Sathi Leelavathi
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBalu Mahendra
Written byCrazy Mohan (dialogue)
Screenplay byBalu Mahendra
Story byAnanthu
Produced byKamal Haasan
Starring
CinematographyBalu Mahendra
Edited byBalu Mahendra
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Release date
  • 15 January 1995 (1995-01-15)
Running time
151 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Sathi Leelavathi (transl. Leelavathi, the chaste wife) is a 1995 Indian Tamil-language comedy film directed, co-written, photographed and edited by Balu Mahendra. The film stars Ramesh Aravind, Kalpana and Heera, with Kovai Sarala and Kamal Haasan in supporting roles. It revolves around Arun (Aravind) who, unhappy with his wife Leelavathi's (Kalpana) plain looks and weight, engages in an extramarital affair with Priya (Heera).

The film was produced by Haasan, with the story by Ananthu adapted loosely from the 1989 American film She-Devil and dialogues by Crazy Mohan. Ilaiyaraaja served as the music composer. Sathi Leelavathi was released on 15 January 1995 and became a commercial success. It was remade in Hindi as Biwi No.1 (1999) and in Kannada as Rama Shama Bhama (2005) with Aravind and Haasan reprising their roles.

Plot

Arunachalam alias Arun is married to Leelavathi alias Leela in a forced marriage. He is embarrassed by his wife's plain looks and weight. When he meets Priya, who works in a building construction company, he hides from her the fact that he is married and has an affair with her.

When he takes Priya with him on a vacation to Bangalore, he bumps into his old friend Sakthivel Gounder, an orthopaedic surgeon from Coimbatore who is also in Bangalore with his wife Palani and his son Anand travelling with him in the same flight and even staying in the same hotel. Sakthivel is called to Arun's room in the night as Arun has slipped his disc and the hotel doctor is unavailable, and bumps into Priya, thus finding out about the affair.

After returning to Chennai, Priya finds out that Arun is married, but decides to continue with him when Arun says he was forced into marriage and promises to divorce his wife. When Arun's wife Leelavathi discovers Arun's affair, she has a huge showdown which leads to Arun leaving the house. Then, Leelavathi plans a series of dramas which makes Priya hate Arun. She does this with the help of Sakthivel, her father-in-law, children and Priya's old lover Raja. Finally Priya unites with Raja apologising to him and Arun unites with Leelavathi.

Cast

Production

The initial plot of Sathi Leelavathi revolved around two men fighting over a woman, with one of them being the antagonist. Raja, who had grown weary of being typecast in "soft" roles, readily accepted Balu Mahendra's offer to portray the antagonist to break the stereotype, but deep into pre-production, Kamal Haasan felt this premise had been "done-to-death", and according to Raja, "From a bad guy, I became the extreme good guy".[2] Jayaram was initially offered the lead role but his unavailability meant that the team finalised Ramesh Aravind.[3] Kovai Sarala was signed to portray the role of Palani after great debate. While Haasan wanted her in the film, Mahendra was hesitant. Haasan waited for Sarala for six months and brought her on board the film. Sarala later said that Mahendra was delighted that she was part of the film and that he felt bad for initially having doubts in her ability.[4] Haasan speaks Kongu Tamil in the film, which he was said to have learned from Sarala.[5] The film was loosely inspired by 1989 American film She-Devil,[6] but does not depict the female lead trying to establish her own identity at the cost of her husband's.[1]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics by Vaali.[7][8] The song "Marugo Marugo" pays homage to the song of the same name from Vettri Vizhaa (1989).[9]

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Ethana Vagai"Chorus4:30
2."Marugo Marugo"Kamal Haasan, K. S. Chithra6:10
3."Oru Thaaram"Ben Surender2:07
4."Maharajanodu"P. Unnikrishnan, K. S. Chithra5:19
5."Theme Music" 2:03
Total length:21:09

Release and reception

Sathi Leelavathi was released on 15 January 1995, the week of Pongal.[10] R.P.R. of Kalki criticised the story's lack of originality, but lauded Mohan's dialogues and Haasan's humour-based performance.[11] The film was a success, which Haasan attributed in large part to Sarala's comedy.[12] She won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian.[13]

Remakes

Sathi Leelavathi was dubbed in Telugu under the same title, with Haasan' voice dubbed by Mano instead of the usual S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.[14] It was remade in Hindi as Biwi No.1 (1999),[15] and in Kannada as Rama Shama Bhama (2005) with Aravind and Haasan reprising their roles.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 531.
  2. ↑ S, Srivatsan (6 November 2019). "From 'Kadalora Kavithaigal' to 'Adithya Varma': Tamil cinema's quintessential 'soft-spoken hero' Raja returns after a 20-year exile". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  3. ↑ Warrier, Shobha (29 June 2006). "'I love watching Kamal Haasan'". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  4. ↑ Rao, Subha J (25 April 2015). "Bring on the laughs". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  5. ↑ Kumar, Rajitha (8 November 2000). "Movies: Kamal, as we know him". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  6. ↑ "19 International films Inspired Kamal Haasan movies…?". The Times of India. 16 June 2022. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  7. ↑ "Sathi Leelavathi (1994)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  8. ↑ "Sathi Leelavathi Tamil Audio Cassettes By Ilaiyaraaja". Banumass. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  9. ↑ Srinivasan, Sudhir (4 August 2017). "Talking Movies: ReBourne". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  10. ↑ Srinivasan, Sudhir (3 March 2017). "Then and now: Rajinikanth's blockbuster Baasha to be re-released today". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  11. ↑ ஆர்.பி.ஆர். (22 January 1995). "சதி லீலாவதி". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 1. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  12. ↑ "'சதிலீலாவதி' வெற்றிக்கு கோவை சரளாவும் காரணம்: கமல் புகழாரம்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 12 June 2020. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  13. ↑ R, Sivakumar (7 April 2020). "காரைக்குடி, திருவாரூர் பார்ட்டியில கூப்பிட்டாகோ புகழ் கோவை சரளா பர்த்டே டுடே!". Mr Puyal (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  14. ↑ Darshan, Navein (26 September 2020). "'SP Balasubrahmanyam's voice was key in etching identity of many an actor'". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  15. ↑ Jha, Subhash K. (21 June 2003). "'Someone has taken a political ride on my vehicle'". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  16. ↑ "Kamal Haasan back after 16 years". The Hindu. 18 March 2005. Archived from the original on 14 January 2006. Retrieved 11 November 2022.

Bibliography

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