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{{short description|1978 film by Bharathiraja}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Kizhakke Pogum Rail.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Bharathiraja]]a
| screenplay = Bharathirajaa
| story = [[R. Selvaraj (screenwriter)|R. Selvaraj]]
| producer = S. A. Rajkannu
| starring = {{ubl|[[Sudhakar (actor)|Sudhakar]]|[[Radhika Sarathkumar|M. R. Radhika]]}}
| cinematography = [[P. S. Nivas]]
| editing = T. Thirunavukkarasu
| music = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| studio = Sri Amman Creations
| distributor = Sri Amman Creations
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1978|08|10}}
| runtime = 124 minutes{{sfn |Dhananjayan |2011 |p=10}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Kizhakke Pogum Rail''''' ({{IPA|ta|kiɻɐk:eː poːɡum ɾɐjil|pron}} {{Translation|Eastbound Train}}) is a 1978 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[romantic drama film]] co-written and directed by [[Bharathiraja]]a, starring newcomers [[Sudhakar (actor)|Sudhakar]] and [[Radhika Sarathkumar|M. R. Radhika]]. It was released on 10 August 1978 and ran for over 365 days in theatres. The film was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''[[Toorpu Velle Railu]]'' (1979) by [[Bapu (director)|Bapu]], and in [[Hindi]] by Bharathiraja as ''[[Saveray Wali Gaadi]]'' (1985).

== Plot ==
A young woman Panchali gets off a train named 'Kizhakke Pogum Rail' (Eastbound Train) and lands in the village Thamaraikulam, which follows strict rules. There, she is accommodated by her sister Karuthamma and brother-in-law Ramaiah. Panchali informs Karuthamma that their mother died a couple of days ago. Ramaiah starts to have an eye on Panchali.

Paranjothi is an unemployed graduate who lives with his father Maruthu and sister Kanniyamma. Maruthu is a barber and considers Paranjothi a good-for-nothing like all the villagers. After getting married, Kanniyamma leaves her birth home to live with her husband's family.

Panchali and Paranjothi slowly fall in love with each other. One day, the villagers spot Paranjothi running behind Panchali. At the [[gram panchayat]], the panchayat members blame Paranjothi for trying to misbehave with Panchali. Only the retired military man Pattalathaar and the farmer Ponnandi support him, but the panchayat members overlook them and punish him. Maruthu shaves off Paranjothi's hair, and the latter parades on a donkey in the streets of the village, whereas Ramaiah forces Karuthamma to burn Panchali's arm with a piece of wood.

After the humiliation, Maruthu commits suicide in the village's lake. Paranjothi decides to leave the town, and he promises Panchali that he will come back to marry her. He also informs her that he will write a message on the last compartment of the 'Kizhakke Pogum Rail'. In the city, after several interviews, he finally finds a decent job.

Meanwhile, at the village court, Ramaiah complains that Karuthamma is a barren woman, and he expresses his wish to marry Panchali. A few days later, the village is battered by heavy rains. To stop the rain, the villagers contrive the way to stop it, executing an ancient belief: one virgin woman has to walk naked around the village at sunrise. Unexpectedly, Panchali is chosen to be that woman.

The day of the ritual, Paranjothi gladly returns at his village, and he sees Panchali completely naked. He gives her clothing, and they both run away from the angry villagers. Pattalathaar helps the couple by stalling the villagers, but he is killed in the process. The lovers manage to catch the running 'Kizhakke Pogum Rail', evading the villagers.

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
*[[Sudhakar (actor)|Sudhakar]] as Paranjothi<ref name="thenewsminute" />
*[[Radhika Sarathkumar|M. R. Radhika]] as Panchali<ref name="thenewsminute" />
*[[Gandhimathi]] as Karuthamma<ref name="hindutamil" />
*[[Goundamani]] as Ramaiah{{sfn |Dhananjayan |2011 |p=10}}
*[[G. Srinivasan (actor)|G. Srinivasan]] as Maruthu<ref name="vikatan" />
*[[Vijayan (actor)|Vijayan]] as Pattalathaar<ref name="hindutamil" />
*[[Janagaraj]] as Iyer (Panchayat member)<ref name="hindutamil" />
*[[K. Bhagyaraj]] as Ponnandi<ref name="thenewsminute" />
* Usha as Kanniyamma
*[[Bharathiraja]] as the station master (uncredited)<ref name="hindutamil" />
}}

== Production ==

''Kizhakke Pogum Rail'' was the second film directed by [[Bharathiraja]], and the debut film of [[Sudhakar (actor)|Sudhakar]] and [[Radikaa Sarathkumar|Radikaa]] (credited as M. R. Radikaa) as actors.<ref name="thenewsminute" /> The male lead role was originally offered to [[Sivachandran]], who declined,<ref>{{Cite web |last=ராம்ஜி |first=வி. |date=3 May 2020 |title='' 'கிழக்கே போகும் ரயில்' படத்துல நடிக்க பாரதிராஜா என்னைத்தான் கூப்பிட்டார்; நான் முடியாதுன்னு சொல்லிட்டேன்!'' – நடிகர் சிவசந்திரன் பிரத்யேகப் பேட்டி |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/blogs/552599-sivachandran-1-rewindwithramji.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528150813/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/blogs/552599-sivachandran-1-rewindwithramji.html |archive-date=28 May 2020 |access-date=3 January 2021 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref> while [[Sridevi]] was originally cast as the lead actress but later opted out.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=September 2007 |title=From Silents to Sivaji! A look into the past – Part II |magazine=Galatta Cinema |pages=66 |language=en}}</ref> Radikaa's screen test was done with Sridevi's clothes from ''[[16 Vayathinile]]'' (1977) since she did not have any Indian clothes after coming from London.<ref name="T">{{Cite web |last=Sri |date=12 June 2010 |title=K.Bhaagya Raj – Chitchat |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/stars/interview_bhagyaraj_2010_2.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231103207/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/stars/interview_bhagyaraj_2010_2.php |archive-date=31 December 2010 |access-date=9 May 2024 |website=[[Telugucinema.com]] |page=2 |language=en}}</ref> Radikaa contemplated leaving the film throughout the shoot, but was "offered chocolates" to complete the film.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 May 2014 |title=Radhikaa was offered chocolates to complete film |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/did-you-know-/Radhikaa-was-offered-chocolates-to-complete-film/articleshow/34883935.cms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519065548/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com//entertainment/tamil/movies/did-you-know-/Radhikaa-was-offered-chocolates-to-complete-film/articleshow/34883935.cms |archive-date=19 May 2014 |access-date=9 December 2016 |work=[[The Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref> It was also the Tamil debut for [[Vijayan (actor)|Vijayan]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ajith Kumar |first=P. K. |date=23 September 2007 |title=Shunned by Malayalam, but saved by Tamil in reel life |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Shunned-by-Malayalam-but-saved-by-Tamil-in-reel-life/article14839971.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221083352/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Shunned-by-Malayalam-but-saved-by-Tamil-in-reel-life/article14839971.ece |archive-date=21 December 2016 |access-date=9 December 2016 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en}}</ref> and the feature film debut of Usha.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ராம்ஜி |first=வி. |date=13 October 2020 |title=''பாக்யராஜுக்கு கங்கை அமரன் தான் குரல் கொடுத்தான்; சிம்புவின் அம்மா உஷா மிகச்சிறந்த நடிகை!'' – இயக்குநர் பாரதிராஜாவின் 'புதிய வார்ப்புகள்' நினைவுகள் |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/590452-bharathiraaja-en-iniya-tamil-makkale.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720063553/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/590452-bharathiraaja-en-iniya-tamil-makkale.html |archive-date=20 July 2021 |access-date=28 August 2021 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref> The producer originally offered [[K. Bhagyaraj]] to direct, but he declined as he wanted to finish at least two more films as an assistant. Bhagyaraj remained as an assistant director.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramakrishnan |first=M. |date=28 January 2017 |title=Young guns |url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/Young-guns/article17107898.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412170446/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/Young-guns/article17107898.ece |archive-date=12 April 2018 |access-date=29 January 2017 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en}}</ref> One part of the song "Poovarasampoo" was filmed at a temple off [[East Coast Road]], while the rest of the song was filmed at [[Mettupalayam, Coimbatore|Mettupalayam]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R. |date=28 May 2020 |title=Landmark films, golden memories |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/landmark-films-golden-memories/article31693902.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602064801/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/landmark-films-golden-memories/article31693902.ece |archive-date=2 June 2020 |access-date=1 June 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[R. Selvaraj (screenwriter)|R. Selvaraj]] revealed the initial story for ''Kizhakke Pogum Rail'' had the character of Panchali character arriving to Chennai to visit Paranjothi, get molested by four young people by which she gets mentally affected and meets with an accident with Paranjothi saving her; however Selvaraj felt something was missing in the script and conveyed this to Bharathiraja for which he stopped the shoot. Selvaraj read a French novel where a queen will be walking naked at night on the streets to abolish tax which he added in the script. After changing the complete screenplay, the shoot was restarted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=செல்வராஜ் |first=ஆர். |author-link=R. Selvaraj (screenwriter) |date=8 July 2017 |title=கடல் தொடாத நதி – 27 – கிழக்கே போகும் ரயில் எப்போ வரும்? |url=https://www.vikatan.com/literature/arts/132649-cinema-history-of-annakili-rselvaraj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309141430/https://www.vikatan.com/literature/arts/132649-cinema-history-of-annakili-rselvaraj |archive-date=9 March 2023 |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=Ta}}</ref> Bharathiraja was discontent with Radhika's then-sounding "baby" voice but after trying twenty dubbing artists, he decided to use her original voice.<ref name="T" />

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kizhakae Pogum Rayil (1978) |url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/album/T0000084.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210171659/http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/album/T0000084.html |archive-date=10 December 2013 |access-date=10 December 2011 |website=[[Raaga.com]] |language=en}}</ref> The song "Kovil Mani Osai" is set to the [[Carnatic raga]] known as [[Shuddha Saveri]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=3 August 2012 |title=Joyful Suddha Saveri |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/joyful-suddha-saveri/article3722266.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607085030/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/joyful-suddha-saveri/article3722266.ece |archive-date=7 June 2015 |access-date=12 April 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en}}</ref>{{Sfn |Sundararaman |2007 |p=139}} "Malargale" is set to [[Hamsadhvani]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=1 March 2013 |title=A bright start |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/a-bright-start/article4465608.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303173615/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/a-bright-start/article4465608.ece |archive-date=3 March 2013 |access-date=9 December 2016 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en}}</ref>{{Sfn |Sundararaman |2007 |p=141}} "Poovarasam Poo Poothachu" and "Mancholai Kilithano" are set to [[Suddha Dhanyasi]].{{Sfn |Sundararaman |2007 |p=154}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=9 December 2011 |title=A Raga's Journey — Soulful Suddhadhanyasi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/a-ragas-journey-soulful-suddhadhanyasi/article2701250.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250528030004/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/a-ragas-journey-soulful-suddhadhanyasi/article2701250.ece |archive-date=28 May 2025 |access-date=16 June 2022 |website=[[The Hindu]] |language=en}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Song !! Singer(s) !! Lyrics !! Length
|-
| "Kovil Mani Osai" || [[Malaysia Vasudevan]], [[S. Janaki]] || [[Kannadasan]] ||4:43
|-
| "Maancholai Kili Thaano" || [[P. Jayachandran|Jayachandran]] || [[Muthulingam (poet)|Muthulingam]] || 4:40
|-
| "Poovarasampoo Poothachu" || S. Janaki || [[Gangai Amaran]] || 4:42
|-
| "Malargalae… Naadhaswarangal" || Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki || [[Sirpi Balasubramaniam]] || 4:04
|}

== Release and reception ==
''Kizhakke Pogum Rail'' was released on 10 August 1978,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Karthick |date=13 August 2020 |title='கிழக்கே போகும் ரயில்' 42 ஆம் ஆண்டு கொண்டாட்டம்: பாரதிராஜா, ராதிகா நெகிழ்ச்சி |url=http://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/newsview/77092/---Eastbound-Train----42nd-Anniversary-Celebration--Bharathiraja--Radhika-Flexibility |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023020522/http://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/newsview/77092/---Eastbound-Train----42nd-Anniversary-Celebration--Bharathiraja--Radhika-Flexibility |archive-date=23 October 2020 |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=[[Puthiya Thalaimurai]] |language=ta}}</ref> and distributed by Sri Amman Creations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 August 1978 |title=கிழக்கே போகும் ரயில்! |url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_2_40/4.jp2/full/1000,1347/0/default.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250512010859/https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_2_40/4.jp2/full/1000,1347/0/default.jpg |archive-date=12 May 2025 |access-date=12 May 2025 |work=Anna |pages=4 |language=ta |via=[[Endangered Archives Programme]]}}</ref> ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'' rated the film 55 out of 100, appreciating its latter half and the climax for its realism.<ref name="vikatan" /> Naagai Dharuman of ''Anna'' praised the acting of cast, music, direction, dialogues, and visual poetry.<ref>{{Cite news |last=தருமன் |first=நாகை |date=13 August 1978 |title=கிழக்கே போகும் ரயில் |url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_2_44/2.jp2/full/1000,1361/0/default.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250512005744/https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_2_44/2.jp2/full/1000,1361/0/default.jpg |archive-date=12 May 2025 |access-date=12 May 2025 |work=Anna |pages=2 |language=ta |via=[[Endangered Archives Programme]]}}</ref> The film became a major commercial success, completing a 365-day run in theatres,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Selvaraj |first=N. |date=20 March 2017 |title=வெள்ளி விழா கண்ட தமிழ் திரைப்படங்கள் |url=http://puthu.thinnai.com/?p=34587 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330010659/http://puthu.thinnai.com/?p=34587 |archive-date=30 March 2017 |access-date=12 April 2018 |work=Thinnai |language=ta}}</ref> and Radikaa briefly became known by the sobriquet ''Rayil'' Radikaa.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Varma |first1=M. Dinesh |last2=Kolappan |first2=B. |date=2 January 2014 |title=Kollywood's romance with trains unstoppable |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/kollywoods-romance-with-trains-unstoppable/article5527528.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922135455/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/kollywoods-romance-with-trains-unstoppable/article5527528.ece |archive-date=22 September 2017 |access-date=22 September 2017 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en}}</ref> Malaysia Vasudevan won the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer]] for singing in the film.{{sfn |Dhananjayan |2011 |p=11}}

== Remakes ==
''Kizhakke Pogum Rail'' was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''[[Toorpu Velle Railu]]'' (1979) by [[Bapu (director)|Bapu]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R. |date=28 December 2007 |title=Back to acting, again! |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/back-to-acting-again/article2285161.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209092201/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/back-to-acting-again/article2285161.ece |archive-date=9 February 2019 |access-date=12 April 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> and in [[Hindi]] as ''[[Saveray Wali Gaadi]]'' (1986) by Bharathiraja himself.{{Sfn |Rajadhyaksha |Willemen |1998 |p=60}}

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="hindutamil">{{Cite news |last=ராம்ஜி |first=வி. |date=10 August 2020 |title=பாரதிராஜா விட்ட 'கிழக்கே போகும் ரயில்'; 'பூவரசம்பூ பூத்தாச்சு'க்கு 42 வயது! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/569188-kizhakke-pogum-rail-42-years.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129155455/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/569188-kizhakke-pogum-rail-42-years.html |archive-date=29 January 2021 |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref>
<ref name="vikatan">{{Cite web |date=7 January 2009 |title=சினிமா விமர்சனம்: கிழக்கே போகும் ரயில் |url=https://www.vikatan.com/arts/nostalgia/42709--2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407114538/https://www.vikatan.com/arts/nostalgia/42709--2 |archive-date=7 April 2023 |access-date=29 January 2021 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref>
<ref name="thenewsminute">{{Cite web |last=Shekar |first=Anjana |date=14 August 2020 |title=Watch With TNM: Raadika's 'Kizhakke Pogum Rail' takes you on an eventful journey |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/watch-tnm-raadika-s-kizhakke-pogum-rail-takes-you-eventful-journey-130771 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124174957/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/watch-tnm-raadika-s-kizhakke-pogum-rail-takes-you-eventful-journey-130771 |archive-date=24 January 2021 |access-date=3 January 2021 |website=[[The News Minute]]}}</ref>
</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |author-link=G. Dhananjayan |title=The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1977–2010 |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}}
* {{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}}

{{Bharathiraja}}

[[Category:1978 films]]
[[Category:1978 Indian films]]
[[Category:1978 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:1978 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films about superstition]]
[[Category:Films directed by Bharathiraja]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja]]
[[Category:Films set on trains]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Bharathiraja]]
[[Category:Indian romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language romantic drama films]]

Kizhakke Pogum Rail - Revision history

Mlzsgondia at 01:26, 1 April 2026