Tamils’ First Space Movie

Sri MGR Year 100, 10th December Sunday

In Tamil Cinema, science fiction movies are seldom tried. 2 generations back talking about science fiction based stories are termed nerdy, and our way of living those days saw movies based on the day to day life of a simpleton. And the film technology was in nascent stage, never able to compete with standards set by Hollywood.

Earth man (MGR) fighting with an alien villain (Nambiyar)

But they tried. Many of MGR fans had the information that our Puratchi Thalaivar movie was first to try such a theme. In 1963, Kalai Arasi was released. MGR acted in dual role one an Earth man and another an alien. The movie has many technical shots and breathtaking miniatures effects.

In Daily Thanthi yesterday paper they have written an article about a new movie starring Jayam Ravi titled Tik Tik Tik, a science fiction space thriller that is going to be released soon. In that article the writer has mentioned that Jayam Ravi movie is not the first of its kind as earlier a MGR movie had space theme in Kalai Arasi. The full article is given below, click the below image to expand.

Science Fiction Movie

Sri MGR Year 100, 29th June, Thursday

Science fiction genre is seldom used in Tamil movies and we all know that our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR had acted in one sci-fi movie "Kalai Arasi" which was released in 1963. Nowadays frequently aired though the movie is more than 50 years but still has the entertainment value. 

Below is the review written for "Kalai Arasi" movie in Indian Express newspaper in April 1963. 

Film stories revolving round "doubles" have been quite numerous on the screen. Sarodi pictures "Kalai Arasi" adds one more to that category of pictures.

A social-cum-fantasy, the film is now running to crowded houses at Plaza, Murugan, Mekala and Jayaraj in the city.

The physical resemblance between two women and the complications it creates are treated here more as an off-shoot of the story than being its main plank.

The central character in the story is a young woman (P.Bhanumathi) who is kidnapped by a man from outer space, and is whisked off to a planet in a flying saucer. There she teaches music to the daughter of a space-king and propagates the cultural heritage of South India to the inhabitants in the planet.

Meanwhile, the father of the girl continues his search for her and through his ward meets another insane girl, looking exactly like his own daughter.

Mohan (M.G.Ramachandran) the college-mate of the zamindar's daughter, takes upon himself to find the girl and after over-powering one of the spacemen, air dashes to the planet in the flying saucer. He finds her and works his way to come down to the earth. How the young man overcomes all his obstacles in the planet and how the identity of the two girls is established, form the climax of the film, which is studded with a plethora of synthetic thrills, stunts and chases.

M.N.Nambiar, P.S.Veerappa, N.S.Narayana Pillai, Rajashree, Kumari Saraswathi, G.Shakuntala, S.R.Janaki, C.T.Rajakantham, Kamala and Mohana are the other members of the cast. 

Directed by A.Kasilingam, the film has all the ingredients that make a successful box office production. 

The film is exceptionally good in outdoor and trick photography, for which credit goes to the cinematographer J.G.Vijayam. Music by K.V.Mahadevan is good.