Rosappu Ravikkaikari
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDevaraj–Mohan
Screenplay byKrishna
Story bySrikrishna Alanahalli
Produced byThirupur Mani
StarringSivakumar
Deepa
Sivachandran
CinematographyR. N. K. Prasad
Edited byT. P. Sekar
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Release date
  • 18 May 1979 (1979-05-18)
Running time
124 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Rosappu Ravikkaikari (transl. The girl with the rose-coloured blouse) is a 1979 Indian Tamil-language historical romance film directed by Devaraj–Mohan. A remake of the 1978 Kannada film Parasangada Gendethimma, itself based on Srikrishna Alanahalli's novella of the same name, the film stars Sivakumar, Deepa and Sivachandran, with Vinu Chakravarthy and Nagarathnamma in supporting roles. Set in British-ruled India, it revolves around a modern woman who cannot tolerate her rustic husband and her mother-in-law, and engages in an extramarital affair.

Vandichakkaram, written by Chakravarthy, was originally intended to be the 100th film for Sivakumar as an actor; however, after Chakravarthy and producer Thirupur Mani of Vivekananda Pictures saw Parasangada Gendethimma, they told Sivakumar that a remake of this film would be a better fit as his 100th film. It is the debut of screenwriter Vijay Krishnaraj (credited as Krishna), and Chakravarthy as an actor in Tamil cinema. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, editing was handled by T. P. Sekar and cinematography by R. N. K. Prasad.

Rosappu Ravikkaikari was released on 18 May 1979. The film became a critical and commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres. For his performance, Sivakumar won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil.

Plot

In British-ruled India, Sembattayan, a naïve and illiterate villager, is the sole breadwinner of his family in Vandicholai village, in the hills on outskirts of Salem. He makes a living by selling betel leaves, covering fast distances by foot. His mother gets him married to Nandhini, an educated and modern woman from a neighbouring village. The villagers are surprised that Sembattayan has such a wife and start suspecting her character for stooping down to the level of marrying Sembattayan, who is a complete mismatch for her. Nandhini finds it difficult to live in their home which lacks all the facilities she is accustomed to.

Sembattayan's mother harasses Nandhini and abuses her for her lifestyle and neglecting domestic duties. Unable to tolerate it after her mother brandishes Nandini, Sembattayan establishes a separate home with Nandhini and she is pleased. She concentrates more on grooming herself and her demands keep rising. Sembattayan futilely tries to make her realise that inner beauty is more important than outer beauty which is just skin deep. Manickam, an agent of the British, comes to Vandicholai for recruiting workers and seeks Sembattayan's help for the same. Sembattayan obliges him, Manickam keeps visiting the village on this work and also learns about Nandhini's longings.

When Nandhini's father invites Sembattayan and Nandhini for a village festival, Sembattayan innocently sends Nandhini on Manickam's motorcycle. Nandhini and Manickam, smitten by each other, get into a physical relationship on the way. Manickam keeps visiting Nandhini regularly without Sembattayan's knowledge. When villagers start to gossip about this extramarital affair, Sembattayan is saddened, but he still trusts Nandhini. He soon learns about Nandhini's pregnancy and is overjoyed, unaware that he is not the father of her child.

The villagers accuse Sembattayan of spoiling the women of Vandicholai by selling fancy items to please his wife and thus imposing city culture on them. One day, he reaches his home before his usual time and hears a man's voice. Through the window, he sees Nandhini and Manickam in a compromising position. Devastated, he remembers his mother's warning that if Nandhini is not controlled, she would be responsible for his destruction, and leaves to drown himself in a pond, while Nandhini contemplates suicide out of guilt. When Sembattayan's corpse is retrieved from the pond, the villagers speculate about the reason for his death differently.

Cast

Production

Vandichakkaram, written by Vinu Chakravarthy, was originally intended to be the 100th film for Sivakumar as an actor; however, after Chakravarthy, director K. Vijayan and producer Thirupur Mani saw the 1978 Kannada film Parasangada Gendethimma,[5] an adaptation of the novella of the same name by Srikrishna Alanahalli,[6] they told Sivakumar that a remake of this film would be a better fit as his 100th film.[5] The remake, titled Rosappu Ravikkaikari, was directed by the duo Devaraj–Mohan and produced by Mani under Vivekananda Pictures.[7] Chakravarthy, credited simply as Vinu, made his debut as an actor in Tamil with this film. He worked on the Kannada original and it was Alanahalli who recommended him for the remake.[8] The screenplay was written by Vijay Krishnaraj (credited as Krishna), making his cinematic debut.[9] T. P. Sekar and R. N. K. Prasad worked as editor and cinematographer respectively.[1][10] Filming was completed in 45 working days. The last song to be filmed was "Uchi Vaguntheduthu".[11]

Themes

Rosappu Ravikkaikari's main theme is extramarital affair.[1] In the essay "The Tamil film heroine: from a passive subject to a pleasurable object", published in the book Tamil Cinema: The Cultural Politics of India's Other Film Industry edited Selvaraj Velayutham, Sathiavathi Chinniah writes that films portraying adulterous heroines basically attempt to explore the complexities of womanhood and sexuality, citing Rosappu Ravikkaikari as an example.[12]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja,[13][14] while the lyrics were written by Pulamaipithan and Gangai Amaran.[1][2] The song "Maaman Oru Naal" is set in the Carnatic raga known as Harikambhoji (also known as Hari Kambhodhi),[15][16] while "Yennullil Yengo" is set in the Madhuvanti raga.[17][18] "Uchi Vaguntheduthu", according to Ilangovan Rajasekaran of Frontline, "brought out the emotions of a man anguished by his wife's infidelity".[19]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Vethala Vethala"Gangai AmaranMalaysia Vasudevan, Sivakumar4:21
2."Maaman Oru Naal"Gangai AmaranS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja4:39
3."Uchi Vanguntheduthu"PulamaipithanS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja4:40
4."Yennullil Yengo"Gangai AmaranVani Jairam4:16
Total length:17:56

Release and reception

Rosappu Ravikkaikari was released on 18 May 1979.[20] The film received an "A" (adults only) certificate after three cuts.[21] It received critical acclaim,[22] and became a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.[7][23] The Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan, in a review dated 27 May 1979, rated the film 50 out of 100, praising Sivakumar's performance and the background score by Ilaiyaraaja.[24] P. S. M. of Kalki lauded Sivakumar's performance, saying he had scored a century with his 100th film.[25] Sivakumar won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil.[26]

Legacy

According to film historian G. Dhananjayan, Rosappu Ravikkaikari became a milestone for "daringly show[ing] infidelity and its consequences on screen for the first time" in Tamil cinema.[27]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dhananjayan 2011, p. 28.
  2. 1 2 Guy, Randor (23 July 2016). "Blast from the past: Rosapoo Ravikaikari (1979)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "திரைப்படச்சோலை 34: ரோசாப்பூ ரவிக்கைக்காரி" [Cinema Oasis 34: Rosappu Ravikkaikari]. Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 24 May 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "சிலுக்கோட உண்மைக் கதையை நான் படமா எடுப்பேன்! வினு சக்கரவர்த்தி சபதம்" [I will make a film based on Silk's true story! Vinu Chakravarthy's vow]. Kungumam (in Tamil). 12 December 2011. Archived from the original on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  5. 1 2 Kumar, S. R. Ashok (28 May 2020). "Landmark films, golden memories". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  6. ↑ Vamanan (3 May 2017). "From 'Silk' to sensitive tales, Vinu left his imprints behind". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  7. 1 2 "பிளாஷ்பேக்: சமூக புரட்சியை ஏற்படுத்திய ரோசாப்பூ ரவிக்கைக்காரி" [Flashback: Rosappu Ravikkaikari created social waves]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 8 February 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  8. ↑ "Profile of Vinu Chakravarthy". Lakshman Sruthi. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  9. ↑ "நல்ல பெயர் கெடைச்சிருக்கு!" [I've earned a good name!]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 10 February 2019. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  10. ↑ Khajane, Muralidhara (20 February 2012). "The director's natural choice". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  11. ↑ "Bharathiraja, KS Chitra, Mano and others pray for SPB's health". The News Minute. 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  12. ↑ Velayutham 2008, p. 39.
  13. ↑ "Rosapoo Ravikaikari (1979)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  14. ↑ "Rosapoo Ravikkaikari Tamil Film EP VInyl Record by Ilayaraja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  15. ↑ Sundararaman 2007, p. 141.
  16. ↑ Mani, Charulatha (6 December 2013). "Positively tranquil". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  17. ↑ Mani, Charulatha (9 November 2012). "Twice as nice". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 April 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  18. ↑ Sundararaman 2007, p. 130.
  19. ↑ Rajasekaran, Ilangovan (23 October 2020). "SPB: The heartbeat of generations". Frontline. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  20. ↑ Kumar, K. Naresh (23 May 2020). "Suriya's father's 100th film was adults only!". The Hans India. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  21. ↑ "Rosappu Ravikkaikari (Tamil)". The Gazette of India. No. 419. 16 February 1980. p. 986.
  22. ↑ Srinivasan, Sheilu; Amar, Swati (June 2014). "Throw the Past into Garbage. What are You Now?" (PDF). Dignity Dialogue. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  23. ↑ "சிவகுமாரின் 100-வது படம் ரோசாப்பூ ரவிக்கைக்காரி" [Sivakumar's 100th film Rosappu Ravikkaikari]. Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 30 April 2016. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  24. ↑ "ரோசாப்பூ ரவிக்கைக்காரி" [The girl with the rose-coloured blouse]. Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 27 May 1979. Archived from the original on 4 May 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  25. ↑ பி.எஸ்.எம். (3 June 1979). "ரோசாப்பி ரவிக்கைக்காரி". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 33. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  26. ↑ The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who. Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. 1984. p. 234.
  27. ↑ Dhananjayan 2011, p. 29.

Bibliography

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