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{{short description|1979 film by Balu Mahendra}}

{{for|the 2019 film|Azhiyatha Kolangal 2}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=SeptemberApril 20212024}}

{{Use Indian English|date=SeptemberApril 20212024}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Azhiyatha Kolangal

| image = Azhiyatha Kolangal.jpg

| border = no

| caption = Poster

| director = [[Balu Mahendra]]

| writer = Balu Mahendra

| starring = {{ubl|[[Pratap PothenShoba]]|[[ShobaPratap Pothen]]}}

| cinematography = Balu Mahendra

| editing = D. Vasu

| music = [[Salil Chowdhury]]

| studio = Devi Films

| released = {{Film date|df=y|1979|12|07|ref1={{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=258}}}}

| distributor = <!-- don't add without source -->

| released = {{Film date|df=y|1979|12|07|ref1={{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=258}}}}

| runtime = 100 minutes

| country = India

| language = Tamil

| budget = <!-- don't add without source -->

| gross = <!-- don't add without source -->

}}

'''''Azhiyatha Kolangal''''' ({{translation| ''Enduring [[Kolam|Patterns]]''}}) is a 1979 Indian [[Tamil -language|Tamil]]-language [[coming-of-age film|coming-of-age]] [[drama film]], directed by [[Balu Mahendra]],. It starringstars [[Pratap PothenShoba]] and [[ShobaPratap Pothen]]. [[Kamal Haasan]] played a guest role in the film. The film was Balu Mahendra's second directorial venture and his first in Tamil.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 February 2014 |title=டைரக்டர் பாலுமகேந்திரா திடீர் மரணம் |language=Tamil |work=[[Maalai Malar]] |url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2014/02/13105628/famous-director-Balu-Mahendra.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 November 2014dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204103813/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2014/02/13105628/famous-director-Balu-Mahendra.html |archive-date=4 December 2014 |access-date=28 November 2014 |work=[[Maalai Malar]] |language=Tamil}}</ref> Partly autobiographical, the film dealt with the events that happen during the adolescence of three friends who live in a small village. In addition to directing the film, Balu Mahendra wrote the screenplay and shot the film.

The film is inspired from the 1971 Hollywood film 'Summer of 42'.TheAzhiyadha filmKolangal'' was released on 7 December 1979.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=258}} Upon release, ''Azhiyadha Kolangal''it received critical acclaim, and was premièredscreened at the "Indian Panorama" of the [[International Film Festival of India]] in 1980. A spiritual successor, ''[[Azhiyatha Kolangal 2]]'', was released in 2019.

== Plot ==

Gowrishankar, the managing director of a company in [[Madras]], receives a letter from his old friend Pattabi informing him about the death of their teacher, Indumathi. On reading the letter, Gowri becomes nostalgic and recollects his past.

In childhood, Gowri, Pattabi and Raghupathy are close friends and study at a village school. The three friends try to explore sex through a prostitute, but run away immediately after reaching her house. Pattabi likes the girl who visits his house and starts spending time with her. Gowri likes the new teacher Indu and dreams of living with her, despite the wide age gap. Raghupathy looks for excitement through his friends.

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Gowri’s dreams are shattered when Indu’s fiance arrives. Indu spends more time with her fiancé, which upsets Gowri. Pattabi and Gowri fight on trivial issues, but stay united due to Raghupathy. The boys get influenced by the postmaster, who indulges in sexual activities outside the village. They also get tempted to smoke like Indu’s fiancé to experience it. All their excitement ends when Raghupathy drowns in the village pond when the three go swimming. When Gowri visits Indu, she is also in tears and shares her pain with him.

In the present, Gowri is filled with tears in his eyes after recollecting his childhood, his friend’sfriend demiseand teacher's demises and the time spent with his friends.

== Cast ==

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{{Cast listing|

*[[Shoba]] as Indumathi

*[[Pratap Pothen|Pratap]] as Indumathi's fiancé

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* Manohar as Raghupathy

* Shyam Sunder

* [[VenniradaiVennira Aadai Moorthy]] as the postmaster

* [[K. R. Indira Devi|Indira Devi]]

* [[Kamal Haasan]] as adult Gowrishankar (uncredited)

* Sridharan (uncredited)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/sridharan-interview-a-man-of-multiple-shades/article19125339.ece|title=Sridharan: A man of multiple shades|date=22 June 2017|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112035750/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/sridharan-interview-a-man-of-multiple-shades/article19125339.ece|archive-date=12 November 2020|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=19 October 2024}}</ref>

}}

== Production ==

<!-- http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/actor-archana-talks-about-azhiyatha-kolangal/article8229440.ece -->

After the critical and commercial success of his directorial debut ''[[Kokila (1977 film)|Kokila]]'', Balu Mahendra decided to make a film in Tamil, that was partly autobiographical according to him.<ref name="hindu1">{{Cite news |last=P. K. |first=Ajith Kumar |date=26 August 2010 |title=A life in cinema |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/a-life-in-cinema/article595756.ece |url-status=live |access-date=28 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207105125/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/a-life-in-cinema/article595756.ece |archive-date=7 December 2013 |access-date=28 November 2014 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Warrier |first=Shobha |author-link=Shobha Warrier |date=18 August 2003 |title=Sex and teenage fantasies |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/aug/18balu.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530165518/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/aug/18balu.htm |archive-date=30 May 2013 |access-date=27 November 2014 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> It was during this time, he was approached by [[Mahendran (filmmaker)|Mahendran]] to shoot ''[[Mullum Malarum]]'', the latter's directorial debut.<ref name="MM">{{Cite web |date=21 April 2013 |title=முள்ளும் மலரும் படத்தில் நான் பாலு மகேந்திரா |url=http://www.filmmakerbalumahendra.blogspot.in/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112084834/http://www.filmmakerbalumahendra.blogspot.in/ |archive-date=12 November 2014 |access-date=27 November 2014 |publisherwebsite=filmmakerbalumahendra.blogspot.in |language=Tamil}}</ref> Initially hesitant to work in Tamil films, Balu Mahendra accepted the offer, thus entered the [[Tamil cinema|Tamil film industry]] as a cinematographer. Because of his commitments with ''Mullum Malarum'', he shelved his directorial venture. After the success of ''Mullum Malarum'', he revived the project and named it ''Azhiyadha Kolangal''.<ref name="MM" /> The film was produced by Devi Films of Devi Theatre Complex. The film was shot at Pettavaithalai, Sirugamani,Perugamani and Inungoor near Trichy in 27 days within the budget of 8 lakhs.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=259}}

Inspired from the 1971 American film ''[[Summer of '42]]'',<ref name="babu">{{cite news |last=Babu Jayakumar |first=G |date=14 February 2014 |title=Visual Epics to Relive the Master Storyteller |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Visual-Epics-to-Relive-the-Master-Storyteller/2014/02/14/article2055530.ece#.UySJFB0SCaU |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214082440/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Visual-Epics-to-Relive-the-Master-Storyteller/2014/02/14/article2055530.ece |archive-date=14 February 2014 |access-date=15 March 2014 |newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> the central characters of the film are played by three adolescent boys, who are inon the verge of sexuality.<ref name="DFF">{{Cite web |title=Indian Cinema '79/'80 |url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/indian_cinema_1980.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404021349/http://dff.nic.in/2011/indian_cinema_1980.pdf |archive-date=4 April 2015 |access-date=27 November 2014 |publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]] |pages=83–84}}</ref> [[Shoba]], played a small role as a school teacher. Kamal Haasan played a guest role as a token of friendship for Balu Mahendra and his portions waswere shot in a day at three locations.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=259}}

Apart from direction, Balu Mahendra assumed his usual responsibility of cinematography and wrote the screenplay, while D. Vasu edited the film.<ref name="DFF" />

== Soundtrack ==

The music was composed by [[Salil Chowdhury]], with lyrics by [[Gangai Amaran]].

The music was composed by [[Salil Chowdhury]], with lyrics by [[Gangai Amaran]]. Mahendra originally wanted his friend [[Ilaiyaraaja]] to compose the music, but Chowdhury who had previously worked with Mahendra in ''Kokila'' was keen to work in his Tamil film too.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 September 2012 |title=இளையராஜா என்ற மகாவித்வானும் நானும்.. -1 |url=http://www.filmmakerbalumahendra.blogspot.in/2012/09/1_12.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112083257/http://www.filmmakerbalumahendra.blogspot.in/2012/09/1_12.html |archive-date=12 November 2014 |access-date=27 November 2014 |website=filmmakerbalumahendra.blogspot.in |language=Tamil}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

! No. !! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics

|-

| 1 || "Poovannam" || [[P. Jayachandran|Jayachandran]], [[P. Susheela]] || rowspan=4|[[Gangai Amaran]]

|-

| 2 || "Kedacha Unakku" || [[S. Janaki]]

|-

| 3 || "Naan Ennum" ||[[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]

|-

| 4 || "Poovannam" || P. Susheela

|}

== Reception ==

''Azhiyadha Kolangal'' opened to critical acclaim and was commercially successful too.<ref name="hindu1" /><ref name="DFF" /> Ranga of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' wrote Balu turned a literary short story into a sweet new poem with his camera.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=ரங்கா |date=23 December 1979 |title=அழியாத கோலங்கள் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1979-12-23/page/n65/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230414082858/https://archive.org/details/kalki1979-12-23/page/n65/mode/2up |archive-date=14 April 2023 |access-date=13 March 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=62–63 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> Along with ''[[Uthiripookkal]]'' it was the only Tamil film to be shown at the [[International Film Festival of India]] in 1980.<ref name="DFF" /> The film's camera work was considered to be very innovative and was very different from other Tamil films that had come before.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chellappan |first=Kumar |date=12 February 2012 |title=Balu Mahendra: A poet who used shots and scenes to tell stories |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-balu-mahendra-a-poet-who-used-shots-and-scenes-to-tell-stories-1648926 |url-status=live |access-date=27 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205152555/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-balu-mahendra-a-poet-who-used-shots-and-scenes-to-tell-stories-1648926 |archive-date=5 December 2014 |access-date=27 November 2014 |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]}}</ref> The film is widely considered to be one of Mahendra's "masterpieces".<ref>{{Cite news |last=B. |first=Kolappan |last2=Subramanian |first2=Karthik |date=13 February 2014 |title=Master craftsman who was also a great teacher |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/master-craftsman-who-was-also-a-great-teacher/article5684162.ece |url-status=live |access-date=27 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707053554/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/master-craftsman-who-was-also-a-great-teacher/article5684162.ece |archive-date=7 July 2014 |access-date=27 November 2014 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=14 February 2014 |title=Balu dead |work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140214/jsp/nation/story_17937110.jsp#.VHd-AtKUdDI |url-status=live |access-date=27 November 2014dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204202340/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140214/jsp/nation/story_17937110.jsp#.VHd-AtKUdDI |archive-date=4 December 2014 |access-date=27 November 2014 |work=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=23 February 2014 |title=Film Fraternity Pays Respects to the Veteran |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Film-Fraternity-Pays-Respects-to-the-Veteran/2014/02/14/article2055534.ece |url-status=live |access-date=27 November 2014dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222210305/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Film-Fraternity-Pays-Respects-to-the-Veteran/2014/02/14/article2055534.ece |archive-date=22 December 2014 |access-date=27 November 2014 |work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref>

== References ==

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== Bibliography ==

* {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |author-link=G. Dhananjayan |title=Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931–2013 |title-link=Pride of Tamil Cinema |publisher=Blue Ocean Publishers |year=2014 |oclc=898765509 |author-link=G. Dhananjayan}}

== External links ==

* {{IMDb title|0235204}}

{{Balu Mahendra}}

[[Category:1970s coming-of-age drama films]]

[[Category:1970s erotic drama films]]

[[Category:1970s Indian films]]

[[Category:1970s Tamil-language films]]

[[Category:1979 films]]

[[Category:Films about juvenile sexuality]]

[[Category:Films about puberty]]

[[Category:Films about virginity]]

[[Category:Films directed by Balu Mahendra]]

[[Category:Films scored by Salil Chowdhury]]

[[Category:Indian coming-of-age drama films]]

[[Category:Indian erotic drama films]]

[[Category:Semi-autobiographical films]]

[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]