Olangal
title: "Olangal" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1982-indian-films", "1980s-malayalam-language-films", "1982-films", "films-based-on-american-novels", "films-directed-by-balu-mahendra", "films-scored-by-ilaiyaraaja", "malayalam-films-remade-in-other-languages"] topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olangal" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox film"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Olangal |
| image | Olangal poster.jpg |
| caption | Poster |
| director | Balu Mahendra |
| producer | Joseph Abraham |
| screenplay | Balu Mahendra |
| starring | Amol Palekar |
| Poornima Jayaram | |
| Ambika | |
| Adoor Bhasi | |
| Anju | |
| music | Ilaiyaraaja |
| cinematography | Balu Mahendra |
| editing | D. Vasu |
| released | |
| country | India |
| language | Malayalam |
| :: |
| name = Olangal | image = Olangal poster.jpg | caption = Poster | director = Balu Mahendra | producer = Joseph Abraham | screenplay = Balu Mahendra | narrator = | starring = Amol Palekar Poornima Jayaram Ambika Adoor Bhasi Anju | music = Ilaiyaraaja | cinematography = Balu Mahendra | editing = D. Vasu | distributor = | released = | runtime = | country = India | language = Malayalam | budget = | gross = Olangal () is a 1982 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by Balu Mahendra. The film's plot is inspired by the 1980 Erich Segal novel Man, Woman and Child.
Plot
Life goes on happily for the couple, Ravi and Radha, who live with their only daughter, until Father John arrives in the city with a young boy Raju, Ravi's son from an affair with Reetha, before his marriage to Radha. Now he has to keep the boy with him for a month before Father John takes the boy abroad.
Ravi introduces the boy to his wife as the son of a dead friend, George, and she happily accepts to keep the boy with them. But the truth emerges when the "dead friend" visits their house. The six-year-long marriage between Ravi and Radha shatters.
Cast
- Amol Palekar as Ravi Chattan
- Poornima Jayaram as Radha R. Chattan – Ravi's wife
- Ambika as Rita
- Anju
- Adoor Bhasi
- T. R. Omana
- Preeta
- Jagathy Sreekumar
Soundtrack
| extra_column = Artist(s) | all_lyrics = O. N. V. Kurup | all_music = Ilaiyaraaja | title1 = Kuliradunnu Maanathu | extra1 = K. J. Yesudas, Choir | title2 = Thumbi Vaa Thumbakudathin | extra2 = S. Janaki | title3 = Vezhaambal Kezhum Venalkkudeeram | extra3 = K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
The song "Thumbi Vaa" is an adaptation of his earlier Tamil composition "Sangathil Padatha" from Auto Raja (1982). At the request of director Balu Mahendra, Ilaiyaraaja reused the tune in Malayalam for Olangal and the song achieved massive popularity.
Reception
Sreedhar Pillai wrote for India Today, "As always with Mahendra's films the photography is superb. It captures the lush green of Ooty and the urban landscape of Bangalore with equal ease. Amol Palekar gives a subdued performance."
References
References
- "Olangal [1982] | ഓളങ്ങൾ [1982]".
- (13 February 2014). "The Best Films of Balu Mahendra". [[Rediff.com]].
- (11 January 2025). "சங்கத்தில் பாடாத கவிதை {{!}} Sangathil Padaatha Kavithai Song {{!}} Auto Raja Movie {{!}} Ilaiyaraja Songs".
- Pillai, Sreedhar. (Nov 30, 1982). "Film review: Olangal, starring Amol Palekar, Poornima Jayaram, Adoor Bhasi".
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