Guru (1980 film): Difference between revisions

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{{short description|1980 film by I. V. Sasi}}
{{short description|1980 film by I. V. Sasi}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name          = Guru
| image          = Guru 1980 poster.jpg
| image          = Guru 1980 poster.jpg
| caption        = Poster of Tamil version
| caption        = Poster of Tamil version
| director      = [[I. V. Sasi]]
| director      = [[I. V. Sasi]]
| writer        = Haasan Brothers (dialogues)
| based_on      = {{based on|''[[Jugnu (1973 film)|Jugnu]]''}}
| producer      = Prakash R. C.
| producer      = Prakash R. C.
| writer        = Haasan Brothers
| narrator      =
| starring      = {{plainlist|
| starring      = {{plainlist|
* [[Kamal Haasan]]
* [[Kamal Haasan]]
* [[Sridevi]]
* [[Sridevi]]
}}
}}
| music          = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| cinematography = [[Jayanan Vincent]]
| cinematography = [[Jayanan Vincent]]
| editing        = [[K. Narayanan]]
| editing        = [[K. Narayanan]]
| music          = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| studio        = Shiv Sakthi Films
| studio        = Shiv Sakthi Films
| released      = {{Film date|1980|07|18|df=y}} {{small|(Tamil)}}<br /> {{Film date|1980|07|19|df=y}} {{small|(Telugu)}}
| released      = {{Film date|1980|07|18|Tamil|1980|07|19|Telugu|df=y}}
| runtime        = 159 minutes
| runtime        = 159 minutes
| country        = India
| country        = India
| language      = Tamil <br /> Telugu
| language      = Tamil <br /> Telugu
| budget        =
| gross          =
}}
}}


'''''Guru''''' ({{trans|Teacher}}) is a 1980 Indian [[Action film|action]] [[caper story|caper film]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gupta |first=Rachit |date=7 July 2016 |title=5 masked superheroes from films |url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/5-masked-superheroes-from-films-14378-2.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919123436/http://www.filmfare.com/features/5-masked-superheroes-from-films-14378-2.html |archive-date=19 September 2016 |access-date=17 March 2020 |website=[[Filmfare]] |quote=This star studded action adventure wasn’t exactly a superhero movie, but it did feature Kamal Haasan in an outlandish costume playing justice seeker and do-gooder.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Nayak |first=Satyarth |title=Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess |title-link=Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess |publisher=[[Ebury Publishing|Ebury Press]] |year=2019 |isbn=978-93-53056-78-0 |pages=45–46 |author-link=Satyarth Nayak}}</ref> directed by [[I. V. Sasi]]. The film, a bi-lingual, was made in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Telugu language|Telugu-languages]]. The film features [[Kamal Haasan]] and [[Sridevi]], while [[M. N. Nambiar]], [[R. Muthuraman|Muthuraman]] and [[Mohan Babu]] play supporting roles. The film opened in July 1980 to positive reviews. It was a blockbuster and completed a 365-day run at the box office. This film is a remake of the 1973 [[Hindi]] film ''[[Jugnu]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 August 2015 |title=Sridevi: 5 times the actress bowled us with her performance |url=https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/photo-features/sridevi-5-times-the-actress-bowled-us-with-her-performance/amp_etphotostory/48450778.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200317072327/https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/photo-features/sridevi-5-times-the-actress-bowled-us-with-her-performance/amp_etphotostory/48450778.cms |archive-date=17 March 2020 |access-date=17 March 2020 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
'''''Guru''''' ({{translation|Teacher}}) is a 1980 Indian [[action adventure film]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gupta |first=Rachit |date=7 July 2016 |title=5 masked superheroes from films |url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/5-masked-superheroes-from-films-14378-2.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919123436/http://www.filmfare.com/features/5-masked-superheroes-from-films-14378-2.html |archive-date=19 September 2016 |access-date=17 March 2020 |website=[[Filmfare]] |quote=This star studded action adventure wasn’t exactly a superhero movie, but it did feature Kamal Haasan in an outlandish costume playing justice seeker and do-gooder.}}</ref> directed by [[I. V. Sasi]]. The film stars [[Kamal Haasan]] and [[Sridevi]], while [[M. N. Nambiar]], [[R. Muthuraman|Muthuraman]], and [[Mohan Babu]] play supporting roles. The story revolves around a philanthropist who masquerades as a vigilante.
 
''Guru'', a remake of the 1973 [[Hindi]] film ''[[Jugnu (1973 film)|Jugnu]]'', was [[Multiple-language version|simultaneously made]] in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Telugu language|Telugu-languages]]. The Tamil version was released on 18 July 1980, and the Telugu version the day after. It was a blockbuster and completed a 365-day run at the box office.


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
{{more plot|date=October 2021}}
In [[British Raj|pre-independent India]], Raghu is a revolutionary who is disowned by his aristocratic father and is presumed dead while fleeing from the police. Ten years later, Raghu's wife is shot dead by a landlord attempting to rape her, and her young boy shoots the landlord in retaliation and absconds.
In [[British Raj|pre-independent India]], Raghu is a revolutionary who is disowned by his aristocratic father and is presumed dead while fleeing from the police. Ten years later, Raghu's wife is shot dead by a landlord attempting to rape her, and her young boy shoots the landlord in retaliation and absconds.


Several years later, the boy has grown up to be Ashok, a rich, reputed philanthropist who runs "Parvathi Nilayam", a shelter and institute for orphaned destitute children, named after his mother. Unknown to all except his close friend and associate Mahesh is the fact that to support "Parvathi Nilayam", Ashok also masquerades as "Guru", an elusive criminal who carries out several heists and is being hunted by the police. Meanwhile, Ashok's grandfather has been raising an impostor, Ramesh as his grandson, who has turned out to be felonious.
Several years later, the boy has grown up to be Ashok, a rich, reputed philanthropist who runs "Parvathi Nilayam," a shelter and institute for orphaned destitute children, named after his mother. Unknown to all except his close friend and associate Mahesh is the fact that to support "Parvathi Nilayam", Ashok also masquerades as "Guru", an elusive vigilante who performs several heists and is being hunted by the police. Meanwhile, Ashok's grandfather has been raising an impostor, Ramesh as his grandson, who has turned out to be felonious.


Ashok meets and falls in love with a charming girl, Sujatha, the niece of a top police official, who strives to win her affection and succeeds. Ashok, in the guise of Guru, also tangles with a notorious mob headed by a one-armed man, one of whose associates is Ramesh. Ashok also has a chance encounter with his lost father, Raghu, who is now working as a professor, but Raghu conceals his identity to keep Ashok safe.
Ashok meets and falls in love with Sujatha, the niece of a top police official. Ashok strives to win her affection and succeeds. Ashok, in the guise of Guru, also tangles with a notorious mob headed by a one-armed man, one of whose associates is Ramesh. Ashok also has a chance encounter with his lost father, Raghu, who is now working as a professor, but Raghu conceals his identity to keep Ashok safe.


In a shocking twist, Ashok finds out that the landlord whom he had murdered as a boy was none other than Sujatha's father, and he starts rebuking Sujatha without revealing her the truth, leaving her heart-broken. Distraught and despondent, Ashok plans one last big heist to support "Parvathi Nilayam" permanently, hand it over to his friend Mahesh and seclude himself forever. Whether his plans succeed forms the rest of the story.
In a shocking twist, Ashok finds out that the landlord whom he had murdered as a boy was none other than Sujatha's father, and he starts rebuking Sujatha without revealing the truth to her, leaving her heart-broken. Distraught and despondent, Ashok plans one last big heist to support "Parvathi Nilayam" permanently, hand it over to his friend Mahesh, and seclude himself forever. Whether his plans succeed forms the rest of the story.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
<!--Don't change Cast order-->
<!--Don't change cast order-->
* [[Kamal Haasan]] as Guru / Ashok
{| class="wikitable"
* [[Sridevi]] as Sujatha
|+
* [[R. Muthuraman]] as Raghu, father of Ashok (Tamil)
!Cast (Tamil)
**[[Kaikala Satyanarayana]] (Telugu)
!Cast (Telugu)
* [[M. N. Nambiar]] as head of the anti-social group (Tamil)
!Role
**[[M. Prabhakar Reddy]] (Telugu)
|-
* [[Major Sundarrajan]] as Commissioner of Police, Sujatha's uncle (Tamil)
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| [[Kamal Haasan]]  
**[[Kanta Rao]] (Telugu)
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| Guru / Ashok
* [[Mohan Babu]] as Ramesh
|-
* [[Y. G. Mahendran]] as Mahesh, Guru's friend
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| [[Sridevi]]  
* [[Poornam Vishwanathan]] as Raghu's father
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| Sujatha
*[[S. V. Ramadas]] as Sujatha's father
|-
* [[Ceylon Manohar]] as Henchman
| style="text-align:center;"| [[R. Muthuraman]]  
* ISR
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Kaikala Satyanarayana]]  
* [[Vennira Aadai Nirmala]] as Parvathi, wife of Raghu and mother of Ashok
| style="text-align:center;"|  Raghu
* [[Pandari Bai]] as Sujatha's mother
|-
* [[Jayamalini]] as Mahesh's love interest
| style="text-align:center;"|  [[M. N. Nambiar]]  
| style="text-align:center;"| [[M. Prabhakar Reddy]]  
| style="text-align:center;"|  Head of the anti-social group
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|  [[Major Sundarrajan]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Kantha Rao]]  
| style="text-align:center;"|Commissioner of Police
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| [[Mohan Babu]]  
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|  Ramesh
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| [[Y. G. Mahendran]]  
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| Mahesh
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| [[Poornam Viswanathan]]  
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|  Raghu's father
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| [[S. V. Ramadas]]  
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|  Sujatha's father
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| [[Ceylon Manohar]]  
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|  Henchman
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| [[Vennira Aadai Nirmala]]  
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|  Parvathi
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|  [[Pandari Bai]]  
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| Sujatha's mother
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|  [[Jayamalini]]  
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|  Mahesh's love interest
|}
 
== Production ==
''Guru'' is a remake of the 1973 [[Hindi]] film ''[[Jugnu (1973 film)|Jugnu]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 August 2015 |title=Sridevi: 5 times the actress bowled us with her performance |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/photo-features/sridevi-5-times-the-actress-bowled-us-with-her-performance/etphotostory/48450778.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424051532/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/photo-features/sridevi-5-times-the-actress-bowled-us-with-her-performance/etphotostory/48450778.cms |archive-date=24 April 2024 |access-date=17 March 2020 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> For the song "Paranthalum Vidamatten" where Kamal Haasan travels in an aeroplane and Sridevi in a helicopter, the producer bought an aeroplane and a helicopter from Delhi. The song was shot over four days.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=15 June 1980 |title=விமானத்தில் கமல், ஹெலிகாப்டரில் ஸ்ரீதேவி! |trans-title=Kamal in an aeroplane, Sridevi in a helicopter! |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1980-06-15/page/n13/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230405080442/https://archive.org/details/kalki1980-06-15/page/n13/mode/2up |archive-date=5 April 2023 |access-date=3 April 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=12–13 |language=Ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>


== Soundtrack ==
== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
The music was composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]]. [[Kannadasan]], [[Gangai Amaran]] and [[Panchu Arunachalam]] provided lyrics for the Tamil version.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guru Tamil Film EP VInyl Record by Ilayaraaja |url=https://mossymart.com/product/guru-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-recod-by-ilayaraaja/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006065739/https://mossymart.com/product/guru-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-recod-by-ilayaraaja/ |archive-date=6 October 2021 |access-date=6 October 2021 |website=Mossymart}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Guru (1980) |url=https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/guru-songs-T0000055 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312131049/https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/guru-songs-T0000055 |archive-date=12 March 2024 |access-date=17 March 2020 |website=[[Raaga.com]]}}</ref> For the Telugu version, all lyrics were written by [[Acharya Aatreya]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guru Telugu Film EP VInyl Record by Ilayaraja |url=https://mossymart.com/product/guru-telugu-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-ilayaraja/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006065741/https://mossymart.com/product/guru-telugu-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-ilayaraja/ |archive-date=6 October 2021 |access-date=6 October 2021 |website=Mossymart}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Guru (Telugu) |url=https://gaana.com/album/guru-telugu-telugu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200317074031/https://gaana.com/album/guru-telugu-telugu |archive-date=17 March 2020 |access-date=17 March 2020 |website=[[Gaana (music streaming service)|Gaana]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Guru (1980)-Song_Booklet |url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/CTY/info |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230404122935/https://indiancine.ma/documents/CTY/info |archive-date=4 April 2023 |access-date=6 October 2021 |website=Indiancine.ma}}</ref>
| name      = Guru
 
| type      = [[Soundtrack]]
{{Track listing
| artist    = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| headline = Tamil
| cover      =
| alt        =
| released  = 1980
| recorded  =
| venue      =
| studio    =
| genre      = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length    =
| label      = Inreco
| language  = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| producer  =
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  =
| misc      = {{External media
| audio1    = {{YouTube|pTpASCFqf9U|Audio Jukebox}}
}}
}}
The music was composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guru (1980) |url=https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/guru-songs-T0000055 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220202155/https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/guru-songs-T0000055 |archive-date=20 February 2020 |access-date=17 March 2020 |website=[[Raaga.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Guru (Telugu) |url=https://gaana.com/album/guru-telugu-telugu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200317074031/https://gaana.com/album/guru-telugu-telugu |archive-date=17 March 2020 |access-date=17 March 2020 |website=[[Gaana.com]]}}</ref>
{{tracklist
| headline = Tamil tracklist
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length =
| title1 = Perai Chollava
| title1 = Aadungal Paadungal
| extra1 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| lyrics1 = Kannadasan
| lyrics1 = [[Kannadasan]]
| title2 = Naan Vanangugiren
| title2 = Parandhalum Vidamatten
| extra2 = S. Janaki
| extra2 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, [[S. Janaki]]
| lyrics2 = [[Panchu Arunachalam]]
| lyrics2 = [[Kannadasan]]
| title3 = Endhan Kannil
| title3 = Perai Chollava
| extra3 = S. Janaki
| extra3 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
| lyrics3 = Kannadasan
| lyrics3 = Kannadasan
| title4 = Endhan Kannil
| title4 = Maamanukku Paramakudi
| extra4 = S. Janaki
| extra4 = S. Janaki
| lyrics4 = Kannadasan
| lyrics4 = [[Gangai Amaran]]
| title5 = Maamanukku Paramakudi
| title5 = Parandhalum Vidamatten
| extra5 = S. Janaki
| extra5 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, [[S. Janaki]]
| lyrics5 = [[Gangai Amaran]]
| lyrics5 = [[Kannadasan]]
| title6 = Naan Vanangugiren
| title6 = Aadungal Paadungal
| extra6 = S. Janaki
| extra6 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| lyrics6 = [[Panchu Arunachalam]]
| lyrics6 = [[Kannadasan]]
| all_writing =
| title7 =
| title8 =
| title9 =
| title10 =
}}
}}


{{tracklist
{{Track listing
| headline = Telugu tracklist
| headline = Telugu
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Aadandi Paadandi
| title1 = Perucheppana
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| extra1 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
| title2 = Nela Ina Ningi Ina
| title2 = Kannula Kipu
| extra2 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, [[S. Janaki]]
| extra2 = S. Janaki
| title3 = Perucheppana
| title3 = Nimmasettu Needunnadi
| extra3 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
| extra3 = S. Janaki
| title4 = Kannula Kipu
| title4 = Naa Vandanamu
| extra4 = S. Janaki
| extra4 = S. Janaki
| title5 = Nimmasettu Needunnadi
| title5 = Nela Ina Ningi Ina
| extra5 = S. Janaki
| extra5 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, [[S. Janaki]]
| title6 = Naa Vandanam
| title6 = Aadandi Paadandi
| extra6 = S. Janaki
| extra6 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
}}
}}


== Release and reception ==
== Release and reception ==
Guru's Tamil version was released on 18 July 1980; the Telugu version was released one day later, on 19 July. Both were critically and commercially successful. The Tamil version film was released in [[Sri Lanka]] as the same name in later 1980, and Guru had the longest theatrical run<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramji |first=V. |date=19 July 2020 |title=கமலின் கமர்ஷியல் 'குரு'வுக்கு 40 வயது! - இலங்கையில் செய்த மெகா சாதனை! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/565372-kamal-guru.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719151216/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/565372-kamal-guru.html |archive-date=19 July 2020 |access-date=19 July 2020 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]]}}</ref> of 386 days in Sri Lanka, previous record [[Chandralekha (1948 film)|Chandralekha]] (1948) 383 days.
''Guru''{{'}}s Tamil version was released on 18 July 1980; the Telugu version was released the day after, on 19 July. Both versions were critically and commercially successful. The Tamil version was also successful in [[Sri Lanka]], it ran there for two years becoming the second Tamil film after ''[[Vasantha Maligai]]'' for having successful run in Sri Lanka for two years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ராம்ஜி |first=வி. |date=19 July 2020 |title=கமலின் கமர்ஷியல் 'குரு'வுக்கு 40 வயது! – இலங்கையில் செய்த மெகா சாதனை! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/565372-kamal-guru.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719151216/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/565372-kamal-guru.html |archive-date=19 July 2020 |access-date=19 July 2020 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=ராமநாதன் |first=ஆர். கே. |date=31 October 1982 |title=? |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1982-10-31/page/n55/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230416161106/https://archive.org/details/kalki1982-10-31/page/n55/mode/2up |archive-date=16 April 2023 |access-date=16 April 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=56 |language=Ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> Kanthan of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' appreciated the performances of the cast, particularly Haasan, but felt the plot was an amalgam of various Hindi films.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=காந்தன் |date=10 August 1980 |title=குரு |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1980-08-10/page/n15/mode/2up? |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231221095725/https://archive.org/details/kalki1980-08-10/page/n15/mode/2up? |archive-date=21 December 2023 |access-date=23 February 2024 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=14 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>


In retrospect, Kamal Haasan has been critical of the film, calling it "crap".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=7 November 2019 |title=A look at Kamal Haasan's hits and misses in the 80s, before he became the Kamal we know today |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/kamal-haasan-65th-birthday-indian-film-actor-baradwaj-rangan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415134624/https://www.filmcompanion.in/kamal-haasan-65th-birthday-indian-film-actor-baradwaj-rangan |archive-date=15 April 2020 |access-date=13 April 2020 |website=[[Film Companion]]}}</ref>
== Legacy ==
The visuals for the songs "Paranthalum Vidamatten" and "Endhan Kannil" became iconic for the "technical marvel" in the former, and Sridevi's drunken comedy in the latter.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nayak |first=Satyarth |author-link=Satyarth Nayak |title=Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess |title-link=Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess |publisher=[[Ebury Publishing|Ebury Press]] |year=2019 |isbn=978-93-53056-78-0 |pages=45–46}}</ref> In retrospect, Haasan has been critical of the film, calling it "crap".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=7 November 2019 |title=Kamal Haasan At 65: The Forgotten Phase |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/kamal-haasan-at-65-the-forgotten-phase |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730041105/https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/kamal-haasan-at-65-the-forgotten-phase |archive-date=30 July 2024 |access-date=30 July 2024 |website=[[Film Companion]]}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
Line 137: Line 144:


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0187108|Guru}}
* {{IMDb title}}


{{I. V. Sasi}}
{{I. V. Sasi}}


[[Category:1980 action films]]
[[Category:1980 films]]
[[Category:1980 films]]
[[Category:1980s Indian superhero films]]
[[Category:1980 multilingual films]]
[[Category:1980s multilingual films]]
[[Category:1980s action adventure films]]
[[Category:1980s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1980s heist films]]
[[Category:1980s Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:1980 Indian films]]
[[Category:1980s superhero films]]
[[Category:1980 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1980 Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:1980s vigilante films]]
[[Category:1980s vigilante films]]
[[Category:Fictional vigilantes]]
[[Category:Films about landlords]]
[[Category:Films directed by I. V. Sasi]]
[[Category:Films directed by I. V. Sasi]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja]]
[[Category:Indian action films]]
[[Category:Indian action adventure films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian heist films]]
[[Category:Indian multilingual films]]
[[Category:Indian multilingual films]]
[[Category:Indian superhero films]]
[[Category:Indian vigilante films]]
[[Category:Indian vigilante films]]
[[Category:Tamil remakes of Hindi films]]
[[Category:Tamil remakes of Hindi films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language action adventure films]]
[[Category:Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Telugu remakes of Hindi films]]

Latest revision as of 00:36, 4 March 2026


Guru
Poster of Tamil version
Directed byI. V. Sasi
Produced byPrakash R. C.
Written byHaasan Brothers (dialogues)
Based onJugnu
Starring
Music byIlaiyaraaja
CinematographyJayanan Vincent
Edited byK. Narayanan
Production
company
Shiv Sakthi Films
Release date
  • 18 July 1980 (1980-07-18) (Tamil)
  • 19 July 1980 (1980-07-19) (Telugu)
Running time
159 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil
Telugu

Guru (transl. Teacher) is a 1980 Indian action adventure film[1] directed by I. V. Sasi. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Sridevi, while M. N. Nambiar, Muthuraman, and Mohan Babu play supporting roles. The story revolves around a philanthropist who masquerades as a vigilante.

Guru, a remake of the 1973 Hindi film Jugnu, was simultaneously made in Tamil and Telugu-languages. The Tamil version was released on 18 July 1980, and the Telugu version the day after. It was a blockbuster and completed a 365-day run at the box office.

Plot[edit | edit source]

In pre-independent India, Raghu is a revolutionary who is disowned by his aristocratic father and is presumed dead while fleeing from the police. Ten years later, Raghu's wife is shot dead by a landlord attempting to rape her, and her young boy shoots the landlord in retaliation and absconds.

Several years later, the boy has grown up to be Ashok, a rich, reputed philanthropist who runs "Parvathi Nilayam," a shelter and institute for orphaned destitute children, named after his mother. Unknown to all except his close friend and associate Mahesh is the fact that to support "Parvathi Nilayam", Ashok also masquerades as "Guru", an elusive vigilante who performs several heists and is being hunted by the police. Meanwhile, Ashok's grandfather has been raising an impostor, Ramesh as his grandson, who has turned out to be felonious.

Ashok meets and falls in love with Sujatha, the niece of a top police official. Ashok strives to win her affection and succeeds. Ashok, in the guise of Guru, also tangles with a notorious mob headed by a one-armed man, one of whose associates is Ramesh. Ashok also has a chance encounter with his lost father, Raghu, who is now working as a professor, but Raghu conceals his identity to keep Ashok safe.

In a shocking twist, Ashok finds out that the landlord whom he had murdered as a boy was none other than Sujatha's father, and he starts rebuking Sujatha without revealing the truth to her, leaving her heart-broken. Distraught and despondent, Ashok plans one last big heist to support "Parvathi Nilayam" permanently, hand it over to his friend Mahesh, and seclude himself forever. Whether his plans succeed forms the rest of the story.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Cast (Tamil) Cast (Telugu) Role
Kamal Haasan Guru / Ashok
Sridevi Sujatha
R. Muthuraman Kaikala Satyanarayana Raghu
M. N. Nambiar M. Prabhakar Reddy Head of the anti-social group
Major Sundarrajan Kantha Rao Commissioner of Police
Mohan Babu Ramesh
Y. G. Mahendran Mahesh
Poornam Viswanathan Raghu's father
S. V. Ramadas Sujatha's father
Ceylon Manohar Henchman
Vennira Aadai Nirmala Parvathi
Pandari Bai Sujatha's mother
Jayamalini Mahesh's love interest

Production[edit | edit source]

Guru is a remake of the 1973 Hindi film Jugnu.[2] For the song "Paranthalum Vidamatten" where Kamal Haasan travels in an aeroplane and Sridevi in a helicopter, the producer bought an aeroplane and a helicopter from Delhi. The song was shot over four days.[3]

Soundtrack[edit | edit source]

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Kannadasan, Gangai Amaran and Panchu Arunachalam provided lyrics for the Tamil version.[4][5] For the Telugu version, all lyrics were written by Acharya Aatreya.[6][7][8]

Tamil
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Perai Chollava"KannadasanS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki 
2."Naan Vanangugiren"Panchu ArunachalamS. Janaki 
3."Endhan Kannil"KannadasanS. Janaki 
4."Maamanukku Paramakudi"Gangai AmaranS. Janaki 
5."Parandhalum Vidamatten"KannadasanS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki 
6."Aadungal Paadungal"KannadasanS. P. Balasubrahmanyam 
Telugu
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Perucheppana"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki 
2."Kannula Kipu"S. Janaki 
3."Nimmasettu Needunnadi"S. Janaki 
4."Naa Vandanamu"S. Janaki 
5."Nela Ina Ningi Ina"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki 
6."Aadandi Paadandi"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 

Release and reception[edit | edit source]

Guru's Tamil version was released on 18 July 1980; the Telugu version was released the day after, on 19 July. Both versions were critically and commercially successful. The Tamil version was also successful in Sri Lanka, it ran there for two years becoming the second Tamil film after Vasantha Maligai for having successful run in Sri Lanka for two years.[9][10] Kanthan of Kalki appreciated the performances of the cast, particularly Haasan, but felt the plot was an amalgam of various Hindi films.[11]

Legacy[edit | edit source]

The visuals for the songs "Paranthalum Vidamatten" and "Endhan Kannil" became iconic for the "technical marvel" in the former, and Sridevi's drunken comedy in the latter.[12] In retrospect, Haasan has been critical of the film, calling it "crap".[13]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Gupta, Rachit (7 July 2016). "5 masked superheroes from films". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2020. This star studded action adventure wasn't exactly a superhero movie, but it did feature Kamal Haasan in an outlandish costume playing justice seeker and do-gooder.
  2. ↑ "Sridevi: 5 times the actress bowled us with her performance". The Times of India. 12 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  3. ↑ "விமானத்தில் கமல், ஹெலிகாப்டரில் ஸ்ரீதேவி!" [Kamal in an aeroplane, Sridevi in a helicopter!]. Kalki (in தமிழ்). 15 June 1980. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 3 April 2023 – via Internet Archive.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. ↑ "Guru Tamil Film EP VInyl Record by Ilayaraaja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  5. ↑ "Guru (1980)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  6. ↑ "Guru Telugu Film EP VInyl Record by Ilayaraja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  7. ↑ "Guru (Telugu)". Gaana. Retrieved 17 March 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ↑ "Guru (1980)-Song_Booklet". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 6 October 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ↑ ராம்ஜி, வி. (19 July 2020). "கமலின் கமர்ஷியல் 'குரு'வுக்கு 40 வயது! – இலங்கையில் செய்த மெகா சாதனை!". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in தமிழ்). Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  10. ↑ ராமநாதன், ஆர். கே. (31 October 1982). "?". Kalki (in தமிழ்). p. 56. Retrieved 16 April 2023 – via Internet Archive.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ↑ காந்தன் (10 August 1980). "குரு". Kalki (in தமிழ்). p. 14. Retrieved 23 February 2024 – via Internet Archive.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ↑ Nayak, Satyarth (2019). Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess. Ebury Press. pp. 45–46. ISBN 978-93-53056-78-0.
  13. ↑ Rangan, Baradwaj (7 November 2019). "Kamal Haasan At 65: The Forgotten Phase". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.

External links[edit | edit source]

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