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.[3] The film stars Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Jayabharathi and Sripriya, with Gemini Ganesan, Savitri and S. A. Ashokan in supporting roles. 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.
| Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum | |
|---|---|
 Poster in Malayalam | |
| Directed by | I. V. Sasi |
| Written by | A. Sheriff (Malayalam) Vietnam Veedu Sundaram (Tamil) |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Ramachandra Babu |
| Edited by | K. Narayanan |
| Music by | G. Devarajan |
Production company | Supriya Creations[1] |
Release dates |
8 June 1979 (Tamil) |
Running time | 142 minutes[2] |
| Country | India |
| Languages |
|
Plot
editThis article needs an improved plot summary. (November 2021) |
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.
Cast
edit| Character | Actors in Language | |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil | Malayalam | |
| Alavuddin | Kamal Haasan[4] | |
| Kamaruddin | Rajinikanth[4] | |
| Princess Roshni | Jayabharathi[4] | |
| Jameela | Sripriya[4] | |
| The genie | S. A. Ashokan[5] | |
| Grand Sorcerer | R. S. Manohar | Jose Prakash |
| Fathima | Savitri[6] | Meena Joseph |
| Abdulla | T. K. Bagavathi | T. P. Madhavan |
| Sainaba | Lalithasree | |
| Aboobakkar | Jose | |
| Aboobakkar's Father | V. S. Raghavan | Sankaradi |
| Ayishaumma | Sukumari | |
| King of Baghdad | P. S. Veerappa | Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair |
| Commander Mir Qasim | Gemini Ganesan[4] | |
| Minister Muhammed Hussain | V. K. Ramasamy | Adoor Bhasi |
| Royal Priest Hakkim Moulavi Sahib | S. V. Sahasranamam | Bahadoor |
| Fasul Jamal | Ravikumar | |
| Kunal | Sreelatha Namboothiri | |
| Yusaf, Arm fighter with Alavuddin | Cochin Haneefa | |
Additionally, Bollywood actresses Helen, Bindu and Jayshree T. portray cabaret dancers.[7]
Production
editAllauddinum 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.[8] It was his first film in the Malayalam language and the fantasy genre. The film was simultaneously shot in Tamil as Allaudinaum Arputha Vilakkum,[9][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]". The film was to have been the first CinemaScope film in Malayalam, but production delays led to Thacholi Ambu (1978) becoming so.[14]
Soundtrack
editThe soundtrack of both versions was composed by G. Devarajan. The lyrics for the Malayalam version were written by Yusufali Kechery,[15][16] while the lyrics for the Tamil version were written by Vaali and Kannadasan.[17]
| 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 |
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intha Alavudeenin Aasai" | Vaali | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | |
| 2. | "Santhanam Kadainjedutha" | Kannadasan | P. Madhuri | |
| 3. | "Pushpame Sivanthu" | Kannadasan | Vani Jairam |
The movie was dubbed into Telugu as Allauddin Adbutha Deepam
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Virivana Chinuku" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | |
| 2. | "Matalade Chilakundi" | P. Susheela | |
| 3. | "Okka Gulabiki" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | |
| 4. | "Paruvamey" | P. Susheela | |
| 5. | "Kannula Vinduga" | P. Susheela | |
| 6. | "Rajasam" | S. P. Sailaja |
Release and reception
editAllauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum was released on 14 April 1979, and Allaudinaum Arputha Vilakkum on 8 June 1979.[18] The film performed well at the box office for the first two weeks, but slumped in the third.[19] Reviewing the Tamil version for Kalki, Kausikan panned the film for completely ruining the story of Aladdin and also panned the poor casting choices and clownish portrayal of the genie. He added that Gemini Ganesan was underutilised and felt Rajinikanth's character was added just for fights while calling the story and dialogues as poor.[20]
References
edit- ^ "Allauddinum Arputha Vilakkum (Tamil) (Colour) Cinemascope Feature". The Gazette of India. 16 February 1980. p. 1003. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Alavuddinum Arpudha Vilakkum". The Times of India. 4 July 2008. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e 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.
- ^ Ramachandran 2014, pp. 90–91.
- ^ "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 Malayam Film EP Vinyl Record G Devarajan". Macsendisk. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ "Alavudheenum Albhutha Vilakkum (1979)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
- ^ "Alavudeenum Arputha Vilakum". Songs4all. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ இன்பா, மு.ஞா.செ. (2020). ஜெமினி மந்திர சொல் (in Tamil). Kathadi Publications. p. 285.
- ^ Piousji (26 August 1979). "Khaas Baat". Sunday. p. 51. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ கௌசிகன் (1 July 1979). "அலாவுதீனும் அற்புத விளக்கும்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 44. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
Bibliography
edit- Ramachandran, Naman (2014) [2012]. Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-81-8475-796-5.
