Gayathri (1977 film)

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox film | image = Gayathri (1977 film).jpg | caption = Poster | director = R. Pattabhiraman | screenplay = Panchu Arunachalam | based_on = {{based on|''Gayathri''|Sujatha}} | producer = Vijaya–Meena | starring = {{ubl|Jaishankar|Rajinikanth|Sridevi}} | cinematography = Vinayagam | editing = B. Kanthasamy | music = Ilaiyaraaja | studio = Vijaya Meena Films | released = {{Film date|1977|10|07|df=y|ref1=}} | runtime = 122 minutes | country = India | language = Tamil }}

'''''Gayathri''''' is a 1977 Indian Tamil-language crime thriller film directed by R. Pattabhiraman and written by Panchu Arunachalam. The film stars Jaishankar, Rajinikanth and Sridevi. It is based on the novel of the same name by Sujatha. The film was released on 7 October 1977.{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=71}}

== Plot == {{more plot|date=November 2022}} Rajarathnam is a rich man who lives with his sister Sarasu and a young house maid in Madras. His sister arranges a marriage for him with Gayathri, a sixteen-year old who lives in Tiruchirappalli. Soon after they marry, Gayathri moves to Rajarathnam's house and realises that the family has dark secrets.

Rajarathnam is actually a blue-film producer – he secretly records himself and his new wife in their bedroom scenes without her knowledge, and sells the films in the black market. Gayathri initially gives Rajarathnam the benefit of the doubt, but later discovers that Rajarathnam is already married to another woman, who is now insane. Ganesh, a friend of the writer Chellappa, tries to free Gayathri from the hands of Rajarathnam.

== Cast == {{Cast listing| *Jaishankar as Ganesh{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=71}} *Rajinikanth as Rajarathnam {{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=70}} *Sridevi as Gayathri {{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=70}} *Rajasulochana as Sarasu{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=70}} *P. Jayadevi *M. N. Rajam as Gayathri's mother<ref name="hindutamil" /> *Rajee as Indra *Rajeshwari as Lalitha *S. A. Ashokan as Shama Iyer<ref name="hindutamil" /> *Vennira Aadai Moorthy as Chellappa{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=71}} *Delhi Kumar as Gayathri's father *Tiger Prabhakar<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gayatri (1977) |url=https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/gayatri-1977 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727184725/https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/gayatri-1977 |archive-date=27 July 2023 |access-date=27 July 2023 |website=The A.V. Club}}</ref> }}

== Production == ''Gaayathri'' is based on Sujatha's novel of the same name,<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2007 |title=Rajni, the villain |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/may/21slid5.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604044459/https://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/may/21slid5.htm |archive-date=4 June 2021 |access-date=4 June 2021 |website=Rediff.com}}</ref> and was conceived during the Emergency.{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=71}} The screenplay was written by Panchu Arunachalam.<ref name="hindutamil">{{Cite news |last=ராம்ஜி |first=வி. |date=7 October 2020 |title=சுஜாதாவின் நாவல்; வில்லன் ரஜினி; பரிதாப ஸ்ரீதேவி; காப்பாற்றும் ஜெய்சங்கர்; பஞ்சு அருணாசலத்தின் 'காயத்ரி' - உயிரை உருக்கும் 'வாழ்வே மாயமா' பாடல் |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/588058-43-years-of-gayathri.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122230121/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/588058-43-years-of-gayathri.html |archive-date=22 November 2020 |access-date=4 June 2021 |work=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}</ref>

== Soundtrack == The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics by Panchu Arunachalam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kavithaikuyil-Gayathri-Kaatrinile Varum Geetham Tamil Film Audio Cassette |url=https://mossymart.com/product/kavithaikuyil-gayathri-kaatrinile-varum-geetham-tamil-film-audio-cassette/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604050258/https://mossymart.com/product/kavithaikuyil-gayathri-kaatrinile-varum-geetham-tamil-film-audio-cassette/ |archive-date=4 June 2021 |access-date=4 June 2021 |website=Mossymart}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=31 December 1977 |title=Gayathri (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – EP |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/gayathri-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-ep/1394046349 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230804130618/https://music.apple.com/us/album/gayathri-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-ep/1394046349 |archive-date=4 August 2023 |access-date=4 August 2023 |website=Apple Music}}</ref> The song "Kaalai Paniyil Aadum" is set to the raga Hamir Kalyani,{{Sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=135}} and "Vaazhve Mayama" is set to Dharmavati.{{Sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=167}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=ராமானுஜன் |first=டாக்டர் ஆர். |date=21 September 2018 |title=ராகயாத்திரை 22: பொன்வானம் பன்னீர் தூவுது! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/176486-22.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230804132248/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/176486-22.html |archive-date=4 August 2023 |access-date=4 August 2023 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}</ref>

{{Track listing | headline = Track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | title1 = Kaalai Paniyil Aadum | extra1 = Sujatha Mohan | length1 = 4:00 | title2 = Vaazhve Mayama | extra2 = B. S. Sasirekha | length2 = 3:57 | title3 = Aattam Kondattam | extra3 = P. Susheela | length3 = 4:06 | title4 = Unnai Thaan | extra4 = A. L. Raghavan, S. Janaki | length4 = 3:40 | total_length = 15:43 }}

== Reception == ''Film World'' wrote, "But for the wrong portrayal by Jaishankar, the movie would have maintained its pre-interval tempo. Yet, ''Gayatri'' is certainly off beat, contributing to salvage the losing face of Tamil Cinema".<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1978 |editor-last=Ramachandran |editor-first=T. M. |title=Suspenseful drama |magazine=Film World |pages=9–10}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== Bibliography == * {{Cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |author-link=Naman Ramachandran |title=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |title-link=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2014 |isbn=978-81-8475-796-5 |location=New Delhi |orig-date=2012}} * {{Cite book |last=Sundararaman |title=Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music |publisher=Pichhamal Chintamani |year=2007 |edition=2nd |oclc=295034757 |orig-date=2005}}

== External links == * {{IMDb title}}

Category:1977 Indian films Category:1977 Tamil-language films Category:1977 crime thriller films Category:1977 films Category:1977 black-and-white films Category:Films based on Tamil novels Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja Category:Films with screenplays by Panchu Arunachalam Category:Indian black-and-white films Category:Indian crime thriller films Category:Tamil-language Indian films