Vallavan Oruvan
title: "Vallavan Oruvan" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1966-indian-films", "1960s-spy-thriller-films", "1960s-tamil-language-films", "1966-films", "indian-black-and-white-films", "indian-remakes-of-french-films", "indian-spy-thriller-films", "tamil-language-indian-films", "films-based-on-works-by-jean-bruce"] topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vallavan_Oruvan" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox film"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Vallavan Oruvan |
| image | Vallavan Oruvan poster.jpg |
| caption | Theatrical release poster |
| director | R. Sundaram |
| writer | A. L. Narayanan |
| producer | T. R. Sundaram |
| starring | Jaishankar |
| L. Vijayalakshmi | |
| cinematography | C. A. S. Mani |
| editing | L. Balu |
| music | Vedha |
| studio | Modern Theatres |
| released | |
| runtime | 147 minutes |
| country | India |
| language | Tamil |
| :: |
| name = Vallavan Oruvan | image = Vallavan Oruvan poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster | director = R. Sundaram | writer = A. L. Narayanan | producer = T. R. Sundaram | starring = Jaishankar L. Vijayalakshmi | cinematography = C. A. S. Mani | editing = L. Balu | music = Vedha | studio = Modern Theatres | released = | runtime = 147 minutes | country = India | language = Tamil
Vallavan Oruvan () is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language spy thriller film, directed by R. Sundaram and written by A. L. Narayanan. Produced by Modern Theatres, with music composed by Vedha, the film stars Jaishankar and L. Vijayalakshmi. Based on the 1964 French film Shadow of Evil, it was released on 11 November 1966.
Plot
A dangerous gang manufactures firearms and explosives, uses them for looting, derailing trains and disrupting law and order. They make bombs using sulphur from a match factory in Madras. A C.I.D. officer who is deputed to investigate these cases at Madras, finds several clues, reaches the factory and gets killed there. To investigate the case and to find who killed him, another CID officer Shankar is deputed by the D.I.G. of Bombay. Shankar reaches Madras and from the time of landing, is followed by his enemies. Kumar at the Madras office assists him in the investigations.
Shankar faces several challenges and dangers and several attempts are made to kill him. He falls in love with Tara, sister of Sargunam, a doctor. Shankar's Madras office head unearths crucial information on the sulphur allotted for a match factory getting diverted to another place for making the explosives and firearms. But before he is able to report the complete information, he is murdered. Shankar's personal assistants Susi and Rajini are part of the gang and are instrumental in passing information about the investigations to the gang. They separately try to seduce Shankar, but fail.
Sargunam advises Tara to send Shankar out of Madras so that his life is not in danger. She drugs him to take him out of the city, then realises brother's intention is not to save Shankar, but to make him confess details of his investigations. However, Shankar, who was pretending to be drugged, wakes up and beats the people who try to get his confession; instead he makes them confess about their illegal activities. He learns that the gang leader Black Cat employs anti-socials and ex-convicts to make explosives and firearms, which he sells at phenomenal profit to anti-national and terrorist organisations.
With the help of Tara, Kumar and Kumar's girlfriend Ammukutty, Shankar reaches the match factory and follows the lorry which takes the sulphur to the factory where the bombs are made. He also finds Black Cat, revealed to be Sargunam. In the ensuing fight, Sargunam is killed and his factory torched, but Shankar, Tara, Kumar and Ammukutty escape unharmed.
Cast
;Male cast
- Jaishankar as C.I.D. Shankar
- Thengai Srinivasan as Kumar
- K. K. Soundar as I.G.
- Manohar as Dr. Sargunam
;Female cast
- L. Vijayalakshmi as Tara
- R. Sheela as Susi
- Pushpamala as Ammukutty
- Vijaya Lalitha as Rajini
Production
Judo Rathnam began his career as a stunt master with this film.
Soundtrack
Music was composed by Vedha and lyrics were written by Kannadasan. The song "Palinginal Oru Maligai" is based on Artie Shaw's version of "Frenesi". Another song " Ammamma kannaththil" was based on "Amore" by British singer Tony Brent. | headline = Track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | title1 = Ammamma Kannathil | extra1 = L. R. Eswari | length1 = 2:52 | title2 = Palinginal Oru Maligai | extra2 = L. R. Eswari | length2 = 3:28 | title3 = Thottu Thottu Padava | extra3 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | length3 = 3:45 | title4 = Innum Parthukondirunthal | extra4 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | length4 = 3:58 | title5 = Muthu Ponnu Vamma | extra5 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | length5 = 4:05 | total_length = 18:08
Release and reception
Vallavan Oruvan was released on 11 November 1966. Ananda Vikatan said, "The film gives a feeling of watching a Hollywood film... One should watch this film for a good time pass". Kalki praised the performances of Jaishankar and Manohar, but criticised that of Vijayalakshmi. The critic also appreciated the comedy of Srinivasan and Pushpamala, the audiography, cinematography and outdoor photography.
Legacy
After the film's success, "CID Shankar" became a common name used for Jaishankar's characters in other unrelated films, including Neelagiri Express (1968) and CID Shankar (1970).
References
Bibliography
References
- (27 November 1966). "வல்லவன் ஒருவன்".
- Darshan, Navein. (26 January 2023). "Legendary stunt choreographer Judo Rathnam passes away at 92".
- "Vallavan Oruvan ,Vallavanukku Vallavan Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by Veda".
- "Vallavan Oruvan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – EP".
- Karthik. (31 March 2019). "Milliblog Weeklies – MAR31.2019".
- Srinivasan, Sudhir. (30 September 2016). "Inspired stuff". [[The Hindu]].
- (11 November 1966). "Vallavan Oruvan". [[The Indian Express]].
- S V, Harshini. (20 July 2023). "Andha Naal To Thupparivaalan: 9 Tamil Detective Thrillers To Watch Before Vijay Antony's Kolai".
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