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{{Short description|1980 film by E. M. Ibrahim}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Oru Thalai Ragam poster.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = E. M. Ibrahim [[T. Rajendar|Rajendar]] (uncredited){{efn|Though E. M. Ibrahim is solely credited as the director, Rajendar shot the majority of the film.<ref name="dinamalar" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=6 May 2021 |title=TR mourns the demise of his debut film, Oru Thalai Raagam's producer, EM Ibrahim |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/tr-mourns-the-demise-of-his-debut-film-oru-thalai-raagams-producer-em-ibrahim/articleshow/82433080.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210509171822/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/tr-mourns-the-demise-of-his-debut-film-oru-thalai-raagams-producer-em-ibrahim/articleshow/82433080.cms |archive-date=9 May 2021 |access-date=9 May 2021 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shiva Kumar |first=S. |date=20 March 1983 |title=Super-hit |url=https://twitter.com/sshivu/status/1282266252807790592 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712105800/https://twitter.com/sshivu/status/1282266252807790592 |archive-date=12 July 2020 |access-date=18 December 2022 |work=[[Mid-Day]] |pages=25 |via=[[Twitter]]}}</ref>}}
| screenplay = Team Mansoor Creations
| story = Rajendar
| producer = E. M. Ibrahim
| starring = [[Shankar (actor)|Shankar]] [[Roopa (actress)|Roopa]]
| cinematography = [[Robert–Rajasekar]]
| editing = D. Raj
| music = '''Songs:''' Rajendar '''Score:''' A. A. Raj
| studio = Mansoor Creations
| distributor = Mansoor Creations
| released = {{Film date|1980|05|02|df=y}}
| runtime = 122 minutes{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=38}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Oru Thalai Ragam''''' ({{Translation|One-Sided Love}}) is a 1980 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[romantic musical film]] written by [[T. Rajendar|Rajendar]] and produced by E. M. Ibrahim who is credited for direction. The film stars [[Shankar (actor)|Shankar]] and [[Roopa (actress)|Roopa]], with [[Raveendran (actor)|Raveendar]], [[Vagai Chandrasekhar|Chandrasekhar]], Kailashnath, Kumari Usha and [[Thyagu (actor)|Thyagu]] in supporting roles. It revolves around a college student falling in love with his classmate who, despite liking him, avoids returning his love.

''Oru Thalai Ragam'' is the career debut of Rajendar. The film was released on 2 May 1980, received critical acclaim and became a major box office success, running for over a year in theatres. It also won the [[Cinema Express Award for Best Film – Tamil|Cinema Express Award for Best Tamil Film]].{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=39}} The film was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''[[Panchadara Chilaka]]'' (1999).

== Plot ==
Raja is a college student who is popular among the other students. Subhadra, his sincere and quiet classmate, never speaks openly even with her closest friend Lavanya. Subhadra's father had deserted her mother and two daughters, suspecting that she had loved someone before marriage. As a result, people in their locality look down on Subhadra's mother, who supports her children by stitching clothes and is the subject of most gossip sessions. However, Subhadra concentrates only on studies without getting distracted by other issues as advised by her mother, and maintains a safe distance from other college boys.

Subhadra's male classmates Madhu, Kannan and Thambu tease her in class by narrating the rumours about her mother and gossip about her love for Raja. When she gets upset, Raja tries to protect her from Madhu's group many times. Raja and Subhadra develop fondness and miss each other if they do not see even for a day, though they never speak to each other about the good feeling they have for each other. Raja's classmate Moorthy notices Raja's interest in Subhadra. Lavanya also notices the same affinity in Subhadra towards Raja.

One day, when Raja expresses his love to Subhadra, she becomes angry and rejects his proposal. Though she actually likes him, due to her family situation and mother's instructions to avoid men, she shows no feelings for him. Upset, Raja declares he will never speak to her about his love again; he confidently states that she will come to express her love for him one day. Their silent love continues within themselves.

Raja eventually falls ill due to liver jaundice and does not attend college. When Lavanya visits him, she learns of his deep love for Subhadra and the suffering he is going through. Lavanya meets Subhadra and shouts at her cowardice to express her love to Raja. The academic year ends. Subhadra's mother learns about Subhadra's love and insults her. Subhadra now decides to meet Raja to express her love as she no longer wishes to hide it. Though his health has worsened, Raja comes with Moorthy by train to college to recollect their college days. Subhadra sees Raja seated in the train and expresses her love, but is devastated upon learning that he is already dead.

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Shankar (actor)|Shankar]] as Raja<ref name="VikatanReview" />
* [[Roopa (actress)|Roopa]] as Subhadra<ref name="VikatanReview" />
*[[Raveendran (actor)|Raveendar]] as Madhu{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=38}}
* [[Vagai Chandrasekhar|Chandrasekhar]] as Moorthy<ref name="VikatanReview" />
* [[Kailas Nath]] as Thambu<ref name="Vikatan20years" />
* Kumari Usha as Lavanya{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=38}}
* [[Thyagu (actor)|Thyagu]] as Kannan{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=38}}
* [[T. Rajendar|Rajendar]] as a [[Hindi]]-singing student (cameo appearance)<ref name="Vikatan20years" />
}}

== Production ==

The film marked the debut of Rajendar in the film industry.{{Sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=185}} It also marked the acting debuts of Shankar, Roopa, Thyagu and Ravindran.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pradeep |first=K. |date=3 April 2015 |title=In a brand new role |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/in-a-brand-new-role-actor-raveendran-in-ennum-eppozhum/article7065214.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509171758/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/in-a-brand-new-role-actor-raveendran-in-ennum-eppozhum/article7065214.ece |archive-date=9 May 2021 |access-date=22 June 2019 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref name="circle" /> Though Kailashnath was not very fluent in Tamil, he dubbed in his own voice.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 September 2009 |title=Acting, his passion |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2009/sep/25/acting-his-passion-89219.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521055519/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2009/sep/25/acting-his-passion-89219.html |archive-date=21 May 2021 |access-date=21 May 2021 |work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> The producer E. M. Ibrahim of Mansoor Creations agreed to produce the film, reportedly on the basis of one condition that Ibrahim himself will be credited as director while Rajender would be credited as the screenwriter and music composer. During the shoot, since Ibrahim had no prior experience of film direction, Rajender shot the whole film.<ref name="dinamalar" /> Cinematography was handled by the duo [[Robert–Rajasekar]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=N. |date=22 May 1987 |title=A courageous comeback |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uoJlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=up4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=951%2C2154723 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408075319/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uoJlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=up4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=951,2154723 |archive-date=8 April 2023 |access-date=14 May 2021 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=12 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> The film was prominently shot at [[A. V. C. College]] in [[Mayiladuthurai]] where Rajendar was an alumnus.<ref name="Alma Mater" /> The filming was completed within two months.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=6 July 1980 |title=ஒரு கலை தாகம்! |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1980-07-06/page/n63/mode/2up? |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240411134948/https://archive.org/details/kalki1980-07-06/page/n63/mode/2up? |archive-date=11 April 2024 |access-date=11 April 2024 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=62–63 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

== Music ==
The music was composed by Rajendar, who also wrote the lyrics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oru Thalai ragam Mini LP vinyl record by T.Rajendar |url=https://mossymart.com/product/oru-thalai-ragam-mini-lp-vinyl-record-by-t-rajendar/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929153505/https://mossymart.com/product/oru-thalai-ragam-mini-lp-vinyl-record-by-t-rajendar/ |archive-date=29 September 2021 |access-date=29 September 2021 |website=Mossymart}}</ref> Since the lead characters hardly speak to each other throughout the film, Archana Nathan, writing for ''[[Scroll.in]]'', feels the songs are their way of communicating.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nathan |first=Archana |date=26 May 2018 |title=Picture the song: In 'Vaasamilla Malar Idhu', a tune is worth a thousand words |url=https://scroll.in/reel/879308/picture-the-song-in-vaasamilla-malar-idhu-a-tune-is-worth-a-thousand-words |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215080305/https://scroll.in/reel/879308/picture-the-song-in-vaasamilla-malar-idhu-a-tune-is-worth-a-thousand-words |archive-date=15 December 2021 |access-date=28 March 2022 |website=[[Scroll.in]]}}</ref> Rajender said he wrote the song "Idhu Kuzhandhai Paadum" with the intention of defying the rules of grammar and "mak[ing] a distinctive mark" in his debut film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anantharam |first=Chitra Deepa |date=27 March 2017 |title=I am the pioneer of kuthu: T Rajendherr |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/i-am-the-pioneer-of-kuthu-t-rajendar-or-tr/article17676587.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112035013/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/i-am-the-pioneer-of-kuthu-t-rajendar-or-tr/article17676587.ece |archive-date=12 November 2020 |access-date=18 December 2022 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The songs became successful and made Rajendar popular as a composer.<ref name="Alma Mater" /> Rajender recalled that though he had composed the score, he was not credited for that; the score he composed was replaced with a different score composed by A. A. Raj. This made Rajendar swear not to watch the film again.<ref name="dinamalar" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gopalakrishna |first=P. S. |date=23 January 2014 |title=In reference to film music |url=http://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/in-reference-to-film-music/article5610087.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226081604/http://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/in-reference-to-film-music/article5610087.ece |archive-date=26 December 2017 |access-date=25 January 2016 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Vasamilla Malar Idhu
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| length1 = 4:49
| title2 = Kadavul Vazhum
| extra2 = [[P. Jayachandran]]
| length2 = 5:00
| title3 = Koodaiyile Karuvaadu
| extra3 = [[Malaysia Vasudevan]]
| length3 = 3:25
| title4 = En Kadhai Mudiyum
| extra4 = [[T. M. Soundararajan]]
| length4 = 3:25
| title5 = Idhu Kuzhandhai Paadum
| extra5 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
| length5 = 4:38
| title6 = Manmadhan
| extra6 = [[Jolly Abraham]]
| length6 = 4:13
| title7 = Naan Oru Raasiyilaa Raja
| extra7 = T. M. Soundararajan
| length7 = 4:24
| total_length = 29:54
}}

== Release and reception ==

''Oru Thalai Ragam'' was released on 2 May 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramji |first=V. |date=2 May 2019 |title=ஒருதலை ராகம் - அப்பவே அப்படி கதை!: ரிலீசாகி இன்றுடன் 39 வருடங்கள்! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/163688-39.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509120242/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/163688-39.html |archive-date=9 May 2021 |access-date=9 May 2021 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref> Ibrahim had to release the film himself after distributors refused due to the high price Ibrahim quoted for distribution territories.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=39}} ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'' rated the film 50 out of 100, appreciating Robert–Rajasekar's cinematography, the songs by Rajendar and score by Raj.<ref name="VikatanReview" /> Kanthan of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' praised the performances of the cast and Robert–Rajasekar's cinematography and concluded calling the film a touchstone for the fandom of moviegoers.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=காந்தன் |date=1 June 1980 |title=ஒரு தலை ராகம் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1980-06-01/page/n27/mode/2up? |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240215083251/https://archive.org/details/kalki1980-06-01/page/n27/mode/2up? |archive-date=15 February 2024 |access-date=15 February 2024 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=26 |language=Ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> The film completed 365 days of run in several theatres.<ref name="circle" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 2012 |title=The lover boys of Indian cinema-100 years of Indian cinema |magazine=Galatta Cinema}}</ref> Initial days after the release saw low responses at the box office, but the film eventually picked up and became a success.{{sfn|Jacob|2008|p=65}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rao |first=Subha J. |date=30 July 2011 |title=The real reel deal |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-real-reel-deal/article2308412.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509172420/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-real-reel-deal/article2308412.ece |archive-date=9 May 2021 |access-date=6 February 2019 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
''Oru Thalai Ragam''{{'}}s success led to more films in Tamil based on the theme of one-sided and unexpressed love.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=39}} Shankar, for a while, became popularly known as "Oru Thalai Ragam Shankar" after the film's release.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Subramanian |first=Anupama |date=16 December 2013 |title=Shankar directs Tamil film |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/131216/entertainment-kollywood/article/shankar-directs-tamil-film |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301171757/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/131216/entertainment-kollywood/article/shankar-directs-tamil-film |archive-date=1 March 2021 |access-date=28 March 2022 |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]}}</ref> The film was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''[[Panchadara Chilaka]]'' (1999).<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 May 2020 |title=மறக்க முடியுமா? ஒரு தலை ராகம் |url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/88410/cinema/Kollywood/marakamudiyuma.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907033235/https://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/88410/cinema/Kollywood/marakamudiyuma.htm |archive-date=7 September 2022 |access-date=7 September 2022 |website=[[Dinamalar]] |language=ta}}</ref> Film historian [[S. Theodore Baskaran]] felt that ''Oru Thalai Ragam'' and ''[[Nammavar]]'' (1994) were the "two most representative Tamil films about students".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Joshi |first=Namrata |author-link=Namrata Joshi |date=27 February 2016 |title=Where is the student in Indian cinema? |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/where-is-the-student-in-indian-cinema/article8286171.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706192508/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/where-is-the-student-in-indian-cinema/article8286171.ece |archive-date=6 July 2018 |access-date=6 February 2019 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="Alma Mater">{{Cite news |last1=Saqaf |first1=Syed Muthahar |last2=Balaganessin |first2=M. |date=4 August 2014 |title=A film star visits his Alma Mater |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/a-film-star-visits-his-alma-mater/article6278790.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509172116/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/a-film-star-visits-his-alma-mater/article6278790.ece |archive-date=9 May 2021 |access-date=22 June 2019 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
<ref name="circle">{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=P. K. Ajith |date=26 June 2010 |title=The circle of life |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/The-circle-of-life/article16269048.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126003619/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/The-circle-of-life/article16269048.ece |archive-date=26 January 2021 |access-date=22 June 2019 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
<ref name="dinamalar">{{Cite news |date=27 June 2016 |title=பிளாஷ்ஃ பேக்: ''ஒருதலை ராகம்'' படத்தை பார்க்காத டி.ராஜேந்தர் |trans-title=Flashback: T Rajendar never saw the film ''Oru Thalai Ragam'' |url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/47922/cinema/Kollywood/T-Rajendar-never-seen-Oru-Thalai-Ragam.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924172656/https://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/47922/cinema/Kollywood/T-Rajendar-never-seen-Oru-Thalai-Ragam.htm |archive-date=24 September 2019 |access-date=22 June 2019 |work=[[Dinamalar]] |language=Ta}}</ref>
<ref name="Vikatan20years">{{Cite web |last=கண்ணன் |first=சுரேஷ் |date=26 May 2020 |title='முதல் ரைமிங் பன்ச்; ஆனாலும் டி.ஆர் வெறுத்த படம் 'ஒரு தலை ராகம்'... ஏன்னா?!'- டென்ட் கொட்டாய் டைரீஸ் - 80s, 90s Cinemas for 2K kids |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/oru-thalai-raagam-a-trend-setting-love-story-80s-90s-cinemas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210513165634/https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/oru-thalai-raagam-a-trend-setting-love-story-80s-90s-cinemas |archive-date=13 May 2021 |access-date=13 May 2021 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref>
<ref name="VikatanReview">{{Cite web |date=25 May 1980 |title=சினிமா விமர்சனம்: ஒரு தலை ராகம் |url=https://www.vikatan.com/arts/nostalgia/43324--2 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210509121157/https://www.vikatan.com/arts/nostalgia/43324--2 |archive-date=9 May 2021 |access-date=9 May 2021 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref>

</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |author-link=G. Dhananjayan |title=The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1977–2010 |publisher=Galatta Media |year=2011 |oclc=733724281}}
* {{Cite book |last=Jacob |first=Preminda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kbQvTXudN60C&pg=PA65 |title=Celluloid Deities: The Visual Culture of Cinema and Politics in South India |publisher=Lexington Books |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7391-3130-5}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Rajadhyaksha |first1=Ashish |author-link1=Ashish Rajadhyaksha |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema |last2=Willemen |first2=Paul |author-link2=Paul Willemen |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] and [[Oxford University Press]] |year=1998 |isbn=0-19-563579-5 |orig-date=1994}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

{{T. Rajendar}}

[[Category:1980 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:1980 films]]
[[Category:1980 Indian films]]
[[Category:1980 musical films]]
[[Category:1980s romantic musical films]]
[[Category:1980 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by T. Rajendar]]
[[Category:Films scored by T. Rajendar]]
[[Category:Films set in universities and colleges]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by T. Rajendar]]
[[Category:Indian romantic musical films]]
[[Category:Tamil films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language romantic musical films]]

Oru Thalai Ragam - Revision history

ReaganRiordan: put up info