Naan Vazhavaippen (1979)

Naan Vazhavaippen  is a 1979 Indian Tamil-language thriller film, directed by D. Yoganand. It stars Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya in the lead roles. Jai Ganesh and Rajinikanth played supporting roles. The film was a remake of the Hindi film Majboor (1974).

Ravi (Sivaji Ganesan) is a travel agent that is the sole provider for his family consisting of a widowed mother (Pandaribai), physically disabled younger sister and very young brother (Babloo Prithiveeraj). He and Neela (K. R. Vijaya), a promising defense attorney, are engaged to be married. Neela's brother, Ramesh (Jaiganesh) is a public prosecutor who is supportive of her career and love. Ravi is questioned by the police when one of his clients, Jayaraj, is murdered. Ravi was one of the last people to see Jayaraj alive but has no useful information to assist the investigation. He does, however, have trouble remembering very basic information from a short time ago. This, in addition to his increasingly painful headaches, leads him to see the doctor (Poornam Viswanathan). He's diagnosed with brain tumors. Ravi is eligible for an operation to remove these but is told that there may be life altering side-effects. Ravi also learns that Jayaraj's brother Ramaraj (Major Sundarrajan) is offering a large reward for information leading to the capture of his brother's murderer. Feeling bereft, hopeless and worried about the financial future of his family, Ravi anonymously calls in a tip naming himself the murderer. He arranges for the reward money to go to his mother using lawyer Lakshmanan (Thengai Srinivasan) as arbiter without revealing himself to anyone. Ravi is arrested by the inspector (Senthamarai). Neela tries to defend him but Ravi sabotages his own case and is sentenced to death. While in jail, he collapses due to his tumor and is operated on. He survives with no side-effects and finally realizes the true magnitude of his actions. He will be hanged for a murder he did not commit. Ravi reveals the truth to his family and friends but Neela advises him that at this point, nothing short of producing the actual murderer will help him. He sets out to find the murderer and his investigation leads him to Michael D'Souza (Rajinikanth), a Robin Hood like thief that had robbed Jayaraj shortly before his murder. With Michael's help, Ravi unravels the mystery of Jayaraj's murder.

According to historian Kumuthan Maderya, many audiences who bought tickets for the film, came to the screen only after the interval, when Rajinikanth's character Michael De Souza appeared onscreen.

Most importantly, it has beautiful songs by Ilayaraja. Thirutheeril Varum Silayoo, Enthan PonVanname, Ennodu Padunggal, and the abovementioned Agayam Mele Paathalam Kizhe are all radio favourites.

NAAN VAZHA VAIPEN KALKI REVIEW

(02.09.1979 தேதியிட்ட கல்கி இதழிலிருந்து . .  .)