Ulagam Sutrum Valiban is a 1973 Indian Tamil-language science fiction film, directed and produced by M. G. Ramachandran and co-produced by R. M. Veerappan. The film stars MGR in the lead role, along with Manjula, Latha, Chandrakala, Thai actress Metta Roongrat, M. N. Nambiar, R. S. Manohar and S. A. Ashokan, Nagesh play supporting roles. The film score and soundtrack were composed by M. S. Viswanathan.
Story
Murugan is an Indian scientist who has recently discovered how to store a part of the energy unleashed from lightning. He reports this in the Hong Kong scientists' conference. He subsequently announces that he wouldn't reveal his discovery since the world is at the brink of World War III and his research may be used for destructive purposes. Scientist Bairavan claims Murugan is falsely claiming that his research is successful. Murugan thus conducts a demonstration and destroys the vital research notes, which upsets other scientists. Bairavan offers $100 million to persuade him to sell the research to a foreign country, which Murugan refuses. Murugan then departs with his girlfriend, Vimala for a world tour. He discloses to Vimala that he pretended like destroying the research notes and he has kept them in some safe place. He indeed had plans of using them further so that his research is used for productive purposes. Bairavan, who has been following them, overhears this. Bairavan plans to steal the research notes. While in Singapore, Bairavan shoots Murugan with a special gun. Vimala faints on seeing this. Murugan, who seemingly suffers a mental disorder is subsequently taken into Bairavan's custody. Shortly, Vimala too is abducted by Bairavan, expecting the former to cure Murugan, so that he could get information on the whereabouts of the research documents. Raju, a CBCID officer and Murugan's younger brother arrives in Singapore in search of his brother. How he finds his brother and what happens to others forms the rest of the story.
Cast
M. G. Ramachandran as Murugan / Raju
Manjula as Vimala
Latha as Lily
Chandrakala as Rathnadevi
M. G. Chakrapani as
M. N. Nambiar as
R. S. Manohar as
S. A. Ashokan as Bairavan,
Nagesh as Markandeyan
V. Gopalakrishnan as
Thengai Srinivasan as
Som Saï as Som Sai, Metta's father
Shiyam Sundar as One of Bairavan's henchmen
Metta Roongrat as Metta, Som Saï's daughter
The casting is established according to the original order of the credits of opening of the movie, except those not mentioned.
Release
The film was one of Ramachandran's all-time blockbuster movies and completed a 217-day run at the box office in Tamil Nadu. It yielded 1.3 crore in entertainment tax revenue to the State exchequer grossing record 4.55 crore. It celebrated Silver Jubilee in Devi Paradise, Agasthia in Chennai, Madurai – Meenakshi, Trichy – Palace Kovai – Raja & Sri Lanka - Capital and Kottayam - 200 days. It crossed 100 days in 33 theatres. Booking reservations within three hours of opening 100 shows were full. There was no advertisement, posters and publicity of releasing the film. It was displayed on a blackboard. It was the first Indian movie to break the record collection of the English-language movie "Mckenna's Gold" in a single theatre; Devi Paradise.
It is the voice of M. G. Chakrapani, the elder brother of MGR that we hear at the beginning of the movie, when the scholar finds the formula. The director P. Neelakantan brought precious help on the shooting. Moreover, MGR thanks him in the opening title. The score and soundtrack were composed by M. S. Viswanathan. 2 songs, of which "Aval Oru Navarasa..." and "Nilavu Oru..." results from an unfinished movie of MGR entitled INAINTHA KAIKAL. There are in ULAGAM SUTRUM VALIBAN several big instrumental pieces and very different themes in the orchestration. The first choice of MGR for the soundtrack was Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, the Indian classical music violinist. Although the big singer K. J. Yesudas lends for the first time his voice for MGR, it is not the first movie of MGR for him. Indeed, he was already on the soundtrack of another movie of MGR, in 1966, PARAKKUM PAAVAI with the title " Sugam Yethilae... " accompanied by the famous dueo, T. M. Soundararajan-L. R. Eswari. He lent his voice to the actor J. P. Chandrababu. The film celebrated silver jubilee in 7 screens (Devi Paradise - 182 days, Agasthiya - 176 days in Chennai, Madurai- Meenakshi 217 days, Trichy - Palace 203 days, Kovai - Raja 150 days and in Sri Lanka - Capital - 203 days -Kottayam-200 days This movie is the kick-off, in a way, for running in the nomination for the post of chief-minister of Tamil Nadu, India, for MGR, under his own political persuasions, Anna D.M.K.. Jayalalithaa, in an interview with the media, said that Ramachandran owed his popularity to her; irked by this, Ramachandran fired her from Ulagam Sutrum Valiban, and replaced her with Manjula. The climax scene was shot at Expo 70.
Ramachandran intended to make a sequel to this film titled Kizhakku Africavil Raju, but the project never came to fruition when he was alive. An animated sequel with the same title, but a different script is being directed by M. Arulmoorthy.
