Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu

Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu

Year: 1978

Runtime: 141 mins

Language: Tamil

Director: C. V. Sridhar

Drama

Murli (Rajinikanth) runs an advertising agency in Madras with his trusted manager Prabhu (Kamal Haasan). Prabhu, raised by Murli’s family, feels a deep sense of indebtedness. He loves Padma (Sripriya), but a misunderstanding separates them. Meanwhile, Murli meets Padma and falls for her, sparking a complex love triangle.

Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu (1978) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In bustling Madras of the early seventies, a sleek advertising agency becomes the backdrop for a story that mixes ambition with the fragile ties of the heart. Murli commands the creative front, his charismatic swagger hiding a restless inner life, while the city’s neon‑lit streets pulse with the promise of success and the weight of unspoken expectations. The film’s tone balances lively urban energy with the quiet introspection of people caught between duty and desire.

Within the office, Prabhu functions as more than a trusted manager; he is the adopted brother Murli’s family raised, a steady hand on whom every major decision leans. His loyalty is matched only by an unvoiced affection for the young college student Padma, whose presence brings a gentle yet unsettling current to the otherwise business‑like atmosphere. Their connection is rooted in quiet moments and shared histories, hinting at a love that could blossom if circumstances allowed.

Padma, confident and independent, navigates the attention of both men with a resolve that sets her apart. While Murli’s charm sweeps her into a world of glamour, she resists his advances, seeking autonomy over convenience. Adding another layer, Jayanthi, a recent widow and office colleague, watches the unfolding triangle with her own hidden yearnings, her vulnerability subtly shifting the balance among the three. The interplay of these characters creates a delicate web of friendship, gratitude, and restrained longing.

The film moves with a measured elegance, letting the city’s rhythm echo the characters’ internal beats. It invites the audience into a moral maze where personal ambition, familial obligation, and the truth of one’s feelings collide, leaving each relationship poised on the edge of change. The atmosphere is both hopeful and bittersweet, promising choices that will test the strength of bonds forged long before the story truly begins.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 18:00

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Stories where deep bonds of friendship are tested by romantic feelings.If you liked the complex emotional dynamics of Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu, you'll find similar stories here. This collection features dramatic movies where a close friendship is challenged by a romantic entanglement, leading to difficult choices and bittersweet outcomes.

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These films are grouped together due to their shared melancholic and reflective mood, a medium emotional weight dealing with serious themes, and a narrative structure that prioritizes emotional consequences over external action. They deliver a similarly bittersweet and sober viewing experience.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu

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