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Vayasu Ponnu

Vayasu Ponnu
Theatrical release poster
Directed byK. Shankar
Screenplay byR. K. Shanmugham
Based onLove Birds
by Manian
Produced byK. N. Kunjappan
StarringR. Muthuraman
Jai Ganesh
Latha
Roja Ramani
CinematographyRajaram
Edited byK. Shankar
Music byM. S. Viswanathan
Production
company
RGM Productions
Release date
  • 2 September 1978 (1978-09-02)
Running time
146 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Vayasu Ponnu (transl. Adolescent girl) is a 1978 Indian Tamil-language film directed and edited by K. Shankar, and written by R. K. Shanmugham. It is based on Love Birds, a novel by Manian serialised in Ananda Vikatan. The film stars R. Muthuraman, Jai Ganesh, Latha, and Roja Ramani. It was released on 2 September 1978, and failed commercially.

Plot

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The heroine is brought up by her elder sister but gets attracted to hippie culture. Her elder sister's friend gives her a mini skirt and revealing top and she starts to get stalked. She is saved by a rich, kind and middle-aged man whose only vice is call girls. She leaves his house and job though he has been decent and kind to her. She rejects the proposal of her new house owner who is a devout Murugan devotee and moves on. She gets gang raped one night and her life is in shambles. The kind man, her elder sister, hippie friend and the devotee back her up unquestioningly with the devotee wanting to marry her. He gets killed in a brawl while she is in altar. She gets her elder sister and hippie friend married and goes to live off with the kind man in an unnamed relationship which is hinted to be platonic.

Cast

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Production

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Vayasu Ponnu was directed and edited by K. Shankar. It was produced by K. N. Kunjappan under R. G. M. Productions.[2] The screenplay was written by R. K. Shanmugham,[1] based on Love Birds, a novel by Manian serialised in Ananda Vikatan.[3][4]

Soundtrack

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The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan.[5] The song "Kaanchi Pattuduththi" is set in the Carnatic raga known as Kalyanavasantam.[6][7][8]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Kaanji Pattudutti"MuthulingamK. J. Yesudas, Savithri 
2."Matthalattha"VaaliS. P. Balasubrahmanyam 
3."Mein Hoon Lucky"VaaliVani Jairam 
4."Adho Oru"MuthulingamT. M. Soundararajan, Vani Jairam 

Release and reception

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Vayasu Ponnu was released on 2 September 1978,[9] and failed commercially. However, Muthulingam won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Lyricist for "Kaanchi Pattuduththi".[10][11][12] Anna praised Shanmugam's dialogues, Shankar's direction, Viswanathan's music and performances of cast.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b Dharap, B. V. (1978). Indian Films. Motion Picture Enterprises. pp. 338–339.
  2. ^ "'வயசுப்பொண்ணு' ஆகஸ்ட் வெளியீடு" [Vayasu Ponnu releases in August]. Anna (in Tamil). 27 July 1978. p. 3. Archived from the original on 12 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025 – via Endangered Archives Programme.
  3. ^ Vayasu Ponnu (Motion picture) (in Tamil). RGM Productions. 1978. Opening credits, at 0:40.
  4. ^ "தமிழில் இதுவரை நாவலில் இருந்து படமாக்கப்பட்ட திரைப்படங்கள் பட்டியல்" [List of Tamil films adapted from novels so far.]. Pesamozhi (in Tamil). 3 March 2016. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Vayasu Ponnu Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M.S.Viswanathan". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  6. ^ Rangan, Baradwaj (11 September 2018). "Southern Lights: Subramaniya Bharati's Poetry In Tamil Cinema". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  7. ^ Mani, Charulatha (26 April 2013). "Harmonious symmetry". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  8. ^ Sundararaman (2007) [2005]. Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music (2nd ed.). Chennai: Pichhamal Chintamani. p. 136. OCLC 295034757.
  9. ^ "வயசுப்பொண்ணு". Anna (in Tamil). 1 September 1978. p. 4. Archived from the original on 14 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025 – via Endangered Archives Programme.
  10. ^ "மீனவ நண்பன் படத் தயாரிப்பின்போது எம்.ஜி.ஆருக்கு வந்த கோபம்". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 13 June 2016. Archived from the original on 10 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  11. ^ Saravanan. "Vani Jayaram's Tamil Film Songs Chronology". Vanijairam.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  12. ^ யுகபாரதி (29 October 2006). "உனக்குள் என்னை மறைத்து..." (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 20–23. Retrieved 8 November 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  13. ^ "வயசு பொண்ணு". Anna (in Tamil). 10 September 1978. p. 3. Archived from the original on 14 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025 – via Endangered Archives Programme.
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