Neela Vaanam

Neela Vaanam is a 1965 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by P. Madhavan and produced by Varathan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Devika and Rajasri. It was released on 10 December 1965.

Plot
Babu has the tendency to use hitchhiking as his transportation method to reach his workplace, Shanthi Theatre. He asks Vimala, a stranger, to drop him off at Shanthi Theatre. At first, she misunderstands that he is a movie freak, as he says that he watches three shows in first class in Shanthi theater. Then she realises that Babu is a ticket taker in the Shanthi theater. They meet every day, and they fall in love, and Babu tells her that they can only get married if he gets a good job for his qualification, a Bachelor of Arts. Prakash sees Babu and Vimala together in a swimming pool, and he informs his uncle Varatharajan. Varatharajan approves of Vimala's love.

Somanathan, a paper mill owner, asks Sharma to look for a groom for his only daughter, Gowri. Gowri is a naive woman; she meets Babu on the road as he approaches her car, misunderstanding Vimala's car. She drops him off at his house, invites him to her house for her birthday party, and offers to get him a job at her father's company. Babu attends Gowri's birthday party, hoping he will get a job, where Gowri introduces him to her father, Somanathan. Babu tells Gowri that Somanathan is the one who helped him finish his education. As other guests are approaching, Somanathan goes upstairs. Gowri's mother notices that Gowri's diamond necklace is missing, and the people around them search for the necklace. Sharma notices Babu holding his coat tightly, so Sharma and other people remove his coat and laugh at him for not wearing a shirt. Somanathan scolds others for mistreating Babu. Somanathan and Gowri visit Babu in his house and ask for forgiveness for the mistreatment, and they offer him a job in their mill, which Babu accepts.

Babu informs Vimala that he got a job in Somanathan's paper mill, and then she introduces him to her father Varatharajan. Sharma finds Prakash as a groom for Gowri. Gowri is afraid of injections and surgery; she hides her stomach pain, but her mother notices her suffering, and they get her to the hospital and find that she has uterine cancer, which can't be cured. Gowri's parents hide it from her, and Somanathan tries to find a way to cure her, but his attempts go futile as every doctor says there is no cure and she can only live for five or six months. Varatharajan rejects the proposal for Prakash and Gowri's marriage, as he has heard from Sharma that Gowri may have been possessed by a ghost. As Gowri hears that she has been rejected by Prakash's family, she is sad and disappointed, which Babu notices, and he tries to make her feel better, but she ends up proposing to marry her. Somanathan notices Gowri's interest in marrying Babu, and he talks with him alone to explain Gowri's situation, and he begs him to marry her.

Babu and Gowri get married, and they live happily. Vimala thinks that he left her only for Gowri's money. As Somanathan's health condition is not good, Gowri and Somanathan ask Babu to take care of the mill. Vimala becomes friends with Gowri and gets a job as a personal assistant in Somanathan's paper mill. Babu is shocked to see Vimala at the office, and she threatens him by saying she will reveal their past relationship to Gowri.

When he reaches his house, Babu scolds Gowri for hiring Vimala, which makes Gowri cry, so he tries to make her laugh. She feels the pain in her stomach. He tries to convince her to see a doctor, but she is hesitant, saying that if doctors come, they may do surgery, which may lead her to not have a child. So to make her let a doctor check her, he lies that she may be pregnant; that's why she feels the pain. The lady doctor checks and informs Babu that Gowri will only live for four or five months, so let her be happy, making her believe she's pregnant. Somanathan and Babu pretend like Gowri is pregnant, and they hide their sadness.

Five months later, Babu notices the news that a conference is happening in Delhi and doctors across the globe are attending the conference, so he attends the conference to try to find a way to cure her. He returns to Madras, and Vimala asks him why he has gone to Delhi and accuses him of cheating another woman like he did to her. Also, she shows the photograph of Babu and Vimala together, and she threatens him by saying she will show the picture to Gowri. He snatches the photo from her and tears it apart. One of the pieces of the photo falls on the fruit basket, and when he is home, Gowri finds the photo piece. Sceptical, she visits Vimala, and she tells her that she is afraid that Babu has a past relationship with someone, and by seeing Gowri's innocence and her love for her husband, she writes that she will no longer be in Babu's life in a photo's backside, and she leaves the place. By reading the written message, only she realises that Vimala is the one with whom Babu has been in a relationship.

When Babu is back at the house, Gowri confronts him and says that she has found his secret. Unwitting what she meant, he tells her about her medical condition. He tells her that his recent visit to Delhi was only to attend the medical conference. He explains the situation to her and convinces her to get treated. When the ambulance arrives, she gets pain again, and she refuses to get in as she wants to die in his arms. She tells him to get married to Vimala, and she gives him the baby doll, which she considers their own child, while taking her last breath. Somanathan asks Babu not to leave, but he leaves the house with the doll. On the road, Vimala finds Babu with the doll, and she begs that she understand his innocence, but he walks away.

Production
Neela Vaanam was directed by P. Madhavan and produced by Varadan under Pattu Films. The screenplay was written by K. Balachander. Cinematography was handled by Karnan, and the editing by R. Devarajan. The final length of the film was 4800 metres.

Soundtrack
The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan and the lyrics were penned by Kannadasan. The song "Sollada Vaai Thirandhu" is set in Senjurutti raga.

Release and reception
Neela Vaanam was released on 10 December 1965, and distributed by Sivaji Films. T. M. Ramachandran of Sport and Pastime called it a "poor film" and criticised Madhavan's direction as "naive". He also noted "There is nothing much to write home about K. Balachander's screenplay and dialogue" but called Viswanathan's music "pleasing". Kalki appreciated Balachander's screenplay and dialogue but criticised the songs.