𝕄𝕒𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕒 𝕄𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕕𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤

Muthal Mariyathai (1985)

Director: Bharathiraja

Cast: Sivaji Ganesan (Malaichami), Radha (Kuyil), Vadivukkarasi (Ponnatha), Sathyaraj (Mayilvaganam)

Music: Ilaiyaraaja

Language(s): Tamil

***SPOILERS AHEAD (scroll down for the spoiler-free part)***

I decided to make my first review a review of Mudhal Mariyathai because, well, the movie's a gem and it translates to "First Honor/Respect", and it felt fitting. This movie was recommended to me by several relatives, and I finally sat down to watch it a few days ago. I already knew the gist of the story (a relative spoiled it for me lol) and had already heard the song "Poongatru Thirumbuma" several times before, so I could already tell it was an emotional movie. Unfortunately, I am also an emotional person, so I was slightly hesitant when heading into it. Honestly, the only reason I didn't cry was because I was watching it with other people, and they're not the type of people who cry during movies, so that would've been awkward. Otherwise, I would've been sobbing, because this film was heart-wrenching yet beautiful, and even if you don't understand the dialogue, actions speak louder than words.

The movie starts with a bedridden Malaichami, and Kuyil coming to visit him by train. We're then taken into a flashback (which is about 95% percent of the movie) about Malaichami's life. Malaichami is a middle-aged man who's in a loveless marriage with his cousin, Ponnatha, their daughter, Rasamma, her husband, their child, and Malaichami's nephew, Chellakannu (who plays an important role in the movie as well). Ponnatha is a cynical shrew, and for reasons unknown (then later revealed), Malaichami doesn't do anything about it. The whole village respects Malaichami and treats him as their village head, but within his household, he is disgraced and disrespected.

As time goes on, a young woman, Kuyil, comes to the village and lives in a little hut by the river. She becomes a boatwoman and develops a strange friendship with Malaichami, as he cures her loneliness and receives the care he could never get at home. They bicker sometimes but otherwise enjoy each other's company. While this takes place, Chellakannu is in a relationship with Sevuli, who's the daughter of the shoe cobbler Sengodan. They plan to elope as their relationship is a secret. They are otherwise very young and innocent lovers, which plays an integral part in a plot point later on. Kuyil learns of their relationship and tries to help them elope but is found out by Malaichami, who at first is angry. Kuyil explains their situation and eventually, Malaichami changes his mind and gets Chellakannu and Sevuli married.

While they were in a relationship they told each other they'd both go far and touch the Sun. After marriage, Chellakannu tells Sevuli he'll go faster than her to touch the Sun, and leaves Sevuli alone by the river. While he's gone, a man comes and steals Sevuli's jewelry and then kills her. Chellakannu comes back and finds her, and it is revealed that in the struggle between Sevuli and the man, she had bitten one of his toes off. Chellakannu eventually develops mental issues and kills himself, while Sengodan carries the man's toe around and says the now-famous line "Enakku oru unma therinjaaganum" (I need to know the truth).

Malaichami eventually learns of it and spots Rasamma's husband without a toe. He reports him to the police and Ponnatha accuses him of making that decision because Rasamma is not his biological daughter. It is revealed to Rasamma that Ponnatha was pregnant with her after a fling with another villager, and Ponnatha's father asked Malaichami to marry her. Malaichami agreed out of the thought that her family should not be disgraced. For the first time, Malaichami stands up to Ponnatha. In the middle of that situation, the villagers accuse Malaichami of being in a romantic relationship with Kuyil, who is younger and of a lower class than him. At that moment, Malaichami confesses that he is indeed in a relationship with Kuyil.