Oru Indhiya Kanavu

Anamika, a postgraduate student, along with her friends visit the Javadi Hills to study the tribals who live there. During her stay, she befriends a tribal girl named Gangamma. Upon returning home, she wishes to do something to uplift the lives of the people. She is encouraged in this regard by her father, and Agni, a journalist. After a while, Anamika goes to Javadi Hills and gets to know that Gangamma is dead. She learns that Gangamma killed herself after being raped. A frustrated Anamika sets out to inquire from the local people. In the process, she is accompanied by a police officer named Muthuvel. Further inquiry reveals Gangamma was raped by Dhanapal, son of an influential minister Malaiyappar.

Anamika gathers some evidence against Dhanapal and goes to the city and approaches Agni and other journalists to publish the news. When the news get published, Malaiyappar is asked to step down by the chief minister. However, Malaiayappar refuses to resign and further blackmails the chief minister of another issue. The case against Dhanapal becomes weak and Muthuvel is transferred to another city. Anamika and her father are arrested under the National Protection Act for disturbing peace and security in the locality. Muthivel resigns from his job and joins Anamika in her struggle to seek justice for Gangamma.

• Rajeev as Muthuvel
• Suhasini as Anamika{{Cite web |last=Nathan |first=Archana |date=14 August 2017 |title=In 'Oru Indhiya Kanavu', an Indian dream for incomplete justice |url=https://scroll.in/reel/846934/in-oru-indhiya-kanavu-an-indian-dream-for-incomplete-justice |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710123824/https://scroll.in/reel/846934/in-oru-indhiya-kanavu-an-indian-dream-for-incomplete-justice |archive-date=10 July 2021 |access-date=10 July 2021 |website=Scroll.in}}
• Lalitha as Gangamma
• Poornam Viswanathan as Agni
• Vathiyar Raman as U. K. Gangatharan, also Anamika's father
• Santhanam P as Malaiyappar
• Murali C. Acharya as Dhanapal

Oru Indhiya Kanavu was based on the play of the same name by Komal Swaminathan himself. The communist parties screened the play in almost all parts of Tamil Nadu. At one time, it was reported to have been witnessed by over 7,000 people.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|p=279}}

Soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali & Vairamuthu.{{Cite web |title=Oru Indhiya Kanavu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |url=https://music.apple.com/in/album/oru-indhiya-kanavu-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1451802030 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322111202/https://music.apple.com/in/album/oru-indhiya-kanavu-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1451802030 |archive-date=22 March 2022 |access-date=22 March 2022 |website=Apple Music}}{{Cite web |title=Oru Indhia Kannavu Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M.S.Viswanathan |url=https://mossymart.com/product/oru-indhia-kannavu-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929101335/https://mossymart.com/product/oru-indhia-kannavu-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan/ |archive-date=29 September 2022 |access-date=29 September 2022 |website=Mossymart}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| title1 = En Payare Enakku

| note1 =

| lyrics1 =

| music1 =

| extra1 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam

| length1 =

| title2 = Odakkaraiyil Oru Puliya

| note2 =

| lyrics2 =

| music2 =

| extra2 = P. Susheela

| length2 =

| title3 = Nalla Kaalam Parandachu

| note3 =

| lyrics3 =

| music3 =

| extra3 = Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam

| length3 =

}}

Oru Indhiya Kanavu was released on 30 September 1983 to widespread critical acclaim. At the 31st National Film Awards, it won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|p=278}}{{Cite magazine |date=1 July 1984 |title=கோமலின் தார்மீக கோபம் |url=https://archive.org/download/kalki1984-07-01/kalki1984-07-01.pdf |access-date=16 April 2024 |magazine=Kalki |pages=2-5 |language=ta |via=Internet Archive}} The film was also screened at the Soviet Union where a reviewer "attributed the reformist nature of the film to the progressive strivings of its filmmaker".{{Cite book |last=Rajagopalan |first=Sudha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cpoLAQAAMAAJ |title=Indian Films in Soviet Cinemas: The Culture of Movie-going After Stalin |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-253-22099-8 |pages=114 |access-date=31 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626205210/https://books.google.com/books?id=cpoLAQAAMAAJ |archive-date=26 June 2019 |url-status=live}} Kalki said Swaminathan took a problematic story and directed it with clarity.{{Cite magazine |date=16 October 1983 |title=ஒரு இந்திய கனவு |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1983-10-16/page/n64/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230426141053/https://archive.org/details/kalki1983-10-16/page/n64/mode/2up |archive-date=26 April 2023 |access-date=26 April 2023 |magazine=Kalki |page=62 |language=ta |via=Internet Archive}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |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}}

• {{IMDb title}}

{{NationalFilmAwardBestFeatureFilmTamil}}

Category:1980s Indian films

Category:1980s Tamil-language films

Category:1983 films

Category:Best Tamil Feature Film National Film Award winners

Category:Films scored by M. S. Viswanathan

Category:Indian films based on plays

Category:Tamil-language Indian films