhanu asks Parvathi to accompany him to Neyveli, but she again refuses, which annoys him. Seeing Sivadhanu angry with Parvathi, Chokkalingam beats Sivadhanu and throws him out of the house. Unable to recover from the humiliation, he goes home heartbroken. Now when Mudhaliar comes to make peace, he sends him away telling how Chokkalingam and his family had humiliated him and his family citing their poverty.
A few years pass by and Sivadhanu who has been living a lonely life, has requested a transfer to North India, which makes his family saddened. Sivadhanu's superior and his wife, visit Chokkalingam and request him to send Parvathi along with Sivadhanu but Chokkalingam angrily refuses to send Parvathi and his granddaughter along with them. Parvathi goes against her will and stays with her parents as per her father's advice. Before Sivadhanu leaves for North India, a situation arises where he has to attend his close friend Pokkiri's wedding which is situated near Parvathi's house. Even as Sivadhanu walks past Parvathi's house, he hears his toddler daughter's cry and yearns to see her. Unable to stay there anymore, Sivadhanu quickly leaves the wedding. When Parvathi learns that Sivadhanu has come to the wedding, with a change of mind, she runs and reunites with Sivadhanu, now with the determination that it doesn't matter what her father thinks.
Cast
- Cheran as Sivadhanu
- Rathi as Parvathi Chokkalingam
- Pyramid Natarajan as Chokkalingam
- Janagaraj as Mudhaliar
- Manivannan as Chief Engineer
- Pushpavanam Kuppusamy as Pokkiri
- Kalairani as Sayavarnam
- George Maryan as Panneer
- Yuvarani as Manoranjitham
- Sathyapriya as Leelavathi
- Kumarimuthu as Sadaiyandi
- Sathish Stephen as Sivadhanu's brother
- Appukutty as Prabakaran
- P. D. Elangovan as himself in a cameo appearance
- Ki. Rajanarayanan in a cameo appearance[3]
Production
After the critically acclaimed Azhagi, Thangar Bachan announced his next project "Solla Marantha Kadhai". The director said he chose Cheran because he fitted the bill, adding, "I had also watched Cheran direct his artists in 'Pandavar Bhoomi' for which i was the cinematographer. I was amazed at the expressions he brought to his face, and when i was casting for my film, his was the first name that came to my mind". The film marked the debut of folk-singer Pushpavanam Kuppusamy as actor. An 80-day shooting schedule was held at locations in Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Neyveli and Chidambaram.[4]
Music
The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[5]
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kattula Thalai" | Vidhu Prathap | 5:00 |
| 2. | "Gundu Malli" | Harish Raghavendra, Shreya Ghoshal | 5:10 |
| 3. | "Amma Sonna" | Vijay Yesudas, Ilaiyaraaja | 5:37 |
| 4. | "Panam Mattum" | Ilaiyaraaja | 5:20 |
| 5. | "Yaedho Onn" | Bhavatharini, Karthik | 5:19 |
| 6. | "Jakkamma" | Mayilsamy, Ilaiyaraaja | 4:08 |
| Total length: | 30:34 | ||
Critical reception
Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote, "Thankar Bachan's story telling skill stirred you in "Azhagi" but somehow the magic is missing this time".[6] Sify wrote "After that fairy tale Azhagi, Thankar Bachchan's second attempt to produce another whiff of romance with Solla Marantha Kathai has turned sour. The film is a mushy sentimental hogwash that reminds you of the tearjerkers of 50's and 60's."[7] Malini Mannath of Chennai Online wrote, "Bachan's second release 'Solla Marantha Kathai' disappoints, coming nowhere near his earlier one, neither in scripting, treatment nor characterisation. It's an oft told tale with nothing fresh or new about it".[8]
References
- ^ "Sahitya Akademi award for Nanjil Nadan". The Hindu. 20 December 2010. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Solla Marantha Kathai / சொல்ல மறந்த கதை". Screen 4 Screen. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "கி.ரா கதையாக்கத்தில் உருபெற்ற 'ஒருத்தி'". ETV Bharat News (in Tamil). 19 May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Mannath, Malini (22 August 2002). "Solla Marantha Kathai". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 16 November 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Solla Marandha Kadhai". Gaana. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (15 November 2002). "Solla Marandha Kadhai". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 September 2003. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Solla Marantha Kathai". Sify. 8 November 2002. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ Mannath, Malini (24 November 2002). "Solla Marantha Kadhai". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 5 April 2005. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
