{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox film | name = Vallavan Oruvan | image = Vallavan Oruvan poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster | director = R. Sundaram | writer = A. L. Narayanan | producer = [[T. R. Sundaram]] | starring = [[Jaishankar (actor)|Jaishankar]]<br />[[L. Vijayalakshmi]] | cinematography = C. A. S. Mani | editing = L. Balu | music = [[Vedha (composer)|Vedha]] | studio = [[Modern Theatres]] | released = {{film date|1966|11|11|df=y}} | runtime = 147 minutes{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=236}} | country = India | language = Tamil }}
'''''Vallavan Oruvan''''' ({{Translation|A capable man}}) is a 1966 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[spy thriller film]], directed by R. Sundaram and written by A. L. Narayanan. Produced by [[Modern Theatres]], with music composed by [[Vedha (composer)|Vedha]], the film stars [[Jaishankar (actor)|Jaishankar]] and [[L. Vijayalakshmi]]. Based on the early James Bond Films like Dr.No and From Russia with Love and 1964 [[French film]] ''[[Shadow of Evil]]'',<ref name="Kalki">{{Cite magazine |date=27 November 1966 |title=வல்லவன் ஒருவன் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1966-11-27/page/n37/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230411120549/https://archive.org/details/kalki1966-11-27/page/n37/mode/2up |archive-date=11 April 2023 |access-date=11 April 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=36 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> it was released on 11 November 1966.
== Plot == A dangerous gang manufactures firearms and explosives, uses them for looting, derailing trains and disrupting law and order. They make bombs using sulphur from a match factory in [[Chennai|Madras]]. A [[Criminal Investigation Department (India)|C.I.D.]] officer who is deputed to investigate these cases at Madras, finds several clues, reaches the factory and gets killed there. To investigate the case and to find who killed him, another CID officer Shankar is deputed by the [[Deputy inspector general of police|D.I.G.]] of [[Mumbai|Bombay]]. Shankar reaches Madras and from the time of landing, is followed by his enemies. Kumar at the Madras office assists him in the investigations.
Shankar faces several challenges and dangers and several attempts are made to kill him. He falls in love with Tara, sister of Sargunam, a doctor. Shankar's Madras office head unearths crucial information on the sulphur allotted for a match factory getting diverted to another place for making the explosives and firearms. But before he is able to report the complete information, he is murdered. Shankar's personal assistants Susi and Rajini are part of the gang and are instrumental in passing information about the investigations to the gang. They separately try to seduce Shankar, but fail.
Sargunam advises Tara to send Shankar out of Madras so that his life is not in danger. She drugs him to take him out of the city, then realises brother's intention is not to save Shankar, but to make him confess details of his investigations. However, Shankar, who was pretending to be drugged, wakes up and beats the people who try to get his confession; instead he makes them confess about their illegal activities. He learns that the gang leader Black Cat employs anti-socials and ex-convicts to make explosives and firearms, which he sells at phenomenal profit to anti-national and terrorist organisations.
With the help of Tara, Kumar and Kumar's girlfriend Ammukutty, Shankar reaches the match factory and follows the lorry which takes the sulphur to the factory where the bombs are made. He also finds Black Cat, revealed to be Sargunam. In the ensuing fight, Sargunam is killed and his factory torched, but Shankar, Tara, Kumar and Ammukutty escape unharmed.
== Cast == ;Male cast * [[Jaishankar (actor)|Jaishankar]] as [[Criminal Investigation Department (India)|C.I.D.]] Shankar{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=236}} * [[Thengai Srinivasan]] as Kumar<ref name="Kalki" /> * [[K. K. Soundar]] as I.G. * [[R. S. Manohar|Manohar]] as Dr. Sargunam{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=236}}
;Female cast * [[L. Vijayalakshmi]] as Tara{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=236}} * [[Sheela|R. Sheela]] as Susi{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=236}} * Pushpamala as Ammukutty<ref name="Kalki" /> * [[Vijaya Lalitha]] as Rajini
== Production == [[Judo Rathnam]] began his career as a stunt master with this film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Darshan |first=Navein |date=26 January 2023 |title=Legendary stunt choreographer Judo Rathnam passes away at 92 |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/Jan/26/legendary-stunt-choreographer-judo-rathnam-passes-away-at-92-39286.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126165844/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/jan/26/legendary-stunt-choreographer-judo-rathnam-passes-away-at-92-39286.html |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=8 October 2024 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |language=en}}</ref>
== Soundtrack == Music was composed by [[Vedha (composer)|Vedha]] and lyrics were written by [[Kannadasan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vallavan Oruvan, Vallavanukku Vallavan Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by Veda |url=https://mossymart.com/product/vallavan-oruvan-vallavanukku-vallavan-tamil-film-lp-vinyl-record-by-veda/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708101411/https://mossymart.com/product/vallavan-oruvan-vallavanukku-vallavan-tamil-film-lp-vinyl-record-by-veda/ |archive-date=8 July 2022 |access-date=8 July 2022 |website=Mossymart}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Vallavan Oruvan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – EP |url=https://music.apple.com/in/album/vallavan-oruvan-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-ep/1429785966 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822071658/https://music.apple.com/in/album/vallavan-oruvan-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-ep/1429785966 |archive-date=22 August 2022 |access-date=22 August 2022 |website=[[Apple Music]]}}</ref> The song "Palinginal Oru Maligai" is based on [[Artie Shaw]]'s version of "[[Frenesi]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karthik |author-link=Karthik Srinivasan |date=31 March 2019 |title=Milliblog Weeklies – MAR31.2019 |url=https://milliblog.com/2019/03/31/milliblog-weeklies-mar31-2019/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116135031/http://milliblog.com/2019/03/31/milliblog-weeklies-mar31-2019/ |archive-date=16 January 2020 |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=[[Milliblog]]}}</ref>{{Sfn|Ramnarine|2017|p=202}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=Sudhir |date=30 September 2016 |title=Inspired stuff |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/Inspired-stuff/article15007781.ece |url-status=live |access-date=7 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016043650/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/mindframe-inspired-stuff/article9168090.ece |archive-date=16 October 2016}}</ref> Another song " Ammamma kannaththil" was based on "Amore" by British singer Tony Brent. {{Track listing | headline = Track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | title1 = Ammamma Kannathil | extra1 = [[L. R. Eswari]] | length1 = 2:52 | title2 = Palinginal Oru Maligai | extra2 = L. R. Eswari | length2 = 3:28 | title3 = Thottu Thottu Padava | extra3 = [[T. M. Soundararajan]], [[P. Susheela]] | length3 = 3:45 | title4 = Innum Parthukondirunthal | extra4 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | length4 = 3:58 | title5 = Muthu Ponnu Vamma | extra5 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | length5 = 4:05 | total_length = 18:08 }}
== Release and reception == ''Vallavan Oruvan'' was released on 11 November 1966.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 November 1966 |title=Vallavan Oruvan |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19661111&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=11 September 2021 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=14 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'' said, "The film gives a feeling of watching a Hollywood film... One should watch this film for a good time pass".{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=237}} ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' praised the performances of Jaishankar and Manohar, but criticised that of Vijayalakshmi. The critic also appreciated the comedy of Srinivasan and Pushpamala, the audiography, cinematography and outdoor photography.<ref name="Kalki" />
== Legacy == After the film's success, "CID Shankar" became a common name used for Jaishankar's characters in other unrelated films, including ''[[Neelagiri Express]]'' (1968) and ''[[CID Shankar]]'' (1970).<ref>{{Cite web |last=S V |first=Harshini |date=20 July 2023 |title=Andha Naal To Thupparivaalan: 9 Tamil Detective Thrillers To Watch Before Vijay Antony's Kolai |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/fc-lists/andha-naal-to-thupparivaalan-9-tamil-detective-thrillers-to-watch-before-vijay-antonys-kolai-mysskin-ashok-selvan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914161502/https://www.filmcompanion.in/fc-lists/andha-naal-to-thupparivaalan-9-tamil-detective-thrillers-to-watch-before-vijay-antonys-kolai-mysskin-ashok-selvan |archive-date=14 September 2024 |access-date=8 October 2024 |website=[[Film Companion]] |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== Bibliography == * {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |title=The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1931–1976 |publisher=Galatta Media |year=2011 |oclc=733724281 |author-link=G. Dhananjayan}} * {{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s_pADwAAQBAJ |title=Global Perspectives on Orchestras: Collective Creativity and Social Agency |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-19-935224-1 |editor-last=Ramnarine |editor-first=Tina K.}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title}} {{Modern Theatres}}
[[Category:1966 Indian films]] [[Category:1960s spy thriller films]] [[Category:1966 spy films]] [[Category:1966 Tamil-language films]] [[Category:1966 films]] [[Category:1966 black-and-white films]] [[Category:Indian black-and-white films]] [[Category:Indian remakes of French films]] [[Category:Indian spy thriller films]] [[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]] [[Category:Films based on works by Jean Bruce]]