Unnal Mudiyum Thambi (1988) User Reviews

MS Udaya Murthy - A reformer.

[partheesh · 8/10 · 11 August 2022]

Usually Tamil movies would portray a brahmin Carnatic singer. The director chose a Saiva Pillai(Bilahari Marthaandam Pillai) as a Varna system following castiest. His son, at a very young age, with exposure to the lives of poor people becomes a rebel. He sees problems of other people as his own and fights for the empowerment of his whole villagers. The Beauty of the movie is, there's yet another castiest who's an owner of a fireworks factory. This castiest shows his enemity towards elite people. On the whole, the movie might give you lot of positivity and motivation.

The protagonist named Udayamurthy for a reason. He was director's classmate at Annamalai University. M S Udayamurthy had written several articles in Ananda Vikatan.

Is art for the sake of art, or is humanity the bigger purpose?

[archana_vidya · 9/10 · 19 March 2006]

Another great musical by Balachander. This is the story of Udhayamoorthi, son of a great musician Bilahari Marthandam Pillai (essayed flawlessly by Gemini Ganesan). While the father believes that music is the supreme soul-cleanser, the son believes that service to humanity is the greater purpose. He meets Lalitha (Seetha), a girl of a lower caste, who is a typical Balachander 'Pudhumai Penn'. Thus begins the conflict. Eventually Udhayamoorthi steps out of the house, responding to his father's challenge of making it by himself in the world and not tagging along with his father's name and fame. He goes on to rid the village of alcoholism and child labor, and creates a model self-governance, while sacrificing his personal desires in the process. How his father receives this success is a fitting climax to the story. Ilayaraja's music is another star in this movie - Maanida Sevai Dhrogama, Enna samayalo and Idhazhil kadhai ezhudhum are amazing tunes.

Unnal Mudiyum Thambi

[santhosh-10290 · 8/10 · 15 July 2019]

Good Movie. Everybody acted good in the movie. Songs and BGM in the movie were not so good. The movie somewhat lagged at 1st half. The movie was interesting at 2nd half. Good Movie.

excellent

[murali83 · 10/10 · 16 January 2006]

great direction, great acting and what i call "MUSIC" illayaraja is god.

this movie had strong characters, very good direction and a great message told very effectively.

Kamal plays the son of a great singer (played well by gemini ganesan). He does not like to follow his family traditions blindly and becomes kind of a rebel within the family.

he has some ideas about how a society should be and shares the same with sita (his girl friend). he decides to inculcate some values in the people around him and make the place around him a better place to live in.

great movie, the songs rock thumbs up

A great enthralling experience

[chakkaravarthy_81 · 10/10 · 17 August 2006]

I would start commenting about the movie by the words of KB. In one of the interviews he said that this movie is his 2nd best movie made.

We come to see Gemini Ganesan after a long gap, and the performance of all the characters are top notch.

In all KB movies even a peck may have a role to play. I was deeply moved by the COOK's character. The movie deals with a protagonist who is a maverick and doesn't want to follow the same stupid things which even his dad is following now. The concept of inter caste marriage, abolition of Liquor shops etc are very well etched in the movie.

The humor aspect and the Background score are excellent.

A must watch movie.

Docu-feel movie

[sanjayppc · 7/10 · 21 August 2014]

Unnal Mudiyum thambi was the last film in which kamal acted as a hero in KB's direction.

The film was a remake of the KB directed "Rudra Veena" starring telugu megastar Chiranjeevi. The telugu film tanked, so when KB wanted to remake it in tamil, kamal was not keen but gave in after KB argued that he would make this film a hit. It flopped in tamil also.

The film has a good intent, no doubt but offers very simplistic solutions. Like the drunkards in the village giving up booze, just like that. Also, the scene where Seetha advises the village women on how to "not cooperate" with their husbands.

Kamal has done a good job though he seems disinterested in quite a few scenes. Seetha does a fine job as the heroine.

Gemini ganesan shows up after a long time on screen & gives a very effective performance as the arrogant father of kamal. Manorama is good though her scope is limited.

The star of the film undoubtedly is Ilayaraja. His carnatic compositons & others songs with a carnatic & filk tonge are simply brilliant.

On the flip side, the film has a documentary feel & is preachy.

The film was originally titled "Sundara Kaandam".

It was KB's tribute to social scientist M.S Udhayamurthy (hero's name in the film) whose slogan is what became the title later.

KB had rated this film in his top 5 favourite films (surprisingly)

Social Reformation Initiated from this movie, I guess

[saru2020 · 7/10 · 11 March 2018]

Protagonist goinng towards making a social reform and aginst his father's musical journey beliefs. I liked the way the movie started by displaying a village with such a discipline & following good principles hence expected a lot like that but i was only disappointed. I believe it could've been better for sure but it was exactly 30years back that the movie was released hence nothing more to expect.