{{Short description|1979 film directed by Durai}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox film | image = Neeya poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Durai | producer = {{ubl|Girija Pakkirisami|K. S. Narasimhan}} | screenplay = P. Kalaimani{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=22}} | story = Rajendra Singh Aatish | starring = See ''Cast'' | music = Shankar–Ganesh | cinematography = V. Ranga{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=22}} | editing = M. Vellaisamy{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=22}} | distributor = | studio = Sri Chamundeswari Films{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=22}} | released = {{film date|1979|01|13|df=yes}} | runtime = 137 minutes{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=22}} | country = India | language = Tamil }}
'''''Neeya?''''' ({{Translation|Is that You?}}) is a 1979 Indian Tamil-language horror thriller film, directed by Durai and written by P. Kalaimani. A remake of the 1976 Hindi film ''Nagin'', it has an ensemble cast that includes Kamal Haasan, Jai Ganesh, Vijayakumar, Ravichandran, Srikanth, M. N. Nambiar, Sripriya, Manjula, Deepa, Latha and Chandra Mohan. The film revolves around an Ichchadhari naag who seeks to kill six people she holds responsible for the death of her lover.
''Neeya'' was released on 13 January 1979, the week of Pongal. The film was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres. It was followed by two spiritual successors: ''Naane Varuven'' (1992) and ''Neeya 2'' (2019).
== Plot == {{more plot|date=March 2021}} Naga Rani is an Ichchadhari naag – an elusive snake which can assume human form. She is in love with another Ichchadhari naag named Naga Raja. One day Naga Raja is attacked by a vulture and he is saved by Kamal, a researcher who shoots the vulture. Naga Raja thanks him for saving his life then he asks what is he doing here. Kamal replies that he is searching for Ichchadhari naags. Naga Raja then turns himself into one in front of Kamal and goes to Naga Rani. Kamal realises that he found the elusive snakes and inform his friends Vijay, Sri, Jai, Ravi and Salim, but they do not believe him. Kamal then takes them to the place where he met Naga Raja and they secretly sees the lovers in their human forms.
When Naga Raja turns back into a Cobra, he is shot dead by Salim, who thought the Cobra was going to attack Naga Rani. Naga Rani sees in Naga Raja's eyes the images of the killers, and decides to take revenge on the group of friends she holds responsible for her lover's death. Naga Rani systematically kills Salim, Ravi, Jai, Sri and Vijay. She attempts to kill Kamal too but fails, and is mortally wounded in another attempt. Near death, Naga Rani realises that she was wrong and that her revenge destroyed many lives just like her own life was destroyed. She sees Naga Raja in the sky calling out to her, and reunites with him in the afterlife.
== Cast == <!-- arranged per Dhananjayan's book since the film does not credit the actors --> {{Cast listing| * Kamal Haasan as Kamal<ref name="TNM" /> * Sripriya as Naga Rani<ref name="TNM" /> * Jai Ganesh as Jai<ref name="TNM" /> * Vijayakumar as Vijay<ref name="TNM" /> * Ravichandran as Ravi<ref name="TNM" /> * Srikanth as Sri<ref name="TNM" /> * Sudheer as Saleem * M. N. Nambiar as Appu Kuttan<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 April 2019 |title=நீயா 2- பழி வாங்க வரும் பாம்பு |url=https://tamilminutes.com/entertainment/2/cid1262114.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331055524/https://tamilminutes.com/entertainment/2/cid1262114.htm |archive-date=31 March 2021 |access-date=30 March 2021 |website=Tamilminutes.com |language=ta}}</ref> * Manjula as Usha<ref name="TNM" /> * Deepa as Deepa{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|pp=22–23}} * Latha as Latha<ref name="TNM" /> * Chandra Mohan as Naga Raja<ref name="TNM" /> * Y. G. Mahendran as Martin * Kavitha as Icchadhari Snake }}
== Production == Sripriya saw the Hindi film ''Nagin'' (1976) with her mother and liked one of the film's songs, wishing for a potential film featuring her and a song set to the same tune. A week later, her mother bought the rights to remake ''Nagin'' in Tamil; the remake was titled ''Neeya?''. Durai was approached to direct; though busy, he ultimately agreed. The male lead role was first offered to Rajinikanth, who could not accept due to scheduling conflicts; the role later went to Kamal Haasan.<ref name="maalaimalar" />
== Soundtrack == Music was composed by Shankar–Ganesh.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neeyaa Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by Shankar Ganesh |url=https://mossymart.com/product/neeyaa-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-shankar-ganesh/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331055202/https://mossymart.com/product/neeyaa-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-shankar-ganesh/ |archive-date=31 March 2021 |access-date=3 September 2020 |website=Mossymart}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Neeya {{sic|nolink=y|(1978)}} |url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/album/T0000971.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131130141558/http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/album/T0000971.html |archive-date=30 November 2013 |access-date=30 March 2021 |website=Raaga.com}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |+ !Title !Lyrics !Singer(s) !Length |- |"Ore Jeevan" |Kannadasan |Vani Jairam, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |4:45 |- |"Naan Kattil Mele" |Vaali |S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela |4:26 |- |"Unnai Ethanai" |Pulamaipithan |S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela |4:47 |- |"Oru Kodi" |Alangudi Somu |S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |4:56 |- |"Ore Jeevan" (Pathos) |Kannadasan |Vani Jairam |<nowiki>---</nowiki> |}
== Release and reception == ''Neeya?'' was released on 13 January 1979,{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=22}} the week of Pongal.<ref name="maalaimalar" /> On 28 January 1979 ''Ananda Vikatan'' rated the film 50 out of 100, appreciating it for putting together an ensemble cast and for showing the snake in a limited manner, yet creating the right impact.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=23}} Naagai Dharuman of ''Anna'' praised the acting, music, cinematography, dialogues and direction.<ref>{{cite news |last=தருமன் |first=நாகை |date=28 January 1979 |title=நீயா? |url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_3_101/4.jp2/full/1000%2C1370/0/default.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250528022538/https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_3_101/4.jp2/full/1000,1370/0/default.jpg |archive-date=28 May 2025 |access-date=1 June 2025 |newspaper=Anna |pages=4 |language=ta |via=Endangered Archives Programme}}</ref> The film was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=22}}
== Legacy == ''Neeya?'' attained cult status in Tamil cinema,<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 May 2019 |title=Neeya 2 leaked before its first show, makers upset |url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/cinema/neeya-2-leaked-before-its-first-show-makers-upset |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331055156/https://www.dtnext.in/News/Cinema/2019/05/25234040/1139565/Neeya-2-leaked-before-its-first-show-makers-upset.vpf |archive-date=31 March 2021 |access-date=31 March 2021 |website=DT Next}}</ref> and became a landmark for being a rare multistarrer in the same industry.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=23}} It was followed by two spiritual successors: ''Naane Varuven'' (1992)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krishnaswamy |first=N. |date=13 March 1992 |title=Naane Varuvaen |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19920313&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=3 September 2020 |work=The Indian Express |pages=7 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and ''Neeya 2'' (2019)''.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 May 2019 |title=Neeya 2 movie review: A bad spiritual sequel to Neeya that will make you go WTF |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/neeya-2-movie-review-rating-5747303/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225155826/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/neeya-2-movie-review-rating-5747303/ |archive-date=25 February 2021 |access-date=3 September 2020 |website=The Indian Express}}</ref>
== References == <references>
<ref name="TNM">{{Cite web |last=Shekar |first=Anjana |date=24 May 2019 |title=Revisiting 'Neeya?': A film that popularised the snake woman cult in Tamil cinema |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/revisiting-neeya-film-popularised-snake-woman-cult-tamil-cinema-102341 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905170251/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/revisiting-neeya-film-popularised-snake-woman-cult-tamil-cinema-102341 |archive-date=5 September 2019 |access-date=24 November 2020 |website=The News Minute}}</ref> <ref name="maalaimalar">{{Cite news |date=23 January 2018 |title=நாகின் படத்தைப் பார்த்துவிட்டு ஸ்ரீபிரியா தயாரித்த படம் நீயா |language=ta |work=Maalai Malar |url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/Cinema/CineHistory/2018/01/23222653/1141834/cinima-history-sripriya.vpf |url-status=live |access-date=16 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216043025/https://www.maalaimalar.com/Cinema/CineHistory/2018/01/23222653/1141834/cinima-history-sripriya.vpf |archive-date=16 February 2018}}</ref>
</references>
== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |title=The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1977–2010 |publisher=Galatta Media |year=2011 |oclc=733724281 |author-link=G. Dhananjayan}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title}}
{{Durai (director)}}
Category:1970s horror thriller films Category:1979 Indian films Category:1970s supernatural horror films Category:1979 Tamil-language films Category:1979 films Category:Films about grief Category:Films about murder Category:Films about shapeshifting Category:Films about snakes Category:Films about the afterlife Category:Films based on adaptations Category:Films based on American novels Category:Films based on works by Cornell Woolrich Category:Films based on works by François Truffaut Category:Films scored by Shankar–Ganesh Category:Indian film series Category:Indian films about revenge Category:Indian horror film remakes Category:Indian horror thriller films Category:Indian mythology in popular culture Category:Indian remakes of French films Category:Indian supernatural horror films Category:Tamil remakes of Hindi films Category:Tamil-language horror thriller films Category:Tamil-language Indian films