Pillai Nilla (transl. Waxing Crescent) is a 1985 Indian Tamil-language psychological horror film[1] directed by Manobala, produced and written by P. Kalaimani. The film stars Mohan, Radhika, Jaishankar, Nalini, and Baby Shalini. It was released on 14 April 1985 and emerged a commercial success.
| Pillai Nila | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Manobala |
| Written by | P. Kalaimani |
| Produced by | P. Kalaimani |
| Starring | Mohan Radhika Jaishankar Nalini Baby Shalini |
| Music by | Ilaiyaraaja |
Production company | Kalaimani Pictures |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot edit
This article needs an improved plot summary. (November 2021) |
Dolly is the young sister of a widowed rich man named David. She falls in love with Mohan, who studies at her university. Before she tries to express her love, suddenly flies abroad for an office matter. Meanwhile, in India, Mohan's mother arranges his marriage with his cousin Bhuvana, and he marries her. When Dolly returns from abroad on her birthday, she expresses her love to Mohan, but he rejects her because his wife is pregnant. Dolly's obsession causes her to commit suicide in front of him at the hospital. At the same time, as his wife is giving birth. Their daughter, Shalini, is imbued with Dolly's evil spirit as Dolly takes revenge. What happens next is the rest of the story.
Cast edit
- Mohan as Mohan[2]
- Radhika as Dolly[2]
- Jaishankar as David
- Nalini as Bhuvana
- Baby Shalini as Shalini[2]
- Sathyaraj as Saint Cromeo (guest appearance)[3]
- Janagaraj as Dolly's secretary
- Thengai Srinivasan as Kanagasabapathy Principal
- Chinni Jayanth as Sekar
- Peeli Sivam
- Pasi Narayanan as Oomaithurai
- T.K.S. Chandran as Psychiatrist Doctor Deensha
Production edit
After his directorial debut Agaya Gangai (1982) failed, Manobala did not get any further offers to direct which left him depressed and he contemplated suicide.[4] P. Kalaimani approached Manobala to direct a film for him which was titled Muthal Vasantham; however the partners of Kalaimani were uninterested in having Manobala as director and replaced him with Manivannan. Despite this Kalaimani promised Manobala to direct a film which eventually became Pillai Nila.[5]
The film took inspiration from various horror films such as Christine (1983), Poltergeist (1982), The Omen (1976) and The Exorcist (1973). The makers sought to avoid clichéd horror film tropes such as haunted houses, "sex-charged teenagers" and "unrealistic monsters in rubber masks".[2]
Soundtrack edit
The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[6][7] It took him six days to finish the film's re-recording.[8]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Raja Magal Roja Malar" | Vaali | P. Jayachandran and S. Janaki | 4:20 |
| 2. | "Raja Magal Roja Malar" (female) | Vaali | S. Janaki | 4:13 |
| 3. | "Azhage Azhage" | Vairamuthu | Malaysia Vasudevan and S. Janaki | 2:10 |
| 4. | "Unnodu Thaan" | Vaali | S. Janaki | 2:04 |
| Total length: | 12:47 | |||
Release and reception edit
Pillai Nila was released on 14 April 1985, Puthandu. Despite facing competition from other films released in the same week including Mohan's own films Udaya Geetham and Deivapiravi,[9] it emerged a commercial success.[10] Jayamanmadhan (a duo) of Kalki wrote the first half was not so boring, but the second half did not test their patience at all. The duo praised Ashok Kumar's cinematography, the performances of Mohan, Nalini and Shalini but felt the climax was absurd.[11]
References edit
- ^ Maderya, Kumuthan (31 October 2014). "Tamil Horror Films: Madness, Modernity and of Course, Misogyny". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d Balakrishnan, Ravi (13 December 2008). "Homegrown horror movies at its best". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Ravi, Stills (28 September 2017). "Sathyaraj: More than a villain". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ மனோபாலா (2 November 2015). "நான் உங்கள் ரசிகன் 6". Kungumam (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ மனோபாலா (9 November 2015). "நான் உங்கள் ரசிகன்". Kungumam (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "Pillai Nila Tamil FIlm EP VInyl Record by Ilayaraja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "Pillai Nila". JioSaavn. 14 February 1985. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ Saravanan, T. (9 January 2011). "Always in reckoning". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ ராம்ஜி, வி. (19 April 2020). "'உதயகீதம்', 'பிள்ளைநிலா', 'தெய்வப்பிறவி'; ஒரேநாளில் ரீலீஸ்; மூன்றுமே செம ஹிட்டு; 35 வருடங்களாச்சு!" [Udaya Geetham, Pillai Nila and Deivapiravi released on the same day; all three were big hits; 35 years have passed!]. Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ Narayanan, Sujatha (22 August 2016). "Just wait...ghosts will catch up!". The New Indian Express. p. 2. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ ஜெயமன்மதன் (5 May 1985). "பிள்ளை நிலா". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 10–11. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023 – via Internet Archive.
External links edit
- Pillai Nila at IMDb
