Anbe Vaa

The 50th film of AVM,The first color film of AVM,The costliest film of 1966,EXCELLENT MUSIC by MSViswanathan,ran for 154 days at CASINO,Madras. It could have had a much better RUN but for the many MGR releases that followed ANBE VAA one after the other at close intervals.But it made it up in the following 50 years like vintage wine.It remains the BEST MGR-Sarojadevi starrer to this date.BRAVO!The highlights were the exquisite color photography by MaruthiRao,10 excellent songs including one English song by our Usha (iyer)Uthup.stupendous sets,exquisite costumes,a ravishing Sarojadevi,a comparatively young energetic MGR,Nagesh-Manorama pair, and a highly stylish direction by ACTrilokchandar.

Anbe Vaa is the only film produced by AVM with MGR. It was directed by A.C Thirulogachander (his only film with MGR). Interestingly ACT is the director who has directed Sivaji the most number of times.

This is a full family entertainer. Simple storyline, fantastic locales, eye catching photography, melodious songs & nice comedy. It has all the ingredients of a full fledged entertainer.

MSV excels in the songs. Nagesh's comedy with Manorama is good, though not excellent. Saroja Devi's makeup is overdone.

The real surprise is MGR. Normally, we are used to seeing him only in action roles. Here, he has proved that he comedy & romance as well. He just breezes thro' his role. His flair for comedy is brought out by ACT, specially the scene with saroja devi where he pretends that he is going to die.

His dance steps are a treat for his fans in the song "Nadodi".

MGR does not disappoint his fans in action also. The 2 fights in the film are brilliantly choreographed.

Ashokan has done a brilliant cameo. When he comes to know that the woman he is going to marry (Saroja Devi) is in love with MGR, his reaction is fantastic.

The film was a huge blockbuster at the time of release. It has also done remarkably well in all its re-releases, though it has been screened in TV many times.

One of the finest entertainers in tamil cinema & certainly one of the top 5 films of MGR.