Kalam Vellum

{{short description|1970 film by Karnan}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Use Indian English|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox film | image = Kalam Vellum.jpg | caption = Poster | director = M. Karnan | screenplay = {{ubl|A. Gurusamy|Mathangan (dialogues)}} | story = Mathangan | producer = M. Karnan | starring = Jaishankar<br />Vijayakumari | cinematography = M. Karnan | editing = G. Kalyanasundaram | music = Shankar–Ganesh | studio = Indirani Films | released = {{Film date|df=yes|1970|09|11}} | runtime = 127 minutes | country = India | language = Tamil }} '''''Kalam Vellum''''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ɑː|l|ə|m|_|v|ɛ|l|l|u|m}} {{translation|Time Will Win}}) is a 1970 Indian Tamil-language Western film<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=11 April 2020 |title=Sivaji Ganesan's 'Vietnam Veedu' Turns 50: A Rewind To The Film, Its Time, And Its Leading Man |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/tamil-features/sivaji-ganesans-vietnam-veedu-turns-50-a-rewind-to-the-film-its-time-and-its-leading-man/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220427100428/https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/tamil-features/sivaji-ganesans-vietnam-veedu-turns-50-a-rewind-to-the-film-its-time-and-its-leading-man/ |archive-date=27 April 2022 |access-date=31 May 2021 |website=Film Companion }}</ref> produced, filmed and directed by M. Karnan. The film stars Jaishankar, Vijayakumari and Vijaya Lalitha. It revolves around a farmer who, in his quest to avenge his sister's death, becomes a dacoit bent on revenge. The film was released on 11 September 1970.

== Plot == {{more plot|date=April 2022}} Velu, a poor farmer, loses his sister Dhanam due to the atrocities and exploitation of landlord Periyaraja. To avenge his sister's death, Velu kills Periyaraja's brother Chinnaraja. He then escapes from there and joins a gang of dacoits, headed by Narasingam. The gang is initially perturbed by Velu's presence, but his courage and good nature wins him their love and respect. Velu succeeds Narasingam as the gang leader. His aim is to rob the rich and save the poor. He is constantly looking for an opportunity to take revenge against Periyasamy. Velu forgets that his wife is waiting for his return to his village. Finally, Velu takes revenge on Periyaraja and surrenders to the police.

== Cast == {{Cast listing| * Jaishankar as Velu{{sfn|Pillai|2015|p=168}} * Vijayakumari as Kannamma{{sfn|Pillai|2015|p=168}} * Nagesh as Paavadai{{sfn|Pillai|2015|p=171}} * O. A. K. Thevar as Periyaraja{{sfn|Pillai|2015|p=168}} * M. R. R. Vasu as Chinnaraja{{sfn|Pillai|2015|p=168}} * Vijaya Lalitha as Rani{{sfn|Pillai|2015|p=171}} * Gandhimathi as Velu's mother{{sfn|Pillai|2015|p=168}} * Usha as Dhanam{{sfn|Pillai|2015|p=168}} * Shanmugasundaram as Narasingam{{sfn|Pillai|2015|p=169}} * Suruli Rajan * V. Nagayya as a police officer{{sfn|Pillai|2015|p=176}} * Usilai Mani }}

== Production == In January 1970, several months after the release of his first film as a producer (''Pennai Vazha Vidungal'', August 1969), M. Karnan began pre-production on his directorial debut, ''Kalam Vellum''.{{sfn|Pillai|2015|p=166}} K. R. Vatsala initially shot for the role of Jaishankar's sister, which later went to Usharani.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4rAsI7uNEY |title=Thirumathi Selvamல இருந்து வெளிய வந்ததுக்கு திருமண வாழ்க்கை தான் காரணம்! - K.R.Vatsala {{!}} Vijay |date=22 June 2023 |language=ta |publisher=Tele Vikatan |time=8:17 to 8:52 |time-caption=From |access-date=14 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250314085738/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4rAsI7uNEY |archive-date=14 March 2025 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}</ref>

== Soundtrack == The soundtrack was composed by Shankar–Ganesh, with lyrics by Kannadasan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kalam Vellum Tamil EP Vinyl Records By Shankar Ganesh {{!}} Imported |url=https://www.vintageav.shop/product/kalam-vellum-tamil-ep-vinyl-records-by-shankar-ganesh-imported/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250314090841/https://www.vintageav.shop/product/kalam-vellum-tamil-ep-vinyl-records-by-shankar-ganesh-imported/ |archive-date=14 March 2025 |access-date=14 March 2025 |website=VintageAV.shop |language=en}}</ref> {{track listing | headline = Track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | total_length = | title1 = Ellorum Thirudargale | extra1 = P. Susheela | length1 = | title2 = Ennanga Sambandhi Eppo Namma Sambandham | extra2 = P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan, P. Madhuri | length2 = | title3 = Maalaiyittom Pongalittom | extra3 = Sirkazhi Govindarajan, L. R. Eswari, Chorus | length3 = | title4 = Penn Oru Kannadi | extra4 = L. R. Eswari | length4 = }}

== Release and reception == ''Kalam Vellum'' was released on 11 September 1970.{{sfn|Pillai|2015|p=166}} ''The Indian Express'' called it a "hotchpotch of all the adventure films that have come in Tamil and English movies that have been imported".<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 September 1970 |title=Cinema |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19700926&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=2 May 2019 |work=The Indian Express |pages=8 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== Bibliography == * {{Cite book |last=Pillai |first=Swarnavel Eswaran |title=The Western in the Global South |date=24 April 2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-315-73113-1 |publication-date=24 April 2015 |chapter=Tamil B Movie Westerns: The Global South and Genre Subversion |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GGKhCAAAQBAJ&q=%22Kaalam+Vellum%22&pg=PA167}}

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

Category:1970 directorial debut films Category:1970 films Category:1970 Western (genre) films Category:1970 Indian films Category:1970 Tamil-language films Category:Films directed by M. Karnan Category:Films scored by Shankar–Ganesh Category:Indian films about revenge Category:Indian Western (genre) films Category:Tamil-language Indian films