Azhiyatha Kolangal: Difference between revisions

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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

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| 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}}}}

| runtime = 100 minutes

| country = India

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}}

'''''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]],. starringIt stars [[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 |url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2014/02/13105628/famous-director-Balu-Mahendra.html |url-status=dead |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''Azhiyadha 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 ==

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== Cast ==

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{{Cast listing|

*[[Shoba]] as Indumathi

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

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* [[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 ==

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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 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/a-life-in-cinema/article595756.ece |url-status=live |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 |website=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 on 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 were 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%;"

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== 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.istoday/52Elv20230414082858/https://archive.org/details/kalki1979-12-23/page/n65/mode/2up |archive-date=14 AprApril 2023 |access-date=2023-03-13 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 |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-balu-mahendra-a-poet-who-used-shots-and-scenes-to-tell-stories-1648926 |url-status=live |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 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/master-craftsman-who-was-also-a-great-teacher/article5684162.ece |url-status=live |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 |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140214/jsp/nation/story_17937110.jsp#.VHd-AtKUdDI |url-status=dead |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 |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Film-Fraternity-Pays-Respects-to-the-Veteran/2014/02/14/article2055534.ece |url-status=dead |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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== 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]]