Annai Oru Aalayam

Annai Oru Aalayam
Theatrical release poster in Tamil
Directed byR. Thyagarajan
Written byThooyavan (dialogues)
Story bySandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Devar
Produced byC. Dhandayudhapani
StarringRajinikanth
Sripriya
CinematographyP. N. Sundaram
Edited byM. G. Balurao
P. Nandakumar Reddy
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Release dates
  • 19 October 1979 (1979-10-19) (Tamil)
  • 8 November 1979 (1979-11-08) (Telugu)
CountryIndia
LanguagesTamil
Telugu

Annai Oru Aalayam (transl. Mother is a Temple) is a 1979 Indian Tamil-language adventure film directed by R. Thyagarajan, and a remake of the Hindi film Maa. It was simultaneously shot in Telugu with the title Amma Evarikaina Amma (transl. Mother is mother for all).[1] The film stars Rajinikanth as an animal hunter who helps a baby elephant to reach its mother. It was a commercial success.[2]

Plot

An animal hunter seeks to help a baby elephant reach its mother.

Cast

Actor (Tamil) Actor (Telugu) Role
Rajinikanth Vijay
Sripriya Hema
Anjali Devi Vijay's mother
Mohan Babu Mohan
S. A. Ashokan Nagabhushanam Game wardens
Suruli Rajan K. V. Chalam
Nagesh Himself
Y. G. Mahendran drunkard
Jayamalini fake Hema
Actor (Tamil) Role
Thengai Srinivasan Gopalsamy, Hema's father
Major Sundarrajan Himself

Production

The film prominently features two elephant actors: Ganesh, then a calf,[3] and Rathi, an elder female.[4][5]

Soundtrack

All lyrics are written by Vaali; all music is composed by Ilaiyaraaja.

Tamil tracklist [6]
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Amma Nee Summandha Pillai"T. M. Soundararajan4:04
2."Appane Appane"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela4:32
3."Nadhiyoram"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela4:14
4."Malai Aruvi (Malayoram)"S. P. Sailaja3:48
5."Nilavu Neram"P. Susheela3:59
6."Nandhavanathil"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam4:10
Total length:24:47

All lyrics are written by Acharya Aatreya; all music is composed by Ilaiyaraaja.

Telugu tracklist[7]
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Amma Neevuleni Nenu"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam4:04
2."Appane Appane"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela4:32
3."Nayaka Vinayaka"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela4:14
4."Chinnamma Chittimama"S. P. Sailaja3:48
5."Prema Beram Teepi Neram"P. Susheela3:59
6."Gunnami Komma Medha"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam4:10
Total length:24:47

The song "Amma Nee Sumandha" is set in Charukesi raga.[8][9] The song "Appane Appane" is played frequently during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi annually.[10]

Reception

Ananda Vikatan rated the film 52 out of 100, appreciating the cinematography. The critic said the film faltered in the first half but did better in the second half with the arrival of the elephant calf.[11]

References

  1. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (2014) [2012]. Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography. Delhi: Penguin Books. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-14-342111-5.
  2. ^ "யானைகளுடன் ரஜினி நடித்த 'அன்னை ஓர் ஆலயம்': சிறுத்தையை தோள் மீது சுமந்த அபூர்வ காட்சி". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 9 November 2010. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  3. ^ Shanmugavadivu, T (1 October 2018). "R Thyagarajan: A perfectionist behind the camera". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  4. ^ "81-year-old 'actor' female elephant dies". Deccan Herald. PTI. 4 May 2018. Archived from the original on 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  5. ^ Kannadasan, Akila (3 February 2013). "A requiem for Rathi". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Annai Ore Aalayam Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Amma Evarikaina Amma (1979)-Song_Booklet". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 11 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ^ Mani, Charulatha (3 February 2012). "A Raga's Journey — The charm of Charukesi". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  9. ^ Sundararaman (2007) [2005]. Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music (2nd ed.). Pichhamal Chintamani. p. 123. OCLC 295034757.
  10. ^ ராம்ஜி, வி. (19 October 2022). "தாயன்பின் ஆழம் சொன்ன 'அன்னை ஓர் ஆலயம்'". Kamadenu (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  11. ^ "அன்னை ஒரு ஆலயம் - ஆனந்த விகடன் விமர்சனம்". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 11 November 1979. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023 – via Rajinifans.com.