12/23/21, 12:46 PM Avalude Ravukal - Wikipedia

Avalude Ravukal
Avalude Ravukal (transl. Her Nights) is a 1978 Indian
Avalude Ravukal
Malayalam-language drama film directed by I. V. Sasi and
written by A. Sheriff. The film explores the life of Raji (Seema),
a teenage prostitute and those of the people around her. Upon
release, the film received less audience in the first three days
but the situation changed in the coming days and it became
one of the highest-grossing films of the year.[1][2][3]

It is considered one of the boldest Malayalam films of all

time.[4] Sasi, the experimental and the most popular director
at that time, tried to highlight a theme which most
mainstream directors are afraid to get into.[5] Kamal Haasan
and I. V. Sasi made guest appearances in the film. The film
was dubbed and released in Tamil as Avalin Iravugal and in
Hindi as Her Nights and were also successful at the box office. Directed by I. V. Sasi
It was remade in Kannada as Kamala (1979) and in Hindi as Written by A. Sheriff
Patita (1980).
Based on Avalude
Ravukal
Pakalukal by
Contents Alleppey Sheriff
Plot Produced by M. P.
Cast Ramachandran

Production Starring Seema

Soundtrack Ravikumar

Release and reception M. G. Soman

References Sukumaran

External links Cinematography Vipindas

Edited by K. Narayanan
Music by A. T. Ummer
Plot
Production
Murali Movies
company
The story pivots around Raji (Seema), a young prostitute, and
three young men in her life: Two college-going youngsters, Distributed by Sithara Pictures
Babu (Ravikumar), Jayan (Sukumaran) and a school teacher Release date 3 March 1978
Chandran (M. G. Soman).
Running time 144 minutes
Raji loses her parents early in her life, leaving the Country India
responsibility of bringing up her younger brother Sudhakaran
Language Malayalam
(Master Raghu) on her shoulders. Circumstances and her
unskilled status force her into the life of a prostitute. She
begins living in a slum with Mariyaamma Chedathi (Meenakumari) and a cycle-rickshaw driver
Damu (Kuthiravattom Pappu), her 'agent' or pimp.

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Babu is a student who stays in a nearby hostel. Raji falls for Babu and becomes a regular visitor at
his flat, even though he, afraid for his reputation, repeatedly tries to throw her out. Raji's declares
her love for Babu but says that she does not want to have sexual relations with him, as then he
would be like another customer. However, she cajoles him into letting her sleep at his place on the
floor, gently refusing his romantic overtures. News spreads about Babu's relationship with Raji,
assumed falsely to be that of a customer and prostitute.

Raji's brother Sudhakaran has a teacher-student relationship with Chandran. One day a beggar
steals Chandran's wrist watch through an open window. Sudhakaran is arrested by the police,
because he is a regular at Chandran's room, and is the immediate suspect. He is beaten up by the
cops in police custody and dies from the physical trauma after his release. The real thief is later
arrested; Chandran is uneasy about it and whether his hasty judgement resulted in the boy's loss of
life. From remorse, Chandran offers money to Raji, but she refuses to accept it or forgive him in
any manner.

Babus's father Karunakaran (Bahadoor) decides to marry his son off to his wife Lakshmi's
(Kaviyoor Ponnamma) brother's daughter, Damodaran's (Sankaradi) daughter Radha (Usharani).
Karunakaran, Damodaran, and Radha visit Babu's hostel room and are shocked to see Raji in
there, who, as usual, was just there to talk to Babu and be with him. They, of course, assume that
the two are sleeping together. Damodaran, ashamed and angered, breaks off the engagement and
marries Radha off to another man.

Jayan, who had had a severe drinking problem, dies of liver-related complications. On his death
bed he asks Babu to not abandon Raji and emphasizes it with the justification that her love for him
is pure, even if its 'impure' in the eyes of society. Raji gets gang-raped and Chandran's timely
intervention saves her; Raji then finally begins to forgive Chandran.

Babu's mother believes her son's denials of impropriety with Raji, and comes to meet Babu and
eventually Raji. She takes pity on Raji when she comes to know about her past and her son's blind
love for her. Lakshmi accepts her as her daughter-in-law and takes her home, and eventually
Babu's father is also forced to accept Raji as his daughter-in-law.

Cast
Seema as Raji
Ravikumar as Babu "Many of the leading ladies of the
M. G. Soman as Chandran day were not bold enough to play
the role of a prostitute. Then I
Sukumaran as Jayan
thought of Seema, who had caught
Bahadoor as Karunakaran my attention as a dancer while
Sankaradi as Damodaran shooting Itha Ivide Vare."[5]
Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Lakshmi
Usharani as Radha
- I. V. Sasi about the casting of
Kuthiravattam Pappu as Damu Seema. Avalude Ravukal was
Meena as Mariyaamma Chedathi Seema's first lead role and she went
Master Raghu as Sudhakaran on to associate with Sasi in 30 more
Sathaar as a Police Inspector films. They got married later.
Kamal Haasan (Guest appearance)[6]
I. V. Sasi (Guest appearance)

Production

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The film was produced by M. P. Ramachandran under the banner of Murali Movies. The film story,
script and dialogues were written by A. Sheriff. Vipindas was the man behind the camera and K.
Narayanan edited the film.[7] This film was shot in black-and-white. The final length of the film
was 4,134.61 metres (13,565.0 ft).[8]

Soundtrack
The music was composed by A. T. Ummer and the lyrics were written by Bichu Thirumala. Guna
Singh composed the background score. Music for the song "Raagendu Kiranangal" was allegedly
copied from the song "Pal Bhar Mein Yeh Kya Ho" in the film Swami released in 1977.[7]

No. Song Singers

1 "Antharindriya Daahangal" K. J. Yesudas
2 "Raagendu Kiranangal" S. Janaki
3 "Unni Aarariro" S. Janaki

Release and reception

Avalude Ravukal was released on 3 March 1978.[7] It was given an "A" (adult) certificate by the
Central Board of Film Certification.[8] The film was distributed by S. Pavamani under the banner
of Sithara Pictures.[9] The film was dubbed and released in Tamil as Avalin Iravugal and in Hindi
as Her Nights and were also successful at the box office.[7] Avalude Ravukal was remade in Hindi
as Patita (1980), also directed by I. V. Sasi.[10]

The film is considered a classic and cult film.[11] B. Vijayakumar of Hindu wrote that the film was
"Remembered for the social movie with a strong message and good music".[7]

References
1. "Home" (http://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/how-a-toddy-s
hop-rendezvous-resulted-in-avalude-ravukal.html).
2. "Avalude Raavukal" (http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=859).
MalayalaChalachithram. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
3. "Avalude Raavukal" (https://web.archive.org/web/20141013065422/http://malayalasangeetha
m.info/m.php?2294). malayalasangeetham.info. Archived from the original (http://malayalasan
geetham.info/m.php?2294) on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
4. "Avalude Ravukal, a trendsetter of 80's - Times of India" (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ent
ertainment/malayalam/movies/did-you-know-/Avalude-Ravukal-a-trendsetter-of-80s/articlesho
w/45588941.cms). The Times of India.
5. P. K. Ajithkumar (25 April 2013). "Architect of blockbusters" (http://www.thehindu.com/features/
cinema/architect-of-blockbusters/article4653559.ece). The Hindu. Thiruvananthapuram, India.
Retrieved 12 May 2013.
6. "IV Sasi's 'Her Nights' was a bold take on sex work that was unfairly dismissed as porn" (http
s://scroll.in/reel/855475/iv-sasis-her-nights-was-a-bold-take-on-sex-work-that-was-unfairly-dis
missed-as-porn).
7. Vijayakumar, B. (11 May 2014). "Avalude Ravukal: 1978" (https://www.thehindu.com/features/
metroplus/avalude-ravukal-1978/article5996208.ece). The Hindu. Archived (https://archive.tod
ay/2021.07.06-054705/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/avalude-ravukal-1978/arti
cle5996208.ece) from the original on 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.

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8. "Gazette of India, 1978, No. 438" (https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.1978.438/page/n42/mo

de/2up?q=Avalude+ravukal). The Gazette of India. 16 September 1978. p. 1541. Retrieved
6 July 2021.
9. "Film producer S Pavamani passes away" (https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/201
0/sep/01/film-producer-s-pavamani-passes-away-182985.html). The New Indian Express. 1
September 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
10. Parkar, Shaheen (29 January 2002). " 'Patita Was The Film For Me' " (https://news.google.co
m/newspapers?nid=nk1qRvIppk4C&dat=20020129&printsec=frontpage&hl=en). Mid-Day.
p. 38. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
11. "Trendsetting titan" (https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/obituary/trendsetting-titan/article99471
68.ece). Frontline. 8 November 2017. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20210706083203/
https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/obituary/trendsetting-titan/article9947168.ece) from the
original on 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.

External links
Avalude Ravukal (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0186840/) at IMDb
Avalude Ravukal Movie Online (https://web.archive.org/web/20090911092714/http://malayala
m.movies.ug/movie/60/Avalude-Ravukal_%281978%29.html)

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