Agal Vilakku

{{more plot|date=February 2022}}

Navaneetham is an orphan living with her cruel aunt and hapless uncle. She sells idlis at the local hospital to support herself and her family. The doctor, Jayalakshmi, puts the wellbeing of her patients above all else. Jayalakshmi's fiancé proves himself to be a suspicious coward and she calls off the wedding to focus on her patients. Dhanushkodi is admitted to the hospital after he is beaten up for standing up for workers' rights. He and Navaneetham quickly fall in love and marry though her aunt and his entire family disapprove. Dhanushkodi does not have a regular job as he is more interested in righting societal wrongs than his household.

Navaneetham returns to selling idlis to make ends meet and gets hurt. This spurs Dhanushkodi to run for office and he becomes the mayor. Their financial situation improves and he can now make meaningful positive changes to society. Dhanushkodi's family see this as an opportunity to get rich by accepting bribes using his name. They do this but connive to make Navaneetham look like the culprit. When Dhanushkodi learns of the corruption, he resigns his post and separates from his wife. Navaneetham and Jayalakshmi work together to uncover the truth.

• Shoba as Navaneetham
• Vijayakanth as Dhanushkodi
• Kullamani as Mani
• Srilekha Rajendran as Jayalakshmi

Agal Vilakku is Vijayakanth's second film as actor, and first in a leading role.

The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The song "Ottukettu", written by Pavalar Varadharajan and sung by Ilaiyaraaja only appears on the film's LP records.{{Cite web |date=1 January 1979 |title=Agal Vilakku |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/agal-vilakku/Q,Ft,zRHi3U_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127184527/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/agal-vilakku/Q,Ft,zRHi3U_ |archive-date=27 January 2022 |access-date=18 February 2022 |website=JioSaavn}}{{Cite web |title=Agal Vilakku Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by Ilaiyaraja |url=https://mossymart.com/product/agal-vilakku-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-ilaiyaraja/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218113252/https://mossymart.com/product/agal-vilakku-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-ilaiyaraja/ |archive-date=18 February 2022 |access-date=18 February 2022 |website=Mossymart}} The song "Yedho Ninaivugal" was adapted from "Bhanu Bhoomiya", which Ilaiyaraaja had composed for the Kannada film Maathu Tappada Maga (1978).{{Cite web |date=2 September 2020 |title=Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Classic Edho Ninaivugal By Ilaiyaraaja 1979 |url=https://bjthoughts.com/2020/09/nostalgic-edho-ninaivugal-ilaiyaraaja-1979/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525005825/https://bjthoughts.com/2020/09/nostalgic-edho-ninaivugal-ilaiyaraaja-1979/ |archive-date=25 May 2022 |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=bjthoughts.com}} The song is based on Sumanesa Ranjani raga.{{Cite news |last=Manigandan |first=K. R. |date=8 March 2012 |title=Shot Cuts: Blessing in disguise |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/shot-cuts-blessing-in-disguise/article2973929.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=14 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019075718/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/shot-cuts-blessing-in-disguise/article2973929.ece |archive-date=19 October 2014}}{{Cite web |last=ராமானுஜன் |first=டாக்டர் ஆர். |date=10 August 2018 |title=ராகயாத்திரை 17: மாலையில் யாரோ மனதோடு பேச... |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/139651-17.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130121713/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/139651-17.html |archive-date=30 January 2022 |access-date=21 September 2023 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| title1 = Ellorum Porandhome

| length1 = 4:19

| lyrics1 = Gangai Amaran

| extra1 = Malaysia Vasudevan, Saibaba and Chorus

| length4 = 4:19

| title2 = Maalai Nera Kaatre

| lyrics2 = Muthulingam

| extra2 = S. Janaki

| length2 = 4:29

| title3 = Nee Kannil Vaazhum

| lyrics3 = M. G. Vallabhan

| extra3 = B. S. Saisrekha

| length3 = 4:51

| title4 = Yedho Ninaivugal

| lyrics4 = Gangai Amaran

| extra4 = K. J. Yesudas, S. P. Sailaja

| total_length = 17:58

}}

Kalki negatively reviewed the film, particularly for the story.{{Cite magazine |date=23 December 1979 |title=அகல் விலக்கு |url=https://ibb.co/pwZN88S |url-status=usurped |magazine=Kalki |language=ta |page=62 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414091849/https://ibb.co/pwZN88S |archive-date=14 April 2023 |access-date=14 April 2023}}

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Category:1970s Indian films

Category:1970s Tamil-language films

Category:1979 films

Category:Films directed by R. Selvaraj (screenwriter)

Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja

Category:Tamil-language Indian films

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