Thiruvilayadal (1965)
The Hindu god Shiva gives a sacred mango fruit, brought by the sage Narada, to his elder son Vinayaka as a prize for outsmarting his younger brother Muruga in a competition. Angry with his father, Muruga (dressed as a hermit) goes to Palani. He meets Avvaiyar, one of his devotees, along the way. Despite her attempts to convince Muruga to return to Mount Kailash, he remains adamant about his decision to leave his family. His mother, the goddess Parvati, arrives there and tells the stories of four of Shiva's divine games to calm Muruga.
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In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.
Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
I was fortunate in chancing upon this extraordinary film on YouTube-- and with English subtitles. This is pure Tamil Indian cinema without a trace of Bollywood or any westernized or modernized elements (aside from some of the language in the subtitles). The imagery, the dance, the music are a feast for the eyes and ears, and the tales of Shiva and his doings quite engrossing and instructive. For a total immersion in the splendors of Hindu tradition, this can't be excelled. The print used for YouTube wasn't in the best condition, but the occasional badly damaged or deteriorated parts soon pass; one is eager to see what comes next. I wish I'd been able to see it fifty years ago! Be warned; the subtitles are often rather odd in translation, but entertaining in their own right. Shiva is most pleased after witnessing the fabulous opening devotional performance of horned drummers, Seven Sages, Seven Maidens... the god declares that he feels 'groovy'! A delightful moment that only adds to the overall charm of this classic.
Often I am asked the question: "do you like Bollywood movies?"My answer to this question is usually, 'No, not really.' Why? First of all the title 'Bollywood.' Wikipedia quote: "Bollywood s the informal term popularly used for the Mumbai-based Hindi-language film industry in India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema".This Bombay/Hollywood mix title has been created and populated by the media, and to be honest even the most Indian film makers are not really happy with it.The films currently created by this so called 'Bollywood' are mostly packed with flashy scenes, fancy cinematography and very little space for actual stories or moral value's. The common accessories of these movies are almost nude and hyperactive dancers trying to recreate the common western MTV hype of the month. This is understandable considering the amount of films that 'Bollywood' has to produce and still keep the public entertained.But for me these current 'Bollywood' movies really do not represent the moral value and the culture rich India that I know of.So which movie does? To really witness the true power of Indian movie magic we must travel back in time, as far as the 60's, to the south of India.A time where words had meaning, flowers where ornaments, science and mythology lived in harmony, and where good moral values where always available.The time of 'Thiruvilayadal'(1965) a epic mythological movie full of symbolism moral value, and the best opening scene and music spectacle of the worlds film history. Even the special FX are amazing for its time, remember Peter Jackson the maker of the Lord of The rings trilogy was still in his dippers at this time.The main characters in this film represents the elements of our universe, and the thoughts behind them can be as advanced as your brain can handle. Beside the breathtaking settings and music compositions, this movie glides on moral values, and valuable lessons.Vighnesh M. Peters
If you are a fan of mythological movies this is a must watch. Sivaji Ganesan plays Lord Shiva and plays it in a manner that people will remember it for years to come.The story comprises of 4 parts and all 4 have different stories called as leelaigal. Each part teaches you something for life at the end. Songs are excellent though classical. Sivaji's acting in this movie is just too good.The dharmi scene played by Nagesh is memorable and the dialogues in that part of the movie are a feast.It is a nice Sunday afternoon movie.
This excellent film had a list of Tamil film's Who's Who in its cast and ensemble. It was a rip-roaring success, not just for the acting but also for the historical fact that it was made in colour. The music and the songs are a bonus. Overall this film is a classic and must be retained so that future generations would not forget the magic that is the Tamil language and get entertained as well as learn the lessons through a motley of stories evolving Lord Shiva.The incomparable Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan is Shiva, Savithri is Parvati and they are ably assisted by actors and actresses of calibre, including K.B. Sundrambal as the Tamil poetess and sage Avaiyaar, Nagesh as Dharumi, Balaiya, Muthuraman, Devika, Manorama TR Mahalingam and even the director AP Nagarajan himself makes a cameo as the famous poet and bard, Natkiran.Thiruvilayadal, literally meaning the Holy Games, is a collection of stories of Lord Shiva's antics who appeared on earth in various guises to test his devotees. The tests may be varied but the lessons learnt are valuable. For e.g, in confrontation with Lord Shiva, Natkiran stands by his opinion even though he knew that the person disputing him is the Lord himself, i.e. hold to your principles if you believe them to be true, no matter who disputes them.The dialogue between Sivaji and Nagesh as Lord Shiva and Dharumi respectively remains till today a legendary exchange in masterful Tamil.Thiruvilayadal is a gem.