The Mist (1980)

Moodu Pani (English: The Mist) is a 1980 Indian Tamil thriller film written, directed and filmed by Balu Mahendra and produced by Raja Cine Arts. Starring Shoba and Pratap K. Pothen in the lead roles, with N. Viswanathan, Ganthimathi, Mohan and Bhanu Chander in supporting roles, it is based on the 1978 novel Idhuvum Oru Viduthalai Thaan by Rajendra Kumar. The film tells the story of Chandru (Pothen), who has a strong hatred towards prostitutes and would kill any such woman whom he encounters. He falls in love with Rekha (Shoba) and believes marrying her will end his psychological distress.

Moodu Pani was the third directorial venture of Mahendra and his second Tamil film after Azhiyatha Kolangal (1979). It was the last film featuring Shoba to be produced before her death in the same year, and the first appearance of Mohan in a Tamil film; he would later become a successful actor in the industry. Moodu Pani was shot mostly in Bangalore, with additional filming taking place in Ooty. The film's similarities to Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960) and the Oedipal elements between Chandru and his mother have been widely discussed. The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, this being his 100th film, and his brother Gangai Amaran was the main lyricist.

Moodu Pani was released on 6 November 1980 to critical acclaim, with particular praise for the way the story was told visually with minimum dependence on dialogue and acting, though Pothen and Shoba's performance and Ilaiyaraaja's music also received wide praise. The film was a commercial success, running for 250 days in theatres. It was also responsible for a resurgence of the thriller genre in Tamil cinema at that point. Despite the film propelling Pothen to stardom, it also led to him being typecast in similar roles.

Synopsis

Chandru (Pratap K. Pothen), the managing director of an export company in Bangalore, has a hatred for prostitutes since childhood, as he was the victim of a prostitute who ruined his family by taking his father away from his mother. Raghunath (N. Viswanathan) is a police inspector who knows Chandru and his mother. Raghunath's son Ravi (Bhanu Chander) is engaged to Rekha (Shoba).

Actors