Mazhalai Pattalam

Mazhalai Pattalam is a 1980 Indian Tamil-language children's film simultaneously filmed in Kannada as Makkala Sainya. The directorial debut of Lakshmi, it stars Vishnuvardhan and Sumithra. The story is based on the 1968 American film Yours, Mine and Ours. Mazhalai Pattalam was released on 9 May 1980, and Makkala Sainya on 21 July that year. The film was remade in Telugu as Ramadandu.

Plot

The film is a love story of the hero, taking care of his six children and the heroine, taking care of her now-orphaned sister's five children. The children, who are always at loggerheads, make their marriage an impossibility until they are forced to join forces.

Cast

Vishnuvardhan as Shivaraman alias Gowri Manohari
Sumithra as Uma
Shivaram
M. N. Lakshmi Devi
M. S. Sundari Bai as Kamakshi
Poornam Viswanathan as Shivaraman's boss
Baby Poorani
Baby Indira

Production

The film, announced in 1979, is the directorial debut of Lakshmi, who was supervised by K. Balachander. The story is based on the 1968 film Yours, Mine and Ours. When Balachander approached Visu to write the screenplay and dialogues, he left his job at a travel company and agreed to write the screenplay while also taking care of post-production activities as per Balachander's request.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The song "Gowri Manohari" is based on Gourimanohari raga. The song was named after Gowri Manohari, a character from the film.

Release and reception

Mazhalai Pattalam was released on 9 May 1980, and Makkala Sainya on 21 July that year. Kanthan of Kalki wrote that Lakshmi's direction in her debut did not speak; however her experienced maturity was evident. The film opened to a poor response, but picked up by the eighth week and became a success.