Apoorva Raagangal

IMDb does a top Indian films list and is full of overrated Hindi movie crap. I was surprised to not see any of K. Balachander's films there. That is a shame.

K. Balachander has inspired several film-makers and actors including Kamal Haasan, Aamir Khan, Mani Ratnam, Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan and the list goes on. One of his finest films in Apoorva Raagangal.

This film should be in one of the finest WORLD movies list. Outstanding cinematography and story telling technique by the master K. Balachander. The subject is incredible. There is a wrong citation stating that this film was inspired by a Hollywood film. That is totally incorrect. The Hollywood film is totally different from this, and Apoorva Raagangal is a defining film of the 70's.

If you are from South India reading this, I'd recommend a high rating and even throwing this film in the list of top 5 Indian films of all time.

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This movie is a complex riddle of 'raagas' (Melodies). The directory has very cleverly employed the ragas into the movie that adds a very appealing musical touch. If you don't understand classic Tamil (I can only understand about 60% classic Tamil), watch it with subtitles, even though English subtitles cannot do justice to some amazing monologues. The heroine tells a puzzle to distract the older guy she had just met. The puzzle sticks to your head throughout the movie as you are trying to solve it and then you watch in awe as the drama unfolds. I don't want to give away the puzzle nor the plot. However you need to understand Tamil well to get the puzzle or be prepared pause to read/ reread the subtitles.

The title "Apporval Raagangal" meaning "Rare Ragas" or "rare Symphonies" couldnot have been any better. This is indeed a rare gem and a classic raga!

Go watch it! It plays with your senses and stirs emotions.

The premise is challenging. I don't know of any other movie employing it. I firmly believe that only a person as contrived as Balachander can imagine such a premise. It is another issue that he handles the premise in his own contrived way that is at-once cliched, repulsive, yet interesting and extracting the very best from all his artistes. You have to have a certain taste to enjoy such movies. Since they are often extremely subjective visualizations of the director's contrived mind, not everyone likes them.

Anyway, I will end this review merely stating the premise: A son with a single parent (father) and a daughter with a single parent (mother). (They are unrelated families.) Each has a certain misunderstanding with his/her parent and leave the house. What happens then is interesting. The father meets the daughter and falls in love; the son meets the mother and falls in love. What is to happen if they marry? Pretty daring for 1975, I would say! Go figure.

Excellent storyline clearly defined by Balachander's direction and aptly portrayed by the incredible cast. Balachander tends to take the roots of his stories from ancient Indian epics and history. An excellent director but due to social conditions and his standing in it, he was never able to deliver bold and revolutionary endings to most of his movies that were considered controversial during his era.

He treats his audience to be very naive. This movie gave Kamal Hassan a great chance to exhibit his talent. Major Sundarrajan's acting as usual was not bad. I wish Balachander came up with his own storyline and a bold ending for once. Very strongly recommend to see this movie.

Aboorva Raagangal is one of the movies with an unimaginable story line. A typical classic of Balachander with a controversial story line. The story line had already been put up in other comments and hence I suppose I need not tell it again. The introduction song of Bhairavi(SriVidhya) is evident to prove that this is another musical drama. Balachander has once again proved that music plays an important role through this movie.

Major Sundarrajan plays the key role of the movie. Every character in the movie is well established. Kamal haasan comes up with another milestone in acting. Rajini kanth , who s currently the Super start of Tamil cinema got introduced in this movie. He plays a small but very important role for the twist in the movie.

Pushing aside the controversial story line, this movie is really a very good entertainer with the twisted story line and the sequences that follow. Another KB classic. Watch n enjoy!