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{{short description|1978 film by K. Balachander}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Thappida Thala Thappu Thalangal
| image = Thappida Thala.jpg
| caption = VCD cover in Kannada
| director = [[K. Balachander]]
| writer = K. Balachander
| producer = '''Kannada:''' B. A. Ramanujacharya Pandit B M. Venkatesh [[Chandulal Jain]] Prasanna Kumar '''Tamil:''' R. Venkataraman
| starring = {{unbulleted list|[[Rajinikanth]]|[[Saritha]]}}
| cinematography = [[B. S. Lokanath]]
| editing = N. R. Kittu
| music = [[Vijaya Bhaskar]]
| studio = Lalitha Lakshmi Combines (Kannada) Premaalaya (Tamil)
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1978|10|06|Kannada|1978|10|30|Tamil|ref2=}}
| runtime = 131 minutes
| country = India
| language = Kannada Tamil
}}

'''''Thappida Thala''''' ({{audio|Kn-ತಪ್ಪಿದ ತಾಳ.ogg|pronunciation}} {{Translation|Wrong [[Tala (music)|talas]], figuratively "Impractial desires"}}) is a 1978 Indian [[romance film|romantic]] [[crime drama film]] directed by [[K. Balachander]], starring [[Rajinikanth]] and [[Saritha]] in her film debut.<ref name="news18">{{Cite web |date=1 November 2023 |title=Rajinikanth-starrer Thappu Thalangal Completes 45 Years Of Release |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/rajinikanth-starrer-thappu-thalangal-completes-45-years-of-release-8643541.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106012626/https://www.news18.com/movies/rajinikanth-starrer-thappu-thalangal-completes-45-years-of-release-8643541.html |archive-date=6 November 2023 |access-date=11 November 2023 |website=[[News18]]}}</ref> It was simultaneously shot in [[Kannada language|Kannada]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] with the latter version titled as '''''Thappu Thalangal''''' ({{IPA|ta|tappu taːɭaŋɡaɭ|pron}} {{Translation|Wrong talas}}).<ref name="NamanRamachandran">{{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=978-0-14-342111-5 |location=New Delhi |pages=83 |orig-date=2012}}</ref> The film was remade in [[Malayalam]] as ''[[Kazhukan]]'' (1979).<ref name="news18" /> The film was widely appreciated for the performances of Rajinikanth and Saritha.

== Plot ==
Sarasu is a prostitute and Devu is a hitman. On one of his nightly rounds, Devu is pursued by a cop and seeks refuge at Sarasu's house. They slowly fall in love with each other. Devu's has a rough relationship with his half-brother Soma, who keeps changing his partners and treats them bad.

Devu's assault on a trade union leader delivering medicine to a critically ill worker leads to a mishap. Watching the wailings of the widow of the worker, Devu is traumatised and breaks down at Sarasu's place. In an inspired moment, he suggests they remap their lives and chart a moral course. Sarasu is attracted by the notion of giving up prostitution and leading a normal life as Devu's wife, though she wonders if they'll be able to pull it off.

The couple go to great lengths to secure a job for Devu and lead a normal life, but there are too many skeletons in the closet. Devu is no longer feared for his might, and Sarasu's past clientele continue to haunt her. Sarasu gets a loan for Devu from Soma, who continues to harass her on that pretext. In a particularly traumatic sequence of events, Sarasu is raped by Soma as a helpless Devu watches, pinned down by Soma's henchmen. The couple resolve to repay Soma's loan, and Devu undertakes a botched robbery attempt. Devu is imprisoned and in his absence, Sarasu has an abortion. Soma, however, has a change of heart and tries to meet Devu in jail, but Devu refuses to talk to him.

Devu gets out of jail and finds out his child was stillborn because of Somu raping Sarasu. Sarasu has taken up prostitution again. Enraged, Devu goes to Soma's house and kills him. He then realises Soma is a changed man now and married to one of his previous partners. He gets arrested and on his way to jail, the police see Sarasu fighting with one of her "customers" and they arrest her too.

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Rajinikanth]] as Devu<ref>{{Cite news |last=Narayan |first=Hari |date=20 July 2016 |title=Rajini's Big B-eautiful career |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thread/entertainment-variety/article8876672.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401152645/http://www.thehindu.com/thread/entertainment-variety/article8876672.ece |archive-date=1 April 2018 |access-date=1 April 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
* [[Saritha]] as Sarasu<ref name="NamanRamachandran" />
* [[Sundar Raj]] as Soma<ref>{{Cite news |last=Khajane |first=Muralidhara |date=24 December 2014 |title=K. Balachander left a mark on Kannada cinema |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/k-balachander-left-a-mark-on-kannada-cinema/article6720093.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507051922/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/k-balachander-left-a-mark-on-kannada-cinema/article6720093.ece |archive-date=7 May 2021 |access-date=7 May 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
* Shantaram<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/shantaram-passes-away/articleshow/52500955.cms|title=Shantaram passes away|author=[[Bangalore Mirror]] Bureau|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=24 January 2017|access-date=12 January 2026}}</ref>
* [[M. S. Umesh|Umesh]]
* [[Pramila Joshai]] as Soma's wife
;Uncredited
* [[Kamal Haasan]] as Amrit Lal<ref name="NamanRamachandran" />
* [[R. Sundaramoorthy]] as Sarasu's customer<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Thappida Thala |type=motion picture |language=kn |publisher=Lalitha Lakshmi Combines |year=1978}}</ref>{{rp|23:40:18–24:29}}
}}

== Soundtrack ==
All songs were written by [[Hunsur Krishnamurthy]] in Kannada and [[Kannadasan]] in Tamil,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thapputhalangal Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by Vijayabhaskar |url=https://mossymart.com/product/thapputhalangal-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-vijayabhaskar/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218132824/https://mossymart.com/product/thapputhalangal-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-vijayabhaskar/ |archive-date=18 February 2023 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=Mossymart |date=9 May 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 December 1978 |title=Thappu Thaalangal (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Single |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/thappu-thaalangal-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1377695601 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231111095641/https://music.apple.com/us/album/thappu-thaalangal-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1377695601 |archive-date=11 November 2023 |access-date=11 November 2023 |website=[[Apple Music]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and composed by [[Vijaya Bhaskar]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thappida Thala |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/thappida-thala/EU,ltZAJNjQ_ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218132824/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/thappida-thala/EU,ltZAJNjQ_ |archive-date=18 February 2023 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=[[JioSaavn]]}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Kannada
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Thappida Thalagalu
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| title2 = Yaathara Vichithra Baalu
| extra2 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
| title3 = Olavinda Nalle
| extra3 = [[Vani Jairam]]
}}

{{Track listing
| headline = Tamil
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Azhagana Ilamangai
| length1 = 3:25
| extra1 = [[Vani Jairam]]
| title3 = Thappu Thalangal
| length3 = 4:44
| extra3 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
| title2 = Ennada Polladha
| length2 = 3:31
| extra2 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| total_length = 11:40 
}}

== Reception ==
While ''Thappida Thala'' was a box office success,<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 October 2013 |title=Deepika impresses Soundarya with her dedication |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/deepika-impresses-soundarya-with-her-dedication/articleshow/24341951.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411102734/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/deepika-impresses-soundarya-with-her-dedication/articleshow/24341951.cms |archive-date=11 April 2024 |access-date=5 April 2024 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2023 |title=ರಜನಿಕಾಂತ್ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿನಯಿಸಿದ ಕೊನೆಯ ಸಿನಿಮಾ ಯಾವುದು? ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಿಂದ ದೂರ ಉಳಿದಿದ್ದೇಕೆ ರಜನಿ? |url=https://kannadanews.today/sandalwood-news/actor-rajinikanth-last-acted-kannada-movie-why-he-stay-away-from-kannada-films/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606203810/https://kannadanews.today/sandalwood-news/actor-rajinikanth-last-acted-kannada-movie-why-he-stay-away-from-kannada-films/ |archive-date=6 June 2023 |access-date=5 April 2024 |website=kannadanews.today |language=kn}}</ref> ''Thappu Thalangal'' was an average grosser.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ராம்ஜி |first=வி. |date=1 November 2020 |title=எஸ்.பி.பி.யின் 'இதுக்குப் போயி அலட்டிக்கலாமா?'; பாலசந்தரின் சரியான தாளங்கள்... 'தப்புத்தாளங்கள்'! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/597096-42-years-of-thappputthalangal-6.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124130507/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/597096-42-years-of-thappputthalangal-6.html |archive-date=24 January 2023 |access-date=9 May 2022 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=3 November 2019 |title=75ல் ஆரம்பம்; 78ல் 15 படங்கள் - ரஜினி வளர்ச்சியின் முதல் பாய்ச்சல் |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/523287-1978-rajini-15-films.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502072405/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/523287-1978-rajini-15-films.html |archive-date=2 May 2022 |access-date=9 May 2022 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref> Reviewing the latter version, ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'' rated the film 52 out of 100.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 November 2020 |title=விகடன் பொக்கிஷம்: ஒரு தீபாவளி... 11 படங்கள்! |url=https://www.vikatan.com/government-and-politics/vikatan-pokkisham-11-pictures-to-a-diwali |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815135708/https://www.vikatan.com/government-and-politics/vikatan-pokkisham-11-pictures-to-a-diwali |archive-date=15 August 2023 |access-date=16 August 2023 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref> ''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote that Rajinikanth "departs from his usual gimmicks, and gestures, proving himself to be an actor of great maturity".<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 August 2025 |title=50 years of Rajinikanth: What 'The Hindu' film critics wrote about the superstar's performances |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/50-years-of-rajinikanth-from-apoorva-raagangal-to-coolie-what-the-hindu-critics-have-said-about-the-superstar-over-the-years/article69927797.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250814040245/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/50-years-of-rajinikanth-from-apoorva-raagangal-to-coolie-what-the-hindu-critics-have-said-about-the-superstar-over-the-years/article69927797.ece |archive-date=14 August 2025 |access-date=14 August 2025 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0155257|Thappu Thalangal}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|thappu_thalangal|Thappu Thalangal}}

{{K. Balachander}}

[[Category:1978 Indian films]]
[[Category:1978 Kannada-language films]]
[[Category:1978 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1978 crime drama films]]
[[Category:1978 films]]
[[Category:1978 multilingual films]]
[[Category:Films about prostitution in India]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. Balachander]]
[[Category:Films scored by Vijaya Bhaskar]]
[[Category:Films set in Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by K. Balachander]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian crime drama films]]
[[Category:Indian multilingual films]]
[[Category:Kannada films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Tamil films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Tamil-language crime drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Thappida Thala - Revision history

JeffreyChallis6: created first article needs work