Oli Vilakku is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language action film, directed by Tapi Chanakya and produced by S. S. Vasan. It is a remake of the Hindi-language film Phool Aur Patthar. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran, Jayalalitha and Sowcar Janaki, with S. A. Ashokan, Manohar, Cho and V. S. Raghavan in supporting roles. It was released on 20 September 1968.
Plot
Muthu is a career criminal who works for Master Jambu along with his girlfriend Geetha. Who becomes friends with Kadri, another petty thief. Due to his repetitive crimes, the court orders him to stay in a small town for six months. But, two days before his release, he escapes. Master Jambu gives him another job to rob a safe full of gold from the rich. When a plague empties Maanggudi of its inhabitants; Muthu takes the opportunity to burgle a house. He finds nothing except Shanti. A widowed daughter-in-law which the cruel relatives left her to die. Pannaiyar Paramsivam, his wife, and their son, Somu. Shanthi has married off when she was 4 years old to a boy of 5 years old. But the boy dies soon after. Muthu brings a local village doctor, Kannaiyah, and nurses her back to health. When her relatives return, they are not pleased to find her alive. And even less pleased to discover that someone has tried to rob them. Shanti gets the blame and a beating as they suspect her of having an affair with thief, Muthu. Somu, Pannaiyar Paramasivam's other son, tries to rape Shanthi. Muthu saves her from this and the pair flee, with help of Kadri, who treats Shanthi as her sister. They set up home in Muthu's house. Much to the displeasure of the respectable neighbours, who are all too ready to think the worst. Shanti's relatives feel dismayed when a lawyer arrives to announce that Shanti's uncle, has left a legacy for 500,000 rupees. They hatch a plot to get her back. By making false police report that Muthu kidnapped Shanthi and stole their gold. This is overheard by the Kannaiyah who happens to pass by to visit Shanthi and Muthu. Muthu approaches Master Jambu to borrow money. Yet, Jambu sedates him. Geetha assists with hesitation, Master Jambu. Fearing that they may lose Muthu. Then, Kannaiyah steals the gold from Pannaiyar Paramasivam, which Kadhri comes to know. Meanwhile, Shanthi appears as a local prostitute by the local neighbours. Which enrages Muthu, culminating in an assault by him on one of the neighbours. Shanthi pacifies Muthu and Muthu reforms to be a good man. One day, Somu notices Muthu with Geetha. Somu, with the help of police, chase both of them but they escape. Somu meets the commissioner and both of them then go to see Muthu and Shanthi. But, Kadri, disguised as Shanti, saves them. Shanthi persuades both Kadri and Muthu to reform. Master Jambu comes to know that Muthu reforms through Shanthi. He persuades Muthu to steal a diamond necklace worth 2 million. Muthu, with hesitation, agrees that the robbery will be his last in exchange for his freedom. Master Jambu reveals that about three years ago, while he was committing a bank robbery, Muthu tried to stop them and saw the robbery. Yet, he cannot prove this to the court due to his past criminal history. Muthu came out after one year from his jail sentence. He works with the commissioner to nab the real culprits, but is foolen by Master Jambu. Master Jambu then traps Muthu into his gang, by playing drama. Geetha, through accident, kills Master Jambu gang member Rathnam to save Muthu. Yet, Rathnam is still alive and both Muthu and Geetha believe that Rathnam is dead. The rest of the story follows how Muthu escapes from Master Jambu's gang, and Shanthi and Geetha's fate.
;Support cast Ennathe Kannaiah, Vijayan, Veerappan, Karikol Raju, Usilai Mani, K. Kannan, Gemini Balu, Thirupathisami, Kadhar, Puthoor Natarajan, Chandrasekaran, Pasupathi, Justin, Selvaraj, Lazy Dog, M. S. Sundari Bai, T. P. Muthulakshmi, Kanakadurga, Sadhalakshmi, Parvathi, Thangam, Yasodha, Indrani, Vanaja, Sheela, Narimani, and Baby Mythili. Additionally, CID Sakunthala appears as a dancer in the song "Whistlings, Sips and Drunkenness".
Production
Oli Vilakku was directed by Tapi Chanakya and produced by S. S. Vasan under Gemini Studios; Vasan was not credited onscreen as producer. The film was M. G. Ramachandran's 100th as an actor, and a remake of the Hindi-language film Phool Aur Patthar. Ramachandran agreed to act in the film only after long sessions of negotiations with Vasan, who assented to the conditions laid down by Ramachandran regarding to the choice of costume and the characterisation of the male lead. It was Gemini' first colour film, being colourised through Eastmancolor, and was V. S. Raghavan's first collaboration with Ramachandran. J. Jayalalithaa was chosen to reprise the role originally played by Shashikala, and Sowcar Janaki was chosen to reprise Meena Kumari's role. The dialogues were written by Sornam, art direction was handled by A. K. Sekhar, cinematography was handled by U. Rajagopal and the editing by M. Umanath. While Janaki was initially billed as the first female actress in the opening credits, Jayalalithaa demanded she be billed first as she considered herself more popular; her request was granted. During the film's Kodaikanalshooting schedule, Ramachandran cancelled a day's shoot because of the cold weather and ensured that all the crew members received a blanket. Unlike the original, where the male lead marries the widow, the climax was changed for Oli Vilakku at Ramachandran's suggestion; it ends with the male lead marrying the unmarried woman while the widow dies.
Soundtrack
The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan and lyrics were written by Vaali. One sequence required Ramachandran to act drunk and mouth a song. Stuck in a dilemma, he approached Vaali who came up with a solution: Ramachandran would be drunk, but his conscience would emerge as four different Ramachandrans to criticise his acting in the song. Ramachandran now anxiously asked Vaali for the pallavi, and Vaali came up with the lines "Dhayiriamaaga sol nee manidhan thaanaa, Nee thaan oru mirugam, Indha madhuvil vizhum neram", which impressed Ramachandran. The song "Aandavane Un" is set in Shivaranjani raga. "Naan Kanda Kanavil" is based on "Zindagi Mein Pyar Karna" from the Hindi original, and the Portuguese song "Andorinha Preta". The instrumental piece "Whistlings, Sips and Drunkenness" is not included in the soundtrack.
Release and reception
Oli Vilakku was released on 20 September 1968. Two days later, the reviewer from The Indian Express derided the film, saying it "lapses into mediocrity thanks to inept handling of the theme and unconvincing performances." The reviewer criticised the performances of Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, but praised that of Janaki. On 6 October 1968, the magazine Ananda Vikatan published a review jointly conducted by many people, most of whom positively commented on the film. Oli Vilakku was Ramachandran's eleventh turning point in his career. According to historian Randor Guy, the film was "one of the biggest hits of 1968", with a 98-day run in Chennai, 147 days in nMadurai, 100 days in Kumbakonam, 117 days in Trichy Tamil Nadu theatres, and performed well Silver JUbilee hit in Sri Lanka. In contrast, N. Kesavan of The Hindu says that while it did run well in Sri Lanka..
Legacy
When Ramachandran was hospitalised in 1984 at Brooklyn Hospital, New York, footage showing a tearful Janaki lip syncing to "Aandavane Un" prefaced film screenings across cinema halls in Tamil Nadu.
