Puthiya Vaarpugal


Puthiya Vaarpugal is a 1979 Tamil language film, directed by P. Bharathiraja. K. Bhagyaraj and Rati Agnihotri played the lead roles in this film along with Goundamani and G. Srinivasan. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.
The film marked the debut of Bhagyaraj as a lead actor. The film was remade in Telugu as Kotha Jeevithalu. The movie was shot in picturesque locations in the Theni area of Tamil Nadu.
Bhagyaraj is the dialogue writer and hero of this movie. Bhagyaraj used this fact in his own Dhavani Kanavugal movie where he cast his mentor P Bharathiraja in a cameo role as himself who decides to cast an extra as hero and dialogue writer of his movie after accidentally discovering his skills. This movie remains CULT status and one of the finest works of BharathiRaja

Plot

Shanmugamani arrives in the village of Thaayamangalam as the new school teacher and soon falls in love with a local damsel Jothi. The village head called as "Periyavar" is a lecherous and sinister man who has a lustful eye on Jothi. Amavasai is Periyavar's stooge who also has a long-standing desire to marry Jothi. Periyavar frames Shanmugakani for the rape and murder of a woman social activist and gets him evicted from the village and gets Jothi married by deceit to Amavasai. He asks Amavasai and Jothi to stay with him in order to satiate his lust with Jothi. Jothi kills the village head. And Amavasai hides the fact.. What happens afterwards forms the rest of the story.

Cast

Puthiya Vaarpugal was the debut film for Rati Agnihotri.

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics by Kannadasan, Gangai Amaran and Muthulingham. The song "Thamthananam Thana" is set in Shanmukhapriya raga.

Reception

Ananda Vikatan rated the film 59 out of 100.