# Rosappu Ravikkaikari (ரோசாப்பூ ரவிக்கைக்காரி)
**Rosappu Ravikkaikari** (ரோசாப்பூ ரவிக்கைக்காரி; transliterated in some databases as Rosaappo Ravikkai Kaari or Rosapoo Ravikkaikari) is a 1979 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by the duo Devaraj–Mohan, produced by Thirupur Mani for Vivekananda Pictures, and starring [Sivakumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/sivakumar), Deepa, and Sivachandran[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html) • [2](https://movies.justickets.co/rosappu-ravikkaikari). It is a remake of the 1978 Kannada film *Parasangada Gendethimma*, itself adapted from the novella of the same name by the Kannada writer Srikrishna Alanahalli[2](https://movies.justickets.co/rosappu-ravikkaikari). The film was Sivakumar's 100th film as an actor, and his performance won him the [Filmfare Award for Best Actor](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-award-for-best-actor) – Tamil[2](https://movies.justickets.co/rosappu-ravikkaikari).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 18 May 1979, Tamil language, India[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html) |
| Direction and production | Directed by the duo Devaraj–Mohan; produced by Thirupur Mani, Vivekananda Pictures[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html) |
| Source | Remake of the Kannada film *Parasangada Gendethimma* (1978), from Srikrishna Alanahalli's novella[2](https://movies.justickets.co/rosappu-ravikkaikari) |
| Milestone | Sivakumar's 100th film as an actor[2](https://movies.justickets.co/rosappu-ravikkaikari) |
| Music | Ilaiyaraaja; lyrics by Pulamaipithan and Gangai Amaran[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html) |
| Reception | Ran over 100 days in theaters; Ananda Vikatan rated it 50 out of 100[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html) |
| Award | Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil, to Sivakumar[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/rosaappo-ravikkai-kaari/movieawards/62508399.cms) |
| Runtime | 2 hours 4 minutes (124 minutes)[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rosapoo_ravikkaikari) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and setting
The story follows Sempatta (also spelled Sembattayan), an illiterate but innocent village vendor who supplies the hamlet with its daily needs, from cereals onward[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279384/) • [6](https://puthiyaagarathi.com/rosappoo-ravikkaikari-nandini-and-sembattai-are-the-first-victims-of-cultural-change/). He marries Nandhini, a woman drawn to modern city ways. His mother dislikes her lifestyle, and the couple moves out; later Nandhini is attracted to Manickam, a suave man[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279384/).
The setting is a small hill village, Vandicholai, in Salem district, in the period before Indian independence[6](https://puthiyaagarathi.com/rosappoo-ravikkaikari-nandini-and-sembattai-are-the-first-victims-of-cultural-change/). A retrospective review describes the film as working largely through symbols: Nandhini's arrival in the downtrodden village stands for the entry of a new culture into a traditional society, and the villagers' unfamiliarity with garments such as the ravikkai (blouse) and brassiere, referenced in the title, marks the cultural distance the film explores[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279384/) • [6](https://puthiyaagarathi.com/rosappoo-ravikkaikari-nandini-and-sembattai-are-the-first-victims-of-cultural-change/). The dialogue is dense with local proverbs and idioms of the Kongu region[6](https://puthiyaagarathi.com/rosappoo-ravikkaikari-nandini-and-sembattai-are-the-first-victims-of-cultural-change/).
## Production
The project began with *Vandichakkaram*, written by [Vinu Chakravarthy](https://www.edgepedia.org/vinu-chakravarthy), which was planned as Sivakumar's 100th film. In 1978, Chakravarthy, the director K. Vijayan, and the producer Thirupur Mani watched the Kannada film *Parasangada Gendethimma* and decided its remake suited the milestone better; they persuaded Sivakumar, and *Vandichakkaram* became his 101st film instead[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279384/).
The screenplay and dialogue were written by Vijay Krishnaraj, credited as Krishna, in his cinema debut[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html). The film also marked Vinu Chakravarthy's debut as an actor in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema); Alanahalli, who had worked on the Kannada original, recommended him for the remake[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html). R. Nagarathnamma, who had played male roles in a [Bangalore](https://www.edgepedia.org/bangalore) theater troupe, was cast as Sembattayan's mother, and Deepa was signed for the heroine's combination of beauty, youth, and a childlike quality[5](https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/story/story/news/blogs/674269-thiraippada-solai.html).
Filming began on 1 February 1979 at Yercaud and ended on 5 March, completed in 45 working days in and around the Vazhavandi village near Yercaud; the song sequence "Uchchi Vaguntheduthu" was shot last[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html). R. N. K. Prasad handled cinematography and T. P. Sekar the editing[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html).
## Music
Ilaiyaraaja composed the score, with four songs written by Pulamaipithan and [Gangai Amaran](https://www.edgepedia.org/gangai-amaran)[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html). "Maman Oru Naal", sung by [S. P. Balasubrahmanyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-p-balasubrahmanyam) and [S. P. Sailaja](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-p-sailaja), is set in the Harikamboji raga, and "Ennullil Yengo", sung by Vani Jairam, is set in Madhuvanti[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html) • [8](https://zolotube.com/watch?v=5ja14SbIvUY). Malaysia Vasudevan sang "Vethala Vethala Vethalaiyo", a song that doubles as a portrait of the hero's character and of Vandicholai village life[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html). A 4K remaster of "Yennullil Yengo" was later released on streaming platforms[8](https://zolotube.com/watch?v=5ja14SbIvUY).
## Release and reception
The film was released on 18 May 1979 and received an "A" (adults only) certificate after three cuts[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html). It became a critical and commercial success, running for over 100 days in theaters[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html). [Ananda Vikatan](https://www.edgepedia.org/ananda-vikatan), in a review dated 27 May 1979, rated it 50 out of 100, praising Sivakumar's performance and Ilaiyaraaja's background score[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html). Sivakumar won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil for the film[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/rosaappo-ravikkai-kaari/movieawards/62508399.cms).
## Legacy
The film is remembered as a milestone in Tamil cinema for showing infidelity and its consequences on screen, a subject the retrospective Tamil press coverage treats as its principal claim to standing[1](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html). Later commentary describes it as a cult film whose symbolic treatment of cultural change, carried by Nandhini and Sembattayan as the first victims of that change, has kept it in critical discussion decades after release[6](https://puthiyaagarathi.com/rosappoo-ravikkaikari-nandini-and-sembattai-are-the-first-victims-of-cultural-change/). As of recent listings, the film is not available on major streaming services[9](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/rosapoo-ravikkaikari/mr0DeL0PBYbjjoHytVKAp1/where-to-watch/).
## References
1. [Rosappu Ravikkaikari | ரோசாப்பூ ரவிக்கைக்காரி, tamilthiraiulagam.com](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/1979/rosappuravikkaikari.html)
2. [Rosappu Ravikkaikari (1979), Justickets/Moviebuff](https://movies.justickets.co/rosappu-ravikkaikari)
3. [Rosaappo Ravikkai Kaari (1979), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279384/)
4. [Rosapoo Ravikkaikari, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rosapoo_ravikkaikari)
5. [திரைப்படச்சோலை 34: ரோசாப்பூ ரவிக்கைக்காரி, Hindu Tamil Thisai](https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/story/story/news/blogs/674269-thiraippada-solai.html)
6. [ரோசாப்பூ ரவிக்கைக்காரி – நந்தினியும் செம்பட்டையும் கலாச்சார மாற்றத்தின் முதல் பலியாடுகள், Puthiya Agarathi](https://puthiyaagarathi.com/rosappoo-ravikkaikari-nandini-and-sembattai-are-the-first-victims-of-cultural-change/)
7. [Rosaappo Ravikkai Kaari Awards, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/rosaappo-ravikkai-kaari/movieawards/62508399.cms)
8. [Yennullil Yengo 4K Remastered Video Song – Rosappu Ravikkaikari, Zolotube](https://zolotube.com/watch?v=5ja14SbIvUY)
9. [Where to Watch Rosapoo Ravikkaikari, Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/rosapoo-ravikkaikari/mr0DeL0PBYbjjoHytVKAp1/where-to-watch/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Tamil films before 2000 › Released 1952 to 1991*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license