Vennira Aadai (வெண்ணிற ஆடை,White Attire, Tamil; 1965)
Director: C.V. Sridhar
This movie remains the stepping stone for 4 of its main stars, namely Jayalalitha (her first Tamil film role), Sreekanth (even though he had been made famous a year earlier through another of Sridhar's hit, Kadhallika Neramillai), Nirmala and comedian Moorthy (who earned the prefix Vennira Adai to their names).
It reminds us of a time when being fully clothed to cover the bare necessities were of paramount importance and people were polite to each other!
Nostalgia was written all over the movie via its sepia hued print and the actors' attires which were all in shade of magenta, pink and brown.
Jayalalitha managed to showcase her star quality through her persona and ability to hold the attention of the viewers. She was considered bold, ahead of her time, as she was the first actress to be seen on Tamil cinema in a gown instead of the usual saree. Srikanth unfortunately was just an eye-candy appearing a tad stiff and emotionless, even though his role as a psychiatrist required him to be so. After that outing, his career stalled, given only stereotyped villainous roles.
Nirmala had her share to flaunt her acting skills in the beginning of the show but was somewhat overshadowed by Jayalalitha later on. Her career peaked briefly, gaining opportunity to star with big names but remained as the second line supporting actress. In fact the story concentrated mostly on Jayalalitha's role as a mentally deranged maiden who is treated to normalcy.
Moorthy, who is still acting, who is now quite irritatingly unfunny, managed to hold his role cracking wise cracks and conning his father to wed his allegedly millionaire girlfriend with a straight face.
Dr Chandru is an up and coming psychiatrist who is thinking of venturing into private practice. To get enough money to kickstart his practice, his superior recommends him to treat a tycoon's daughter who needs psychiatric help. He goes off to Kodaikanal leaving his sweetheart, Nirmala.
The patient, Shoba (Jayalalitha), seem to have regressed mentally to her childhood days after her parents had forced her to marry her cousin. Tragically, 2 hours after the wedding, the groom died sending her stuck in her own world of melancholia. Her millionaire father, Sunderajan, feels guilty of forcing her into the wedding and her misery.
Dr Chandru, with his expertise, nurses her back to health. Shoba, who was seen childlike as if was mentally challenged transformed into a demure lass who is well versed with etiquette and social grace! Then the trouble starts. Positive transference of affection of the patient to the care provider. Dr Chandru just plays along fearing that she might sink back into her illness if her love were rejected.
No major masala here - Shobha eavesdrops Dr Chandru's conversation, learn the truth about his pre-existing girlfriend and backs off.
She manifest in a widow's attire all in white to wish the newly wed of Dr Chandru and his wife, Nirmala.
I was wondering why the movie was named 'white attire'. Initially I thought it was going to denote the white gown donned by the people of the medical profession and how the protagonist stayed true and pure to the ideals and calls of the noble profession. Only at the end did it click to me that the social message at the end of the film about unkind segregation and restriction of the young widows.
Many evergreen melodious hits strung by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy duo still vibrate like a ear worm.
Director: C.V. Sridhar
This movie remains the stepping stone for 4 of its main stars, namely Jayalalitha (her first Tamil film role), Sreekanth (even though he had been made famous a year earlier through another of Sridhar's hit, Kadhallika Neramillai), Nirmala and comedian Moorthy (who earned the prefix Vennira Adai to their names).It reminds us of a time when being fully clothed to cover the bare necessities were of paramount importance and people were polite to each other!
Nostalgia was written all over the movie via its sepia hued print and the actors' attires which were all in shade of magenta, pink and brown.
Jayalalitha managed to showcase her star quality through her persona and ability to hold the attention of the viewers. She was considered bold, ahead of her time, as she was the first actress to be seen on Tamil cinema in a gown instead of the usual saree. Srikanth unfortunately was just an eye-candy appearing a tad stiff and emotionless, even though his role as a psychiatrist required him to be so. After that outing, his career stalled, given only stereotyped villainous roles.
Nirmala had her share to flaunt her acting skills in the beginning of the show but was somewhat overshadowed by Jayalalitha later on. Her career peaked briefly, gaining opportunity to star with big names but remained as the second line supporting actress. In fact the story concentrated mostly on Jayalalitha's role as a mentally deranged maiden who is treated to normalcy.
Moorthy, who is still acting, who is now quite irritatingly unfunny, managed to hold his role cracking wise cracks and conning his father to wed his allegedly millionaire girlfriend with a straight face.Dr Chandru is an up and coming psychiatrist who is thinking of venturing into private practice. To get enough money to kickstart his practice, his superior recommends him to treat a tycoon's daughter who needs psychiatric help. He goes off to Kodaikanal leaving his sweetheart, Nirmala.
The patient, Shoba (Jayalalitha), seem to have regressed mentally to her childhood days after her parents had forced her to marry her cousin. Tragically, 2 hours after the wedding, the groom died sending her stuck in her own world of melancholia. Her millionaire father, Sunderajan, feels guilty of forcing her into the wedding and her misery.
Dr Chandru, with his expertise, nurses her back to health. Shoba, who was seen childlike as if was mentally challenged transformed into a demure lass who is well versed with etiquette and social grace! Then the trouble starts. Positive transference of affection of the patient to the care provider. Dr Chandru just plays along fearing that she might sink back into her illness if her love were rejected.No major masala here - Shobha eavesdrops Dr Chandru's conversation, learn the truth about his pre-existing girlfriend and backs off.
She manifest in a widow's attire all in white to wish the newly wed of Dr Chandru and his wife, Nirmala.
I was wondering why the movie was named 'white attire'. Initially I thought it was going to denote the white gown donned by the people of the medical profession and how the protagonist stayed true and pure to the ideals and calls of the noble profession. Only at the end did it click to me that the social message at the end of the film about unkind segregation and restriction of the young widows.
Many evergreen melodious hits strung by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy duo still vibrate like a ear worm.
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