BrandonGreenlee: Adding some details and citations

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Adding some details and citations

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{{short description|1980 film by Muktha Srinivasan}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Polladhavan 1980 poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Muktha Srinivasan]]
| screenplay = Muktha Srinivasan
{{Infobox | decat = yes | child = yes | label1= Dialogue by | data1 = Thooyavan}}
| story = [[Salim–Javed]]
| producer = S. Ravi
| starring = [[Rajinikanth]]<br />[[Lakshmi (actress)|Lakshmi]]<br />[[Sripriya]]
| cinematography = [[M. Karnan]]
| editing = V. P. Krishnan
| music = [[M. S. Viswanathan]]
| studio = Vidhya Movies
| released = {{film date|1980|11|6|df=y}}
| runtime = 135 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Polladhavan''''' ({{IPAc-en|p|oʊ|l|l|ɑː|ð|ə|v|ən}} {{translation|The Ruthless Man}}) is a 1980 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[action thriller film]] produced by S. Ravi, directed and co-written by his father [[Muktha Srinivasan]]. A remake of the 1976 [[Kannada]] film ''[[Premada Kanike]]'', it stars [[Rajinikanth]], [[Lakshmi (actress)|Lakshmi]] and [[Sripriya]]. The film revolves around a wealthy business man who holds captive in his house, his daughter's nanny, an eyewitness to a murder committed by him.

The film was photographed by [[M. Karnan]] and edited V. P. Krishnan, with music by [[M. S. Viswanathan]].

''Polladhavan'' was released on 6 November 1980, [[Diwali]]. The film became a commercial success, and was one of many films which helped Rajinikanth to carve out a niche for himself in vendetta roles.

== Plot ==
Seetha, a young woman, is travelling via train with her nephew Raju to an estate to attend her job interview as a nanny to the estate merchant Manohar's daughter. Her co-passenger tries to rape her, but suddenly he is shot dead. Seetha sees the murderer's face, and later reports the murder to Moorthy, a police inspector. Once she is appointed for the nanny position, she and Manohar's daughter Shoba grow fond of each other.

Manohar, who is extremely fond of his daughter, returns from his journey. Seetha meets him, only to realise that he is the murderer she saw on the train. Manohar threatens Seetha not to tell anyone and makes sure to prevent her from leaving his estate as she is keen on reporting him to the police.

Seetha tries many times to escape but is always caught. She does not even tell the police when she meets them, as Manohar threatens to kill Raju if she did. Later, Seetha somehow sees beneath the rough, mean Manohar and grows fond of him but is confused why such a nice man is acting so arrogantly.

In flashbacks, Manohar and a woman named Kumudha fell in love and married; shortly thereafter, their daughter, Shoba, was born. However, Kumudha's uncle Chandru, who was eager to marry Kumudha but who was sent to jail by Manohar as he tried to kill him, was released from jail after completing his term. When Manohar was out of the house, Chandru raped Kumudha; due to this, she commits suicide, and Manohar wants to die with her, but she makes him vow that he will get revenge on Chandru for separating them and to take care of Shoba.

Manohar reveals that the man he killed on the train was Chandru. Seetha now understands his acts and vows not to tell anyone. Moorthy's colleague is curious about Seetha; she said that she remembered the face and was eager to find the murderer, but now she had told him she has forgotten the face, hence he suspects Seetha to be the murderer, and Moorthy agrees with his belief. On Shoba's birthday, Manohar is to announce that he is to hand over all his wealth to Seetha and surrender to the police, but before this, the police arrive and try to arrest Seetha. Manohar saves her by confessing to the murder, leading to his arrest. A few years later, Manohar is released and reunites with Seetha and Shoba.

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Rajinikanth]] as Manohar{{sfn |Ramachandran |2014 |p=104}}
* [[Lakshmi (actress)|Lakshmi]] as Seetha{{sfn |Ramachandran |2014 |p=104}}
* [[Sripriya]] as Kumudha
* [[Suruli Rajan]] as Manohar's manager
* [[Sivachandran]] as Chandru
* [[Delhi Ganesh]] as Moorthy
* [[V. Gopalakrishnan (actor)|V. Gopalakrishnan]] as a police officer
* [[Senthamarai (actor)|Senthamarai]] as Ramaiya
* [[K. Natraj]] as Kumudha's brother
* [[Anju (actress)|Baby Anju]] as Manohar's daughter
}}

== Production ==
[[Rajinikanth]] initially wanted to star in a Tamil remake of the [[Hindi]] film ''[[Vishwanath (1978 film)|Vishwanath]]'' (1978), with S. Ravi producing. Ravi watched the film, but did not like it; Rajinikanth and Ravi then decided to remake a different film. [[K. Balaji]] gave Ravi a video cassette of the [[Kannada]] film ''[[Premada Kanike]]'' (1976), and told him to tell Rajinikanth to watch it. Rajinikanth told Ravi he had already watched the film multiple times and liked it, so it was decided to remake the film in Tamil.<ref name="patrikai" /> The remake was initially titled ''Erimalai'' ({{Translation|Volcano}}) but retitled ''Polladhavan'', at Rajinikanth's suggestion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ராம்ஜி |first=வி. |date=8 November 2019 |title='' ’பொல்லாதவன்’ டைட்டிலை உங்க மாமனார்கிட்ட கேளுங்க!’’ - தனுஷிடம் சொன்னார் முக்தா சீனிவாசன் |trans-title="Ask your father-in-law for the title ''Polladhavan''!" – Muktha Srinivasan told Dhanush |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/524167-polladhavan.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241215033510/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/524167-polladhavan.html |archive-date=15 December 2024 |access-date=15 December 2024 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref> It was directed by Ravi's father [[Muktha Srinivasan]] (who also wrote the screenplay) and produced by Ravi under Vidhya Movies.<ref name="movie" /> The film was made in [[CinemaScope]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 December 2013 |title=சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் ரஜினியின் துளிகள்.... |trans-title=Super Star Rajinikanth's drops |url=http://cinema.dinakaran.com/cine-news-details.aspx?id=11966&id1=3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171115153723/http://cinema.dinakaran.com/cine-news-details.aspx?id=11966&id1=3 |archive-date=15 November 2017 |access-date=15 November 2017 |work=[[Dinakaran]] |language=ta}}</ref> Cinematography was handled by [[M. Karnan]],<ref name="patrikai" /> and editing by V. P. Krishna. The dialogues were written by Thooyavan.<ref name="movie" /> Srinivasan cast [[Delhi Ganesh]] after seeing his performance in the play ''Thuppariyum Saambu''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 May 2018 |title=Obituary {{!}} 'A people's person': Tamil film fraternity remember late director Muktha Srinivasan |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2018/May/30/obituary--a-peoples-person-tamil-film-fraternity-remember-late-director-muktha-srinivasan-1821613.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240320143840/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2018/May/30/obituary--a-peoples-person-tamil-film-fraternity-remember-late-director-muktha-srinivasan-1821613.html |archive-date=20 March 2024 |access-date=20 March 2024 |work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> Shooting for the film took place primarily at Bangalore,{{sfn |Mathrubootheswaran |2007 |p=128}} [[Mysore Palace]] and [[Lalitha Mahal]] with additional shooting taking place in Chennai, Shimla and Kashmir.<ref name="patrikai" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=5 October 1980 |title=ரஜனி மீது லட்சுமி குற்றச்சாட்டு |trans-title=Lakshmi's accusation against Rajini |url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_4_321/3.jp2/full/1000,1375/0/default.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601120226/https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_4_321/3.jp2/full/1000,1375/0/default.jpg |archive-date=1 June 2025 |access-date=1 June 2025 |work=Anna |pages=3 |language=ta |via=[[Endangered Archives Programme]]}}</ref> The eyes shown in the beginning of the film were of [[:ta:சிலோன் விஜயேந்திரன்|Ceylon Vijayendran]], doubling for Rajinikanth.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=சலன் |date=15 March 1981 |title=ரஜினிகாந்தின் கண்கள்! |trans-title=Rajinikanth's eyes! |url=https://ibb.co/y5VZGXS |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817055842/https://ibb.co/y5VZGXS |archive-date=17 August 2023 |access-date=17 August 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=3 |language=ta}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by [[M. S. Viswanathan]], with lyrics by [[Kannadasan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 June 1980 |title=Polladhavan |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/polladhavan/zRRJKvJeQJw_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112125220/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/polladhavan/zRRJKvJeQJw_ |archive-date=12 January 2021 |access-date=12 January 2021 |website=[[JioSaavn]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pollathavan Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan |url=https://mossymart.com/product/pollathavan-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013092940/https://mossymart.com/product/pollathavan-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan-2/ |archive-date=13 October 2022 |access-date=13 October 2022 |website=Mossymart}}</ref> The song "Chinnakkannane" is set in the [[Hindustani raga]] known as [[Brindavani Sarang]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=ராமானுஜன் |first=டாக்டர் ஜி. |date=29 June 2018 |title=ராக யாத்திரை 11: நீ சின்ன நி! நான் பெரிய நி!! |trans-title=Raga Journey 11: You are small! I am big!! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/130637-11.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105151210/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/130637-11.html |archive-date=5 November 2019 |access-date=5 November 2019 |work=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref> The song "Adho Vaarandi" is set in [[Shivaranjani]] raga.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ஏழிசை எம்எஸ்வி {{!}} பயோகிராபி |trans-title=Seven notes MSV {{!}} Biography |url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com/msv/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626130400/https://cinema.dinamalar.com/msv/ |archive-date=26 June 2020 |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=[[Dinamalar]] |language=Ta}}</ref> The song "Naan Polladhavan" also briefly features in the 2023 Tamil film ''[[Leo (2023 Indian film)|Leo]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajendran |first=Sowmya |author-link=Sowmya Rajendran |date=19 October 2023 |title=Leo review: Lokesh, Vijay's action thriller roars plenty but isn't fully satisfying |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/leo-review-lokesh-vijays-action-thriller-roars-plenty-but-isnt-fully-satisfying |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019140931/https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/leo-review-lokesh-vijays-action-thriller-roars-plenty-but-isnt-fully-satisfying |archive-date=19 October 2023 |access-date=19 October 2023 |website=[[The News Minute]]}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Naan Polladhavan
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| length1 = 4:27
| title2 = Chinnakkannane
| extra2 = [[P. Susheela]]
| length2 = 4:32
| title3 = Atho Vaarandi
| extra3 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, [[Vani Jairam]]
| length3 = 4:36
| title4 = Naanae Endrum Raja
| extra4 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
| length4 = 4:41
| total_length = 18:16
}}

== Release and reception ==
''Polladhavan'' was released on 6 November 1980, [[Diwali]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=ராம்ஜி |first=வி. |date=5 November 2019 |title=80-ம் ஆண்டு தீபாவளியில் பாலசந்தர் – பாரதிராஜா; 'வறுமையின் நிறம் சிகப்பு' – 'நிழல்கள்' ஒரே சப்ஜெக்ட் |trans-title=Balachander and Bharathiraja in Diwali 1980; ''Varumaryin Niram Sivappu'' and ''Nizhalgal'' had the same subject |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/523607-1980-diwalil-release.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105152040/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/523607-1980-diwalil-release.html |archive-date=5 November 2019 |access-date=5 November 2019 |work=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=Tamil}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=L |first=Shyam Sundar |date=31 January 2017 |title=ஒரே டைட்டில்... வேற கதை.... மாற்றான் சினிமாஸ்! |trans-title=Same title... Different story.... Alternate cinemas! |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/news/79316-connections-between-same-titled-tamil-movies.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181120062043/https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/news/79316-connections-between-same-titled-tamil-movies.html |archive-date=20 November 2018 |access-date=19 November 2018 |work=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref> Nalini Sastry of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' wrote that the director, by taking an ordinary story and transforming it, was himself a ruthless man.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=சாஸ்திரி |first=நளினி |date=7 December 1980 |title=பொல்லாதவன் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1980-12-07/page/n59/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230416114952/https://archive.org/details/kalki1980-12-07/page/n59/mode/2up |archive-date=16 April 2023 |access-date=17 August 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=59 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> Naagai Dharuman of ''Anna'' praised the acting, cinematography, music, dialogues and direction.<ref>{{Cite news |last=தருமன் |first=நாகை |date=30 November 1980 |title=பொல்லாதவன் |url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_5_38/4.jp2/full/1000,1395/0/default.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601115921/https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_5_38/4.jp2/full/1000,1395/0/default.jpg |archive-date=1 June 2025 |access-date=1 June 2025 |work=Anna |pages=4 |language=ta |via=[[Endangered Archives Programme]]}}</ref> Despite facing competition from other Diwali releases such as ''[[Varumayin Niram Sivappu]]'' and ''[[Nizhalgal]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |author-link=G. Dhananjayan |date=14 July 2017 |title=Similar storylines need to show new tricks to hook fans |url=https://www.dtnext.in/News/Opinion/2017/07/14100554/1038715/Similar-storylines-need-to-show-new-tricks-to-hook-.vpf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181207155420/https://www.dtnext.in/News/Opinion/2017/07/14100554/1038715/Similar-storylines-need-to-show-new-tricks-to-hook-.vpf |archive-date=7 December 2018 |access-date=12 January 2019 |work=[[DT Next]]}}</ref> the film was a commercial success,{{sfn |Mathrubootheswaran |2007 |p=120}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 May 2018 |title=Tamil director-producer Muktha Srinivasan dies at 88 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/tamil-director-producer-muktha-srinivasan-dies-at-88/story-Em0RMrshSPFyoHhLFEyOPK.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205093813/https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/tamil-director-producer-muktha-srinivasan-dies-at-88/story-Em0RMrshSPFyoHhLFEyOPK.html |archive-date=5 February 2019 |access-date=5 February 2019 |work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref> and cemented Rajinikanth's "hold over the box office".<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 May 2018 |title=Veteran Tamil filmmaker Muktha Srinivasan dies at 88 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/veteran-tamil-filmmaker-muktha-srinivasan-dies-at-885196802/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130133125/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/veteran-tamil-filmmaker-muktha-srinivasan-dies-at-885196802/ |archive-date=30 November 2018 |access-date=30 November 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> Rajinikanth also managed to carve out a niche for himself in vendetta roles such as that in ''Polladhavan''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maderya |first=Kumudan |date=2010 |title=Rage against the state: historicizing the "angry young man" in Tamil cinema |url=https://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc52.2010/Tamil/3.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029152109/http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc52.2010/Tamil/3.html |archive-date=29 October 2013 |access-date=29 December 2016 |website=[[Jump Cut (journal)|Jump Cut]]}}</ref> The film was, however, less successful in Malaysia.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vijiyan |first=K. |date=24 October 1981 |title=The problems of local Tamil film distributors |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BWNPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4I8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2476%2C4975241 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405104904/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BWNPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4I8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2476,4975241 |archive-date=5 April 2023 |access-date=26 April 2021 |work=[[New Straits Times]] |pages=18 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> Rajinikanth's bearded appearance with sunglasses later served as an inspiration for his looks in ''[[Baashha]]'' (1995).{{sfn |Ramachandran |2014 |pp=104–105}}{{sfn |Ramachandran |2014 |p=159}}
== References ==
<references>

<ref name="movie">{{Cite AV media |title=Polladhavan |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=Vidhya Movies |year=1980 |time=0:00 to 3:13 |time-caption=Opening credits, from}}</ref>
<ref name="patrikai">{{Cite web |last=Pandian |first=A.T.S |date=6 December 2015 |title=கடன்காரன் ஆக்கிய ரஜினி! |trans-title=Rajini turned debtor! |url=https://patrikai.com/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%86%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF-%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BF/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181120035748/https://patrikai.com/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%86%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF-%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BF/ |archive-date=20 November 2018 |access-date=20 November 2018 |website=Patrikai |language=ta}}</ref>

</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Mathrubootheswaran |first=S. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GO41sSf-kuoC |title=Thannambikkai Tharugiradhu Rajinikanth Vaazhkkai Varalaru |publisher=Bharathi Puthakalayam |year=2007 |language=ta |trans-title=The Life History of Rajinikanth- A Self Confidence Booster for All |oclc=849818131}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |author-link=Naman Ramachandran |title=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |title-link=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-81-8475-796-5 |location=New Delhi |orig-date=2012}}

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

{{Muktha Srinivasan}}

[[Category:1980 action thriller films]]
[[Category:1980 films]]
[[Category:1980 Indian films]]
[[Category:1980 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Muktha Srinivasan]]
[[Category:Films scored by M. S. Viswanathan]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chennai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Films shot in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Muktha Srinivasan]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian films about revenge]]
[[Category:Indian rape and revenge films]]
[[Category:Tamil remakes of Kannada films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language action thriller films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Polladhavan (1980 film) - Revision history

BrandonGreenlee: Adding some details and citations