Uthiripookkal

Uthiripookkal

Year: 1979

Runtime: 131 mins

Language: Tamil

Director: J. Mahendran

Drama

Sundaravadivelu, a rich and domineering figure, treats everyone as objects to be manipulated, acting with sadistic authority. His relentless cruelty spreads misery throughout the village, affecting even his frail wife and their two children, whose lives become a bleak testament to his oppressive rule.

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Timeline & Setting – Uthiripookkal (1979)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Uthiripookkal (1979). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Rural Tamil Nadu village

Uthiripookkal is set in a close-knit rural village in Tamil Nadu. It centers on a powerful local school manager whose autocratic rule shapes every household in the community. The village acts as a microcosm where debt, marriage, and social expectations drive conflict and tragedy. The quiet, insular setting amplifies the impact of the characters' actions.

🏘️ Village life ⚖️ Social order 💔 Family ties

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:35

Main Characters – Uthiripookkal (1979)

Meet the key characters of Uthiripookkal (1979), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Sundaravadivelu - Vijayan

An affluent but cruel villager who runs the local school with an iron fist. He siphons school funds for his own needs and disrespects family, neighbors, and in-laws. He seeks to marry Shenbagam and uses debt and manipulation to pressure Thambusamy. His arrogance escalates to public humiliation when he forcibly exposes Shenbagam, provoking the village's wrath. Toward the end, he is remorseful for turning the village peaceful into a mob, shares a tender moment with his children, and drowns himself.

👑 Power 💔 Domestic cruelty 🏠 Family tyranny

Lakshmi - Ashwini

Sundaravadivelu's chronically ill wife living in a brittle household. She endures his controlling behavior and the social stigma of debt and illness. When tensions peak, she seeks help from others but is driven to separate from her children. Unable to withstand abandonment, she dies, highlighting the human cost of patriarchal oppression.

💔 Domestic suffering 🏥 Illness 🧭 Social pressure

Shenbagam - Madhu Malini

Thambusamy's daughter who falls in love with Prakash. She faces Sundaravadivelu's disapproval and pressure to marry within his terms. Shenbagam seeks custody of the children to care for them, challenging the patriarchal order. She is publicly humiliated by Sundaravadivelu, which galvanizes the villagers to confront him.

💔 Love vs. Social norms 👩 Female agency 🧭 Patriarchy

Prakash - Sundar Raj

A new teacher who falls for Shenbagam. He proposes to Shenbagam and is accepted by Thambusamy. Prakash informs Sundaravadivelu that the school’s management plans to take action against mismanagement. He represents a moral counterpoint to Sundaravadivelu’s tyranny and supports Shenbagam’s agency.

💔 Love 👨‍🏫 Education ⚖️ Justice

Thambusamy - Charu Haasan

Lakshmi's father and Shenbagam's father, a pensioner who endures Sundaravadivelu's debt harassment. He opposes the marriage plans against his daughter due to the abusive power dynamics. Unable to tolerate the harassment, he considers leaving the village to protect his family.

💔 Family conflict 🧓 Elderly ⚖️ Justice

Bhavani - Anju Prabhakar

Sundaravadivelu's second wife who becomes ill and is neglected in the escalating domestic turmoil. Her condition adds another layer to the family’s strain and highlights the consequences of Sundaravadivelu’s authority being exercised at home.

💔 Domestic neglect 🏥 Illness 🏠 Family dynamics

Health Inspector - Sarath Babu

The recently appointed village health inspector who interacts with Lakshmi and is drawn into the debt dispute. He offers money to settle the loan, signaling a possible help, but also becomes entangled in the village’s moral complexities. He ultimately leaves the village to avoid further conflict in Lakshmi's life.

🏥 Healthcare 💖 Empathy ⚖️ Ethics

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:35

Major Themes – Uthiripookkal (1979)

Explore the central themes of Uthiripookkal (1979), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👑 Power and Tyranny

Sundaravadivelu wields unchecked authority over the village and its school, siphoning funds and enforcing obedience. His control corrupts personal relationships and erodes trust among neighbors. The narrative shows how power legitimizes cruelty and silences dissent until moral reckoning arrives. The consequences ripple through family and community, culminating in tragedy.

💔 Domestic Oppression

Lakshmi endures neglect and humiliation within her marriage, compounded by her illness and the stigma of debt. The story exposes the gendered double standards that allow a husband to mistreat a wife while preserving appearance. Her withdrawal and eventual death highlight the human cost of patriarchal exploitation. The film uses her fate to critique social norms that punish vulnerability rather than wrongdoing.

🕊️ Redemption & Community Justice

When the village turns against the abusive patriarch, communal outrage seeks closure through public accountability. Sundaravadivelu faces consequences driven by the collective conscience, not just individual vengeance. The ending juxtaposes remorse with the freedom of his children, suggesting reconciliation comes only after reckoning. The mob’s pressure exposes both the best and worst of village solidarity.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:35

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