Paavai Vilakku is a Tamil 1960 film directed by K. Somu. The film features Sivaji Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, Pandari Bai, M. N. Rajam and Kumari Kamala in lead roles. The film, had musical score by K. V. Mahadevan and was released on 19 October 1960. The film was based on the very popular Tamil author Akilan’s novel “paavai vilakku” As the story was serialised in a weekly magazine, it had many twists and turns, and the movie is also not easy to narrate in detail. Despite the popularity of the novel, brilliant writing for the screen by A.P. Nagarajan and fine performances Sivaji came up with an excellent portrayal, well supported by Sowcar Janaki, Rajam, and Kumari Kamala., the film did not do well at the box office.
The film has a novel beginning. Sivaji sits in a park with his friends, holding a copy of the novel Paavai Vilakku in his hands, Sivaji talks about its greatness to his friends, and then begins to read it.
Now the film cuts to the beginning of the story in which he plays the hero. The heroine is Sowcar Janaki, the woman he marries, and they have a child Kalyani. Kumari Kamala is a dancer to whom the hero is attracted, but for many reasons they do not marry because he already has a wife. Pandari Bai, a young widow, is also drawn to him, but she begins to treat him as her brother. M.N. Rajam is another young woman who stays with the married couple and brings up the child as her own. She too falls in love with the hero, but cannot marry him. An accident on the steps of the hero’s house ends in the death of the child. Rajam for obvious reasons is not informed of the child’s death. Later she too meets with a similar accident and when she comes to know the shocking secret about the child, she dies in the arms of her friend Janaki and the hero surrounded by all the relations.And the film ends with the sivaji finish reading his novel with his friends and they applaud.
Directed by K. Somu
Produced by T. Vijayarangam & V. K. Gopanna
Written by A. P. Nagarajan
Screenplay by A. P. Nagarajan
Story by Akilan
Starring Sivaji Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, Pandari Bai, M. N. Rajam, Kumari Kamala, V. K. Ramasamy, K. Sarangkapani
Music by K. V. Mahadevan
Cinematography V. K. Gopanna
Edited by T. Vijayarangam (Supervisor) & K. Thurairaj
Production Sri Vijayagopal Pictures
Distributed by Sri Vijayagopal Pictures
Release dates 19 October 1960
Running time 170 minutes
Country India
Language Tamil
