ULAGAM SUTTRUM VALIBAN

Ulagam Suttrum Vaaliban is a lavish production from MGR Pictures (MGR’s own production company), filmed on location in India, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailan.

The film has a huge star cast with MGR in a dual role opposite four lead ladies; Manjulla, Latha, Chandhrakalaa and Metaa Roongrath of Thailand. Also in the cast are M.N. Nambiar, S.A. Asogan, R.S. Manohar, Nagesh, Thengaai Srinivassan, V.Gopalakrishnan and a leading actor from Thailand, Som Saai.

The story is about a young scientist, Murugan (MGR) who, after four years of intensive research and experiments, succeeds in finding a way to harness the power of lightning. Having discovered this, he refuses to divulge the details of his findings fearing that, in the wrong hands, the technology can be used to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. There are, however, many who would stop at nothing to get their hands on this technology – even if it includes murder.

This results in a frenzied race across five countries as Murugan’s brother, Raja (also MGR) steps in to prevent the information from falling into the wrong hands.

The story was written by MGR and the MGR Pictures story team, together with R.M. Veerappan, S.K.T.Samy and Vidhwan Lutchmanan. Beautiful locations and memorable songs make the film a treat. The songs – all of them hits – featured virtually every major singer of the time with lyrics by Kannadassan, Vaali, Pulamaipithan and Veda. M.S. Visvanathan, who scores the music, won the Best Music Regional award for this film. This film was also nominated for 6 other awards.

Made in 1970 but only released in 1973 (in itself a fascinating story) the film was released in South Africa in 1974.

Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban lacks the thrills and stunts of modern film but is still a superb family entertainer.