Aval Appadithan
Encyclopedia
Aval Appadithan (English
: "That's How She Is") is a Tamil film is directed by C. Rudhraiya. It starred Sripriya
, Kamal Hassan and Rajnikanth
, with Ilayaraja as music director. The film was noted for its very stylized film making and cutting-edge dialogues, a large portion of it in English.
with a wimp of a father and a philandering mother, she hurtles from one disastrous affair to another. As the movie begins, she has denegerated into a cynical, man-hating 'modern' woman. Into her life enter two radically different men. One of them is her boss (Rajnikanth), who owns the advertising agency that she works for. He is a prototype of the successful man - money-minded, opinionated, arrogant and a male chauvinist. In sharp contrast, Kamal Hassan, who has come to Chennai from Coimbatore to make a documentary on women, is an early version of the metro-sexual male. Sensitive and sincere, he believes his job has a purpose and is both shocked and amused at the cynical attitudes of the other two.
As the movie begins, Sripriya has been drafted by Rajnikanth to assist Kamal Hassan in his documentary. As Kamal and Sripriya start working together, Kamal starts understanding the complex personality of Sripriya. He recounts these over his whiskey-and-cigarette conversations with Rajnikanth, as the latter keeps warning him to not get too involved with such women. As he states famously, "Women should be enjoyed, not analysed".
Inevitably, Kamal Hassan falls for Sripriya. But Sripriya incurs the wrath of Rajnikanth. Just when it seems that she is about to lose her job, she seems to have a change of heart and starts courting Rajnikanth. Kamal Hassan is devastated to see that she has turned out to be just the sort of woman that Rajnikanth said she was - opportunistic, money-minded and fickle.
The truth finally emerges that Sripriya was merely baiting Rajnikanth to teach him a lesson, but it comes too late for Kamal Hassan, who has already married a small town girl (Saritha
, in a guest role) identified by his parents. In a final discussion in Rajnikanth's car, Sripriya asks Saritha, "What do you think of women's liberation?". Saritha replies, "Oh, I don't know anything about that". Sripriya replies with a cynical "No wonder you are happy". The film ends with Sripriya standing on the road as the car carrying Rajnikanth and the married couple pulls away from her. A voice-over says, "She died today. She will be reborn tomorrow. She will die again. She will be reborn again. That's how she is".
The Cinematographer of this film is Mr.Nallusamy. This was his first film. He may be the first camaramen who did not work as assistant to any Cameraman prior to this movie. He did the three year Diploma course in the Tharamani Institute.
It was the first film dedicated to Ananthoo (late) outside banner of Rahini Recreation, Kala Kendra and later Kavithalaya. The person behind the success of KB and Kamal who had been intellectual associate with K.Balachandar for about 3 decades. The person who changed the name of Arumugam as Rudraiah in the film industry.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "That's How She Is") is a Tamil film is directed by C. Rudhraiya. It starred Sripriya
Sripriya
Sripriya is an actress who played leading roles in the 1970s and 1980s in South India. She has acted in Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam films, but her main contribution was in Tamil films, where she has acted in over 200 films.-Personal life:...
, Kamal Hassan and Rajnikanth
Rajnikanth
Rajinikanth is an Indian film actor, media personality, and cultural icon. He made his debut as an actor in the National Film Award-winning motion picture Apoorva Raagangal , directed by K. Balachander, whom the actor considers his mentor....
, with Ilayaraja as music director. The film was noted for its very stylized film making and cutting-edge dialogues, a large portion of it in English.
Plot
The film revolves around the lives of 3 people. The central character is a woman, played by Sripriya. Raised in a dysfunctional familyDysfunctional family
A dysfunctional family is a family in which conflict, misbehavior, and often abuse on the part of individual members occur continually and regularly, leading other members to accommodate such actions. Children sometimes grow up in such families with the understanding that such an arrangement is...
with a wimp of a father and a philandering mother, she hurtles from one disastrous affair to another. As the movie begins, she has denegerated into a cynical, man-hating 'modern' woman. Into her life enter two radically different men. One of them is her boss (Rajnikanth), who owns the advertising agency that she works for. He is a prototype of the successful man - money-minded, opinionated, arrogant and a male chauvinist. In sharp contrast, Kamal Hassan, who has come to Chennai from Coimbatore to make a documentary on women, is an early version of the metro-sexual male. Sensitive and sincere, he believes his job has a purpose and is both shocked and amused at the cynical attitudes of the other two.
As the movie begins, Sripriya has been drafted by Rajnikanth to assist Kamal Hassan in his documentary. As Kamal and Sripriya start working together, Kamal starts understanding the complex personality of Sripriya. He recounts these over his whiskey-and-cigarette conversations with Rajnikanth, as the latter keeps warning him to not get too involved with such women. As he states famously, "Women should be enjoyed, not analysed".
Inevitably, Kamal Hassan falls for Sripriya. But Sripriya incurs the wrath of Rajnikanth. Just when it seems that she is about to lose her job, she seems to have a change of heart and starts courting Rajnikanth. Kamal Hassan is devastated to see that she has turned out to be just the sort of woman that Rajnikanth said she was - opportunistic, money-minded and fickle.
The truth finally emerges that Sripriya was merely baiting Rajnikanth to teach him a lesson, but it comes too late for Kamal Hassan, who has already married a small town girl (Saritha
Saritha
Saritha is a South Indian actress. She has acted in at least 141 feature films, and was cast in the television serial Selvi in 2005. Her mainstream career spanned from 1979 to 1989, when she took a break to marry Indian actor and producer Mukesh and raise their two sons...
, in a guest role) identified by his parents. In a final discussion in Rajnikanth's car, Sripriya asks Saritha, "What do you think of women's liberation?". Saritha replies, "Oh, I don't know anything about that". Sripriya replies with a cynical "No wonder you are happy". The film ends with Sripriya standing on the road as the car carrying Rajnikanth and the married couple pulls away from her. A voice-over says, "She died today. She will be reborn tomorrow. She will die again. She will be reborn again. That's how she is".
Direction style
The film uses sharp contrasts of black and white to lend an almost surreal atmosphere to the movie. The dialogues are sharp and (for that era) almost vulgar. A lot of English is used, particularly during the "whiskey-and-cigarette" discussions between Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan, which are the highlight of the movie. Ilayaraja's brooding background score adds to the sombre nature of the movie. The movie has two songs - Uravugal thodarkathai (rendered by KJ Yesudas) and Panner pushpangale (rendered by Kamal Hassan himself).The Cinematographer of this film is Mr.Nallusamy. This was his first film. He may be the first camaramen who did not work as assistant to any Cameraman prior to this movie. He did the three year Diploma course in the Tharamani Institute.
About the director
Very little is known about C. Rudhraiya, the director of this movie. He directed just one more movie "Gramathu Athiyayam" (A village chapter). The movie was mired in problems involving Kamal Haasan and his availability who was slated to act in the movie. Rudraiah shot the movie with 'fresh' actors to prove a point when Kamal Haasan pulled out of the project.It was the first film dedicated to Ananthoo (late) outside banner of Rahini Recreation, Kala Kendra and later Kavithalaya. The person behind the success of KB and Kamal who had been intellectual associate with K.Balachandar for about 3 decades. The person who changed the name of Arumugam as Rudraiah in the film industry.
Songs
| Song | Singer | Lyrics by | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aadum Adi | Gangai Amaran Gangai Amaran Gangai Amaran is a Music director, Lyricist, Script writer, Actor and Film director in Tamil films. He is the younger brother of noted music director Ilayaraaja and father of actors Venkat Prabhu and Premji Amaren.-As script writer:... |
3:11 | |
| Ankum Inkum | Gangai Amaran Gangai Amaran Gangai Amaran is a Music director, Lyricist, Script writer, Actor and Film director in Tamil films. He is the younger brother of noted music director Ilayaraaja and father of actors Venkat Prabhu and Premji Amaren.-As script writer:... |
3:32 | |
| Panneer Pushpangale | Kamal Hassan | Gangai Amaran Gangai Amaran Gangai Amaran is a Music director, Lyricist, Script writer, Actor and Film director in Tamil films. He is the younger brother of noted music director Ilayaraaja and father of actors Venkat Prabhu and Premji Amaren.-As script writer:... |
3:09 |
| Uravugal Thodarkathai | Yesudas | Gangai Amaran Gangai Amaran Gangai Amaran is a Music director, Lyricist, Script writer, Actor and Film director in Tamil films. He is the younger brother of noted music director Ilayaraaja and father of actors Venkat Prabhu and Premji Amaren.-As script writer:... |
3:09 |
| Vazhkkai Odam | Janaki Janaki Janaki is a name of the Hindu Goddess Seeta.* Janaki Ballabh Patnaik or J. B. Patnaik, is leader of Indian National Congress and a former chief minister of Orissa* Janaki Ramachandran was an Indian Tamil actress and politician... |
Kannadasan Kannadasan Kannadasan was a Tamil poet and lyricist, heralded as one of the greatest and most important writer in the Tamil language... |
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| Adi Aatha Aatha | |||