Kizhakku Africavil Sheela Explained

Kizhakku Africavil Sheela
Director:Dwarakish
Producer:Dwarakish
Music:Bappi Lahiri
Cinematography:R. Devi Prasad
Editing:Gautham Raj
Studio:Dwarakish Chitra
Country:India
Language:Tamil

Kizhakku Africavil Sheela is a 1987 Indian Tamil-language film produced and directed by Dwarakish. A remake of the 1986 Kannada film Africadalli Sheela and inspired by the works featuring Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, the film stars Suresh, Sahila Chadha, and Nizhalgal Ravi. It was released on 14 January 1987.

Plot

A doctor named Ramu goes deep into the dark continent of Africa with his wife to help tribals. The couple are killed before that can be done, and their daughter is raised by apes, growing up to be Sheela. The Ramu's father sends an expedition to search for his son. Unbeknownst to him, the members of this expedition have other goals. How one of the expedition's members checkmates their moves and does the rescue forms the rest of the plot.

Production

Kizhakku Africavil Sheela is a remake of the 1986 Kannada film Africadalli Sheela,[1] and was also inspired by the works featuring Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. The film was shot predominantly in Zimbabwe. Directed by Dwarakish, it was also produced by him under his banner Dwarakish Chitra.[2] Sahila Chadha, who starred as the eponymous Sheela in Kannada, reprised her role in the remake.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Bappi Lahiri and lyrics written by Vaali.[3]

Release and reception

Kizhakku Africavil Sheela was released on 14 January 1987.[4] In a review dated 6 February 1987, The Indian Express felt the film largely resembled the "listless" television series Appu Aur Pappu as it was "stilted and trashy" like the dubbed Telugu action films that were common in that era. The reviewer criticised the characterisation of the villains, but praised the "catchy disco rhythms" composed by Bappi Lahiri, and Disco Shanti's "raw appeal".[5] Jayamanmadhan of Kalki panned the film, saying it might have worked better in a language other than Tamil.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sheela . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220223120544/http://myswar.co/album/sheela-1987 . 23 February 2022 . 22 February 2022 . MySwar.
  2. Web site: 1987-ல் வெளியான படப்பட்டியல் - தயாரிப்பாளர்கள் . List of films released in 1987 – Producers . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180622060426/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1987.asp . 22 June 2018 . 22 June 2018 . . Tamil.
  3. Web site: Kizhaku Africavil Sheela Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by Bappi Lahiri . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231010045813/https://banumass.com/product/vinyl-records/tamil-vinyl-records/kizhakku-apprikkavil-sheela-tamil-lp-vinyl-record-by-bappi-lahiri/ . 10 October 2023 . 10 October 2023 . Banumass.
  4. Web site: கிழக்கு ஆப்பிரிக்காவில் ஷீலா / Kizhakku Africavil Sheela (1987) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211118033232/https://screen4screen.com/movies/kizhakku-africavil-sheela . 18 November 2021 . 22 February 2022 . Screen 4 Screen .
  5. News: 6 February 1987 . Trashy . 22 June 2018 . . 14 . Google News Archive.
  6. ஜெயமன்மதன் . Subha (writers) . 8 February 1987 . கிழக்கு ஆப்பிரிக்காவில் ஷீலா . dead . https://archive.today/20220730033919/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1987/feb/08-02-1987/p38.jpg . 30 July 2022 . 23 February 2022 . . 38 . ta.