Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum

Lore & Background

The film's plot centers on Alavuddin, a street urchin who loves Princess Roshni, while the commander Kamaruddin also desires her. After a duel, Alavuddin wins Roshni, but she is kidnapped by the courtier Mir Qasim. Alavuddin and Kamaruddin join forces and, with help from a genie, rescue her. Kamaruddin later becomes trapped in quicksand and is rescued by Jameela, who has unrequited feelings for Alavuddin, leading to their union.

Reader's Guide

Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum is notable as Rajinikanth's first film in Malayalam and in the fantasy genre. It was originally intended to be the first Malayalam CinemaScope film, but production delays allowed Thacholi Ambu (1978) to claim that distinction. Cinematographer Ramachandra Babu recalled that Rajinikanth was often under the influence of liquor and could turn violent on set, making even Kamal Haasan wary during fight sequences. The film performed well at the box office for its first two weeks but slumped in the third. A review in Kalki panned the Tamil version for ruining the story of Aladdin, criticizing poor casting, the clownish portrayal of the genie, and underutilization of Gemini Ganesan, while noting Rajinikanth's character seemed added only for fights.

Did You Know?

• The film was simultaneously shot in Malayalam and Tamil, with the Tamil version titled Allaudinaum Arputha Vilakkum.
• Rajinikanth's character Kamaruddin was not present in the original Aladdin story but was created for the film.
• The film was intended to be the first Malayalam CinemaScope film, but Thacholi Ambu (1978) achieved that distinction first.

Bilingual Production and Cinematic Ambitions

The 1979 fantasy film Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum represented a significant production undertaking for director I. V. Sasi, who shot the picture simultaneously in Malayalam and Tamil. The Tamil-language version, titled Allaudinaum Arputha Vilakkum, marked Sasi's directorial debut in that industry and constituted the second Tamil-screen adaptation of the Aladdin tale from One Thousand and One Nights, following a 1957 predecessor. Cinematographer Ramachandra Babu captured the project in CinemaScope, a widescreen format that was intended to make this the first Malayalam film shot in that technique. However, production delays meant that Thacholi Ambu, released in 1978, ultimately claimed that distinction instead. The shoot was not without turbulence. According to Babu, Rajinikanth frequently arrived under the influence of alcohol and could become violent at any moment, making even Kamal Haasan hesitant to perform fight sequences alongside him. Despite these challenges, the dual-language production was completed and released within a two-month window in 1979.

Cast and the Invention of Kamaruddin

The film's ensemble brought together several prominent South Indian actors of the period. Kamal Haasan took on the title role of Alavuddin, a street urchin who falls in love with princess Roshni. Rajinikanth was cast as Kamaruddin, the commander of Baghdad's armed forces, a character entirely absent from the original Aladdin narrative and created specifically for this screen adaptation. This role marked Rajinikanth's first appearance in a Malayalam-language film and his first foray into the fantasy genre. Jayabharathi and Sripriya completed the leading quartet, while veteran performers Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, and S. A. Ashokan filled out the supporting cast. The decision to invent Kamaruddin as a rival suitor gave the story a second romantic thread and a physical antagonist for the hero, though critics would later question whether the addition served the narrative or simply provided a vehicle for action set-pieces. Pairing Haasan and Rajinikanth in a shared fantasy project with both in leading roles made the film a notable event in the industry at the time.

Narrative Structure and Interwoven Romance

The screenplay weaves together a love triangle, a rescue quest, and a secondary romantic arc. Kamaruddin, the military commander, pursues princess Roshni because her marriage to him would secure his path to the throne after the Caliph's death. Roshni, however, is devoted to the humble Alavuddin, and their feelings are mutual. Alavuddin's childhood friend Jameela harbors unrequited affection for him, adding another layer of emotional tension. The central conflict erupts when Alavuddin and Kamaruddin duel for Roshni's hand; Alavuddin prevails, but his victory is cut short when the self-serving courtier Mir Qasim abducts the princess. The two former rivals then set aside their differences and, aided by a genie, work together to rescue her. On the return journey, Kamaruddin becomes trapped in quicksand, and it is Jameela who saves him, leading to their eventual union. The structure thus resolves both romantic threads while maintaining the adventure-driven backbone of the Aladdin legend.

Release, Critical Response, and Musical Score

The Malayalam version hit theaters on 14 April 1979, with the Tamil edition following on 8 June of the same year. At the box office, the film drew solid crowds during its opening fortnight but experienced a noticeable decline in its third week of release. Critical reception was decidedly negative. Kausikan, writing for the Tamil magazine Kalki, was particularly scathing in his review of the Tamil version, arguing that the filmmakers had fundamentally distorted the Aladdin story. He singled out the casting decisions as poor, described the genie's portrayal as clownish, and felt that Gemini Ganesan was given too little to do. He also suggested that Rajinikanth's character existed primarily to supply fight scenes and criticized the overall quality of the story and dialogue. Musically, the soundtrack for both language versions was composed by G. Devarajan, with Yusufali Kechery penning the Malayalam lyrics and the duo of Vaali and Kannadasan handling the Tamil ones.