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{{short description|1984 film by R. C. Sakthi}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Sirai (1984).jpg
| caption = DVD cover
| director = [[R. C. Sakthi]]
| screenplay = R. C. Sakthi
| based_on = {{Based on|''Sirai''|[[Anuradha Ramanan]]}}
| producer = Mohan
| starring = {{ubl|[[Lakshmi (actress)|Lakshmi]]|[[Rajesh (Tamil actor)|Rajesh]]}}
| cinematography = Vishwam–Nataraj
| editing = G. Radhakrishnan
| music = [[M. S. Viswanathan]]
| studio = Anandhi Films
| distributor = Anandhi Films
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1984|11|22}}
| runtime = 143 minutes{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=464}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
'''''Sirai''''' ({{translation|Prison}}; also spelt '''''Chirai''''') is a 1984 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] written and directed by [[R. C. Sakthi]]. The film stars [[Lakshmi (actress)|Lakshmi]] and [[Rajesh (Tamil actor)|Rajesh]], with [[Pandiyan (actor)|Pandiyan]], [[Ilavarasi]], Prasanna, [[S. S. Chandran]], [[V. Gopalakrishnan (actor)|V. Gopalakrishnan]] and [[Isari Velan]] in supporting roles. It follows a [[Brahmin]] woman who, after being raped by an alcoholic man, is disowned by her husband. After being encouraged by a police constable, she moves in with the rapist and develops an attachment for him.

''Sirai'' is based on [[Anuradha Ramanan]]'s 1980 [[short story]] of the same name. The film was produced by Mohan of Anandhi Films, photographed by the duo Vishwam–Nataraj, and edited by G. Radhakrishnan. It shot on actual locales, with minimal use of sets, although shooting also took place at [[Vauhini Studios]]. This movie marked the Cinematic debut of lyricist [[Piraisoodan]]

''Sirai'' was released on 22 November 1984. Despite receiving criticism from Brahmin organisations who demanded it be banned, the film received critical acclaim, particularly for Lakshmi's performance, and became a commercial success, with a theatrical run of over 100 days. The film was remade in Telugu as ''[[Siksha (film)|Siksha]]'' (1985).<ref>{{cite web |title=Siksha (1985) |url=http://www.aptalkies.com/movie.php?id=6785&title=Siksha%20(1985) |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724062620/http://www.aptalkies.com/movie.php?id=6785&title=Siksha%20(1985) |archive-date=24 July 2014 |access-date=6 January 2025 |website=AP Talkies}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Anthony is a wealthy, immoral landlord and drunkard who indulges in several atrocities. The village chief Ondriyam and the police inspector are his supporters. Irudhayasami, an honest and soon-to-retire senior police constable, arrests a man who attempted to rape a woman, but due to Anthony's clout, the accused is exonerated. Irudhayasami curses that one day Anthony would repent for his sins.

Raghupathi and Bhagirathi, a [[Brahmin]] couple, move into the village and settle in the house next to Anthony's. Anthony lusts after Bhagirathi and one night when Raghupathi is not home, a drunk Anthony rapes Bhagirathi. When Raghupathi notices Anthony walking away from his home and Bhagirathi crying, he disowns her as she is maligned. When she refuses, he leaves the home after locking it without informing her and does not return. Left outside the locked house, Bhagirathi searches for him but fails. When no one supports her in the village and she is helpless and alone, Irudhayasami advises her to move into Anthony's house as he is the root cause of all her troubles.

Bhagirathi goes to Anthony's house and declares that he should take responsibility for her as he is the cause of her hardship and confines herself to a room in his house, warning him that he should not enter it at any cost in the name of [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Mother Mary]]. She states that as she is unable to punish him for his sin, she is punishing herself by being in his home and living in a room like a prison. His punishment is watching her suffer before his eyes for the sin he committed.

Anthony's servant Marudhu takes care of Bhagirathi's needs. Soon, Anthony realises his mistakes and his attitude and behaviour change. He helps his worker Muthu marry his lover Jilla, daughter of Ondriyam, by gifting his lands to him. Anthony helps Bhagirathi's father financially to get her three sisters married on the same day. Gradually, he advises everyone to hand over his financial matters to Bhagirathi and people start gossiping about their relationship. He stops drinking, smoking, womanising, and his house is converted into a proper living place. Though Bhagirathi is happy that he is a changed person, she frequently reminds him of his sins which caused harm to many.

One day, Anthony suffers a paralytic attack and becomes bedridden. He regrets all his sins, particularly to Bhagirathi, who now takes care of him. She even nurses him in the absence of his servant. Anthony requests Marudhu to locate Raghupathi and bring him. Raghupathi is found and agrees to come the next day. On the same night, Anthony becomes weak. He requests Bhagirathi to sing the song which she sang when she was happily married and which tempted him to molest her. Listening to her song, Anthony dies. When Anthony's coffin leaves, Bhagirathi realises how he took care of her and cries that she has no one to take care of her now.

Raghupathi comes after the coffin has left and asks Bhagirathi to join him the next day. She refuses and tells him that a couple should be together in good and bad times. When she needed him the most, he deserted her; though Anthony molested her for his momentary pleasure, he regretted his mistake and took great care of her, treating her with respect till his end. So she would be proud to be Anthony's widow rather than the wife of a self-centered husband who did not take care of his life partner. She removes her ''[[Mangala sutra|tali]]'', the symbol of their marriage, and continues to live in Anthony's house.

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
* [[Lakshmi (actress)|Lakshmi]] as Bhagirathi{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=464}}
* [[Rajesh (Tamil actor)|Rajesh]] as Anthony
* [[Pandiyan (actor)|Pandiyan]] as Muthu{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=88}}
* [[Ilavarasi]] as Jilla{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=88}}
* Prasanna as Raghupathi{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=88}}
* [[S. S. Chandran]] as Ondriyam{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=88}}
* [[V. Gopalakrishnan (actor)|V. Gopalakrishnan]] as Irudhayasami{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=88}}
* [[Isari Velan]] as Marudhu{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=88}}
* [[Anuradha (actress)|Anuradha]] (special appearance in the song "Paathuko")
}}

== Production ==

''Sirai'' was a [[short story]] written by [[Anuradha Ramanan]] and published in 1980.{{sfn|Sunder Rajan|1994|p=61}} The story, which was published in the Tamil magazine ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'', won a gold medal for the best short story.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 May 2010 |title=Anuradha Ramanan dead |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Anuradha-Ramanan-dead/article16036473.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180710062059/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Anuradha-Ramanan-dead/article16036473.ece |archive-date=10 July 2018 |access-date=10 July 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> [[Lakshmi (actress)|Lakshmi]], who liked the story, suggested [[R. C. Sakthi]] to adapt it for the screen, and promised to act if he did.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 August 2017 |title=அனுராதா ரமணன் நினைவலைகள் |trans-title=Reminiscences of Anuradha Ramanan |url=https://www.dinakaran.com/ladies_Detail.asp?Nid=5382 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817205409/https://www.dinakaran.com/ladies_Detail.asp?Nid=5382 |archive-date=17 August 2017 |access-date=22 June 2025 |website=[[Dinakaran]] |language=Ta}}</ref> When Anandhi Films approached Sakthi to direct a film for them, he pitched ''Sirai'', and they agreed despite initial hesitance.<ref name="Kalyanamalai" /> The film was produced by Mohan of Anandhi,{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=464}} cinematography was handled by the duo Vishwam–Nataraj,{{sfn|Baskaran|1996|p=159}} and editing by G. Radhakrishnan.{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=88}} Sakthi chose [[Rajesh (Tamil actor)|Rajesh]] for the character of Anthony as he felt his physique suited the character very well.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=ப்ரியன் |date=3 February 1985 |title=சிறை தந்த சிறந்த நடிகர் |url=https://archive.org/download/kalki1985-02-03/kalki1985-02-03.pdf |access-date=18 April 2024 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=24–27 |language=Ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> The film was launched at Prasad Studios.<ref>{{cite news |date=25 May 1984 |title=கண்ணில் தெரியுது நடனம் |url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_8_215/4.jp2/full/1000,1341/0/default.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250623150732/https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_8_215/4.jp2/full/1000,1341/0/default.jpg |archive-date=23 June 2025 |access-date=23 June 2025 |newspaper=Anna |pages=4 |language=ta |via=[[Endangered Archives Programme]]}}</ref> Most of the film was shot on actual locales, with minimal use of sets,{{sfn|Baskaran|1996|p=160}} although shooting also took place at [[Vauhini Studios]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=சுரா |date=27 February 2015 |title=அஞ்சலி: ஆர்.சி.சக்தி {{!}} பெண்களை வாழ வைப்பவன் நான்! |trans-title=Obituary: R. C. Sakthi {{!}} I'm the one who makes women live! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/31573-.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921043553/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/31573-.html |archive-date=21 September 2019 |access-date=21 September 2019 |work=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref> It was made as a [[CinemaScope]] film.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 September 2017 |title=Did You Know? |url=http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31807&articlexml=DID-YOU-KNOW-18092017110010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180517164835/http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31807&articlexml=DID-YOU-KNOW-18092017110010 |archive-date=17 May 2018 |access-date=17 May 2018 |work=[[The Times of India]] |location=Chennai}}</ref>

== Themes ==
''Sirai'', like many of Sakthi's films, is a women-centric film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mannath |first=Malini |date=18 June 1993 |title=Thought-provoking |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=539lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fZ4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=909%2C2593288 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418134434/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=539lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fZ4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=909%2C2593288 |archive-date=18 April 2024 |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=6 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> Journalist Kumuthan Maderya, writing for ''[[PopMatters]]'', described it as following the [[stockholm syndrome]] trope, and as an early "''[[Beauty and the Beast]]''"-type story in Tamil cinema.<ref name="PopMatters" /> In the book ''Women in Films: An Incisive Study Into the Issues and Trends'' (2000), R. Kannan wrote that ''Sirai'' "boldly attempted to express the view that by merely tying ''Tali'' ([[Mangalasutra]]) a man cannot become a husband." He also felt it was the inverse of most Tamil films which used to exalt the ''tali'' sentiment.{{sfn|Kannan|2000|p=25}}

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by [[M. S. Viswanathan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 November 1984 |title=Sirai |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/sirai/WrtOIKSzQOE_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818152307/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/sirai/WrtOIKSzQOE_ |archive-date=18 August 2022 |access-date=18 August 2022 |website=[[JioSaavn]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sirai Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan |url=https://macsendisk.com/product/sirai-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302161931/https://macsendisk.com/product/sirai-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan/ |archive-date=2 March 2022 |access-date=2 March 2022 |website=Macsendisk}}</ref> The film marked lyricist [[Piraisoodan]]'s cinematic debut.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Naig |first=Udhav |date=15 July 2015 |title=A darling of lyricists |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/a-darling-of-lyricists/article7423848.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417112940/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/a-darling-of-lyricists/article7423848.ece |archive-date=17 April 2019 |access-date=17 April 2019 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=20 May 2018 |title=தமிழுக்கு அமுதென்று பேர்! – கவிஞர் முத்துலிங்கம் |url=http://www.dinamani.com/weekly-supplements/dinamani-kondattam/2018/may/20/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%85%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D---%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%9E%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-2922896--1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522155404/http://www.dinamani.com/weekly-supplements/dinamani-kondattam/2018/may/20/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%85%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D---%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%9E%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-2922896--1.html |archive-date=22 May 2018 |access-date=22 May 2018 |work=[[Dinamani]] |language=ta}}</ref> The song "Naan Paadikkonde Iruppen" is set in the [[Carnatic raga]] known as Shyama.{{sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=146}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vamanan |author-link=Vamanan |date=15 July 2015 |title=The world was his music |url=http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31807&articlexml=THE-WORLD-WAS-HIS-MUSIC-15072015006005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110093217/http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31807&articlexml=THE-WORLD-WAS-HIS-MUSIC-15072015006005 |archive-date=10 January 2018 |access-date=23 September 2019 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Naan Paadikkonde Iruppen
| lyrics1 = [[Pulamaipithan]]
| extra1 = [[Vani Jairam]]
| length1 = 4:34
| title2 = Paathukko
| lyrics2 = [[Muthulingam (poet)|Muthulingam]]
| extra2 = [[S. Janaki]]
| length2 = 4:44
| title3 = Rasathi Rosapoo Vektam Eno Innum
| lyrics3 = [[Piraisoodan]]
| extra3 = [[K. J. Yesudas]], Vani Jairam
| length3 = 4:17
| title4 = Vidhi Enum Karangalil
| lyrics4 = Pulamaipithan
| extra4 = [[M. S. Viswanathan]]
| length4 = 4:28
| total_length = 18:03 
}}

== Release ==
''Sirai'' was released on 22 November 1984.{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=88}} The film received an [[A certificate|"A" (adults only) certificate]] from the Censor Board after 10 cuts.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2 April 1988 |title=Chirai (35 mm.) (Colour) (India) |url=https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.1988.319/page/n70/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230302054513/https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.1988.319/page/n70/mode/2up |archive-date=2 March 2023 |access-date=2 March 2023 |magazine=[[The Gazette of India]] |page=963 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> Distributors objected to the climax; they told Sakthi they would buy the film if he change the climax into one where Bhagirathi reunites with her husband or commits suicide, but Sakthi adamantly refused. 60 preview shows took place, but no distributor was willing to buy the film. As a result, Anandhi Films had to distribute the film themselves.<ref name="Kalyanamalai" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 January 2017 |title=பிளாஷ்பேக்: 60 முறை பிரிவியூஷோ திரையிடப்பட்ட சிறை |trans-title=Flashback: ''Sirai'', the film which had 60 preview shows |url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/55461/cinema/Kollywood/Flashback-:-Sirai-movie-screened-60-times-in-preview-show.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180524073849/http://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/55461/cinema/Kollywood/Flashback-:-Sirai-movie-screened-60-times-in-preview-show.htm |archive-date=24 May 2018 |access-date=24 May 2018 |website=[[Dinamalar]] |language=ta}}</ref> Although criticised by Brahmin organisations who demanded for it to be banned,{{sfn|Baskaran|1996|p=159}}{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=89}} the film received critical acclaim (particularly for Lakshmi's performance)<ref name="PopMatters" /> and became a commercial success, with a 100-day theatrical run.<ref name="Kalyanamalai" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 May 2010 |title=Writer Anuradha Ramanan dies |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrintGifMSIE_PASTISSUES2&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TOICH/2010/05/17&ChunkNum=0&ID=Ar00502 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180517160943/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrintGifMSIE_PASTISSUES2&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TOICH/2010/05/17&ChunkNum=0&ID=Ar00502 |archive-date=17 May 2018 |access-date=17 May 2018 |work=[[The Times of India]] |pages=5}}</ref> It was released on DVD in 2002 by [[Pyramid Saimira|Pyramid Films]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sirai (1984) |url=http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017/d/vcat/3511410 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411045245/http://dla.library.upenn.edu/dla/vcat/record.html?id=VCAT_3511410& |archive-date=11 April 2018 |access-date=11 April 2018 |website=[[University of Pennsylvania#Libraries|Penn Libraries]]}}</ref>

== Reception ==
In their issue dated 23 December 1984, ''Ananda Vikatan'' published the reviews of readers rather than their own. The review board wrote that the screenplay was more engaging and intense than the short story, praised the performance of Lakshmi but criticised the item number featuring [[Anuradha (actress)|Anuradha]], and rated the film 56 out of 100.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=23 December 1984 |title=சிறை |trans-title=Sirai |url=https://www.vikatan.com/arts/nostalgia/37682--2 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200526152324/https://www.vikatan.com/arts/nostalgia/37682--2 |archive-date=26 May 2020 |access-date=26 May 2020 |magazine=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref> On 6 January 1985, [[Subha (writers)|Jayamanmadhan]] of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' wrote that while the film as a whole could not be appreciated, individual aspects could, such as the bold theme.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=ஜெயமன்மதன் |author-link=Subha (writers) |date=6 January 1985 |title=சிறை |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1985-01-06/page/n31/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230221085534/https://archive.org/details/kalki1985-01-06/page/n31/mode/2up |archive-date=21 February 2023 |access-date=5 January 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

Film historian [[S. Theodore Baskaran]], in his 1996 book ''The eye of the serpent'', felt that much of the film's impact was diluted by elements like the cabaret dance, duets and a fight sequence along with clichéd devices like using obesity for comic effect, all of which he described as the "trappings of a run-of-the-mill commercial movie".{{sfn|Baskaran|1996|pp=159–160}} ''Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema'' by Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen concurred, feeling they were inserted for "box-office reasons".{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=464}} Baskaran said that the passage of years that Bhagirathi spends in Anthony's house had not been depicted "visually at all", but described Lakshmi's performance as the "high point" of the film.{{sfn|Baskaran|1996|p=160}} Rajadhyaksha and Willemen stated that Lakshmi gave an "accomplished repeat performance of a rape victim" after ''[[Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal (1977 film)|Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal]]'' (1977).{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=464}}

== Impact ==
''Sirai'' was one of the earliest Tamil films to explore the relationship between the rapist and the victim.<ref name="PopMatters" /> It also emerged a "landmark" in Rajesh's career.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R. |date=18 March 2005 |title=Veteran on a rewind |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/03/18/stories/2005031800540400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180517162436/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/03/18/stories/2005031800540400.htm |archive-date=17 May 2018 |access-date=17 May 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Critic [[Baradwaj Rangan]] compared ''[[Pudhea Paadhai]]'' (1989) to ''Sirai'' as "both revolve around a rapist who is reformed by the rape survivor".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=24 June 2016 |title=Crime does pay |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Crime-does-pay/article14401230.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180420160128/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Crime-does-pay/article14401230.ece |archive-date=20 April 2018 |access-date=20 April 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Maderya felt that both the films "advance an atavistic moral solution to the problem of rape."<ref name="PopMatters" />

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="Kalyanamalai">{{Cite web |last=Majordasan |title=Potpourri of tidbits about Tamil cinema – Director R. C. Sakthi |url=http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Jan12_1_15/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_Director_RC_Sakthi_page1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409071507/http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Jan12_1_15/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_Director_RC_Sakthi_page1.html |archive-date=9 April 2018 |access-date=9 April 2018 |website=Kalyanamalai}}</ref>
<ref name="PopMatters">{{Cite news |last=Maderya |first=Kumuthan |date=9 May 2017 |title=Performing Bestiality: Beauties and Beasts in Tamil Cinema |url=https://www.popmatters.com/performing-bestiality-beauties-and-beasts-in-tamil-cinema-2495395331.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409071805/https://www.popmatters.com/performing-bestiality-beauties-and-beasts-in-tamil-cinema-2495395331.html |archive-date=9 April 2018 |access-date=9 April 2018 |work=[[PopMatters]]}}</ref>

</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Baskaran |first=S. Theodore |author-link=S. Theodore Baskaran |title=The eye of the serpent: an introduction to Tamil cinema |publisher=East West Books |year=1996 |location=Chennai |oclc=645890539}}
* {{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=Kannan |first=R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E-hkAAAAMAAJ&q=sirai+1984 |title=Women in Films: An Incisive Study Into the Issues and Trends |publisher=Publications Division, [[Madurai Kamaraj University]] |year=2000 |oclc=52929453}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Rajadhyaksha |first1=Ashish |author-link=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}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sundararaman |title=Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music |publisher=Pichhamal Chintamani |year=2007 |edition=2nd |location=Chennai |oclc=295034757 |orig-date=2005}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sunder Rajan |first=Rajeswari |author-link=Rajeswari Sunder Rajan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IoLhSFGbu5UC&q=sirai+movie+anuradha+ramanan&pg=PA61 |title=Borderwork: Feminist Engagements with Comparative Literature |publisher=[[Cornell University Press]] |year=1994 |isbn=0-8014-8107-4 |editor-last=Higonnet |editor-first=Margaret R.}}

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

{{R. C. Sakthi}}

[[Category:1984 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1984 drama films]]
[[Category:1984 films]]
[[Category:1984 Indian films]]
[[Category:Films about corruption in India]]
[[Category:Films about landlords]]
[[Category:Films about rape in India]]
[[Category:Films based on Indian short stories]]
[[Category:Films directed by R. C. Sakthi]]
[[Category:Films scored by M. S. Viswanathan]]
[[Category:Indian CinemaScope films]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Tamil-language drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Sirai (1984 film) - Revision history

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