Velaikkaran (1987 film)

Velaikkaran is a 1987 Indian Tamil-language masala film directed by S. P. Muthuraman, starring Rajinikanth, Sarath Babu, Amala and Pallavi. It is a remake of the 1982 Hindi film Namak Halaal. The film was released on 7 March 1987 and became a box office success.

Plot
Ragupathy was brought up by his paternal grandfather, Valayapathy. He decides to go to the city in search of a new job and life. In the city he meets Vaiyapuri, who guides him into an interview in a 5-star hotel owned by Rajkumar. While in the hotel, Ragupathy meets Kowsalya and falls in love with her, and Rajkumar falls in love with Nisha. During this time, many attempts are made to kill Rajkumar by his uncle and son Pounraj. The blame for this murder attaches to Rajkumar's mother Savithri, who is actually Ragupathy's mother. Realising all this, Ragupathy takes an oath that he will not let harm come to Rajkumar.

Production
Rajinikanth acted without taking any remuneration, due to the losses the producers suffered from Sri Raghavendrar (1985). Since the film had scenes revolving in a hotel, those scenes were shot in Chola Hotel at Madras (now Chennai) and also at other hotels in Delhi, Kashmir and Agra. For the song "Mamanukku", Muthuraman who was in search of an old couple made the song's dance choreographer Puliyur Saroja and the film's associate director S. L. Narayanan dance for the song. In his memoir AVM Thandha SPM, Muthuraman said the song "Vaa Vaa" was shot at Shimla. However, in his column for Hindu Tamil Thisai, Cinema Eduthu Paar, he said it was shot at Srinagar.

Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics by Mu. Metha. This is the first film where Mano sang for Rajinikanth. The song "Vaa Vaa Kanna" is set in Hamsadhvani raga.

The movie was dubbed into Telugu as Patnam Vacchina Monagadu

Release and reception
Velaikkaran was released on 7 March 1987. The Indian Express called it "pretty run of the mill stuff". Jayamanmadhan of Kalki criticised the story. The film became a box office success, and Rajinikanth won the Sunflash Award for Best Actor.