Sangili (1982 film)

Sangili is a 1982 Indian Tamil-language action drama film, directed by C. V. Rajendran and produced by S. D. Gunasekaran. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Prabhu (in his debut film appearance), Sripriya, Major Sundarrajan, Sumithra and M. N. Nambiar. It is a remake of the 1976 Hindi film Kalicharan. The film was released on 14 April 1982.

Plot
Inspector-General Sivaraj appoints his son and fellow police officer, the talented and steadfast DSP Saravanan Sivaraj as the Special Officer in-charge of tracking down a virulent, anti-national smuggling ring. Saravanan is a widower with two kids who are being raised by his sister Ganga. When Saravanan gets some firm clues that a reputed local businessman and philanthropist 'Lion' Dayanidhi could be the king-pin behind the cartel, Dayanidhi has him killed. Soon after, a distraught Sivaraj is introduced by a friend to a ferocious criminal lodged in Vellore prison named Sangili who remarkably resembles his son Saravanan in appearance.

Sivaraj decides to reform and train the brutish Sangili to impersonate Saravanan in order to trace those behind Saravanan's death. Sivaraj finds transforming Sangili a seemingly impossible task as Sangili refuses to mend his ways and has his own agenda of seeking revenge against his sister's murderer, but eventually succeeds with some help from Ganga and Saravanan's kids. Sangili, now transposing as Saravanan, launches himself into tracking the real Saravanan's killers and bringing down the smuggling cartel.

Production
The film marked the cinematic acting debut of Prabhu, son of Sivaji Ganesan. Ganesan was initially against Prabhu acting in the film as he wanted him to join the police. Prabhu too was not initially interested in pursuing an acting career, but Rajendran insisted him to act in the film.

Soundtrack
Soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics by Kannadasan.

Release and reception
Sangili was released on 14 April 1982. Kalki negatively reviewed the film, comparing it unfavourably to the original and said the remake looked hastily made.