Parthen Rasithen

Plot

Shankar (Prashanth) is a graduate of BSC nautical science, waiting for a job in the shipping industry. He is a tenant in the house of Bhanu (Simran), who is his good friend and confidante. They spend almost all their time together and she seeks him out as a refuge from her step brother Panneer (Raghuvaran), whom she dislikes but is forced to live together with. One day while dropping Bhanu at a bus stop, Shankar falls in love with Sarika (Laila) who he saw at a bus. Soon he told Bhanu about Sarika and Bhanu ask him to hide in the bus tomorrow in order to know whether Sarika is interested with him or not. As per plan both took the bus as Shankar hides from the sight of Sarika, Sarika searches for him in disappointment at the bus stop that he was at yesterday. This led to Bhanu and Shankar confirms Sarika's love towards him. Meanwhile, Shankar's highly rude and verbally abusive father, Chidhambaram (Vinu Chakravarthy) lands in Chennai for his wife's (Jyothi) heart operation and tells Shankar that his marriage is being arranged, while the same situation happen in Sarika's house. Both Shankar and Sarika have no idea that they are the two people about to get married. Since they both didn't realize this, and as expected, both avoid the meeting. As Sarika fails to return to home, Chidhambaram got irritated as Sarika is late to home and create ruckus, this led to huge fight between him and Sarika's father and the marriage was canceled.

Meanwhile, Panneer misunderstood the conversation between Bhanu and Shankar, assumes that they are in love. He reveal this to Shankar's parents and ask their approval for the marriage. In order to pacify his ailing mother until her operation and Bhanu's persuasion, Shankar says that he will marry Bhanu. Further misunderstandings occurs between Shankar and Sarika when Panneer caught them together and he exposes Shankar's wedding arrangement with Bhanu to Sarika. Sarika was devastated and refuse to meet Shankar again. In order to solve the problem, Shankar ask Bhanu to tell the truth to Panneer. In the turn of events, Bhanu refused to tell the truth and it is learn that Bhanu also loves Shankar for 4 years and she used the wedding arrangement as tool to get Shankar. She explains that she has been in love with him for a long time but she sacrifices her love after she realize that Sarika is in love with Shankar. However after few confusions in their love story including failed arrange marriage between him and Sarika and the misunderstanding caused by Panneer who thinks Bhanu and Shanker is in love has prompted Bhanu to use the situation in her favor. Shankar tried to console Bhanu and he explain that he has no such feeling towards her, however the adamant Bhanu blackmails Shankar that she will make him to love her. In order to fulfill her ambition she begins to plot a villainous act. She uses Panneer Meanwhile Sarika learn about Bhanu from Vellaisamy (Dhamu) and realize Shankar is innocent while reconcile with him. One day while Sarika was walking down the street wearing a blue sari presented by Shankar got her sari snatched by Doss (Lawrence Raghavendra) in bike. Bhanu who witness this event, brought Sarika to her home to get her new clothes. However to the horror of Sarika, Bhanu revealed her identity and admits that she ask Doss to snatch her sari while blackmail her to leave the city and Shankar, as this will give Bhanu some ample time in order to make Shankar fall in love with her. Sarika who was devastated and embarrassed with this incident, try to commits suicide by consuming poison. Meanwhile, Panneer who eavesdropped the conversation realize his mistakes and scolds Bhanu. After that, Bhanu who is in final year of MBBS returns to her university where the doctors all over the city was on strike. Sarika was brought to the hospital, because of the doctors' strike she could not get any treatment. Bhanu who happens to be there was forced by her friends to help save Sarika. Shankar get to know about Sarika's condition, in furiousness he went to search for Doss and is being followed by rowdies who was sent by Panneer Selvam earlier.

When Bhanu finally sees the girl that needs treatment, then only she realize its none other than Sarika herself. Shankar arrives at the hospital after take down the rowdies where Doss reveal the truth that Bhanu asked him to snatch Sarika's sari. Shankar is worried that Bhanu won't save Sarika's live and he made her promise that if she save her, he will marry Bhanu. The operation was successfully and Shankar fulfill his promise to Bhanu. As they walk out of the room, Bhanu told Shankar that he always understood everything late and her love for him is gone after she have seen Sarika's sacrifice for love (as Sarika almost died for her love). She apologize to Shankar for her drastic behavior, he forgives her and get unite with Sarika who just got conscious while Bhanu was seen crying over the shoulders of Panneer.

Cast

Casting

Initially Nandita Das and Simran were considered for the role of Bhanu. Saran first offered the script to Simran and she wanted to play the character since she had never played a villainous role before. Simran participated in a screen test and was confirmed for the role after she got good feedback from Saran. Laila was selected to play the other lead after Saran was impressed by her performance in Rojavanam.

Soundtrack

The music has been composed by composer Bharathwaj and the title track still remains an all time favourite melody. The highlight of the title track is the beautiful mouth organ prelude by Mr.Venkatasubramaniam aka Kyaba of the Madras chorale group with great backing provided by ace Bass guitarist Keith Peters and the lead vocals by Yugendran Vasudevan Nair. The lyrics were written by Vairamuthu. For the first time Prashanth lend his voice for a soundtrack.

Critical reception

Simran's performance received unanimous critical acclaim, gaining her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

Hindu wrote: "It is a spectacular role for Simran and she has made optimum use of it. A well-etched character which is suspenseful at every turn. Simran's eyes sparkle with animus, jealousy and venom in the scene in which she confronts Laila. Laila as the docile, taciturn beauty is an appealing foil to the fiery and vibrant Simran. Prashanth's plausible reactions to Simran's unrelenting moves, saying that he cannot think of her as a venomous person, are natural, and his performance is laudable. Raghuvaran is his usual self as the brother of Simran. There is no scope for him to show his mettle because though the character floats limpidly there is not much depth".

Lolluexpress wrote: "An excellent movie and its worth watching in big screens. After watching few movie that were released in the recent times I really consider "PARTHEN RASITHEN" to be the best one".

Balaji wrote: "The movie has a good story that keeps us guessing regarding the path it is going to take, a genuinely surprising twist, some nice characterizations and good comedy".

Chennaionline wrote: "film begins promisingly enough and moves at an interesting pace in the first half. The script is well worked out, the director paying attention to minute details. But then he moves away from the main plot, brings in some twists and turns, gets confused and comes back to the story again".super director saran

Legacy

In 2016, Vijay Sethupathi was asked about his favourite romantic moments in cinema and what Valentine’s Day means to him. He commented that "I’ve always been a huge admirer of Simran. I loved her in films like V. I. P. , Kannedhirey Thondrinal and Parthen Rasithen". Simran's performance was featured in JFW magazine's list of "5 Heroines Who Stunned Us By Playing Negative Roles". Similarly, Indiaglitz.com also listed Simran's portrayal in their list of "The Super Villains of Tamil Cinema" and credited her for the success of the film.