Simla Special

Gopu is a budding theatre artist. He and his close friend Babu own a popular troupe that performs low-budget comedy plays. To help Babu pay for his sister's wedding, they accept a commission to perform a set of plays for Tamilians in Simla. One of the plays is titled Simla Special and is written by Mahalakshmi.

While Kamal is in Simla, Babu receives a telegram intended for Gopu informing him of Gopu's mother being seriously ill. Fearing the loss of the money if they renege on the Simla commission, Babu keeps the information from Gopu. Gopu subsequently finds out about his mother's illness when a friend calls to tell him that her situation has worsened. However, for the sake of his friend's sister, he decides to continue acting. He also keeps the information to himself, thinking that if Babu knew, he'd insist that Gopu go back to be by his mother's side.

On the last day of their engagement, Gopu finds the telegram in Babu's coat pocket and realises his friend's deception. He breaks off his friendship with Babu — but is forced to stay for one last encore before he leaves. While he is performing, Babu receives a call that Gopu's mother has recovered. All is forgiven and the friends reunite.

{{Cast listing|

• Kamal Haasan as Gopu
• S. Ve. Shekher as Babu
• Sripriya as Mahalakshmi
• Thengai Srinivasan as Mahalakshmi's Father
• Vennira Aadai Moorthy as Sabha Secretary
• Manorama as Roja Devi
• Shanthi Krishna as Uma, Babu's sister
• Y. G. Mahendran as Vasu
• Vanitha as Sri Sri
• Delhi Ganesh as Sundaram
• Kamala Kamesh as Babu's Mother
• Pushpalatha as Gopu's Mother
• Sivachandran as Thief
• V. Gopalakrishnan as Rtd Judge R. Bhaskar's Father
• Kathadi Ramamurthy as Gurbani
• Hanumanthu as Simla Tamil Sangam Wise President
• Typist Gopu as Arthanaari
• Aisary Velan as Rikshaw Driver
• Gundu Kalyanam
• Usilai Mani as prospective bridegroom's father
• Loose Mohan as prospective bridegroom for Uma
• Oru Viral Krishna Rao
• Gandhimathi
• Vairam Krishnamoorthy
• R. Bhaskar as V. Gopalakrishnan's Son

}}

Kamal Haasan, besides acting as the male lead, also choreographed one song in the film: "Unakenna Mele Ninraai".{{Cite news |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=16 October 2014 |title=Enriching cinema, Kamal style |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/enriching-cinema-kamal-style/article6506926.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205084043/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/enriching-cinema-kamal-style/article6506926.ece |archive-date=5 February 2017 |access-date=4 February 2017 |work=The Hindu}} The film was prominently shot in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.{{Cite web |last=Das |first=Swairik |date=6 September 2014 |title=How Does Indian Cinema Influence the Travel and Tourism Industry in India? |url=https://www.tourmyindia.com/blog/how-does-indian-cinema-influence-the-travel-and-tourism-industry-in-india/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126150756/https://www.tourmyindia.com/blog/how-does-indian-cinema-influence-the-travel-and-tourism-industry-in-india/ |archive-date=26 November 2022 |access-date=21 October 2023 |website=Tour My India}}

The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics by Vaali.{{Cite web |title=Simla Special (1982) |url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/album/T0000314.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203035913/http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/album/T0000314.html |archive-date=3 December 2013 |access-date=7 June 2020 |website=Raaga.com}} The song "Unakenna Mele Ninraai" is set in Sindhu Bhairavi raga.{{Cite news |date=20 September 2013 |title=Ragas hit a high |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/ragas-hit-a-high/article5149905.ece |url-status=live |access-date=7 June 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181226035819/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/ragas-hit-a-high/article5149905.ece |archive-date=26 December 2018}}{{Cite news |date=10 May 2013 |title=Light and melodious |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/light-and-melodious/article4702358.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723083947/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/light-and-melodious/article4702358.ece |archive-date=23 July 2018 |access-date=7 June 2020 |work=The Hindu}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Track listing

| extra_column = Singers

| total_length = 18:38

| title1 = Unakenna Mele Ninraai

| extra1 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

| length1 = 4:48

| title2 = Thanjavur Melam

| extra2 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Malaysia Vasudevan

| length2 = 4:55

| title3 = Look Love Me Dear

| extra3 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki

| length3 = 4:35

| title4 = Kuthura Kuthulla

| extra4 = Malaysia Vasudevan, Manorama

| length4 = 4:20

}}

Kalki gave the film a mixed review, criticising the story, cinematography for not perfectly capturing Shimla but praised Shekher's acting.{{Cite magazine |date=9 May 1982 |title=சிம்லா ஸ்பெஷல் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1982-05-09/page/n43/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230512135422/https://archive.org/details/kalki1982-05-09/page/n43/mode/2up |archive-date=12 May 2023 |access-date=12 May 2023 |magazine=Kalki |page=43 |language=ta |via=Internet Archive}} Saavi praised the film's humour and cinematography.{{cite magazine |date=1982 |title=சிம்லா ஸ்பெஷல் |url=https://archive.org/details/kna.sovie19820000unse/page/n361/mode/2up |access-date=10 December 2024 |pages=362-363 |language=Tamil |via=Internet Archive |magazine=Saavi}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|0429097}}

{{Muktha Srinivasan}}

Category:1980s Indian films

Category:1980s Tamil-language films

Category:1982 comedy films

Category:1982 films

Category:Films about actors

Category:Films about theatre

Category:Films directed by Muktha Srinivasan

Category:Films scored by M. S. Viswanathan

Category:Films shot in Himachal Pradesh

Category:Films with screenplays by Visu

Category:Indian comedy films

Category:Tamil-language Indian films