Ram Lakshman (film)

Ram Lakshman is a 1981 Indian Tamil-language film directed by R. Thyagarajan. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Sripriya. It was released on 28 February 1981, and remade in Telugu as Rama Lakshmanulu the same year.

Plot
Ram and his pet elephant Lakshman have grown up together and are very emotionally attached to one another. They share such a strong bond that Ram refuses to marry his sweetheart Meena when her father refuses to sanction their marriage unless Ram leaves Lakshman. Meanwhile, in a very cunningly planned plot, an employee of Meena's father kills him and implicates Ram and Lakshman for the murder. How the two friends stand by each other in the hour of need and how they prove themselves innocent forms the rest of the plot.

Production
Like Devar Films' previous ventures, this film features an animal in a prominent role, in this case an elephant. Filming took place at Ooty.

Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and the lyrics were written by Vaali and Vairamuthu. The song "Nandhaan Ungappanda" was selected to be played at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.

Reception
Nalini Sastry of Kalki felt Kamal Haasan's attempts at comedy failed and the film and story lacked something but praised Ilaiyaraaja's music and climax fight.