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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Sri Valli
| image = Sri Valli 1961 poster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[T. R. Ramanna]]
| screenplay = [[Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass]]
| producer = {{unbulleted list|K. Venkatesan|L. Venkatraman}}
| starring = {{unbulleted list|[[Sivaji Ganesan]]|[[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]]}}
| cinematography = {{unbulleted list|K. H. Kapadia|Babubhai Mistry}}
| editing = R. Rajagopal
| music = [[G. Ramanathan]]
| studio = Narasu Studios
| released = {{film date|1961|7|1|df=y|ref1=<ref>{{Cite web |title=71-80 |url=http://nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp8.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126232053/http://nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp8.htm |archive-date=26 January 2016 |access-date=23 November 2014 |website=nadigarthilagam.com}}</ref>}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Sri Valli''''' is a 1961 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Hindu mythological film]] directed by [[T. R. Ramanna]]. Based on the folk tale of [[Valli]], the film stars [[Sivaji Ganesan]] and [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]], supported by [[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]], E. R. Sahadevan, C. K. Saraswathi and [[J. P. Chandrababu]]. This film was taken in [[Gevacolor]]. It was released on 1 July 1961 and was not successful. The film also featured [[Lakshmi (actress)|Lakshmi]] in her on-screen debut as the child version of the titular character.

== Plot ==
Goddess Valli had her heart and soul dedicated to Lord Subramanya and would always pray with fervent devotion and love, to be with Him. The Lord was moved by the highest form of love expressed by the mountain princess, and so He planned to appease Her in person by creating the perfect situation after the enactment of His Lila.

The mountain chief planned to develop a field for growing millet and assigned Valli to take charge of protecting the field from birds and animals who might devour the crops. Lord Murugan saw this as an opportunity to meet the Goddess, and therefore He assumed the form of a handsome tribal hunter and appeared before her as if he had lost his way on chasing a deer during hunting. Valli did not recognise the stranger and promptly asked him to leave the place. The Hunter was about to leave and at that moment the chief was returning to the place bringing honey and fruits for Valli. God, in order to avoid being caught, turned himself into a tree. After the chief and his followers left the place, God changed back into the hunter form and proposed his love to Valli.

The princess who had only the Mountain God in her heart was infuriated at the proposal and lashed out at the hunter. (This form of Lord Muruga called the 'Veduvan Kolam' can be seen at the Lord Palaniapaar temple at Belukurichi). The chief and his followers were again returning to the place, so the hunter changed himself into an old man, without being noticed by Valli. The chief, on seeing the old man, requested him to stay with Valli till they returned from the hunt.

The old man was hungry and asked Valli for food, she gave Him a mixture of millet flour and honey, but it made him thirsty and He asked for water. She provided water from a nearby stream and the Lord jokingly remarked that she had satisfied his thirst and she could quench his thirst for a companion. The Goddess has angered again and started to leave the place. The Lord requested assistance from His brother, Lord Ganesha to appear as a wild elephant at that time. On seeing the wild elephant, Valli was scared and ran back to the old man, pleading with Him to save Her from the elephant. Lord Muruga proposed to save Her only if She agreed to marry Him. In the heat of the moment, she agrees and the Lord reveals His true form. It was then Valli realised that it was her beloved Lord, who was with her all the time. After the millet harvest was over, the chief with his daughter and entourage returned to their native land. The Lord again returned for His devotee and The Divine Couple enjoyed their time away from Valli's family. Nambi Raja on being alerted about Valli's absence flew into a rage and went in search of Her. When they finally found The Lord along with Valli, the chief and followers shot arrows at Him, but they all failed to even touch the Lord and instead, the chief and his sons fell lifeless. Goddess Valli was disheartened to see the lifeless bodies of her kith and kin and requested the Lord to bring them back to life. Lord Murugan instructed Her to revive them Herself and by Her mere touch, everyone was brought back to life. The chief Nambi Raja and his tribesmen realised that it was their God of Mountains, in the form of the old man and prayed to Him. Lord Muruga took his true form and blessed the tribesmen, and the chief conducted the marriage of his daughter and the Lord.

== Cast ==
''Cast adapted from the film's song book<ref name="song book" /> and the opening credits:''
{{Col-begin|width=60%}}
{{col-break|width=50%}}
; Male cast
* [[Sivaji Ganesan]] as [[Kartikeya|Lord Muruga]]
* [[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]] as [[Narada]]
* [[E. R. Sahadevan]] as Nambi Raja
* [[J. P. Chandrababu]] as Valli's brother
* V. R. Rajagopal as Killi
* [[C. R. Parthiban]] as [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]]
*[[Vijayakumar (Tamil actor)|Master Vijayakumar]] as Child Muruga
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Female cast
* [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]] as [[Valli]]
* [[Ragini (actress)|Ragini]] as Valli's friend
* [[Kumari Rukmani|Kumari Rukmini]] as Deivaanai/Devasena
* [[Helen (actress)|Helen]] as a Dancer
* Baby Uma as Valli's sister
* [[C. K. Saraswathi]] as Nambi Raja's wife
* [[Lakshmi (actress)|Baby Lakshmi]] as Child Valli
{{col-end}}
;Supporting cast
* C. S. Pandian, Chittam Pillai Venkataraman, S. V. Shanmugam, Karikol Raj, Nandi Velayutham, Ramaiah, Ponnandi, Subramaniam, Pattammal, Vathsala.

== Production ==
After the success of ''[[Amara Deepam (1956 film)|Amara Deepam]]'' (1956), director [[T. Prakash Rao]] and co-writer [[C. V. Sridhar]] wanted their next film to be on a grander scale. Rao decided on the folk tale of [[Valli]], and he and Sridhar approached [[Sivaji Ganesan]] to star. Ganesan refused, saying another producer was adapting the story (as ''Sri Valli'') and paid him an advance to star in it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 July 2017 |title=பார்த்தது படித்தது ரசித்தது – சுதாங்கன் – 30–07–17 |url=http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/31915/%25E0%25AE%25AA%25E0%25AE%25BE%25E0%25AE%25B0%25E0%25AF%258D%25E0%25AE%25A4%25E0%25AF%258D%25E0%25AE%25A4%25E0%25AE%25A4%25E0%25AF%2581-%25E0%25AE%25AA%25E0%25AE%259F%25E0%25AE%25BF%25E0%25AE%25A4%25E0%25AF%258D%25E0%25AE%25A4%25E0%25AE%25A4%25E0%25AF%2581-%25E0%25AE%25B0%25E0%25AE%259A%25E0%25AE%25BF%25E0%25AE%25A4%25E0%25AF%258D%25E0%25AE%25A4%25E0%25AE%25A4%25E0%25AF%2581-%25E2%2580%2593-%25E0%25AE%259A%25E0%25AF%2581%25E0%25AE%25A4%25E0%25AE%25BE%25E0%25AE%2599%25E0%25AF%258D%25E0%25AE%2595%25E0%25AE%25A9%25E0%25AF%258D-%25E2%2580%2593-30%25E2%2580%259307%25E2%2580%259317 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620102221/http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/31915/%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81-%E2%80%93-%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E2%80%93-30%E2%80%9307%E2%80%9317 |archive-date=20 June 2018 |access-date=22 July 2022 |website=[[Dinamalar]] |location=Nellai |language=ta}}</ref> The film was directed by [[T. R. Ramanna]], while [[Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass]] wrote the screenplay.<ref name="RandorGuy" /> Actor [[Vijayakumar (Tamil actor)|Vijayakumar]] made his debut through the film playing the younger role of [[Kartikeya|Muruga]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S.R. |date=8 December 2005 |title=For Vijayakumar, work is always worship |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/08/stories/2005120815220200.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=27 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051210022048/http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/08/stories/2005120815220200.htm |archive-date=10 December 2005}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 June 2013 |title=புதுமுகங்களுக்கான தேர்வில் விஜயகுமார் |language=ta |work=[[Dinakaran]] |url=http://www.thinakaran.lk/2013/06/11/?fn=f1306114 |url-status=live |access-date=27 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222213806/http://www.thinakaran.lk/2013/06/11/?fn=f1306114 |archive-date=22 February 2014}}</ref> and [[Lakshmi (actress)|Lakshmi]] too made her debut through the film playing the younger role of Valli.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vinothkumar |first=S |date=26 April 2022 |title=ராஜ்குமார் வாழ்நாள் சாதனையாளர் விருதை வென்ற பிரபல நடிகை லட்சுமி…! |url=https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/famous-actress-lakshmi-wins-lifetime-achievement-award/articleshow/91099200.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018092038/https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/famous-actress-lakshmi-wins-lifetime-achievement-award/articleshow/91099200.cms |archive-date=18 October 2022 |access-date=18 October 2022 |website=[[Samayam]] |language=Tamil}}</ref> [[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]], who portrayed Muruga in the [[Sri Valli (1945 film)|1945 film version of ''Sri Valli'']], portrayed [[Narada]] in this film. This was the first Tamil film based on Valli to be in colour as the previous ones were in black-and-white.<ref name="RandorGuy" /> The film was colourised using [[Gevacolor]].<ref name="song book" />

== Soundtrack ==
This album contains 20 songs composed by [[G. Ramanathan]], written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass.<ref name="song book" />

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Song !! Singers !! Length
|-
| "Vigna Vinaayagaa" || [[Seerkazhi Govindarajan]] || 01:35
|-
| "Unakkaagavae Pirandha Azhagan" || [[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]] || 03:33
|-
| "Chinnanjiru Kuruvigala" || [[P. Susheela]] and chorus || 04:17
|-
| "Vanna Thaamaraiyil Minnum Neerkumizhi" || Seerkazhi Govindarajan || 01:59
|-
| "Nittham Iranggi Varuvaai" || [[A. P. Komala]] & [[A. G. Rathnamala]] || 02:51
|-
| "Vannamigum Paravaigalaa" || [[T. M. Soundararajan]] & P. Susheela || 03:44
|-
| "Aiyo Machaan Mannaaru" || [[J. P. Chandrababu]] || 01:57
|-
| "Thanthaikku Annalil" || T. R. Mahalingam and chorus || 02:10
|-
| "Vanthanga Maappillainga" || P. Susheela and chorus || 04:00
|-
| "Maanai Thedi Vandhavare" || [[Jikki]] || 02:53
|-
| "Aadhi Andham Illaadha" || T. M. Soundararajan || 02:25
|-
| "Yechuputten Naan Yechuputten" || Seerkazhi Govindarajan & P. Susheela || 03:58
|-
| "Paayaadha Kadal Paayaa" || T. M. Soundararajan || 03:44
|-
| "Mogana Punnagaiyil" || T. R. Mahalingam || 01:59
|-
| "Thaagam Thanindhadhu Anname" || Seerkazhi Govindarajan & P. Susheela || 02:39
|-
| "Malai Naattu Kuravar Naanga"|| Jikki || 03:49
|-
| "Shanmugaa...Idhayak Koyil Irukka" || P. Susheela || 04:15
|-
| "Karpagachcholaiyile" || T. R. Mahalingam || 02:41
|}

== Release and reception ==
''Sri Valli'' was released on 1 July 1961.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 July 1961 |title=Sri Valli |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19610701&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=15 August 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=12 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In its review of the film, ''[[Kumudam]]'' filled a whole page with only two words: "Om Muruga".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Baskaran |first=S. Theodore |title=Sivaji Ganesan: Profile of an Icon |publisher=Wisdom Tree |year=2015 |isbn=9788183281096 |pages=31 |author-link=S. Theodore Baskaran |orig-date=2008}}</ref> ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' appreciated the film's colour sequences, and said the elephant acted the best among the cast.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=16 July 1961 |title=வள்ளி |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1961/jul/16-07-1961/p47.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220722091617/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1961/jul/16-07-1961/p47.jpg |archive-date=22 July 2022 |access-date=22 July 2022 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=47 |language=Ta}}</ref> ''[[The Indian Express]]'' described the film's cinematography and music as its highlights.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 July 1961 |title=Sri Valli |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19610707&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=23 July 2022 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=3 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The film was an average success as Tamil audiences by then were no longer interested in films based on mythology, instead focusing on films set in present day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 July 2022 |title=ஒரிஜினலில் நாயகனாகவும், ரீமேக்கில் துணை நடிகராகவும் தோன்றிய முன்னாள் சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் |url=https://tamil.news18.com/news/entertainment/cinema-tamil-cinema-classic-superstar-tr-mahalingam-in-sri-valli-movie-jbr-766252.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708023438/https://tamil.news18.com/news/entertainment/cinema-tamil-cinema-classic-superstar-tr-mahalingam-in-sri-valli-movie-jbr-766252.html |archive-date=8 July 2022 |access-date=22 July 2022 |website=[[News18]] |language=ta}}</ref>

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="song book">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/download/sok.SriValli_T.R.Ramanna_1961/43.%20SriValli_T.R.Ramanna_1961.pdf |title=ஸ்ரீ வள்ளி |publisher=Narasu Studios |year=1961 |language=ta |type=[[song book]] |access-date=26 November 2021 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
<ref name="RandorGuy">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=26 February 2011 |title=Blast from the past: Srivalli 1961 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Blast-from-the-past-Srivalli-1961/article15459707.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314035235/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Blast-from-the-past-Srivalli-1961/article15459707.ece |archive-date=14 March 2020 |access-date=30 August 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

</references>

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|1445740}}

{{T. R. Ramanna}}

[[Category:1961 Indian films]]
[[Category:1961 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1961 films]]
[[Category:Films directed by T. R. Ramanna]]
[[Category:Films scored by G. Ramanathan]]
[[Category:Hindu mythological films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Sri Valli (1961 film) - Revision history

Himanshuucharan: made new details needs work