Vandichakkaram

Vandichakkaram (transl. Cartwheel) is a 1980 Indian Tamil-language film directed by K. Vijayan and written by Vinu Chakravarthy. The film stars Sivakumar and Saritha. It revolves around a ruffian who, after falling in love, resolves to mend his ways.

Vandichakkaram
Theatrical release poster
Directed byK. Vijayan
Written byVinu Chakravarthy
Produced byThirupur Mani
Starring
CinematographyN. Balakrishnan
Edited byT. Rajasekhar
Music byShankar–Ganesh
Production
company
Release date
  • 29 August 1980 (1980-08-29)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Chakravarthy wrote the script in 1976, but production began only in 1979. It was supposed to be the 100th film of Sivakumar but eventually became his 101st to accommodate Rosappu Ravikkaikari (1979). The film was produced by Thirupur Mani, and shot at Mysore. It is also the debut film of Silk Smitha.

Vandichakkaram was released on 29 August 1980, and became one of the biggest hits of Sivakumar. At the Filmfare Awards South, he and Saritha won the awards for Best Tamil Actor and Best Tamil Actress respectively. The film also won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film—Third Prize. It was later remade in Hindi as Prem Pratigyaa (1989).[1]

Plot

Gaja is a ruffian. After falling in love with Vadivu, he resolves to mend his ways.

Cast

Production

Vinu Chakravarthy wrote the script of Vandichakkaram in 1976, but production began only in 1979.[4] This was supposed to be the 100th film of Sivakumar but eventually became his 101st so that Rosappu Ravikkaikari (1979) could become his 100th. The film featured Sivakumar portraying a ruffian, completely different from the soft roles which he was portraying at that point of his career.[5] This was the feature film debut of Vijayalakshmi, who later became known as the sex symbol Silk Smitha. Vinu Chakravarthy said he "chiseled" her character during the writing process for almost three years before production began.[4] Since the film demanded a vegetable market situated in a straight line, the crew zeroed on a market place Devaraja Market in Mysore where the film was shot.[2][6][7] Sivakumar revealed Mysore Devaraja Market usually does not give permission to shoot but they specially gave permission only to this film's crew.[2] The filming was also held at Premier Studios at Mysore.[6] Smitha's voice was dubbed by Hema Malini.[8] The song "Vaa Machan" was supposed to picturised on Sivakumar's character; however, since it was felt the majesty of his role would be reduced if he had performed in the song, it was changed into his character drinking and being an onlooker at the dance.[2]

Soundtrack

The music composed by Shankar–Ganesh, and lyrics were penned by Pulamaipithan.[9] The song "Vaa Machan Vaa" became hugely popular.[3]

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Devi Vantha Neram"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam4:12
2."Oru Thai Maasam"S. Janaki3:10
3."Vaa Machan"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam5:24
Total length:12:46

Release and reception

Vandichakkaram was released on 29 August 1980,[3] and became one of the biggest hits of Sivakumar.[10] Writing for Kalki, Nalini Sastry said Vijayan was not pushing the cartwheel on the ground, but into the sky.[11] At the Filmfare Awards South, Sivakumar and Saritha won the awards for Best Tamil Actor and Best Tamil Actress respectively.[12] The film also won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film—Third Prize.[13]

References
  1. Lookhar, Mayur (2 December 2016). "When Deven Verma was locked in a jewellery store". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  2. "திரைப்படச்சோலை 35: வண்டிச்சக்கரம்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 28 May 2021. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  3. ராம்ஜி, வி. (29 August 2019). "'வா மச்சான் வா... வண்ணாரப்பேட்டை...' – 'வண்டிச்சக்கரம்' படத்துக்கு 39 வயது". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  4. "Silk Smitha is my creation". Deccan Chronicle. 17 February 2011. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  5. Ashok Kumar, S. R. (28 May 2020). "Landmark films, golden memories". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  6. சலன் (4 May 1980). "மைசூர் மார்க்கெட்டில் வண்டிச்சக்கரம்". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 14–15. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  7. சலன் (11 May 1980). "பழக்கடையில் படப்பிடிப்பு குழுவினர்!". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 62–63. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  8. Ramesh, Neeraja (23 September 2019). "Decoding Silk Smitha for Gen Z". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  9. "Vandichakkaram". JioSaavn. 29 August 1980. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  10. Rajarathinam, R. M. (12 February 2005). "Portrait of an actor". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  11. சாஸ்திரி, நளினி (14 September 1980). "வண்டிச்சக்கரம்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 53. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  12. The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who. Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. 1984. p. 234.
  13. "சிறந்த படம் "வறுமையின் நிறம் சிவப்பு" | தமிழக அரசு பரிசு!". Dina Thanthi (in Tamil). Bangalore. 26 May 1982. p. 1. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
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