Mullum Malarum

J. Mahendran's 1978 Tamil film follows Kaali, who works a winch at a hill site. Orphaned young, he raised his sister Valli himself, and the bond between them sits at the centre. Conflict begins with a new engineer arrived from the city. Kaali bows to no one, and that stubbornness costs him his work and his sister; the narrative shows pride as both strength and fault. Rajinikanth leads, in early work. It is the director's first film, and the music holds an important place inside the narrative. The dialogue is sparse and the scenes long. Who it's for: viewers of classic Tamil cinema and stories about siblings. Who it's not for: viewers expecting action; the film is built on character.