Sollathaan Ninaikkiren (transl. I Am Trying to Say...) is a 1973 Indian Tamil-language film, written and directed by K. Balachander. Starring S. V. Subbaiah, Sivakumar, Kamal Haasan, Jayachitra, Srividya, Shubha and Jayasudha, it is based on the novel Ilavu Kaatha Kili (transl. The Parrot that Waited in Vain) by Manian. The film was released on 7 December 1973. It was remade in Telugu as Ammayilu Jagratha (transl. Girls Beware). Balachander remade the film in Kannada as Sundara Swapnagalu.
Kamala, Manjula and Pushpa are sisters, each getting attracted to Raghavan, their tenant. Raghavan falls in love with Pushpa. However, things take a turn for the worse, when Pushpa sacrifices herself to the whims of Kamal, a playboy, to save her friend Sudha from his exploits. The three sisters ultimately marry other men, while Raghavan remains unmarried.
Sollathaan Ninaikkiren is based on the novel Ilavu Kaatha Kili by Manian.[5] The novel had been performed over 100 times as a stage play. The novel was later made into a film by Manian and 'Vidhwan' Ve. Lakshmanan under the production banner Udhayam Productions.[6] Thangappan Master was initially hired as the dance choreographer, but as K. Balachander objected to whom Kamal Haasan called "the traditional cinema dance master", and wanted a younger man, Haasan hired Raghuram.[7] Haasan worked as an assistant director of this film.[8] The final length of the film was 4,589.68 metres (15,058.0 ft).[9]
Sollathaan Ninaikkiren was released on 7 December 1973.[6]Ananda Vikatan, in a review dated 30 December 1973, positively reviewed the film for Balachander's writing and the cast performances.[11] Kanthan of Kalki also liked the film.[12] The film was remade in Telugu as Ammayilu Jagratha.[citation needed] Balachander remade the film in Kannada as Sundara Swapnagalu.[13]
Legacy
The title of the film inspired a television series of same name, also produced by K. Balachander for Zee Tamil.[14]
