Naalaiya Theerpu

Naalaiya Theerpu () is an 1992 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar and produced and written by his wife Shoba Chandrasekhar which marked the debut of their son Vijay in the lead role alongside Keerthana and Easwari Rao. The film which also featured Srividya, Radharavi and Sarath Babu, had music composed by newcomer Manimekalai, cinematography by R. P. and editing by Gautham Raju. The film released was subjected to mixed reviews on 4 December 1992 and had poor box office return. The film was dubbed in Hindi as Faisla Uparwale Ka in the same year.

Plot 

Mahalakshmi (Srividya) is molested by her husband Arun Mehta (Radha Ravi). Arun Mehta has affairs with many other women. Mahalakshmi has a son Vijay (Vijay), whom she raises on her own. However, things change when her son grows up.

Cast

Vijay as Vijay
Keerthana as Priya
Easwari Rao as Rani, Sundaramoorthy's daughter
Srividya as Mahalakshmi, Vijay's mother
Radha Ravi as Arun Mehta
Vinu Chakravarthy as Sundaramoorthy
Gowtham Sundararajan as Rocky, Arun Mehta's son
K. R. Vijaya as a Judge
Sarath Babu as Priya's brother
Dhamu as Dhamu, Vijay's friend
Srinath as Vijay's friend
Mansoor Ali Khan as an Inspector
Major Sundarrajan as D.P
V. Gopalakrishnan as Commissioner of police
S. S. Chandran as Meenatchisundaram MLA
Jaiganesh as Rajasekhar, College Principal
Pandu as Lecturer
Typist Gopu as Police Constable
S. N. Surendar as Press Editor 
K. S. Jayalakshmi as Ambika
Chaplin Balu as Vijay's friend
Kavitha

Production
Vijay made his debut as a leading actor with the film, aged eighteen.

Vijay being a fan of Rajinikanth told Chandrasekhar that he wanted to headline a movie. Vijay enacted a scene from Annamalai (1992), the one in which  Rajinikanth challenges Sarath Babu. “He did it exactly the way it was in the film, especially the line mark this date in your calendar,” Chandrasekhar recalled. “That’s when I realised that he had talent, a fierce passion.”

Despite Chandrasekhar's confidence, Naalaiya Theerpu underperformed at the box office. “To be honest, I shouldn’t have made that film for him especially when he was just 18,” Chandrasekhar said. “I thought now that my son is also becoming an actor, I could continue to practise my style of filmmaking and pass on socially relevant messages to the audience through him. Maybe the timing wasn’t right.”

Soundtrack
The music was composed by M. M. Srilekha, under the name of Manimegalai at the age of 12. The film featured lyrics written by Pulamaipithan, P. R. C. Balu and music director Bharani. The latter went on to become a popular music composer.

Reception
The Indian Express wrote "Many tongue-in-cheek remarks on the prevailing political and economic climate makes the film worth watching".

After the Release of Naalaiya Theerpu, a famous Tamil Weekly quoted "Intha Moonjiya ellam Kaasu Kuduthu Paakanuma".

References

External links
 
 

Category:Indian films
Category:1992 films
Category:1990s Tamil-language films
Category:Indian action films
Category:Indian vigilante films