1977 (film)
{{short description|2009 film by G.N.Dinesh Kumar}}
{{More plot|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| image = 1977 film poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = G. N. Dinesh Kumar
| writer = G. N. Dinesh Kumar
| producer = R. Sarathkumar
Radhika Sarathkumar
| starring = R. Sarathkumar
Farzana
Namitha
| cinematography = K. Boopathy
| editing = Anthony
| music = Vidyasagar
| studio = Supreme Film Works
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2009|3|6}}
| runtime = 149 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
1977 is a 2009 Indian Tamil-language action film directed by G. N. Dinesh Kumar in his debut. It stars R. Sarathkumar, Farzana and Namitha. The music was composed by Vidyasagar. The film was released on 6 March 2009 to negative reviews, and is best remembered for Vivek's "Awas Anjing" ({{Translation|Beware of dogs}}) scene.{{Cite web |last=Shekar |first=Anjana |date=19 October 2020 |title=Goundamani in Singapore, Yogi Babu in London: 7 hilarious Tamil scenes in foreign lands |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/goundamani-singapore-yogi-babu-london-7-hilarious-tamil-scenes-foreign-lands-135691 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120073958/https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/goundamani-singapore-yogi-babu-london-7-hilarious-tamil-scenes-foreign-lands-135691 |archive-date=20 November 2023 |access-date=20 November 2023 |website=The News Minute}}
Plot
The film begins at a fishing hamlet in Tamil Nadu where an elderly Rajashekar is worshipped as a godfather by many. His amiable ways of living won him many friends. His son Vetrivel is an acclaimed scientist. He is received with gusto by the whole village after he returns winning awards from Central government. Unfortunately, a glance at a vernacular on a news report on Malaysia shocks Rajashekar, who immediately develops cardiac arrest and dies.
Vetrivel learns of the incident and decides to unravel the mystery behind the death. He sets off to Malaysia. Vetrivel gets acquainted with a local reporter Inba, who falls for him. With her help, he finds out a disturbing truth about his father's life. Rajashekar is former police officer in Malaysia who falls to the conspiracy of a baddie and is arrested for no fault of his. Rajashekar eventually pays the price for being honest by losing his family and settles down in Tamil Nadu with his young son.
In his quest to prove that his father is innocent, Vetrivel re-opens the case and gets the help of Chandhini, a lawyer who is the daughter of erstwhile public prosecutor, Gaandivan, who argued against Rajashekar 30 years ago. He also finds his mother in the process. The rest of the film is all but how Vetrivel rewrites history, proves his father's innocence, and avenges the bad elements.
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- R. Sarathkumar as Rajashekar "Rasaiyya" and Vetrivel
- Farzana as Inba
- Namitha as Chandini
- Vivek as Paraman
- Jayasudha as Vetrivel's mother / Rajashekar's wife
- Radha Ravi as Dr Sharma
- Vijayakumar as DGP Padmanabhan
- Ilavarasu
- Shankar Siva as Criminal Lawyer
- Cell Murugan as Murugan
- Bonda Mani
- Bava Lakshmanan
}}
Production
1977 is the directorial debut of Dinesh Kumar, previously an advertisement filmmaker.{{Cite news |date=29 January 2009 |title=History rewritten |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/history-rewritten/articleshow/4042166.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250329155645/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/history-rewritten/articleshow/4042166.cms |archive-date=29 March 2025 |access-date=29 March 2025 |work=The Times of India}} R. Sarathkumar and Namitha paired for the third time after Aai and Chanakya.{{Cite web |date=3 October 2007 |title=Sarath and Namitha together again |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sarath-and-namitha-together-again/articleshow/2422419.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209001500/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Sarath-and-Namitha-together-again/articleshow/2422419.cms |archive-date=9 December 2017 |access-date=31 March 2025 |website=The Times of India}} The film was prominently shot at Malaysia,{{Cite web |date=7 January 2008 |title=Shooting for Tamil film, 1977-History Rewritten, kicks off in Malaysia |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/shooting-for-tamil-film-1977-history-rewritten-kicks-off-in-malaysia/story-sh9XsjDfXZdqqWIetaJqHK.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/pLkid |archive-date=29 March 2025 |access-date=29 March 2025 |website=Hindustan Times |agency=IANS}} including the Twin Towers.{{Cite web |date=5 August 2008 |title=Sarath Kumar wants six-pack abs |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sarath-kumar-wants-six-pack-abs/articleshow/3325437.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250329154228/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sarath-kumar-wants-six-pack-abs/articleshow/3325437.cms |archive-date=29 March 2025 |access-date=29 March 2025 |website=The Times of India}} The editor Anthony was going to remove the "Awas Anjing" comedy track but actor Vivek was insistent to retain it.{{Cite web |last=Subhakeerthana |first=S |date=25 December 2017 |title=From Saamy to Sakka Podu Podu Raja: Vivekh talks about what it's like to be a comedian |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2017/dec/25/from-saamy-to-sakka-podu-podu-raja-vivekh-talks-about-what-its-like-to-be-a-comedian-1736141.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022091016/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2017/dec/25/from-saamy-to-sakka-podu-podu-raja-vivekh-talks-about-what-its-like-to-be-a-comedian-1736141.html |archive-date=22 October 2019 |access-date=23 November 2023 |website=The New Indian Express}}
Soundtrack
The music was composed by Vidyasagar.{{Cite web |date=7 February 2013 |title=1977 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – EP |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/1977-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-ep/1696656133 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/Gjfx4 |archive-date=31 March 2025 |access-date=31 March 2025 |website=Apple Music |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1977 – Vidyasagar Tamil Audio CD |url=https://www.audiocdworld.com/product/1977-vidyasagar-tamil-audio-cd/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250331120256/https://www.audiocdworld.com/product/1977-vidyasagar-tamil-audio-cd/ |archive-date=31 March 2025 |access-date=31 March 2025 |website=Audio CDs World |language=en}} Karthik of Milliblog wrote, "Vidyasagar's foray back into hardcore commercial work is just endurable".{{Cite web |last=Karthik |author-link=Karthik Srinivasan |date=8 January 2009 |title=Music review: 1977 (Tamil – Vidyasagar) |url=https://milliblog.com/2009/01/08/music-review-1977-tamil-vidyasagar/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126073705/https://milliblog.com/2009/01/08/music-review-1977-tamil-vidyasagar/ |archive-date=26 January 2025 |access-date=31 March 2025 |website=Milliblog |language=en}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Arabi Kadal
| length1 =
| lyrics1 = Pa. Vijay
| extra1 = Sunitha Sarathy
| title2 = Hawai Theevil
| length2 =
| lyrics2 = Pa. Vijay
| extra2 = KK, Sowmya Raoh
| title3 = Ore Oru
| length3 =
| lyrics3 = Pa. Vijay
| extra3 = Krithika, Vijay Yesudas
| title4 = Vangha Kadal
| length4 =
| lyrics4 = Na. Muthukumar
| extra4 = Shankar Mahadevan
| title5 = Yenathu Uyire
| length5 =
| lyrics5 = Jayantha
| extra5 = Madhu Balakrishnan, Sadhana Sargam
}}
Critical reception
Sify stated "How long will Sarath Kumar go on doing double role as father and son? Sorry to say, the film is as avoidable as [a] migraine".{{Cite web |date=9 March 2009 |title=Review: 1977 |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/review-i1977i-review-tamil-pclwW1ecehije.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123035706/https://www.sify.com/movies/review-i1977i-review-tamil-pclwW1ecehije.html |archive-date=23 November 2021 |access-date=27 April 2015 |website=Sify}} Pavithra Srinivasan of Rediff.com rated the film one-and-a-half out of five stars and stated that "1977 might have worked had it been released in 1977 and not in 2009!".{{Cite web |last=Srinivasan |first=Pavitra |date=9 March 2009 |title=It's Bland, James Bland |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2009/mar/09tamil-review-1977.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123034746/https://www.rediff.com/movies/2009/mar/09tamil-review-1977.htm |archive-date=23 November 2021 |access-date=23 November 2021 |website=Rediff.com}} A critic from Chennai Online wrote that "Debutant director Dinesh Kumar, who shows some promise in the opening sequences, fizzles out and becomes a pretty ordinary director in the remaining sequences. Almost all the sequences can be pre-conceived by the viewers and the director has ensured that the 'grey matter' inside the viewers' brain remains least disturbed by his film".{{Cite web |date=11 March 2009 |title=1977 |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/film/Moviereviews/Mar09/031977.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627081637/http://www.chennaionline.com/film/Moviereviews/Mar09/031977.aspx |archive-date=27 June 2009 |access-date=18 March 2024 |website=Chennai Online}} Cinesouth appreciated the film's cinematography and depiction of Malaysia, and commented, "It would have been a super hit had '1977' got released in that year".{{Cite web |title=1977 |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/new/1977eng.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525071553/http://www.cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/new/1977eng.shtml |archive-date=25 May 2009 |access-date=31 March 2025 |website=Cinesouth}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
Category:2000s Tamil-language films
Category:2009 directorial debut films
Category:Films about father–son relationships
Category:Films about the education system in India
Category:Films scored by Vidyasagar (composer)
Category:Films set in Malaysia
Category:Films shot in Malaysia