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{{short description|1991 film by Priyadarshan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Gopura Vasalile.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[Priyadarshan]]
| screenplay = Priyadarshan<br />[[Gokula Krishnan]] {{small|(Dialogues)}}
| story = [[Sreenivasan]]
| producer = M. K. Thamizharasu<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 August 2010 |title=Arulnidhi the star is born! |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-08-13/news-interviews/28305093_1_arulnidhi-vamsam-film |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130626021054/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-08-13/news-interviews/28305093_1_arulnidhi-vamsam-film |archive-date=26 June 2013 |access-date=2023-05-01 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
| starring = [[Karthik (actor)|Karthik]]<br />[[Bhanupriya]]
| cinematography = [[P. C. Sreeram]]
| editing = N. Gopalakrishnan
| music = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| studio = Arul Nithi Films
| released = {{Film date|1991|3|22|ref1=}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Gopura Vasalile''''' ({{IPAc-en|ɡ|oʊ|p|ʊr|ə|_|v|ɑː|s|əl|i|l|eɪ}} {{translation|At the doorstep of the [[gopuram]]}}) is a 1991 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Romantic comedy|romantic]] [[black comedy]] film directed by [[Priyadarshan]], starring [[Karthik (actor)|Karthik]] and [[Bhanupriya]]. It relies on various subplots from the [[Malayalam]] film ''[[Pavam Pavam Rajakumaran]]'' (1990) and the [[Hindi]] film ''[[Chashme Buddoor (1981 film)|Chashme Buddoor]]'' (1981).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajan |first=Silpa |date=3 June 2022 |title=#FilmyFriday! Pavam Pavam Rajakumaran: A prank gone right |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/filmyfriday-pavam-pavam-rajakumaran-a-prank-gone-right/articleshow/91977046.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706110206/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/filmyfriday-pavam-pavam-rajakumaran-a-prank-gone-right/articleshow/91977046.cms |archive-date=6 July 2022 |access-date=12 August 2022 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref name="Vikatan">{{Cite web |last=கண்ணன் |first=சுரேஷ் |date=6 July 2022 |title=கோபுர வாசலிலே: நவரச நாயகன், பிரியதர்ஷன், பி.சி.ஸ்ரீராம், இளையராஜா - அப்பறம் அந்த க்ளைமாக்ஸ் ட்விஸ்ட்! |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/remembering-the-classic-movie-of-director-priyadarshan-gopura-vasalile |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929130605/https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/remembering-the-classic-movie-of-director-priyadarshan-gopura-vasalile |archive-date=29 September 2022 |access-date=29 September 2022 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Malani |first=Gaurav |date=27 December 2011 |title=It's raining remakes in Bollywood in 2012 |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-27/news-interviews/30559342_1_agneepath-ravi-teja-s-telugu-chashme-buddoor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224110215/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-27/news-interviews/30559342_1_agneepath-ravi-teja-s-telugu-chashme-buddoor |archive-date=24 February 2013 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> The film was released on 22 March 1991,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gopura Vasalile |url=https://www.directorpriyadarshan.com/movie/gopura-vasalile |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812130945/https://www.directorpriyadarshan.com/movie/gopura-vasalile |archive-date=12 August 2022 |access-date=12 August 2022 |website=[[Priyadarshan|directorpriyadarshan.com]]}}</ref> and ran for more than 100 days in many theatres, thus becoming a commercial success.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-01-30 |title=Happy Birthday, Priyadarshan: From 'Gopura Vasalile' to 'Snegithiye' - a look at five box office hits of the legend in Tamil cinema |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/photo-features/happy-birthday-priyadarshan-from-gopura-vasalile-to-snegithiye-lesa-lesa-nimir-and-sometimes-a-look-at-five-box-office-hits-of-the-legend-in-tamil-cinema/photostory/73737244.cms |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Manohar ([[Karthik (actor)|Karthik]]) is a schoolteacher in a local town. He is a bachelor living along with his friends ([[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]], [[Junior Balaiah]], [[Charle]]). Manohar has had a troubled love life, having lost his lover Kasthuri ([[Suchitra Murali|Suchitra]]) in a car accident. His friends are wastrels who roam about the town, flirting with the local girls. During one such dalliance with an army officer's ([[V. K. Ramasamy (actor)|V. K. Ramasamy]]) daughter Kalyani ([[Bhanupriya]]), they are put behind bars for a few days. Manohar also gets peeved with their uncouth behavior and reprimands them for it. Humiliated, the friends decide to wreak their revenge on Manohar. They collude with Pethaperumal ([[Janagaraj]]), a clerk in a local bank, and attempt to trick Manohar into believing that Kalyani is in love with him. A few anonymous letters later, the plan comes out successful.

In the meantime, during the course of a few accidental events, Manohar comes across to Kalyani as a brave and resourceful hero. Impressed, she seeks his hand in marriage through the help of her father. This sudden development takes his scheming friends aback. They cook up evidences to convince Manohar that Kalyani is a prostitute. The gullible Manohar believes the subterfuge and cancels the plans of marriage. Despondent after the twin love failures in his life, Manohar attempts suicide in a hotel. Thinking that he is dead, the friends flee the town to avoid police confrontations. It is finally revealed to the viewers that Manohar was rescued by the police later and had reunited with Kalyani, after the foul play was decoded. Manohar pardons the friends as they had played some role in developing a love with his wife and invites them to a banquet at his new house atop a hill.

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
* [[Karthik (actor)|Karthik]] as Manohar
* [[Bhanupriya]] as Kalyani
* [[Suchitra Murali|Suchitra]] as Kasthuri
* [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]] as Manohar's friend
* [[Janagaraj]] as Pethaperumal
* [[Charle]] as Manohar's friend
* [[Junior Balaiah]] as Manohar's friend
* [[V. K. Ramasamy (actor)|V. K. Ramasamy]] as Kalyani's father
* [[Nagesh]]
* [[Sukumari]] as Manohar's mother
* [[Poornam Viswanathan]]
* [[Mohanlal]] as the [[accordion]]ist in the song "Keladi En" (cameo appearance)
* [[Arulnithi]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 June 2011 |title=No politics, just acting |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2011/Jun/12/no-politics-just-acting-261817.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250929054711/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2011/Jun/12/no-politics-just-acting-261817.html |archive-date=29 September 2025 |access-date=29 September 2025 |website=[[The New Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref>
}}

== Production ==
Malayalam director [[Priyadarshan]] was to have made his Tamil debut with the film ''Chinnamanikkuyile'', which never saw a theatrical release. As a result, ''Gopura Vasalile'' became his Tamil debut.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 September 2016 |title=ஓஸ்கார் விருதை குறிவைக்கும் தமிழ் படம் |url=https://www.virakesari.lk/article/11624 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812125303/https://www.virakesari.lk/article/11624 |archive-date=12 August 2022 |access-date=12 August 2022 |website=[[Virakesari]] |language=ta}}</ref> It is also the first appearance of Malayalam actor [[Mohanlal]] in a Tamil film.<ref name="Vikatan" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 January 2019 |title=Mohanlal made his Tamil debut in Gopura Vasalile |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/did-you-know/mohanlal-made-his-tamil-debut-in-gopura-vasalile/articleshow/68752905.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929130559/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/did-you-know/mohanlal-made-his-tamil-debut-in-gopura-vasalile/articleshow/68752905.cms |archive-date=29 September 2022 |access-date=29 September 2022 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gopura Vaasalile Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraja |url=https://mossymart.com/product/gopura-vaasalile-tamil-film-lp-vinyl-record-by-ilayaraja/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812164801/https://mossymart.com/product/gopura-vaasalile-tamil-film-lp-vinyl-record-by-ilayaraja/ |archive-date=12 August 2022 |access-date=12 August 2022 |website=Mossymart}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gopura Vasalile (1991) |url=https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/gopura-vasalile-songs-T0000054 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808131305/https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/gopura-vasalile-songs-T0000054 |archive-date=8 August 2022 |access-date=12 August 2022 |website=[[Raaga.com]] |language=ta}}</ref> The song "Kadhal Kavithaigal" is set to the raga [[Mayamalavagowla]],{{Sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=134}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=11 November 2011 |title=A Raga's Journey — The magic of Mayamalavagowla |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/a-ragas-journey-the-magic-of-mayamalavagowla/article2618199.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911095504/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/a-ragas-journey-the-magic-of-mayamalavagowla/article2618199.ece |archive-date=11 September 2019 |access-date=10 May 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en}}</ref> "Naadam Ezhundadadi" is set to [[Shree ranjani]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=26 October 2012 |title=Six-note splendour |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/sixnote-splendour/article4034523.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129094848/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/sixnote-splendour/article4034523.ece |archive-date=29 November 2014 |access-date=1 August 2023 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>{{Sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=145}} and "Thalattum Poongkaatru" is set to [[Simhendramadhyamam]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=20 January 2012 |title=A Raga's Journey — The passionate appeal of Simhendramadhyamam |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-ragas-journey-the-passionate-appeal-of-simhendramadhyamam/article2817296.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201141513/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-ragas-journey-the-passionate-appeal-of-simhendramadhyamam/article2817296.ece |archive-date=1 February 2018 |access-date=12 August 2022 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>{{Sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=160}}

{| class="wikitable"
! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics
|-
| "Kadhal Kavithaigal" || [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], [[K. S. Chithra]] || [[Piraisoodan]]
|-
| "Keladi En" || S. P. Balasubrahmanyam ||Piraisoodan
|-
| "Naadam Ezhundadadi" || [[S. Janaki]], [[K. J. Yesudas]] ||Piraisoodan
|-
| "Priyasakhi" || [[Mano (singer)|Mano]], S. Janaki || [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]]
|-
| "Dhevadhai Pol" || [[Deepan Chakravarthy]], [[Mano (singer)|Mano]], [[Malaysia Vasudevan]], [[S. N. Surendar]]|| Vaali
|-
| "Thalattum Poongkaatru" || S. Janaki|| Vaali
|}

== Critical reception ==
Sundarji of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' praised the music, cinematography and acting of Karthik and Janagaraj, but felt Bhanupriya did not get much scope to act.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=சுந்தர்ஜி |date=21 April 1991 |title=கோபுர வாசலிலே |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1991/apr/21-04-1991/p17.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220812130001/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1991/apr/21-04-1991/p17.jpg |archive-date=12 August 2022 |access-date=12 August 2022 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=17 |language=ta}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Sundararaman |title=Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music |publisher=Pichhamal Chintamani |year=2007 |edition=2nd |oclc=295034757 |orig-date=2005}}

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

{{Priyadarshan}}

{{Improve categories|date=May 2024}}
[[Category:1991 Indian films]]
[[Category:1991 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1991 black comedy films]]
[[Category:1991 films]]
[[Category:1991 romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Priyadarshan]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja]]
[[Category:Indian black comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language black comedy films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Gopura Vasalile - Revision history

TabathaLea97053 at 04:52, 3 March 2026