Idaya Kovil

Idaya Kovil

Idaya Kovil
Directed by Mani Ratnam
Produced by Kovai Thambi
Written by M. G. Vallabhan (Dialogues)
Screenplay by M. G. Vallabhan
Story by R. Selvaraj
Starring Mohan
Radha
Ambika
Goundamani
Kapil Dev
Music by Ilaiyaraja
Cinematography Raja Rajan
Edited by B. Lenin
V. T. Vijayan
Production
company
Motherland Pictures
Distributed by Motherland Pictures
Release dates
 September 14, 1985
Running time
 130 min
Country India
Language Tamil

Idaya Kovil (English: Temple in Heart) is a 1985 Indian Tamil language film directed by Mani Ratnam starring Mohan, Radha, Ambika and Goundamani. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Ilaiyaraaja. This is Mani Ratnam's fourth film. The music was a sensation and the movie did well at the box office.

Plot

Suriya (Radha), a student wishes to get a very popular singer, Shankar (Mohan) to sing in her college festival. Initial attempts to meet Shankar prove futile as he is a recluse. Nonetheless, she breaks into his home to meet him but is shocked to discover him in an inebriated state. She makes efforts to make him sober and come to the festival. It works as Shankar performs at the festival. Over time, as they become friends, Shankar stops drinking and Suriya falls in love with him but he has a dark past which is then revealed.

Before becoming famous, Shankar grew up in a village where he used to sing in the festivals there. He and Gauri (Ambika) love each other and Shankar, with encouragement from Gauri, wishes to become a famous singer and leaves for Madras. He soon gets an opportunity to sing for a radio program but unbeknownst to him, Gauri arrived at Madras on the same day. Without Shankar to receive her at the bus stop, she gets lost in the city when trying to find Shankar and is chased by a group of thugs and finds refuge in a temple, where she commits suicide. At the same time Shankar sings for the program and later finds her body in the temple. This incident drives Shankar into an alcoholic recluse.

Meanwhile, Suriya’s parents arrange for her to be wedded to her friend. Although Suriya wants to wed Shankar, he refuses stating that his only true love is Gauri even though he cares about her. On the day of the wedding, just before the ceremony, Suriya collapses and dies, having consumed poison prior to the wedding.

The movie ends as a sad Shankar looks over the graves of both Gauri and Suriya.

Cast

Credits

Production

Mani Ratnam considered it as the important film in his life time and he felt miserable during the shooting as he had to make too much of compromises. Producer Kovaithambi had the dates of Radha and Ambika. He sent over the story in a cassette to Mani. Mani was busy filming Pagal Nilavu at that time. He told Kovaithambi that he would start his project after completing Pagal Nilavu.[1] He narrated the story of Divya to the film's writer but he rejcted it as it wasn't his kind of story.[1] Mani initially wrote a screenplay of the film, inspired from Citylights with the plot being narrated from the point of view from a star but they were unimpressed with the idea.[1]

In 2012, Kovaithambi was irked by the Mani's remark on Idhayakoil and he regrets for providing opportunity to Mani. He also said Mani spent the amount equivalent to making three films while making Idhaya Kovil.[2]

Soundtrack

The music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[3] Mani said that the song "Naan Paadum Mouna Raagam" was his homage to Hindi film Pyaasa and the inspiration for the title of Mouna Ragam (1986) came from the song.[4]

No. Song Singers Lyrics Length (m:ss)
1 Idhayam Oru Kovil (Male) S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Ilaiyaraaja 04:56
2 Idhayam Oru Kovil Ilaiyaraaja, S. Janaki 04:43
3 Kootathilae Kovil Pura S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Muthulingham 04:29
4 Naan Paadum Mouna Raagam S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Vairamuthu 04:23
5 Oororama Aathupakkam Ilaiyaraaja Vaali 04:51
6 Paattu Thalaivan S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Vaali 04:43
7 Vaanuyarntha Solaiyile S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Pavalar Varadharasan 05:14
8 Yaar Veetu Roja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Mu. Metha 04:41

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rangan 2012, p. 42.
  2. ↑ http://www.kollytalk.com/cinenews/kovai-thambi-irked-by-mani-ratnams-controversial-comments-73010.html
  3. ↑ "Idhaya Kovil Songs". raaga. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  4. ↑ Rangan 2012, p. 43.

External links

Bibliography