Nadu Iravil (Tamil, In the middle of the night;1965)
Director: S Balachander
Another obscure film from the annals of the not-so-popular list of old Tamil movies is Nadu Iravil, directed by a multi-talented director, S Balachander, a talented veena player who also acts in this thriller drama. This flick is based on Agatha Christie's 1939 novel 'And then there were none' (a.k.a Ten Little Niggers).
Initially shunned by distributors for its unique storyline and the dearth of melodious songs, which was typical of blockbusters those days, the reels were in cold storage for about five years before Balachander financed and distributed it himself to astounding success!
In the typical whodunnit fashion, the story's setting is in a big isolated bungalow on a remote island, entirely cut-off from civilisation. On the island lived an old couple, Dayanandham and his mentally challenged wife (probably PTSD), Pandari Bai, in recluse, with his comical butler (Cho) and a reliable bald-headed handyman. A doctor (Dr Saravana, S Balachander himself) visits them periodically to give them medical consultations. On one of his visits, Dr Saravana tells Dayanandham that he (Daya) is inflicted with a lethal form of leukaemia. Against Daya's insistence, the good doctor decides to bring in Daya's relatives for a weekend retreat at the island. Apparently, Daya had settled down on the island after an ugly encounter with them. His wife's condition may somehow be related to their behaviour. As Daya's days are numbered, the doctor thought it would be wise to get the whole family together; his brothers, sisters, and dependents.
The whole plan turned to be a disastrous one. It became a shouting match with Daya telling his relatives off that his monies will not go to them despite their admission of past mistakes. On top of that, one by one, people start dying like flies, being murdered in cold blood.
The premise of the movie is to track down the killer on the prowl! In the midst of all these, the elderly couple finds a gem in the form of their niece, Raagini (Sowkar Janaki).
Director: S Balachander
Another obscure film from the annals of the not-so-popular list of old Tamil movies is Nadu Iravil, directed by a multi-talented director, S Balachander, a talented veena player who also acts in this thriller drama. This flick is based on Agatha Christie's 1939 novel 'And then there were none' (a.k.a Ten Little Niggers).Initially shunned by distributors for its unique storyline and the dearth of melodious songs, which was typical of blockbusters those days, the reels were in cold storage for about five years before Balachander financed and distributed it himself to astounding success!
In the typical whodunnit fashion, the story's setting is in a big isolated bungalow on a remote island, entirely cut-off from civilisation. On the island lived an old couple, Dayanandham and his mentally challenged wife (probably PTSD), Pandari Bai, in recluse, with his comical butler (Cho) and a reliable bald-headed handyman. A doctor (Dr Saravana, S Balachander himself) visits them periodically to give them medical consultations. On one of his visits, Dr Saravana tells Dayanandham that he (Daya) is inflicted with a lethal form of leukaemia. Against Daya's insistence, the good doctor decides to bring in Daya's relatives for a weekend retreat at the island. Apparently, Daya had settled down on the island after an ugly encounter with them. His wife's condition may somehow be related to their behaviour. As Daya's days are numbered, the doctor thought it would be wise to get the whole family together; his brothers, sisters, and dependents.
The whole plan turned to be a disastrous one. It became a shouting match with Daya telling his relatives off that his monies will not go to them despite their admission of past mistakes. On top of that, one by one, people start dying like flies, being murdered in cold blood.
The premise of the movie is to track down the killer on the prowl! In the midst of all these, the elderly couple finds a gem in the form of their niece, Raagini (Sowkar Janaki).
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