Why ‘Moondram Pirai’ still tugs at our heartstrings more than 40 years on

In the latest summer notorious for extreme heat, there is also the warmth of nostalgia seeping in thanks to the many re-releases from Kollywood, be it Amaidhipadai or Amarkalam. While these old blockbusters found a second wind on new screens, for many cinephiles, the highlight would be the release of the digitally remastered version of Moondram Pirai on the OTT platform Amazon Prime.

One of the greatest-ever Tamil films, Moondram Pirai paired Kamal Haasan and Sridevi, both at their histrionic best, and was splendidly directed by Balu Mahendra. Released in 1982, the film gained both critical acclaim and commercial heft. Back then in Madras, the movie ran for a year. The Hindi version Sadma, released in 1983, acquired a cult status over the years, and remains a favourite film of former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani.