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Soora Samhaaram

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This article is about the film. For its eponymous festival, see Surasamharam.

Soora Samhaaram
Theatrical release poster
Directed byChitra Lakshmanan
Written byVietnam Veedu Sundaram (dialogues)
Screenplay byChitra Lakshmanan
Story byChitra Lakshmanan
Produced byChithra Ramu
Starring
CinematographyB. Kannan
Edited byP. Mohan Raj
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Release date
  • 30 July 1988 (1988-07-30)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Soora Samhaaram (transl. Slaying of the demon) is a 1988 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written and directed by Chitra Lakshmanan and co-written by Vietnam Veedu Sundaram. The film stars Kamal Haasan in the role of police officer, ACP Athi Veerapandiyan.[1] The film was later dubbed in Telugu as Police Diary and released on 16 September 1988.[2] Both the Tamil and Telugu versions were box office hits.[3] The core plot of the film was reported to be based on the 1985 film Witness,[4] though the director has denied it.[5]

Plot

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Athi Veerapandiyan and Arun are police officers. Divya is a drug addict who cannot stop her habit even though her brother Arun pleads. One day Arun locks her up, but she dies from withdrawal. Devastated, Arun decides to take revenge on Mohandas, the kingpin of the drug mafia, but Mohandas kills him in an airport restroom. Sudha's young brother happens to watch this murder but is terrified to make this public. Pandian, who is in-charge of this case, zeroes in Sudha and her brother as witnesses, but she refuses. But when Madhuri pleads for her help, she decides to help Pandian, but now Pandian is abducted by Mohandas's men and forcefully turn him into a drug addict. The climax reveals whether Pandian nabs the drug lord and completes the revenge of his friend Arun.

Cast

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Soundtrack

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The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[6] The song "Naan Enbadhu" marked the singing debut of Arunmozhi who works as flute musician for Ilaiyaraaja's musical troupe.[7]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Aadum Neram Ithuthaan"Gangai AmaranP. Susheela4:30
2."Naan Enbathu Nee Allava"Gangai AmaranArunmozhi, K. S. Chithra4:25
3."Neela Kuyile Solai Kuyile"Gangai AmaranArunmozhi, K. S. Chithra4:23
4."Vedhalam Vandhirukuthu"IlaiyaraajaMano, S. P. Sailaja4:20
Total length:17:38
Telugu track listing[2]
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Manakosam Madhumasam"RajasriS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra4:23
2."Naa Oopiri Neevenule"RajasriS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra4:25
3."Vacchaadu Aggipidugu"RajasriS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja & Chorus4:20
4."Aade Eedu Needi Naadi"RajasriK. S. Chithra4:30
Total length:17:38

Reception

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N. Krishnaswamy of The Indian Express wrote, "Soora Samharam is destined to be somewhat muffled in its explosive impact with the entertaining vein and progressively thinning".[8] The film ran over 100 days in many centres. Sivaji Ganesan presided over the 100-day success celebration which was held on Haasan's birthday[9] Ilaiyaraaja won the Cinema Express Award for Best Music Director.[10] On 6 December 2021, in his YouTube channel, Touring Talkies, Chitra Lakshmanan said the Telugu-dubbed version Police Diary, which had one additional song, ran for 185 days in Andhra Pradesh.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Menon, Ramesh; Pillai, Sreedhar (31 May 1989). "Comeback king". India Today. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Police Diary". indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b சூர்யா அடுத்து சுதா கொங்கராவின் இயக்கத்தில் நடிக்கிறாரா? | Lens & Cine – Question & Answer (in Tamil). Touring Talkies. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "19 International films Inspired Kamal Haasan movies…?". The Times of India. 16 June 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  5. ^ கலைஞர் முன்னிலையில் அஜித் அப்படி பேசியது சரியா? Lens Questions & Answers Oru Kutty Srtory [sic] (in Tamil). Touring Talkies. 14 July 2020. Event occurs at 7:16. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ "Soora Samhaaram and Jallikattu Tamil film LP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  7. ^ ராம்ஜி, வி. (8 December 2020). "குழலிசைக் குரலோன் அருண்மொழி; பாடகர் அருண்மொழி பிறந்தநாள் ஸ்பெஷல்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  8. ^ Krishnaswamy, N. (5 August 1988). "Soorasamhaaram". The Indian Express. p. 5. Retrieved 15 January 2019 – via Google News Archive.
  9. ^ கமலுக்காக முடிவை மாற்றிக்கொண்ட சிவாஜி | Enakkul Oruvan | Episode – 40 (in Tamil). Touring Talkies. 24 May 2020. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "Cinema Express readers choose Agni Nakshathiram". The Indian Express. Express News Service. 11 March 1989. p. 4. Retrieved 19 February 2021 – via Google News Archive.
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