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Sathi Leelavathi (1995 film)

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Sathi Leelavathi
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBalu Mahendra
Written byCrazy Mohan (dialogue)
Screenplay byBalu Mahendra
Story byAnanthu
Produced byKamal Haasan
Starring
CinematographyBalu Mahendra
Edited byBalu Mahendra
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Release date
  • 15 January 1995 (1995-01-15)
Running time
151 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Sathi Leelavathi (/səθi liːlɑːvəθi/ transl. Leelavathi, the chaste wife) is a 1995 Indian Tamil-language comedy film directed, co-written, photographed and edited by Balu Mahendra. The film stars Ramesh Aravind, Kalpana and Heera, with Kovai Sarala and Kamal Haasan in supporting roles. It revolves around Arun (Aravind) who, unhappy with his wife Leelavathi's (Kalpana) plain looks and weight, engages in an extramarital affair with Priya (Heera).

The film was produced by Haasan, with the story by Ananthu adapted loosely from the 1989 American film She-Devil and dialogues by Crazy Mohan. Ilaiyaraaja served as the music composer. Sathi Leelavathi was released on 15 January 1995 and became a commercial success. It was remade in Hindi as Biwi No.1 (1999) and in Kannada as Rama Shama Bhama (2005) with Aravind and Haasan reprising their roles.

Plot

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Arun is married to Leelavathi, arranged by their parents, and they have two children together. He is embarrassed by his wife's plain looks and weight. When he meets Priya, who works in a building construction company, he hides from her the fact that he is married, and they have an affair.

When Arun and Priya decide to go on vacation to Bangalore over a long weekend, Arun bumps into an old friend Sakthivel, an orthopaedic surgeon from Coimbatore, who is also going on holiday to Bangalore with his wife Palani and his son Anand. Sakthivel ends up travelling with Arun on the same flight and even staying in the same hotel, and Arun attempts over the trip there to hide that Priya is with him, as Sakthivel knows Arun is married to Lela. On the first night there, Sakthivel is called to Arun's room in the night as Arun has injured his back and the hotel doctor is unavailable. He bumps into Priya in the room finds out about their affair, but hesitantly keeps it under wraps from his own family under Arun's insistence.

After returning to Chennai, Priya finds out that Arun is married and even has children, but decides to stay with him when Arun says he was forced into this marriage and promises to divorce his wife. When Arun's wife Leelavathi discovers Arun's affair through pictures Sakthivel's son Anand took of their holiday, she has a huge breakdown, leading to Arun moving out of their home and into Priya's flat. With the help of Sakthivel and Palani, and then Priya's old lover Raja, Leelavathi sends their children to stay with Arun and Priya, then her father-in-law and pet dog as well, making Priya hate Arun. Finally Priya unites with Raja, apologising to him, and Arun unites with Leelavathi.

Cast

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Production

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The initial plot of Sathi Leelavathi revolved around two men fighting over a woman, with one of them being the antagonist. Raja, who had grown weary of being typecast in "soft" roles, readily accepted Balu Mahendra's offer to portray the antagonist to break the stereotype, but deep into pre-production, Kamal Haasan felt this premise had been "done-to-death", and according to Raja, "From a bad guy, I became the extreme good guy".[2] Jayaram was initially offered the lead role but his unavailability meant that the team finalised Ramesh Aravind.[3] Haasan, who was supposed to appear only in four scenes, was attracted by the story and took on an important role.[4] Rohini was Mahendra's choice for the role of Palani, although Haasan wanted Kovai Sarala. Mahendra objected, but Haasan remained adamant, and the director gave in.[5] According to Sarala, post-release Mahendra was delighted that she was part of the film and that he felt bad for initially doubting her ability.[6] Haasan speaks Kongu Tamil in the film, which he was said to have learned from Sarala.[7] The film was loosely inspired by 1989 American film She-Devil,[8] but does not depict the female lead trying to establish her own identity at the cost of her husband's.[1]

Soundtrack

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The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics by Vaali.[9][10] The song "Marugo Marugo" pays homage to the song of the same name from Vettri Vizhaa (1989).[11]

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Ethana Vagai"Chorus4:30
2."Marugo Marugo"Kamal Haasan, K. S. Chithra6:10
3."Oru Thaaram"Ben Surender2:07
4."Maharajanodu"P. Unnikrishnan, K. S. Chithra5:19
5."Theme Music" 2:03
Total length:21:09

Release and reception

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Sathi Leelavathi was released on 15 January 1995, the week of Pongal.[12] R. P. R. of Kalki criticised the story's lack of originality, but lauded Mohan's dialogues and Haasan's humour-based performance.[13] The film was a success, which Haasan attributed in large part to Sarala's comedy.[14] She won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian.[15]

Remakes

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Sathi Leelavathi was dubbed in Telugu under the same title, with Haasan' voice dubbed by Mano instead of the usual S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.[16] It was remade in Hindi as Biwi No.1 (1999),[17] and in Kannada as Rama Shama Bhama (2005) with Aravind and Haasan reprising their roles.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 531.
  2. ^ S, Srivatsan (6 November 2019). "From 'Kadalora Kavithaigal' to 'Adithya Varma': Tamil cinema's quintessential 'soft-spoken hero' Raja returns after a 20-year exile". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  3. ^ Warrier, Shobha (29 June 2006). "'I love watching Kamal Haasan'". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  4. ^ சரண்யா, அருண் (15 January 1995). "பொங்கல் ரிலீஸ் – பம்பர் அறுவடை!". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 62–63. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ Muralidharan, Kavitha (2 July 2022). "'Giving, Fearless And Strong': Tracing Kovai Sarala's Unique Oeuvre In Tamil Cinema". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  6. ^ Rao, Subha J (25 April 2015). "Bring on the laughs". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  7. ^ Kumar, Rajitha (8 November 2000). "Movies: Kamal, as we know him". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  8. ^ "19 International films Inspired Kamal Haasan movies…?". The Times of India. 16 June 2022. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Sathi Leelavathi (1994)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Sathi Leelavathi Tamil Audio Cassettes By Ilaiyaraaja". Banumass. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  11. ^ Srinivasan, Sudhir (4 August 2017). "Talking Movies: ReBourne". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  12. ^ Srinivasan, Sudhir (3 March 2017). "Then and now: Rajinikanth's blockbuster Baasha to be re-released today". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  13. ^ ஆர். பி. ஆர். (22 January 1995). "சதி லீலாவதி". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 1. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  14. ^ "'சதிலீலாவதி' வெற்றிக்கு கோவை சரளாவும் காரணம்: கமல் புகழாரம்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 12 June 2020. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  15. ^ R, Sivakumar (7 April 2020). "காரைக்குடி, திருவாரூர் பார்ட்டியில கூப்பிட்டாகோ புகழ் கோவை சரளா பர்த்டே டுடே!". Mr Puyal (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  16. ^ Darshan, Navein (26 September 2020). "'SP Balasubrahmanyam's voice was key in etching identity of many an actor'". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  17. ^ Jha, Subhash K. (21 June 2003). "'Someone has taken a political ride on my vehicle'". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  18. ^ "Kamal Haasan back after 16 years". The Hindu. 18 March 2005. Archived from the original on 14 January 2006. Retrieved 11 November 2022.

Bibliography

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