SONGS:
1. O!Manida Jathiye (TM Soundararajan)
2. Oru Kinnathai (TM Soundararajan)
3. Kudimaganey (TM Soundararajan, L.R.Eswari)
4. Kalaimagal (P Susheela)
5. Mayakam Enna (TM Soundararajan, P Susheela)
6. Irandu Manam (TM Soundararajan)
7. Yaarukaga (TM Soundararajan)
Were super duper hits and are popular even today
Extra shots:
The film is a turning point to producer Ramanaidu. This film came at a time when he was in deep troubles due to the then-recent flops.
It was ANR's wife Annapurna gaaru who suggested the then-hit novel by Arekapudi. K.S. Prakasha Rao and Athreya made a lot of changes to the novel.
Storywriter Koduri Kausalya Devi sold the film's rights to Sridhar Reddy originally. The original version was a tragic ending in that the lead pair do not marry. The story was changed to take the sad note off. Annapurna gaaru encouraged her husband ANR to do the film. Smt Koduri Kausalya devi died recently
For Ramanaidu, this was the last straw - he was so ready to leave Madras and go back to his native place Karamchedu if this movie flopped in telugu
A Hindi version followed with Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini in the lead and tasted appreciable success there too
Initially Jayalalitha was to play the heroine role but due to her mother’s death Vanisri played her role that she portrayed in telugu
Even neutral people and other actor fans would agree that it is a master piece of NT
The still of NT face resting on Vanishri chest was so popular
The movie ran, ran & ran for more than 25 weeks
The success was so huge that 1972 means its Vasantha Maligai
The movie had two climax one NT death, ie ending with blood vomit of NT but following fans displeasure the climax was changed to happy ending( My father saw the movie in kanchipuram the first day as he could not get tickets in Pallavaram Janata he saw tragic ending)
The movie did wonders to music director KV Mahadevan as it did it in Thuruvilayadal
My father was studying in college and Kannadasan sir was chief guest & mentioned about uniqueness of songs of Vasantha Maligai and urged them to watch it during semester holidays
Vanisree’s hair style & Long sleeved blouses was a rage to teenage girls
Slow motion scenes in Eastman colour movie was first used in this movie
It was a hit in Sri Lanka also
Many love stories released in 80 years of Tamil cinema but this one is one among top 5 love stories in tamil
It is one of often re released movies of NT and continues to mint money for producers
NT mother expired during this shooting of this movie
The Vasantha Malaigai set was open for public to see it and my father saw it by paying 1rupee
PERFORMANCE:
NT looks ravishing right from beginning in green suit and his opening dialogues evoke laughter along with philosophy, next is his pink suit in Oru Kinnathai song and his dance with Aalam nothing short than top class , his subsequent fight by uttering seri ne sonna yara irunthalum udakudathu, Vendanum sonna Vibachariya irudhalum todakudathu
His next scene in swimming pool with blue shots & shirt resembles aristocrat
His outburst towards vanisri about lack of mother’s love , final scenes, his way of expression of love, white dress ------------------------------ extra ordinary
For a love story like this there must be a beautiful heroine vanisree fits the bill in terms of appearance & performance
Balaji as elder brother evokes vengeance on NT
Anjali Devi as mother is also good
But comedy scenes are seriously a speed breaker for this movie
Final word:
MASTER Piece from legends, Classic love story
Home Video
Its available in Symmphony video costs Rs 50/-