En Jeevan Paduthu
En Jeevan Paduthu (transl. My soul is singing) is a 1988 Indian Tamil-language romance film directed by R. Sundarrajan, starring Karthik and Saranya in lead roles, supported by Sudha, Captain Raju and Kapil Dev. The movie was dubbed into Telugu as "Akarshana", and some scenes were re-edited, as the Tamil version was not a box office success. However, the soundtrack was very popular, especially in Tamil.
| En Jeevan Paduthu | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | R. Sundarrajan |
| Produced by | Panchu Arunachalam |
| Screenplay by | R. Sundarrajan |
| Story by | Panchu Arunachalam |
| Starring | Karthik Saranya Sudha |
| Music by | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Cinematography | Rajarajan |
| Edited by | Krishna Srinivas |
| Distributed by | Panchu Associates |
Release date | 24 June 1988 |
Running time | 132 mins |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
Narmada (Saranya Ponvannan) joins a new college, as she feels so bored sitting alone in her house. Her father is a businessman. In college, she happens to see the paintings and books written by Surendran. She is very much fascinated by him, but unable to find him in college. She is shocked when she finds Surendran (Karthik) has already committed suicide. Narmada frequently visits his grave in the following days, and the ghost of Surendran appears, advising her to cease visiting his grave. Those around Narmada suspect that she is mentally ill, as nobody else can see Surendran.
Surendran tells Narmada he was duped into love by his colleague Philomina (Sudha). He genuinely loved her, even converting to Christianity; Surendran's father dies, shocked at the conversion. Philomina proves unfaithful, and marries Dr. Vijay (Pratap K. Pothen), which results in Surendran committing suicide. Later it is revealed that Philomina dies during delivery.
Anand (Kapil Dev), a rich businessman, becomes attracted to Narmada and asks for her hand in marriage. Narmada's father approves of this marriage proposal, but Narmada is against this alliance as she is in love with Surendran. Narmada's father forcefully announces the marriage, but she escapes from marriage hall and commits suicide to join with Surendran in the afterlife.
Cast
- Karthik as Surendran
- Saranya as Narmada
- Kapil Dev as Anand
- Sudha as Philomena
- Pratap Pothan as Dr. Vijay
- Captain Raju
- Chinni Jayanth
- Jaishankar in Guest appearance
- Santhana Bharathi
- Manorama
- Thyagu
Soundtrack
The music for this film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The lyrics were written by Ilaiyaraaja and Panchu Arunachalam.[1]
| Song | Singers | Duration[2] |
|---|---|---|
| "Aan Pillai Enraal Meesai" | Chorus, S. Janaki, Mano | 4:43 |
| "Engirundho Azhaikkum" | Lata Mangeshkar | 4:34 |
| "Engirundho Azhaikkum" | Ilaiyaraaja | 4:37 |
| "Engirundho Azhaikkum" | Mano, Lata Mangeshkar | 2:57 |
| "Kaadhal Vaanile | S. Janaki | 4:35 |
| "Katti Vechukko Enthan Anbu Manasu" | Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki | 4:42 |
| "Mounam Yen Mounamey Vasantha Kaalama" | Mano | 4:37 |
| "Ore Murai Un Dharisanam" | S. Janaki | 4:37 |
Reception
N. Krishnaswamy of The Indian Express wrote, "Though director R. Sundarrajan is on very fragile ground and has to do some skating on thin ice playing the girl-ghost card as the audience sometimes tends to turn ghostbusters with catcalls, it is the humorous line — girl talking away to an invisible ghost to the incomprehension of her friends and these same friends in shivers when things seem suspended in thin air while the ghost is in fact holding them — that saves the day."[3]
References
- "Ilaiyaraaja - En Jeevan Paaduthu". Discogs. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- http://www.thiraipaadal.com/albums/ALBIRR00135.html
- Krishnaswamy, N. (1 July 1988). "En Jeevan Paaduthu". The Indian Express. p. 5.