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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|1964 film by Sundaram Balachander}}<br />
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}<br />
{{Infobox film<br />
| name = Bommai<br />
| image = Bommai Theatrical Poster.jpg<br />
| caption = Theatrical poster<br />
| native_name = {{film name|ta|பொம்மை}}<br />
| director = [[S. Balachander]]<br />
| producer = <br />
| writer = Ve. Lakshmanan (dialogue and lyrics)<br />
| starring = {{ubl|S. Balachander|L. Vijayalakshmi|[[V. S. Raghavan]]}}<br />
| music = '''Songs:'''<br/>S. Balachander<br/>'''Background score:'''<br/>D. B. Ramachandran<br />
| cinematography = N. Prakash<br />
| editing = K. Govintha swami<br />
| studio = <br />
| distributor = <br />
| released = {{film date|1964|4|22|df=yes}}<br />
| runtime = <br />
| country = India<br />
| language = Tamil<br />
}}<br />
'''''Bommai''''' (''The Doll'') is a 1964 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil-language]] [[Thriller (genre)|thriller]] film, directed by [[S. Balachander]]. Featuring a walking-talking doll as the main character, the film had an ensemble cast of newcomers, while Balachander, L. Vijayalakshmi and [[V. S. Raghavan]] appeared in prominent roles. The film was an adaptation of [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s 1936 [[Cinema of the United Kingdom|British]] film ''[[Sabotage (1936 film)|Sabotage]]''.<br />
<br />
==Plot==<br />
In an attempt to kill the hero (Balachander), the villain (V. S. Raghavan), along with his gang place a bomb in a walking doll. Unexpectedly, the doll comes back to the car in which the gang travels, killing all of them.<br />
<br />
==Cast==<br />
Cast according to the end credits of the film<br />
* [[S. Balachander|S. Balachandar]]<br />
* [[L. Vijayalakshmi]]<br />
* Ramesh<br />
* [[C. Lakshmi Rajyam|Lakshmirajam]]<br />
* [[V. S. Raghavan]]<br />
* Srinivasan<br />
* Maali<br />
* [[Pattom Sadan|Sadan]]<br />
* [[V. Gopalakrishnan (actor)|V. Gopalakrishnan]]<br />
* [[S. N. Lakshmi]]<br />
* [[P. D. Sambandam]]<br />
* [[C. L. Anandan|Anandan]]<br />
* Murthi<br />
* [[Vasanthi (actress)|Vasanthi]]<br />
<br />
==Influences==<br />
Balachander, who was known for his critically acclaimed suspense thriller films ''[[Andha Naal]]'' (1954) and ''[[Avana Ivan]]'' (1962) made ''Bommai'' on the same genre.{{Sfn|Sundaresan|1990|p=35}} The film was inspired by [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s 1936 British film ''[[Sabotage (1936 film)|Sabotage]]''.<ref name=hindu1 /> Balachander made a few changes in the script to suit the Tamil audience. A walking-talking doll, which carries the bomb, played the main character in ''Bommai''. To cast the doll, Balachander was in search for a long time and even tried one from the [[United States]]. Incidentally, while shopping in [[Parry's Corner]], [[Madras]], he found the right doll in a roadside shop and bought it.{{Sfn|Sampath|2012|p=63}} Unlike the British film, where the passengers in the bus get killed, the Tamil version had the villains who plot to kill the hero get killed in the blast.{{Sfn|Sampath|2012|p=62}}<br />
<br />
==Production and release==<br />
In addition to acting and directing, Balachander wrote the story and screenplay. His friend Ve. Lakshmanan wrote the dialogues. Although completed and censored in 1963, the film was released only the following year.<ref name="hindu1">{{cite news | author-link=Randor Guy | first=Randor | last=Guy | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/blast-from-the-past-bommai-1964/article2579729.ece | title=Blast from the Past - Bommai 1964 | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=29 October 2011 | access-date=4 January 2017 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20131012081118/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/blast-from-the-past-bommai-1964/article2579729.ece | archive-date=12 October 2013 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> <br />
The film completed 100 days in many theatres in [[Madras]]. Its commercial success helped Balachander recover from the loss incurred on his previous film ''Avana Ivan''. At the end credits of the film, Balachander introduces every actor and member of the crew to the audience.{{Sfn|Sampath|2012|p=63}} Rochelle Shah appeared as an actress, this being the only film she ever acted in.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/rochelle-shah-on-the-multifaceted-s-balachander-on-his-birth-anniversary-jan-18/article8134761.ece | title=A maestro for a best friend | work=The Hindu | date=21 January 2016 | access-date=11 November 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121150626/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/rochelle-shah-on-the-multifaceted-s-balachander-on-his-birth-anniversary-jan-18/article8134761.ece | archive-date=21 January 2016}}</ref><br />
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''New Straits Times'' wrote though "the film fails to grip" however "A neat, tidy, suspense packet". The reviewer praised the film's cinematography but criticised background score and editing.<ref name="tie">{{cite news |date=October 2, 1964 |title='Bommai' is a tidy suspense packet |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19641002&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=3}}</ref> Randor Guy of ''The Hindu'' wrote the film is"Remembered for the interesting storyline, excellent onscreen narration and performances by Balachandar, V. S. Raghavan and the doll."<ref name="hindu1" /><br />
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==Music==<br />
The film's soundtrack consisted of six songs, all written by Balachander's associate Ve. Lakshmanan. The music for songs, was composed by Balachander himself, while the [[background score]] was composed by D. B. Ramachandran. The philosophical song "Neeyum Bommai Naanum Bommai" marked the playback singing debut of [[K. J. Yesudas]] in [[Tamil cinema]].{{Sfn|Sampath|2012|p=62}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tamil.oneindia.in/movies/news/2012/10/k-j-jesudas-recreates-magic-neeyum-bommai-nanum-bommai-162766.html | title=மறுபடியும் நீயும் பொம்மை... நானும் பொம்மை! | trans-title=Again you are a toy... I too am a toy! | access-date=29 June 2014 | language=ta | website=[[Oneindia.in ]] | archive-date=22 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122212617/http://tamil.oneindia.in/movies/news/2012/10/k-j-jesudas-recreates-magic-neeyum-bommai-nanum-bommai-162766.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2014, when the song was re-used in ''[[Moodar Koodam]]'', Yesudas recorded the same for ''Moodar Koodam'', coincidentally marking his completion of 50 years in the [[Tamil film music]] industry.<ref name="sify">{{cite web | url=http://www.sify.com/movies/KJ-Yesudas-achieves-a-rare-feat-imagegallery-1-Kollywood-mkepSwabgdcsi.html | title=KJ Yesudas achieves a rare feat | publisher=Sify | access-date=29 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=S. Saraswathi | url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-moodar-koodam-is-hilarious/20130913.htm | title=Review: Moodar Koodam is hilarious | publisher=[[Rediff.com]] | date=13 September 2013 | access-date=29 June 2014}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Songs list===<br />
The following song list was adapted from a book authored by K. Neelamegam.<ref>{{cite book|title=Thiraikalanjiyam - Part 2|author=G. Neelamegam|language=ta|publisher=Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition November 2016}}</ref><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"<br />
! No. !! Song !! Singer/s !! Duration (m:ss)<br />
|-<br />
| 1 || "Engo Pirandhavaraam" || [[P. Susheela]] || 03:29<br />
|-<br />
| 2 || "Thathi Thathi Nadandhuvarum Thangapapa" || [[L. R. Eswari]] || 03:27 <br />
|-<br />
| 3 || "Nee Thaan Selvam Nee Thaan Amudham" || P. Susheela || 04:07<br />
|-<br />
| 4 || "Kanne Iruttudhu Kaade Adaikkudhu" || Harihara Subramaniam & K. Veeramani || <br />
|-<br />
| 5 || "Neeyum Bommai Naanum Bommai" || [[K. J. Yesudas]] || 03:40<br />
|-<br />
| 6 || "Kaiyaruge Kaniyirukka" || Renuka ||<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==Sources==<br />
{{refbegin}}<br />
*{{cite book|last=Sundaresan|first=P.N.|title=Sruti|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XiYqAQAAIAAJ|year=1990}}<br />
*{{cite book|last=Sampath|first=Vikram|title=Voice of the Veena S Balachander|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ocCeAwAAQBAJ|publisher=Rupa Publications|year=2012|isbn=978-81-291-3379-3}}<br />
{{refend}}<br />
{{Sundaram Balachander}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:1964 films]]<br />
[[Category:Indian films]]<br />
[[Category:Indian mystery thriller films]]<br />
[[Category:1960s mystery thriller films]]<br />
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]<br />
[[Category:Indian remakes of British films]]<br />
[[Category:Films directed by S. Balachander]]<br />
[[Category:1960s Tamil-language films]]</div>>InternetArchiveBot