Rettai Vaal Kuruvi (transl. Two-tailed Sparrow)[a] is a 1987 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed, written and photographed by Balu Mahendra, starring Mohan, Radhika and Archana. It is based on the 1984 American film Micki & Maude.[2] The film was released on 27 February 1987.

Rettai Vaal Kuruvi
Poster
Directed byBalu Mahendra
Screenplay byBalu Mahendra
Story byGauri
Produced byAbdul Kader
Starring
CinematographyBalu Mahendra
Edited byBalu Mahendra
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Saagar Combines
Release date
  • 27 February 1987 (1987-02-27)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

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The story sets back to the vintage Madras Presidency. Gopi works in the National TV Station under his handler Margabandhu, a confidant and good friend. Though Gopi has already been married to Thulasi, the rightful daughter of his aunt, he finds love in Radha, who is a reputed singer. Gopi swaps between the two consorts, and the film sets in a mood of hilarious, romantic journey. This goes on until it ends up in admitting both of the wives at a same hospital due to different reasons. He manages to cover up his secret love to be known from each other, which fails in the end. Finally, the film ends on a happy note sharing the lives between the trio and two beautiful little kids.

Cast

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Soundtrack

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The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[6][7] The song "Kannan Vanthu" is set in the Carnatic raga known as Natabhairavi,[8][9] while "Raja Raja Chozhan" is set in Keeravani.[10][11] This song involves a "switch from 12/8 to shuffle".[12] For the dubbed Telugu version Rendu Thokala Pitta, all songs were written by Rajasri.[13]

Tamil
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Raja Raja Chozhan"Mu. MethaK. J. Yesudas4:55
2."Kannan Vanthu"Na. KamarasanS. Janaki4:11
3."Suthanthiratha Vaangi Puttom"Gangai AmaranP. Jayachandran, K. S. Chithra, Saibaba5:42
4."Thathedutha Muthu Pillai"Gangai AmaranP. Susheela, K. S. Chithra4:36
Total length:19:24
Telugu
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Naa Andamaina"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam4:40
2."Sandhyavela Paadinadi"S. Janaki4:20
3."Swatantraanni Tecchukunnam"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja5:47
Total length:14:47

Release and reception

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Rettai Vaal Kuruvi was released on 27 February 1987.[14] N. Krishnaswamy of The Indian Express wrote, "Mohan, Archana and Radhika carry themselves with ease. Balu's photography, as usual, is marked by chiaroscuro, play of light and shade."[15] Jayamanmadhan of Kalki were surprised to see Balu Mahendra directing an A rated film while praising the performances of Mohan, Archana and Radhika while also praising Mahendra's cinematography and Ilaiyaraaja's music and concluded saying latter half of the film should be watched again by the censor board.[16]

Notes

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  1. ^ While "Rettai Vaal Kuruvi" correctly translates to "two-tailed sparrow", it is also a sly reference to Mohan's two-timing character.[1]

References

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  1. ^ Srinivasan, Sudhir (17 January 2015). "Going wild over titles". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  2. ^ Rajendran, Sowmya (24 February 2014). "Balu Mahendra, master of complex relationships". Sify. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  3. ^ Rajendran, Sowmya (11 April 2017). "From 'Sakalakala Vallavan' to 'Kaatru Veliyidai': Tracing Kollywood's portrayal of abusive love". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  4. ^ கணேஷ், எஸ். (27 November 2016). "ஓல்டு இஸ் கோல்டு: ரெண்டு பொண்டாட்டிக்காரன் கதை!" [Old is Gold: The story of a man with two wives!]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). Nellai. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ Vasudevan, K. V. (26 November 2016). "A filmy reunion". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Rettai Vaal Kuruvi Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Rettai Vaal Kuruvi (1987)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  8. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 137.
  9. ^ ராமானுஜன், டாக்டர் ஆர். (7 September 2018). "ராகயாத்திரை 21: ஆனந்த ராகம் கேட்கும் காலம்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  10. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 156.
  11. ^ Saravanan, T. (20 September 2013). "Ragas hit a high". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  12. ^ Rangan, Bharadwaj (28 June 2009). "The beat is on". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Rendu Tokala Pitta". Gaana. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  14. ^ ராம்ஜி, வி. (29 April 2020). "'உன்னை ஆடியன்ஸ் திட்டப்போறாங்க பாரு'; நடிகர் மோகனிடம் சொன்ன பாலுமகேந்திரா!". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  15. ^ Krishnaswamy, N. (6 March 1987). "Bigamist's woes". The Indian Express. p. 14. Retrieved 27 December 2018 – via Google News Archive.
  16. ^ ஜெயமன்மதன் (22 March 1987). "ரெட்டை வால் குருவி". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 48. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2023.

Bibliography

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  • Sundararaman (2007) [2005]. Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music (2nd ed.). Pichhamal Chintamani. OCLC 295034757.
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