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Arangetra Velai

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Arangetra Velai
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFazil
Written byGokula Krishnan (dialogues)
Screenplay byFazil
Story bySiddique–Lal
Based onRamji Rao Speaking
by Siddique–Lal
Produced byAroma Mani
StarringPrabhu
Revathi
CinematographyAnandakuttan
Edited byT. R. Sekar
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Sunitha Productions
Release date
  • 23 February 1990 (1990-02-23)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Arangetra Velai (transl. The Time of Arangetram) is a 1990 Indian Tamil-language screwball comedy film[1] starring Prabhu and Revathi. The film was directed by Fazil and produced by Aroma Mani. It is a remake of the 1989 Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking. The film was released on 23 February 1990.[2]

Plot

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The story revolves around three unemployed people (the third is a middle-aged unsuccessful theatre owner). The story opens with the arrival of Sivaraman in Chennai to dispute the denial of his company job, which he was supposed to receive several years ago. Several candidates have passed him by, with the last one being Geetha, who pretends to be an influential figure in the town. She threatens Sivaraman to allow her to continue working despite his efforts to overthrow her. The company manager, who knows her family situation (poor and pathetic) helps her to keep the job. Sivaraman is determined to stay back in the town until he succeeds in getting his job back from Geetha.

During his stay, Sivaraman finds a temporary lodging in Sakthi Nadaga Sabha, owned by Nambi Annan, with another tenant Masha, both of whom are unemployed and have insignificant earnings. Initially, Masha does not like the new tenant and tries to expel him from the house, but all her efforts are in vain, despite her trickery and cunning. Masha has been lying to her mother that she works as an air hostess and that she is building them a new house in Chennai. Sivaraman finds out about this and labels Masha a fraud. Sivaraman visits Geetha and finds out that her mother is mentally ill, brother is going blind who needs a surgery and her sister's husband has left her. When he learns about her family situation, he sympathises and decides to sacrifice his claim on the job. That night, Sivaraman gets drunk and reveals Masha's fraud to Nambi. Masha confesses, but justifies that projecting herself as rich and employed was the only way to comfort her mother. The truth softens the hearts of both Sivaraman and Nambi and the trio decide to become friends and have fun in spite of their unending problems.

Sivaraman wakes up at night when he hears the phone ring. A gang leader called Pakki Ram and Charan Singh have kidnapped the daughter of a rich businessman Sakthinathan and are demanding a ransom of Rs. 100,000. The panicked trio realise they have no idea who Sakthinathan is. Sivaraman tries to locate Sakthinathan's number from the telephone directory, only to realise that the phone numbers of the theatre and Sakthinathan have been mistakenly transposed. Sivaraman does some quick thinking and comes up with a plan. He suggests that they act as the broker between Pakki Ram and Sakthinathan, demand a ransom of Rs. 4,00,000 from Sakthinathan, return his daughter to him, and earn a profit of Rs. 3,00,000. Fed up with their poverty, the other two agree and the plan is set into motion, but the job isn't easy to carry out while hiding from the police and keeping Pakki Ram and Sakthinathan away from each other. Finally, after a struggle, the three rescue the girl from the gang leader and hand her over to Sakthinathan. They however are forced to confess the whole game when they encounter the police. Sakthinathan tries to shoot Sivaraman, but he escapes and promises Geetha that he is ready with money for her brother's eye operation and tells her to reach Sakthi Nadaga Sabha by morning. Nambi and Sivaraman reach Sabha earlier and find out Masha is missing, so they both call police and tell they three are involved and with much sadness, he says he loves Masha, after few minutes, Masha arrives there and rejoices for money. Nambi asks why she is late, Masha says she settled the amount, but later Masha learns they said to police feels what happened with fear through heart surrounds her and Masha tells she love Sivaraman, police arrive at Saba, however, Sakthinathan forgives them for having safely rescued his daughter, and instead gives them the money as a prize.

Cast

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Production

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Arangetra Velai is a remake of Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking.[4] Revathi was finalised after five actresses who were previously chosen opted out of the film.[5]

Soundtrack

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The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[6] The song "Agaya Vennilave" is primarily set to the Carnatic raga named Durbarikaanada, but leans slightly towards the Saramati-Natabhairavi scales and mixes Kanada in the charanams.[7]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Aagaya Vennilavae"VaaliUma Ramanan, K. J. Yesudas 
2."Gundu Onnu"PiraisoodanMano 
3."Maamanukkum"VaaliK. S. Chithra, Mano 
4."Thai Ariyatha"VaaliMano, S. P. Sailaja 

Reception

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P. S. S. of Kalki praised the humour but criticised the twists and climax.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b Rajendran, Sowmya (12 January 2018). "'Gulaebaghavali' Review: Revathi is the life of this mildly amusing screwball comedy". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Arangetra Velai (1990)". Screen 4 Screen. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  3. ^ Rajendran, Sowmya (29 August 2016). "Thank you 'Joker', for giving us a heroine who is human and needs to use the toilet". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  4. ^ Kamath, Sudhish (23 October 2001). "Romancing the house". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  5. ^ பாலு, எஸ். (21 January 1990). "அவார்டுக்கு அனுப்பப்பட்ட படங்கள்!" [Films sent for awards!]. Kalki (in Tamil). p. 38. Archived from the original on 31 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Arangetra Velai Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  7. ^ Mani, Charulatha (8 June 2012). "A Raga's Journey – Dynamic Durbarikaanada". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  8. ^ பி.எஸ்.எஸ். (18 March 1990). "அரங்கேற்ற வேலை". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 22. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
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