Valli (film)

Valli is a 1993 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Natraj, written and produced by Latha Rajinikanth and Rajinikanth, who also stars in extended guest lead role. It stars Hariraj and Priya Raman as the main leads, with Vadivelu playing the comedian and newcomer Sanjay as the main antagonist. The film's music was scored by Ilayaraja. Rajinikanth scripted the film, wrote the dialogues and appeared in an extended guest role. The movie was a box office disaster.[1]

Valli
Theatrical release poster
Directed byK. Natraj
Written byRajinikanth
Produced byRajinikanth
Latha Rajinikanth
StarringRajinikanth
Hariraj
Priya Raman
Vadivelu
Dilip
CinematographyAjayan Vincent
Edited byGanesh Kumar
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Release date
  • 20 August 1993 (1993-08-20)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

Valli returns to her village after studying for 15 years in Madras. Her cousin (Hariraj) celebrates her arrival back to the village. He was in love with Valli since childhood days, but she has changed after she went to study in the city. She is no more in love with him. She falls in love with a city man called Shekar, who comes to the village with his friends for hunting. Shekar has slept with Valli promising to marry her, but cheats her and he escapes to the city. It is then found out that he is the only son of the chief minister of the state. Later, after widespread protests, Shekar is brought back by Valli's cousin. Instead of marrying Shekar, she kills him for cheating her. She is put in jail for 10 years. Finally when she returns home, she finds her wedding hall ready with pomp and fun for her marriage with her cousin. Her marriage is arranged by Veeraiya Valliyappan and Shiva, who know her terrible past. She thanks them for wholeheartedly helping her.

Cast

Production

Development

K. Natraj, Rajinikanth's friend from university, who earlier directed Anbulla Rajinikanth, was approached by Rajinikanth to take part as an assistant director in Annaamalai, to which Natraj gladly accepted. Then Rajinikanth approached his friends and announced that he would like to make a film for them. The script of Valli was written by Rajinikanth himself. Rajinikanth revealed that the first thing came to his mind while scripting the film was the climax. He imagined that the girl should kill the boy who destroyed her life, as opposed to the typical cliche of Tamil films where the rape victim is made to marry the rapist, he also revealed that he had completed writing the screenplay within seven days.[3]

Casting and filming

Priya Raman made her debut as heroine, while Hariraj and Sanjay were introduced in this film. Rajinikanth was not interested in making a cameo appearance, but with insistence of his friends, he accepted and finished his portions within five days.[4] Principal photography began in April 1993 and ended around June-July that year.[5] The film marked the acting debut of magician Alex as actor. The filming was held at Chalakudy, Pollachi and Red Hills. Hari was one of the assistant directors in the film.[4]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[6] The song "Ennulle Ennulle" remains one of the popular songs from this film.[7]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Ding Dong"VaaliMano, Latha Rajinikanth5:03
2."Enna Enna Kanavu"VaaliIlaiyaraaja5:05
3."Ennulle Ennulle"VaaliSwarnalatha6:54
4."Ku Ku Koo"PulamaipithanLatha Rajinikanth5:09
5."Santhanam Javathu...Valli Vara"VaaliS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. N. Surendar5:03
Total length:27:14

Reception

Malini Mannath of The Indian Express wrote, "The story has shades of 16 Vayathinile but has a freshness in its neatly etched screenplay".[8] The profits of Valli were shared by Rajinikanth's friends including director Ravindranath and Kannada film actor Ashok, who received 10 lakh rupees each.[9]

References
  1. "Rajinikanth's 10 Biggest FLOPS". Rediff.com. 28 May 2014. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  2. Vijayasarathy, R. J. (13 June 2007). "Meet the bus driver Rajni worked with". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  3. "புரட்சிதான் ஒரே வழி!". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 12 September 1993. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014 – via Rajinifans.com.
  4. "நண்பர்களுக்கு உதவ ரஜினி எடுத்த படம் வள்ளி: பிரியாராமன் அறிமுகம்". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 7 January 2013. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  5. "சூப்பர்ஸ்டார் ரஜினிகாந்த் வாழ்க்கை வரலாறு" (PDF). Canada Uthayan (in Tamil). 31 December 2015. p. 50. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  6. "Valli". JioSaavn. 7 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  7. Prasad, Arun (29 November 2022). ""வள்ளி" படத்துக்கு மியூசிக் போட்டது கார்த்திக் ராஜாவா? இளையராஜாவா? குழப்பத்தை தீர்த்து வைத்த பிரபல தயாரிப்பாளர்…". CineReporters (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  8. Mannath, Malini (27 August 1993). "Rajni arrives with a bang". The Indian Express. p. 6. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  9. "Rajnikanth does more than flex his muscles". The Indian Express. 9 November 1998. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
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