Muthal Vasantham

Muthal Vasantham (transl. The first spring) is a 1986 Indian Tamil-language masala film, directed by Manivannan and produced by P. Kalaimani, who also wrote the film's story. It stars Pandiyan, Chandrasekar, Ramya Krishnan and Mahalakshmi. The film, released on 22 May 1986, was remade in Telugu as Asthulu Anthasthulu (1988) and in Hindi by Manivannan as Hum Bhi Insaan Hain (1989).^[1]

Muthal Vasantham
Title card
Directed by	Manivannan
Screenplay by	Manivannan
Story by	P. Kalaimani
Produced by	P. Kalaimani
Starring	Pandiyan Chandrasekar Ramya Krishnan Mahalakshmi
Cinematography	A. Sabapathy
Edited by	K. Gowthaman
Music by	Ilaiyaraaja
Production company	Everest Films
Release date	22 May 1986 (1986-05-22)
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Plot

The rivalry between Kunguma Pottu Gounder and Vettaikkara Gounder splits a village into two. A villager who runs a boat, always fights against their dictatorship and tries to protect the villagers. An innocent orphan enters the village and becomes a man servant in Vettaikkara Gounder's house. Vettaikkara Gounder's only daughter falls for him. Vettaikkara Gounder learns it, becomes furious and whips him. With the help of the boatman, the lovers elope. But they get caught, and Vettaikkara Gounder extracts vengeance by severing the boatman's arms. He also accuses his man servant of abduction and attempted rape.

In the court, Vettaikkara Gounder's daughter lies under oath that the man servant is guilty of the accusations made by her father. After having served his term in jail, the man servant returns to the village seeking vengeance. At the same time, he is confronted by Vettaikkara Gounder's rival Kunguma Pottu Gounder. Will Kunguma Pottu Gounder use the man servant to settle his rivalry against Vettaikkara Gounder? Will the lovers unite?

Cast

• Pandiyan
• Chandrasekar
• Ramya Krishnan
• Mahalakshmi
• Vinu Chakravarthy
• Malaysia Vasudevan as Vettaikkara Gounder^[2]
• Vennira Aadai Moorthy
• Y. Vijaya
• Chinni Jayanth
• Peeli Sivam
• Typist Gopu
• Sathyaraj as Kunguma Pottu Gounder^[2]

Production

P. Kalaimani approached Manobala to direct Muthal Vasantham; however the partners of Kalaimani were uninterested in having Manobala as director and replaced him with Manivannan.^[3] While filming the song "Aarum Athu Aalam Illai", Ramya Krishnan stood without moving much because her right leg had been fractured shortly before.^[4] During the completion, Pandiyan's market was allegedly dull, so Kalaimani changed the climax to show Sathyaraj as hero.^[5]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.^[6][7] The song is "Aarum Athu Aalam Illai" set in the Carnatic raga Vakulabharanam.^[8]

Song	Singers	Lyrics	Length
"Aarum Athu Aalam Illai"	Uma Ramanan	Muthulingam	03:30
"Aarum Athu Aalam Illai"	Ilaiyaraaja	Muthulingam	04:56
"Maanada Kodi"	Janaki	Vaali	04:32
"Ponni Nadhi"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam	Gangai Amaran	04:11
"Summa Thodavum Maatten"	Janaki	Gangai Amaran	04:12
"Summa Thodavum Maattom"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Malaysia Vasudevan	Gangai Amaran	04:34

Release and reception

Muthal Vasantham was released on 22 May 1986.^[9] Jayamanmadhan of Kalki noted that, despite infusing masala into a love story, the makers did a good execution of the story.^[10] The film ran for over 25 weeks in theatres.^[11]

References

1. Arunachalam, Param (2020). BollySwar: 1981–1990. Mavrix Infotech. p. 1142. ISBN 9788193848227.
2. Ashok Kumar, S.R. (2 July 2020). "Remembering Malaysia Vasudevan, the singer with a unique voice". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 February 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
3. மனோபாலா (9 November 2015). "நான் உங்கள் ரசிகன்". Kungumam (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
4. "'I'd Come Home From The Set And Cry In Pain...Had Three Operations, Grafting'". Outlook. 5 February 2022. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
5. "நட்சத்திரங்களுடன் ஒரு வண்ணத்துப்பூச்சி: 32- இயக்குநர் ராசி அழகப்பன் எழுதும் தொடர்". Andhimazhai (in Tamil). 24 February 2020. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
6. "Muthal Vasantham". JioSaavn. Archived from the original on 15 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
7. "Mudhal Vasantham Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
8. "Vakulabharanam in Flamenco music!". The Times of India. 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
9. "முதல் வசந்தம் / Muthal Vasantham (1986)". Screen 4 Screen. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
10. ஜெயமன்மதன் (1 June 1986). "முதல் வசந்தம்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 64. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
11. "பாரதிராஜா படங்களில் சத்யராஜ்: கடலோரக் கவிதைகள் மூலம் கதாநாயகன் ஆனார்". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 10 August 2016. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.

External links

• Muthal Vasantham at IMDb