Veguli Penn

Aalayam

Theatrical Release Poster
Directed by S. S. Devadoss
Produced by S. M. Abdul Gaffar
Written by Vietnam Veedu Sundaram (dialogue)
Screenplay by S. S. Devadoss
Story by R. M. Balakrishnan (Kalaignanam)
Based on Vellikizhamai by Kalaignanam
Starring Gemini Ganesan
Devika
R. Muthuraman
Venniradai Nirmala
Music by V. Kumar
Cinematography M. Krishnasamy
Edited by J. Stanley
Release dates
  • 2 July 1971 (1971-07-02)

[1]

Running time
 123 Mins
Country India
Language Tamil

Veguli Penn (English: An Innocent Girl) is a 1971 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by S. S. Devadoss and produced by S. M. Abdul Gaffar. It is based on the novel and stage play Vellikizhamai by Kalaignanam and stars Gemini Ganesan and Devika. The film was released on 2 July 1971 to critical and commercial success.[2] It also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil at the 19th National Film Awards.[3] The film was S. S. Devadoss's first film, he handled the direction deftly and scored.

Plot

Inspector Ramu(Gemini Ganesan) and Janaki(Devika) are married for ten years and have no child, Janaki's Sister Radha(Venniradai Nirmala), who is childlike and innocent, lives with them. Janaki constantly worried about Radha and protects her like a child, Janaki close to Doctor S. V. Lakshmi(S. Varalakshmi) and Lakshmi's son Manohar(K. Balaji) is a psychologist.

Ramu's brother Captain Muthu(R. Muthuraman) returns to Chennai. In the train, he meets Rani(Radhika), daughter of Bhoopathy Raja(V. K. Ramasamy), a local Zamindar. Rani, after reading about the bravery award conferred to Muthu, is attracted to him. Rani's Cousin Mohan(Nagesh) likes Radha and she too likes his soft behaviour.

On reaching home, Muthu is surprised to see the grown up and beautiful Radha and is attracted to her. At the party hosted Ramu for Muthu's achievement, Muthu scolds Radha for mingling with mohan and Manohar, and Radha doesn't like it.

One day Muthu sees Radha whiling away time on the road and sends her home. While returning Radha stops at Manohar's place where he tries a hypnosis on her. Muthu who returns home realises that Radha not returned and goes in search of her. They find her chatting happily with Manohar and Janaki reprimands her.

Ramu and his family go to Kodaikanal for a short vacation. Mohan, Rani and her father join them. Janaki notices Mohan's interest in Radha and warns him. Muthu rejects Rani's advances and makes it clear that he loves Radha.

Janaki and Ramu decide to get Muthu married to Radha. Muthu is happy but Radha refuses stating that she cannot marry a person, who all the times scolds her. But both Janaki and Ramu go ahead with their plan.

Ramu leaves to Trivandrum to investigate a case. Janaki's friend Mala is critical and Janaki rushes to the hospital. Radha is alone and Muthu decides to make use of the opportunity and mixes sedatives in the milk. Radha drinks and fall unconscious. Muthu walks into her room that night. Next day he leaves for his army camp.

Three months pass by and Ramu returns home from Trivandrum. Meanwhile, Janaki notices changes in Radha's health and takes her to Dr. Lakshmi who confirms that Radha is pregnant. Janaki is shocked and does not know who is responsible for it and informs Ramu about the pregnancy.

Ramu is excited to learn about the pregnancy assuming it to be Janaki's. Ramu's higher officials asks him to travel to London for an urgent investigation which he is unable to refuse and hence travels again.

Janaki decides to find out the person responsible for Radha's pregnancy. Janaki informs indirectly to both Manohar and Mohan and seeks a solution from them. When she mentions that it is Radha who is affected, both of them suddenly leave.[2]

Janaki takes Radha to their estate in Kodaikanal to avoid others knowing the truth. A local Doctor Majula attends to Radha there and she delivers a baby boy. In the process Radha also becomes normal and they return home.

Ramu returns from London and is excited to see his son, Babu with Janaki. She tries to tell the truth but he does not listen. Doctor Majula from Kodaikanal come to Chennai with her husband Chandran and visits Ramu's house. Majula starts talking about Radha's delivery and Janaki stops her.

Muthu, who was in a state of shock in the army for a few months, gets discharged on the grounds of medical condition. He does not reveal anything to Janaki and she suspects Muthu to be responsible. Chadran is Mohan's friend and he seeks his help for his register marriage with Doctor Manjula. Mohan tells him that he wants to get married to Radha and Chandran discloses the secret about her. Mohan meets Janaki and tells that he is innocent and that he doubts Muthu. Janaki shares her suspicion on Manohar.

Ramu decides to get Muthu married to Radha but Janaki seeks more time, Janaki finally agrees for the marriage but now Muthu refuses stating that he does not wish to marry the girl, who refused him a year back. Mohan confronts Manohar about Radha's pregnancy. Manhar explains his innocence and reveals that Muthu had come to get sedatives and after which he mentioned about a big mistake. Mohan informs Janaki and now she confirms that Muthu is the one.

At the time, Janaki gets a call from her friend Mala that Muthu getting married to Rani at Tiruthani. Janaki rushes with Mohan to stop the marriage but it too late, Janaki brings the newlyweds home.At home, Rani treats the child badly and Radha slaps her. Rani feels that Radha jealous about her getting married to Muthu and decide to leave. So Janaki sends Radha to her friend Mala's place.

Radha comes for Babu's first birthday function, Janaki takes her separately and scolds her for coming home when they still have no clarify about the father of the child. This is overheard by Ramu and he demands the truth from Janaki. Radha no confesses that babu is her child. Ramu demands to know the father and Mohan and Manohar say that it was Muthu. Ramu, angry with Muthu comes with his revolver and demands the truth.

Muthu finally reveals the truth about that night when he entered her room. Radha fell unconscious after drinking the milk and Muthu visited her room. He decides to take a medication to help him in his act and steps out. When about to take the tablet mixed in water, he hears a car and assuming it to be Janaki he rushes into his room. But it was Ramu who had arrived and he drinks the medication thinking it to be water and enters Radha's room mistakenly. After a couple of hours, Ramu attends to a phone call which Muthu overhears. Ramu in a drowsy states comes out of Radha's room and informs Muthu that Janaki is sleeping inside and that he is leaving on work. So, it was Ramu, who was with Radha that evening and responsible for her pregnancy. Hearing this Janaki is shocked and gets a heart attack as she never expected this twist. She requests Ramu to accept Radha as his wife and dies.[3]

Cast

Productions

The film produced by Devika and directed by her husband S. S. Devadoss. The film based on Kalaignanam's successful novel and stage - play titled with the same name. The film shown to the distributors but no one came forward to buy the film as they felt that it was arty in presentation. Finally Devadoss released it directly in theatres and the film succeeds at the box - Office.[3]

Box - Office

The film achieved the landmark status for being the first on the whodunit theme in the family genre. The film was a critical and commercial success and ran for over 100 days.[3]

Recognition and Awards

The film received the Best film in Tamil of the 1971 at the National Film Award.[4] The film won National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil - Certificate Merit in 1971 at 19th National Film Awards.

Soundtrack

The film's music was composed by V. Kumar and lyrics by Kannadasan [5]
Track list

References

  1. ↑ Dhananjayan 2014, p. 197.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Dhananjayan 2014, p. 224.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Dhananjayan 2014, p. 225.
  4. ↑ Dhananjayan 2014.
  5. ↑ Dhananjayan 2014, pp. 224-225.

Bibliography

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