Kalthoon

{{more plot|date=April 2023}}

Parameshwaran Goundar, a respected village chieftain and farmer, struggles to sell his land to fund the medical education of his youngest son, Pazhanisamy. Parameshwaran has two other sons: one adopted and one biological. Despite excelling academically, Pazhanisamy develops a reputation as a womanizer, causing great disappointment to his father.

Parameshwaran's own father was a notorious womaniser who murdered his own wife, Parameshwaran's mother when she tried to stop him. When his father's behavior threatened to tarnish the village's reputation, Parameshwaran, placing justice and honor above family, killed his father to restore the community's respect. He served a prison sentence for the act and later earned the position of chieftain for his unwavering commitment to justice.

When Pazhanisamy's behavior begins to mirror that of his grandfather, Parameshwaran publicly confronts him, even striking him at his college. This incident alienates Pazhanisamy from his family, setting the stage for a dramatic conflict. The story culminates in whether Parameshwaran will choose justice over familial ties once more or if Pazhanisamy will repent and change his ways.

• Sivaji Ganesan as Parameshwara Gounder
• K. R. Vijaya
• Major Sundarrajan
• Nagesh
• Thengai Srinivasan
• V. S. Raghavan
• V. K. Ramasamy
• Thilak
• Jayamala

Kalthoon was based on the stage play of the same name.{{Cite web |last=Majordasan |title=Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema – Major Sundarrajan |url=http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Dec_1_15/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_Major_Sundarrajan_page1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311070517/http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Dec_1_15/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_Major_Sundarrajan_page1.html |archive-date=11 March 2016 |access-date=10 June 2021 |website=Kalyanamalai}}{{Cite news |last=Krishnamachari |first=Suganthy |date=27 August 2015 |title=Made a 'Major' impact |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/the-major-effect/article7586580.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223091227/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/the-major-effect/article7586580.ece |archive-date=23 December 2017 |access-date=10 June 2021 |work=The Hindu}} Sundarrajan who acted in the play, directed the film adaptation.{{Cite web |date=2 March 2014 |title=நான் சுவாசிக்கும் சிவாஜி (22) - ஒய்.ஜி. மகேந்திரன் |url=https://www.dinamalar.com/malarkal/vara-malar-weekly-magazine/i-breathe-shivaji-22---yg-mahendran/19436 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508051221/https://www.dinamalar.com/supplementary_detail.asp?id=19436&ncat=2 |archive-date=8 May 2021 |access-date=10 June 2021 |website=Dinamalar |language=ta}}

The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, while the lyrics were penned by Kannadasan.{{Cite web |title=Kalthoon |url=https://www.hungama.com/album/kalthoon/54567365/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510152150/https://www.hungama.com/album/kalthoon/54567365/ |archive-date=10 May 2021 |access-date=8 May 2021 |website=Hungama}}{{Cite web |title=Kalthoon Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan |url=https://macsendisk.com/product/kalthoon-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310111041/https://macsendisk.com/product/kalthoon-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan-2/ |archive-date=10 March 2022 |access-date=10 March 2022 |website=Macsendisk}}

{{Expand section|date=January 2024}}

Kalthoon was released on 1 May 1981.{{Cite web |title=நடிகர் திலகம் சிவாஜி கணேசன் அவர்கள் நடித்த படங்களின் பட்டியல் |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/sivaji-2.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814054109/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/sivaji-2.asp |archive-date=14 August 2016 |access-date=21 April 2023 |website=Lakshman Sruthi |language=ta}} Kutty Krishnan of Kalki criticised Sundarrajan's direction.{{Cite magazine |last=கிருஷ்ணன் |first=குட்டி |date=10 May 1981 |title=கல்தூண் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1981-05-10/page/n48/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230303154141/https://archive.org/details/kalki1981-05-10/page/n48/mode/2up |archive-date=3 March 2023 |access-date=3 March 2023 |magazine=Kalki |page=47 |language=ta |via=Internet Archive}} After the film's success, Thilak adapted the film's title as a prefix.{{Cite web |date=7 May 2021 |title=Veteran actor Thilak passes away battling COVID-19 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/veteran-actor-thilak-passes-away-battling-covid-19/articleshow/82452472.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507080600/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/veteran-actor-thilak-passes-away-battling-covid-19/articleshow/82452472.cms |archive-date=7 May 2021 |access-date=8 May 2021 |website=The Times of India}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|0314253}}

Category:1980s Indian films

Category:1980s Tamil-language films

Category:1981 drama films

Category:1981 films

Category:Films about honor killing

Category:Films directed by Major Sundarrajan

Category:Films scored by M. S. Viswanathan

Category:Indian drama films

Category:Indian films based on plays

Category:Tamil-language Indian films