Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum
Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum (transl. Aladdin and the magical lamp) is a 1979 Indian fantasy film directed by I. V. Sasi based on Aladdin's story from One Thousand and One Nights. The film stars Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Jayabharathi, Sripriya, Gemini Ganesan, Savitri (actress) and S. A. Ashokan. It was simultaneously filmed in Malayalam and Tamil languages, the latter as Allaudinaum Arputha Vilakkum (transl. Aladdin and the wonderful lamp) which was released on 8 June 1979, two months after the Malayalam version which came on 14 April 1979. The Tamil version was dubbed into Telugu as Alavuthinum Arputha Deepam.[3]
Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum | |
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Poster | |
Directed by | I. V. Sasi |
Written by | Allapee Sheriff (Malayalam) Vietnam Veedu Sundaram (Tamil) |
Starring | |
Music by | G. Devarajan |
Cinematography | Ramachandra Babu |
Edited by | K. Narayanan |
Production company | Supriya Creations[1] |
Release date | 14 April 1979 (Malayalam) 8 June 1979 (Tamil) |
Running time | 142 minutes[2] |
Country | India |
Language |
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Plot
Kamaruddin, the commander of the armed forces of Baghdad, has a desire for princess Roshni, the heiress to the kingdom, as her husband will rule the land after the Caliph's death. Roshni, however, loves street urchin Alavuddin, and he reciprocates. Alavuddin's childhood friend Jameela loves him, but it is a one-sided affair. Alavuddin and Kamaruddin fight a duel for winning over Roshni. Alavuddin triumphs, but his joy is short-lived as the courtier Mir Qasim, who wants Roshni for himself, kidnaps her and spirits her away. Alavuddin and Kamaruddin join forces and with help from a genie, rescue Roshni. On the way back, Kamaruddin is trapped in quicksand, but is rescued by Jameela. They unite.[4]
Cast
Character | Actors in Language | |
---|---|---|
Tamil | Malayalam | |
Alavuddin | Kamal Haasan [5] | |
Kamaruddin | Rajinikanth [5] | |
Roshni | Jayabharathi [5] | |
Jameela | Sripriya [5] | |
Mir Qasim | Gemini Ganesan[5] | |
The genie | S. A. Ashokan[6] | |
Alavuddin's mother | Savitri[7] | |
Fasul Jamal | Ravikumar | |
Abdulla, Alavuddin's Uncle | T. K. Bagavathi | T. P. Madhavan |
Jameela's Father | V. S. Raghavan | Sankaradi |
Ayishaumma | Sukumari | |
Shehansha | P.S. Veerappa | Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair |
R.S. Manohar | ||
V.K. Ramasamy | ||
Fathima | Meenakumari | |
Kunal | Sreelatha Namboothiri | |
Sainaba | Lalithasree | |
Aboobakkar | Jose | |
Yusaf | Cochin Haneefa | |
Muhammed Hussain | Adoor Bhasi |
Additionally, Bollywood actresses Helen, Bindu and Jayshree T. portray cabaret dancers.[8]
Production
Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum, directed by I. V. Sasi, was based on the story of Aladdin from One Thousand and One Nights, and had Kamal Haasan playing the title character, named Alavuddin here. Rajinikanth was cast as Kamaruddin, a character not present in the original story but created for the film.[9] It was his first film in the Malayalam language and the fantasy genre. The film was simultaneously shot in Tamil as Allaudinaum Arputha Vilakkum,[4][10] marking Sasi's directorial debut in Tamil cinema.[11] This version was the second Tamil adaptation of the story of Aladdin, after a 1957 film with the same name.[12] Ramachandra Babu worked as cinematographer, and the film was made in CinemaScope.[13] According to him, Rajinikanth would often turn violent on the sets: "[He] was always under the influence of liquor and could turn violent any moment. Even Kamal was wary of doing fight sequences with [him]".[14]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack of both versions was composed by G. Devarajan, while the lyrics for the Malayalam version were written by Yusufali Kechery.[15]
No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Ee Alavudheenin" | K. J. Yesudas | 4:45 |
2. | "Pushpame" | Vani Jairam | 4:28 |
3. | "Chandanam Kadanjedutha" | P. Madhuri | 4:11 |
4. | "Sringara Ponkinnam" | Vani Jairam | 4:35 |
5. | "Maran Korutha Maala" | K. J. Yesudas | 4:36 |
6. | "Madhurangikale" | P. Susheela | 4:17 |
Release
Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum was released on 14 April 1979, and Allaudinaum Arputha Vilakkum on 8 June 1979.[16] The film performed well at the box office for the first two weeks, but slumped in the third.[17] In 2008, The Times of India rated the Tamil version 2 out of 5, stating that it was "strictly for fans".[18]
References
- "Allauddinum Arputha Vilakkum". The Gazette of India. 16 February 1980. p. 1003.
- "IX – PROCHE- ET MOYEN-ORIENT MUSULMAN". Le site d'Hervé Dumont (in French). Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- Sasi, I. V. Allavuddin Adbutha Deepam (motion picture) (in Telugu). Archived from the original on 29 April 2015.
- Ramachandran 2014, pp. 90-91.
- Ramachandran 2014, p. 90.
- Narayanan, Sujatha (25 October 2017). "IV Sasi made stars out of actors, without losing craft: A look back at some of his most notable work". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
- "செல்லுலாய்ட் பெண்கள்" [Celluloid Girls]. Dinakaran (in Tamil). 10 March 2017. Archived from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
- Ramachandran 2014, p. 91.
- "பிளாஷ்பேக்: ரஜினி, கமலை பிரித்த படம்" [Flashback: The film that split Kamal and Rajini!]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 12 May 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் ரஜினியின் துளிகள்..." [Super Star Rajinikanth's drops....]. Dinakaran (in Tamil). 12 December 2013. Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- "பிரபல இயக்குனர் ஐ.வி.சசி உடல்நலக்குறைவால் காலமானார்" [Veteran director IV Sasi dies of illness]. Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 24 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- "வெள்ளைக்காரர்களே நடிக்க வேண்டுமா? ஹாலிவுட்டில் நீடிக்கும் சர்ச்சை" [Should only white people act? A lasting controversy in Hollywood]. Puthiya Thalaimurai (in Tamil). 10 June 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- Babu, Ramachandra (4 June 2013). "40th Anniversary of First Cinemascope Film in South India". Ramachandra Babu. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- Ayyappan, R (25 October 2017). "Greatest crowd pleaser". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
- "Alavudheenum Albhutha Vilakkum (1979)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
- Sreekanth, Gayathri (2008). The Name is Rajinikanth. Om Books International. p. 369.
- Piousji (26 August 1979). "Khaas Baat". Sunday. p. 51.
- "Alavuddinum Arpudha Vilakkum". The Times of India. 4 July 2008. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
Bibliography
- Ramachandran, Naman (2014) [2012]. Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-81-8475-796-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)