Velli Vizha Explained

Velli Vizha should not be confused with Vettri Vizhaa.

Velli Vizha
Director:K. Balachander
Producer:N. Selvaraj
B. Duraisamy
N. Krishnan
V. Govindarajan
Starring:Gemini Ganesan
Jayanthi
Vanisri
S. Varalakshmi
Cinematography:N. Balakrishnan
Editing:N. R. Kittu
Music:V. Kumar
Studio:Kalakendra Movies
Runtime:166 minutes[1]
Country:India
Language:Tamil

Velli Vizha (in Tamil pronounced as /ʋeɭɭi ʋiɻaː/) is a 1972 Indian Tamil-language film, written and directed by K. Balachander. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Jayanthi, Vanisri and S. Varalakshmi. It was released on 11 August 1972.

Plot

Bala, married to Banu and son of Sivakami, is a rich and a celebrated tennis player with plethora of fans. Banu is a timid, obedient housewife and they have children too. Sheela is his fan and is the polar opposite of Banu. She is loud, obnoxious and a go-getter. Her brother Joseph happens to be a friend of Bala. She stalks Bala, befriends him and goes on to befriend Sivakami and Banu too. Sivakami begins to see her mannerisms as disgusting while Banu admires her courage and trusts her husband. Joseph, however, overhears Sheela while she is sleep-talking and confronts her about her love for Bala which she denies. She then gives in and decides to leave the family alone. Fate strikes and Banu dies leaving Bala desolate and heartbroken. Sivakami asks Sheela now to marry Bala but she, having given her word, leaves.

Sheela however starts letter correspondence with the family and becomes a surrogate mother to the children "bringing" them up through letters. Manorama, family friend, is the only one who understands and always has understood the relationship. A point comes where Sheela comes to visit the now adult children and Manorama's husband Aramuthan recognizes her and tells the children the flashback. Indirectly blaming Sheela for Banu's death, they hate her and throw her out fearing she might marry Bala and become an heir to the property. Bala, in anger, gives up all the property, marries Sheela to legitimize her sacrifices and moves out.

Cast

Production

While shooting for the film, Balachander suffered a heart attack at the age of 42, and spent three and a half weeks in hospital.[2] [3]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by V. Kumar, with lyrics by Vaali.[4] [5]

Song Singers Length
"Orunaal Varuval" 03:13
"Kaathoduthaan Dhaan" 03:11
"Naan Satham Pottuthan Paduven" P. Susheela 02:48
"Kainiraiya Chozhi" 03:14
"Unakkenna Kuraichal" 03:20

Release and reception

Velli Vizha was released on 11 August 1972.[6] When the film was released in Malaysia, posters of leaders of the Indian Communist Party shown in the background were censored.[7] Ananda Vikatan praised the performances of S. Varalakshmi, Manorama and Thengai Srinivasan but felt Vanisri's characterisation is damaged in second half and concluded that the film's first half is gold and the second half is not even brass.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Dharap, B. V. . Indian Films . 1973 . Allied Publishers . 226.
  2. Web site: Ravi . Bhama Devi . 8 July 2010 . Life has come full circle for this doyen of Tamil cinema . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220813060351/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/life-has-come-full-circle-for-this-doyen-of-tamil-cinema/articleshow/6140471.cms . 13 August 2022 . 13 August 2022 . The Times of India.
  3. Web site: 27 April 2021 . புரட்சிகரமான கதை – வசனம்: பரபரப்பை உண்டாக்கிய "அரங்கேற்றம்' . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210625120513/https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinehistory/2021/04/27021107/2569059/cinima-history.vpf . 25 June 2021 . 13 August 2022 . . Tamil.
  4. Web site: Velli Vizha . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190506034251/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/velli-vizha/4jEQ26lYbzo_ . 6 May 2019 . 13 August 2022 . JioSaavn. 31 December 1972 .
  5. Web site: Velli Vizha Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by V Kumar . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220813062733/https://macsendisk.com/product/velli-vizha-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-v-kumar/ . 13 August 2022 . 13 August 2022 . Macsendisk . en-US.
  6. Web site: Velli Vizha (1972) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231117173205/https://screen4screen.com/movies/velli-vizha . 17 November 2023 . 17 November 2023 . Screen 4 Screen.
  7. 1976 . Film Censorship . Asian Profile . 268–269 . 13 August 2022.
  8. 10 September 1972 . வெள்ளி விழா . dead . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220813060824/https://ibb.co/PGKDq9q . 13 August 2022 . 13 August 2022 . . 15–16 . ta.