Kaali (1980 film) explained

Kaali
Director:I. V. Sasi
Producer:Hem Nag
Cinematography:Ashok Kumar
Editing:K. Narayanan
Music:Ilaiyaraaja
Studio:Hem Nag Productions
Runtime:144 minutes
Country:India

Kaali is a 1980 Indian action film written by Mahendran and directed by I. V. Sasi. Produced by Hem-Nag, the film stars Rajinikanth, Seema, Fatafat Jayalaxmi and Shubha.[1] [2] The film was simultaneously made in Tamil and Telugu languages, with Chiranjeevi replacing Vijayakumar in Telugu. The cinematography was handled by Ashok Kumar and soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[3] Kaali ran for less than 50 days in Chennai and was considered a box office failure in both Tamil and Telugu.[4] The film is infamous for a fire accident which caused the deaths of some stuntmen and horses.[5]

Cast

!Cast (Tamil)!Cast (Telugu)!Role (Tamil)!Role (Telugu)
Kaali
G. K.
Anitha Geetha
Alangaram
Major SundarrajanSampath
Thayamma
Sokku
Sampath's wife
Kaali's sister
V. GopalakrishnanSomu
Rajaram
one of Rajaram's sons
one of Rajaram's sons
Rajaram's wife
child artist
child artist
Kumarimuthu

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[6] The film had Vairamuthu's first written song, "Kali Bhadrakali".

Song Singers Lyrics Length
"Adi Aadu" 4:39
"Azhagazhaga" 4:46
"Kali Bhadrakali" 4:00
"Thithikkum" Kannadasan4:33
"Vaazhumattum" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 4:46

Release and reception

Kaali was released on 3 July 1980 in Tamil, and 19 September the same year in Telugu clashing with another Chiranjeevi-starrer Thathayya Premaleelalu (1980).[7] [8] Saavi wrote that I. V. Sasi has started taking roots in Tamil. The critic added that the makers have mixed the colour in the cinemascope and added by looking at the title if you guess this film as revenge plot then you have better intelligence than Sasi.[9] Ananda Vikatan rated the film 43 out of 100, criticising its excessive reliance on violence and expressed concern it would inspire real life violence which was already rampant in India.[10]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. News: S.B. . Vijaya Mary . 22 August 2002 . Ready for the challenge . . dead . 7 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20021025055006/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/22/stories/2002082200960100.htm . 25 October 2002.
  2. News: 22 July 2015 . Superstar's next with Ranjith titled Kaali? . . live . 7 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161127142401/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Superstars-next-with-Ranjith-titled-Kaali/articleshow/48170308.cms . 27 November 2016.
  3. News: 24 October 2014 . பிரபல ஒளிப்பதிவாளர் அசோக்குமார் மரணம் . ta . . dead . 7 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160513010500/http://www.dailythanthi.com/News/State/2014/10/23235914/Famous-cinematographer-Ashok-Kumars-death.vpf . 13 May 2016.
  4. Web site: 13 May 2022 . சூப்பர் ஸ்டார்கள் மோதிக் கொண்ட இந்தத் திரைப்படம் எது தெரியுமா? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230213190930/https://tamil.news18.com/photogallery/entertainment/cinema-rajinikanth-chiranjeevi-ranuva-veeran-tamil-movie-jbr-scs-744948.html . 13 February 2023 . 13 February 2023 . . ta.
  5. News: Subramanian . Anupama . 23 October 2013 . Karthi's film 'Kaali' renamed as 'Kabali'? . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006134217/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/131023/entertainment-kollywood/article/karthi%E2%80%99s-film-kali-renamed-kabali . 6 October 2014 . 12 June 2024 . Deccan Chronicle.
  6. Web site: Kaali Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraja . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211001115452/https://mossymart.com/product/kaali-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-ilayaraja/ . 1 October 2021 . 1 October 2021 . Mossymart.
  7. Web site: Kali . live . https://archive.today/20231127053511/https://indiancine.ma/AMNK/info . 27 November 2023 . 27 November 2023 . Indiancine.ma.
  8. Web site: 27 September 2020 . Chiranjeevi : నలబై ఏళ్ల లవ్ ఇన్ సింగపూర్.. ఆసక్తికర విషయాలతో ప్రత్యేక కథనం.. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230811085205/https://telugu.news18.com/news/movies/chiranjeevi-love-in-singapore-celebrates-40-years-a-special-story-sr-615880.html . 11 August 2023 . 20 March 2024 . . te.
  9. 28 June 1981 . காளி . live . https://archive.today/20230810083956/https://archive.org/details/kalki1981-06-28/page/n51/mode/2up . 10 August 2023 . 10 August 2023 . . 50 . ta . Internet Archive.
  10. 20 July 1980 . காளி - ஆனந்த விகடன் விமர்சனம் . live . . ta . https://web.archive.org/web/20231127045945/http://rajinifans.com/review/kaali.php . 27 November 2023 . 27 November 2023 . Rajinifans.com.