{{Use Indian English|date=October 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox film | image = Pournami Alaigal.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = M. Bhaskar | writer = M. Bhaskar | producer = M. Bhaskar | starring = Sivakumar<br />Ambika<br />Revathi | cinematography = Viswam Nataraj | editing = M. Vellaichami | music = Shankar–Ganesh | studio = Oscar Movies | released = {{Film date|df=yes|1985|1|12}} | country = India | language = Tamil }} '''''Pournami Alaigal''''' ({{Translation|Full moon waves}}) is a 1985 Indian Tamil-language legal thriller film produced, written and directed by M. Bhaskar. The film stars Sivakumar, Ambika and Revathi, with Major Sundarrajan, Sivachandran and A. R. S. in supporting roles. It was released on 12 January 1985 and emerged a commercial success. The film was remade into Telugu as ''Sravana Sandhya'' (1986) and in Hindi as ''Majaal'' (1987).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Majaal |url=http://myswar.co/album/majaal-1987 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/hjZG8 |archive-date=23 December 2022 |access-date=23 December 2022 |website=MySwar}}</ref>
== Plot == Rajesh, his wife Radha, and her father Ethiraj are advocates. Rajesh lives in Ethiraj's house but feels neglected by Radha, a government prosecutor, and Ethiraj, the seniormost celebrated lawyer, while he merely prepares case documents for them. Because of their fame, Rajesh remains unrecognized by the public, but he hides his hurt from Ethiraj, his former mentor. Psychiatrist Dr. Saradha comforts him and offers to speak to Radha and Ethiraj about the situation. During the 25th wedding anniversary celebration of Ethiraj's rich businessman friend, Gnanaraj and Mythili, Rajesh is humiliated. He confronts Radha, who retorts that he is a failed lawyer and married her for money.
Determined to prove himself, Rajesh approaches Gnanaraj for a case, hoping Ethiraj's influence might help, but Gnanaraj rebuffs him. On Independence Day event at an orphanage, Deepa—who had just arrived in Chennai from Trichy—shoots and kills Gnanaraj with her husband, Sub-inspector Lawrence's revolver, and surrenders to Inspector Mahendra. Church Father Michael approaches Ethiraj for legal help, even though Gnanaraj was Ethiraj's friend, but he refuses. Because most lawyers consider Gnanaraj untouchable, Rajesh sees a chance to prove himself and agrees to defend Deepa. Ethiraj and Radha warn him not to take the case, leading to an argument, making Rajesh leave Ethiraj's house.
Rajesh then moves to the church with Michael, who reveals Deepa’s known past: after her mother Mary's suicide, Deepa had written angrily on Mary's grave that she would kill Gnanaraj. Suspecting Gnanaraj's involvement in Mary's death, Michael protected Deepa when Gnanaraj's trusted driver Sebastian tried to adopt her, and sent Deepa to her maternal aunt in Trichy. Dr. Saradha diagnoses Deepa and discovers that Deepa married Lawrence four years ago, but deliberately kept him at a distance because her sole purpose was to kill Gnanaraj. Rajesh takes up the defense, initially claiming Deepa has childhood‑onset OCD. He stammers during his first court argument, while Radha, with witnesses and evidence, proves Deepa committed the murder.
Lawrence testifies against Deepa, stating she had been planning a killing and also behaved violently during intimacy, and so announces their divorce. Rajesh counters by arguing that Deepa has traumatic psychosis that can cause mental instability. Deepa pleads with Lawrence, but he remains firm and leaves for Trichy. Rajesh, trying to protect Deepa's health, lies that Lawrence has changed his mind about the divorce. Radha, misunderstanding the situation, suspects Rajesh of having an affair with Deepa. In the second hearing, Rajesh presents Lucy, the orphanage caretaker, who reveals that Gnanaraj impregnated her and that his wife, Mythili, funds the illegitimate child to keep the scandal hidden. Rajesh also forces Mahendra to admit that Gnanaraj was involved in Mary's murder, a case earlier ruled a suicide. Father Michael testifies that Deepa was the sole eyewitness to Mary's killing.
Deepa learns Rajesh had lied about Lawrence not divorcing her. She now accepts that Lawrence may divorce and remarriage. Meanwhile, Radha begins to respect Rajesh and asks him to return home, but he refuses, citing past humiliation. In the final hearing, Rajesh questions Sebastian, who discloses what happened the day Mary died: Gnanaraj broke into Mary’s house, raped and killed her with a cross in front of 10‑year‑old Deepa. This trauma left Deepa unable to have normal intimacy with Lawrence. Using Dr. Saradha's testimony, Rajesh proves that Deepa was in a psychotic state when she killed Gnanaraj. Finally, Deepa is acquitted, making Rajesh's first case a success—especially against his wife, Radha.
Seeing Rajesh's brilliance, Ethiraj has a change of heart and invites him back as his son‑in‑law, but Rajesh declines. He files for divorce from Radha, intending to marry Deepa. Ethiraj, furious, confronts Rajesh and threatens to kill Deepa. Meanwhile, moved by Rajesh's care and determined not to fall in love, Deepa chooses to become a nun, shocking everyone. In her final wish, she asks Rajesh to reconcile with Radha, then departs to serve Jesus forever.
== Cast == {{Cast listing| * Sivakumar as Rajesh * Ambika as Radha * Revathi as Deepa Lawrence * Sumitra as Dr. Saratha * Prameela as Mythili Gnanaraj * Major Sundarrajan as Ethiraj * V. Gopalakrishnan as Inspector Mahendra * Sivachandran as Gnanaraj * Nizhalgal Ravi as Sub-inspector Lawrence * A. R. S. as Church Father Michael<ref>{{Cite news |last=Venkatramanan |first=Geetha |date=29 March 2012 |title=Drama with dignity |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/drama-with-dignity/article3257906.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122002729/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/drama-with-dignity/article3257906.ece |archive-date=22 January 2021 |access-date=3 July 2021 |work=The Hindu}}</ref> * Baby Meena as young Deepa * Senthil as Pavadasamy * Oru Viral Krishna Rao * Pasi Narayanan as a cloth store salesman * Narasimhan as Gnanaraja's secretary * Nagaraja Cholan as Sebastian, Gnanaraja's driver * Pon. Paramaguru in a special appearance as a judge }}
== Production == ''Pournami Alaigal'' was produced, written and directed by M. Bhaskar under Oscar Movies. Cinematography was handled by Viswam Nataraj, and editing by M. Vellaichami.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Pournami Alaigal |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=Oscar Movies |year=1985 |time=0:00 to 2:12 |time-caption=Opening credits, from}}</ref> The court scenes were shot on a set created at Vijaya Vauhini Studios.<ref name="thiraippada solai" /> A dialogue written by Bhaskar, "Aalamarathukku keezhe edhuvum varaladhu" (Nothing grows under a banyan tree) is a South Indian proverb.<ref>{{Cite news |last=ரிஷி |date=23 July 2020 |title=கரோனா கால சினிமா: சட்டம் பேசிய பாஸ்கர் படங்கள் |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/565982-director-bhaskar-movies.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630071712/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/565982-director-bhaskar-movies.html |archive-date=30 June 2021 |access-date=3 July 2021 |work=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}</ref> Three songs were picturised at Ooty while some scenes were filmed at Chennai at places such as charity home at Kilpauk.<ref>{{cite news |date=25 November 1984 |title=பௌர்ணமி அலைகள் வளருகிறது. |url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_9_34/4.jp2/0,0,6177,8543/6177,8543/0/default.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223071747/https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_9_34/4.jp2/0,0,6177,8543/6177,8543/0/default.jpg |archive-date=23 December 2025 |access-date=18 December 2025 |work=Anna |pages=4 |language=ta |via=Endangered Archives Programme}}</ref>
== Soundtrack == The music is composed by Shankar–Ganesh.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 April 1984 |title=Pournami Alaigal |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/pournami-alaigal/QobIlBrfKZs_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703123627/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/pournami-alaigal/QobIlBrfKZs_ |archive-date=3 July 2021 |access-date=3 July 2021 |website=JioSaavn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Thandikkapatta Niyayangal, Povrnami Allaigal Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by Shankar Ganesh |url=https://mossymart.com/product/thandikkapatta-niyayangal-povrnami-allaigal-tamil-film-lp-vinyl-record-by-shankar-ganesh/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712113307/https://mossymart.com/product/thandikkapatta-niyayangal-povrnami-allaigal-tamil-film-lp-vinyl-record-by-shankar-ganesh/ |archive-date=12 July 2021 |access-date=22 October 2021 |website=Mossymart}}</ref> The song "Thein Paayum" was originally written for ''Thandikkappatta Nyayangal'' (1983).<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 July 2017 |title=இப்படியும் நடக்கும்...- கவிஞர் முத்துலிங்கம் |url=https://www.dinamani.com/weekly-supplements/dinamani-kondattam/2017/jul/31/%E0%AE%87%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D--%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%9E%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-2747163--1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703114348/https://www.dinamani.com/weekly-supplements/dinamani-kondattam/2017/jul/31/%E0%AE%87%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D--%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%9E%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-2747163--1.html |archive-date=3 July 2021 |access-date=3 July 2021 |work=Dinamani |language=ta}}</ref>
{{Track listing | headline = Track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | title1 = Saranam Saranam Thalaiva | lyrics1 = Pulamaipithan | extra1 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki | length1 = 4:19 | title2 = Thein Paayum | lyrics2 = Muthulingam | extra2 = Vani Jairam, P. Jayachandran | length2 = 4:39 | title3 = Nizhal Thedi | lyrics3 = Pulamaipithan | extra3 = S. Janaki, K. J. Yesudas | length3 = 5:09 | total_length = 14:07<!-- Automatically generated with User:JPxG/TrackSum.js --> }}
== Release and reception == ''Pournami Alaigal'' was released on 12 January 1985.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 January 1985 |title=பெளர்ணமி அலைகள் |url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_9_78/2.jp2/0,0,6222,8464/6222,8464/0/default.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251218101740/https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_9_78/2.jp2/0,0,6222,8464/6222,8464/0/default.jpg |archive-date=18 December 2025 |access-date=18 December 2025 |work=Anna |pages=2 |language=Ta |via=Endangered Archives Programme}}</ref> The film was a commercial success,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parameswaran |first=Prathibha |date=12 February 2005 |title=Portrait of an actor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/portrait-of-an-actor/article28150638.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621052959/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/portrait-of-an-actor/article28150638.ece |archive-date=21 June 2021 |access-date=16 April 2026 |work=The Hindu|language=en}}</ref> running for over 100 days in theatres.<ref name="thiraippada solai" /> Jayamanmadhan of ''Kalki'' wrote it is the waxing moon, the full moon needs a little more thought and concluded that director should show his talent in the next picture.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=ஜெயமன்மதன் |author-link=Subha (writers) |date=10 February 1985 |title=பௌர்ணமி அலைகள் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1985-02-10/page/n15/mode/2up |access-date=20 February 2023 |magazine=Kalki |pages=14–15 |language=Ta |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> Balumani of ''Anna'' praised the acting, cinematography, music and direction.<ref>{{cite news |last=பாலுமணி |date=24 January 1985 |title=பௌர்ணமி அலைகள் |url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_9_86/4.jp2/0,0,6219,8464/6219,8464/0/default.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251222234815/https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_9_86/4.jp2/0,0,6219,8464/6219,8464/0/default.jpg |archive-date=22 December 2025 |access-date=18 December 2025 |work=Anna |pages=4 |language=ta |via=Endangered Archives Programme}}</ref>
== References == <references>
<ref name="thiraippada solai">{{Cite web |date=2 July 2021 |title=திரைப்படச்சோலை 45: பெளர்ணமி அலைகள் |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/blogs/688520-thiraippada-solai.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702193257/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/blogs/688520-thiraippada-solai.html |archive-date=2 July 2021 |access-date=3 July 2021 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}</ref>
</references>
== External links == * {{IMDb title}}
{{M. Bhaskar}}
Category:1980s legal thriller films Category:1985 films Category:1985 Indian films Category:1985 Tamil-language films Category:Films directed by M. Bhaskar Category:Films scored by Shankar–Ganesh Category:Indian legal thriller films Category:Tamil films remade in other languages Category:Tamil-language Indian films
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