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{{short description|1981 Indian film by K. Bhagyaraj}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Andha 7 Naatkal.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[K. Bhagyaraj]]
| writer = K. Bhagyaraj
| producer = P. S. Jayaraman<br />M. Nachiappan
| starring = K. Bhagyaraj<br />[[Rajesh (Tamil actor)|Rajesh]]<br />[[Ambika (actress)|Ambika]]
| cinematography = P. Ganesh Pandian
| editing = R. Bhaskaran
| music = [[M. S. Viswanathan]]
| studio = Srini Creations<br />[[Sathya Jyothi Films]] (presents)
| released = {{film date|1981|10|26|df=y}}
| runtime = 145 minutes{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=70}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
'''''Andha 7 Naatkal''''' ({{IPA|ta|an̪ða eːɻu n̪aːʈkaɭ|pron}} {{Translation|Those seven days}}) is a 1981 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[romantic drama]] film written and directed by [[K. Bhagyaraj]]. The film stars Bhagyaraj, [[Rajesh (Tamil actor)|Rajesh]] and [[Ambika (actress)|Ambika]], with [[Kallapetti Singaram]] and [[Master Haja Sheriff]] in supporting roles. It revolves around a woman (Ambika) who is forced into an arranged marriage with a widower (Rajesh), but still longs for her first love (Bhagyaraj).

The story of ''Andha 7 Naatkal'' was inspired by the life of the comedian [[J. P. Chandrababu]]; his marriage had failed after his wife revealed to him that she was in love with someone else. The film was produced by P. S. Jayaraman and M. Nachiappan for Srini Creations and presented by [[Sathya Jyothi Films]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Andha 7 Naatkal |type=Motion picture |language=Ta |publisher=Srini Creations |year=1981 |time=2:22 |time-caption=Opening credits, at}}</ref> The music was composed by [[M. S. Viswanathan]], cinematography was handled by P. Ganesh Pandian, and editing by R. Bhaskaran.

''Andha 7 Naatkal'' was released on 26 October 1981, [[Diwali]] day. The film was a commercial success, and Bhaskaran won the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Editor]]. It became a trendsetter in [[Tamil cinema]] for highlighting the importance of traditional values and their relevance in society. The film was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''[[Radha Kalyanam (1981 film)|Radha Kalyanam]]'' (1981), in [[Hindi]] as ''[[Woh Saat Din]]'' (1983), and in [[Kannada]] as ''[[Love Maadi Nodu]]'' (1989).

== Plot ==
Vasanthi is marrying Anand, a doctor who already has a child from his previous marriage. As soon as they return home from the temple, Vasanthi attempts suicide. Anand saves her and Vasanthi reveals her past.

[[Palakkad]] Madhavan is a naïve and aspiring [[Music director#India|music director]]. His assistant Gopi is a [[dholak]] player. Arriving in [[Chennai|Madras]], looking for a chance in music direction, they rent a thatched room on the terrace of the house of Vasanthi. Madhavan commences his hunt for a chance in films, but does not succeed and struggles in penury. Madhavan's talents impress Vasanthi and soon she falls in love with him. However, Madhavan is reluctant and avoids her as he is still not settled in life. When he realises that she loves him despite his situation, he reciprocates.

Vasanthi's family is in deep financial trouble; to clear their debts, they arrange her marriage with Anand, a wealthy widower. Seeing the plight of Vasanthi, Madhavan agrees to marry her secretly in a temple. However, just before the wedding, Vasanthi's family members and relatives arrive at the venue, attack Madhavan and take Vasanthi away. Vasanthi is forcibly married to Anand. On their wedding night, Vasanthi consumes poison but is saved in time by Anand.

Learning about Vasanthi's past, Anand promises to send her back to Madhavan with just one request. He had agreed to remarriage due to pressure from his terminally ill mother who is unlikely to survive for more than seven days. He requests Vasanthi to pretend to be his wife for these seven days so that his mother can die peacefully, after which Vasanthi can return to Madhavan. She agrees, but at the same time slowly starts accepting his family and becomes close to Anand's daughter.

Anand locates Madhavan, poses as a film producer and offers Madhavan a chance to compose music for his next film. Madhavan agrees and starts composing music. Anand narrates the love story of Madhavan and Vasanthi and Vasanthi's wedding to Madhavan as the film's plot step by step, but with a different backdrop. Madhavan does not realise that the story being narrated is his real story and fervently focuses on song composition.

After Anand's mother dies on the seventh day, Anand invites Madhavan to come to his home for a discussion. He continues the story to the stage when the sick mother-in-law dies, and the heroine leaves her husband's home to live with her lover. He then asks Madhavan's opinion about the unusual climax. Though Madhavan does not like it, he appreciates it to please the "producer".

Anand takes Madhavan to his room, ostensibly to give him an advance, but actually to offer Vasanthi to him. Madhavan initially hesitates, but soon agrees on the condition that Vasanthi only come in the same way when she was his love, without the ''[[Mangalasutra|thaali]]''. Vasanthi, however, cannot bring herself to remove it. When Anand tries to, she resists. Madhavan then tells Anand that Madhavan's lover can be Anand's wife, but Anand's wife can never be Madhavan's lover again. He concludes that adhering to traditional values is the right ending, wishes the couple well and leaves.

== Cast ==
*[[K. Bhagyaraj]] as [[Palakkad]] Madhavan<ref name="thestar" />
*[[Rajesh (Tamil actor)|Rajesh]] as Anand<ref name="thestar" />
*[[Ambika (actress)|Ambika]] as Vasanthi<ref name="thestar" />
*[[Kallapetti Singaram]] as Vasanthi's grandfather<ref name="vikatan" />
*[[Master Haja Sheriff]] as Gopi<ref name="vikatan" />
*[[Pandiarajan]] as the flower seller in the temple (uncredited)<ref name="vikatan" />

== Production ==
The story of ''Andha 7 Naatkal'' was inspired by the life of the comedian [[J. P. Chandrababu]]; his marriage had failed after his wife revealed to him that she was in love with someone else.<ref name="vikatan" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Raman |first=Mohan |author-link=Mohan Raman |date=18 June 2016 |title=Mandapam to moviedom |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Mandapam-to-moviedom/article14431812.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114150806/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Mandapam-to-moviedom/article14431812.ece |archive-date=14 November 2020 |access-date=16 April 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> [[K. Bhagyaraj]], besides directing, also wrote the story and screenplay. The film was produced by P. S. Jayaraman and M. Nachiappan for Srini Creations. Cinematography was handled by P. Ganesh Pandian, and editing by R. Bhaskaran.{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=70}} The idea of creating the character of [[Palakkad]] Madhavan occurred to Bhagyaraj when he saw composer [[M. S. Viswanathan]] conversing in [[Malayalam]] with a Tamil-speaking [[tabla]] player. Bhagyaraj was initially to play the doctor Anand, but after considering the impact he could create in the role of Madhavan, he took that role and [[Rajesh (Tamil actor)|Rajesh]] was instead cast as Anand.{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=71}} Although [[Ambika (actress)|Ambika]] was having consecutive box-office failures, Bhagayaraj was convinced only she could pull off the role of Vasanthi and cast her, though others objected and wanted her replaced.<ref>{{Cite news |last=ராம்ஜி |first=வி. |date=16 August 2020 |title=தனித்துவ நடிப்பால் ஒளிர்ந்த அம்பிகா – அம்பிகா பிறந்தநாள் ஸ்பெஷல் |trans-title=Ambika, who shone with her unique acting – Ambika birthday special |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/570244-ambika.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128202706/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/570244-ambika.html |archive-date=28 January 2021 |access-date=18 April 2021 |work=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Andha 7 Natkal Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M.S.Viswanathan |url=https://mossymart.com/product/andha-7-natkal-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419043447/https://mossymart.com/product/andha-7-natkal-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan/ |archive-date=19 April 2021 |access-date=19 April 2021 |website=Mossymart}}</ref> When poet Kuruvikkarambai Shanmugam was approached by Bhagyaraj to write lyrics for the film, he immediately agreed; the only song he wrote for the film was "Kavithai Arangerum",<ref>{{Cite web |title=பாக்யராஜ் கண்டெடுத்த பாடலாசிரியர் |trans-title=The songwriter discovered by Bhagyaraj |url=http://www.kungumam.co.in/VArticalinnerdetail.aspx?id=6474&id1=124&issue=20160425 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413171805/http://www.kungumam.co.in/VArticalinnerdetail.aspx?id=6474&id1=124&issue=20160425 |archive-date=13 April 2021 |access-date=6 August 2021 |website=[[Kungumam (magazine)|Kungumam]] |language=ta}}</ref> set in the [[Carnatic raga]] known as [[Suddha Dhanyasi]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sundararaman |title=Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music |publisher=Pichhamal Chintamani |year=2007 |edition=2nd |pages=138 |oclc=295034757 |orig-date=2005}}</ref> The song "Thendralathu Unnidathil" is set in [[Jog (raga)|Jog]] raga.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ஏழிசை எம்எஸ்வி {{!}} பயோகிராபி |url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com/msv/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626130400/https://cinema.dinamalar.com/msv/ |archive-date=26 June 2020 |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=[[Dinamalar]] |language=Ta}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Kavithai Arangerum
| lyrics1 = Kuruvikkarambai Shanmugam
| extra1 = [[P. Jayachandran|Jayachandran]], [[S. Janaki]]
| length1 = 4:37
| title2 = Swararaaga
| lyrics2 = [[Kannadasan]]
| extra2 = Jayachandran, [[Vani Jairam]]
| length2 = 4:24
| title3 = Enni Irundhadhu
| lyrics3 = [[Vairamuthu]]
| extra3 = [[Malaysia Vasudevan]], Vani Jairam
| length3 = 4:42
| title4 = Thendraladhu Unnidathil
| lyrics4 = Kannadasan
| extra4 = Jayachandran, S. Janaki
| length4 = 4:52
| total_length = 18:35
}}

== Release and reception ==
''Andha 7 Naatkal'' was released on 26 October 1981, [[Diwali]] day.<ref>{{Cite news |last=ராம்ஜி |first=வி. |date=28 October 2020 |title=மறக்க முடியாத 'பாலக்காட்டு மாதவன், வசந்தி, டாக்டர், கோபி'... 39 ஆண்டுகளாக நினைவில் நிற்கும் 'அந்த 7 நாட்கள்'! |trans-title=Unforgettable ‘Palakkad Madhavan, Vasanthi, Doctor, Gopi’ ... ‘Andha 7 Naatkal’ that has been remembered for 39 years! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/595621-39-years-of-andha-7-naatkal.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101095840/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/595621-39-years-of-andha-7-naatkal.html |archive-date=1 November 2020 |access-date=18 April 2021 |work=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref> Reviewing the film for ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'', Rajesh rated the film 58 out of 100.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ராஜேஷ் |date=31 October 1981 |title=அந்த 7 நாட்கள் : சினிமா விமர்சனம் |trans-title=Andha 7 Naatkal : Movie Review |url=https://www.vikatan.com/arts/nostalgia/44198--2 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200511091905/https://www.vikatan.com/arts/nostalgia/44198--2 |archive-date=11 May 2020 |access-date=30 March 2021 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref> Nalini Sastry of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' praised Bhagyaraj for his acting and direction, while also appreciating the performances of Ambika and Haja Sharif. She praised the climax, calling it the main highlight of the film and concluded that Bhagyaraj had perfected the trick of moving the film in a humorous manner and then making it serious towards the end.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=சாஸ்திரி |first=நளினி |date=8 November 1981 |title=அந்த 7 நாட்கள் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1981-11-08/page/n64/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230225140104/https://archive.org/details/kalki1981-11-08/page/n63/mode/2up |archive-date=25 February 2023 |access-date=25 February 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=63 |language=Ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> Despite facing competition from other Diwali releases such as ''[[Tik Tik Tik (1981 film)|Tik Tik Tik]]'' and ''[[Ranuva Veeran]]'', the film emerged a commercial success,<ref name="vikatan" /> and Bhaskaran won the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Editor]].{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=71}}

== Remakes ==
''Andha 7 Naatkal'' was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''[[Radha Kalyanam (1981 film)|Radha Kalyanam]]'' (1981),{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=55}} in [[Hindi]] as ''[[Woh Saat Din]]'' (1983),{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=59}} and in [[Kannada]] as ''[[Love Maadi Nodu]]'' (1989).<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 April 2020 |title=Black & White Photographs From The Cinema Resource Centre Archives (I) |url=https://tcrcindia.com/2020/04/06/black-white-photographs-from-the-cinema-resource-centre-archives-i/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813075433/https://tcrcindia.com/2020/04/06/black-white-photographs-from-the-cinema-resource-centre-archives-i/ |archive-date=13 August 2020 |access-date=11 May 2020 |website=The Cinema Resource Centre}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
''Andha 7 Naatkal'' became a trendsetter in [[Tamil cinema]] for highlighting the importance of traditional values and their relevance in society.{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=70}} Bhagyaraj's role as Madhavan created an such impact that whenever he went to [[Kerala]], people would ask him to speak some dialogues from the film. The 2015 film ''[[Palakkattu Madhavan]]'' was named after the character.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 August 2012 |title=Vivek to do a Bhagyaraj |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2012/aug/30/vivek-to-do-a-bhagyaraj-401491.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419190602/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2012/aug/30/vivek-to-do-a-bhagyaraj-401491.html |archive-date=19 April 2021 |access-date=19 April 2021 |work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> The skit "Enakkum Unakkum" was later used in ''[[Mookuthi Amman]]'' (2020) as the song Engels Ramasamy ([[RJ Balaji]]) has in mind which the title character ([[Nayanthara]]) correctly guesses.<ref>{{Cite news |last=S |first=Srivatsan |date=14 November 2020 |title='Mookuthi Amman' movie review: A superb Urvashi and Nayanthara in a somewhat middling dramedy |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/mookuthi-amman-movie-review/article33100297.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114112814/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/mookuthi-amman-movie-review/article33100297.ece |archive-date=14 November 2020 |access-date=17 November 2020 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="thestar">{{Cite news |date=20 September 2017 |title=Antha Ezhu Naatkal |url=https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-star-malaysia-star2/20170920/281874413583137 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210418170035/https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-star-malaysia-star2/20170920/281874413583137 |archive-date=18 April 2021 |access-date=13 December 2020 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] |location=Malaysia |via=[[PressReader]]}}</ref>
<ref name="vikatan">{{Cite web |last=கண்ணன் |first=சுரேஷ் |date=6 July 2020 |title=சந்திரபாபு வாழ்க்கை; பாரதிராஜா எடுக்க மறுத்த கிளைமாக்ஸ்... பாக்யராஜின் 'அந்த 7 நாட்கள்' ஜெயித்த கதை! |trans-title=Chandrababu's life; the climax Bharathiraja refused to take... Bhagyaraj's 'Andha 7 Naatkal' is a winning story! |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/revisiting-k-bhagyarajs-antha-ezhu-naatkal-movie-nostalgia-series |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210418171228/https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/revisiting-k-bhagyarajs-antha-ezhu-naatkal-movie-nostalgia-series |archive-date=18 April 2021 |access-date=18 April 2021 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref>

</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |author-link=G. Dhananjayan |title=The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1931–1976 |publisher=Galatta Media |year=2011 |oclc=733724281}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Rajadhyaksha |first1=Ashish |author-link=Ashish Rajadhyaksha |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema |last2=Willemen |first2=Paul |author-link2=Paul Willemen |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] and [[Oxford University Press]] |year=1998 |isbn=0-19-563579-5 |orig-date=1994}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

{{K. Bhagyaraj}}

[[Category:1981 Indian films]]
[[Category:1981 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1981 films]]
[[Category:1981 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Films about music and musicians]]
[[Category:Films about poverty in India]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. Bhagyaraj]]
[[Category:Films scored by M. S. Viswanathan]]
[[Category:Films set in Chennai]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by K. Bhagyaraj]]
[[Category:Indian romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language romantic drama films]]

Andha 7 Naatkal - Revision history

YvetteSawtell2 at 05:06, 3 March 2026