# Aval Yaar

Aval Yaar (transl. Who is she?) is a 1959 Indian Tamil-language legal thriller film, directed by K. J. Mahadevan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Pandari Bai, S. V. Ranga Rao and Sowcar Janaki. It was released on 30 October 1959, and did not do well at the box office.

## Plot

Mahalakshmi is the daughter of a wealthy banker called Sahasranamam, who wishes that she would marry a young man (Gopi). However, a noted lawyer of that town, Sadhasivam, a widower, wishes to marry her and to save her father's reputation, she marries him and soon loses her father. The couple have a son. The lawyer's nephew Bhoopathi, not worldly-wise, has a friend called Bahadur, who wishes to exploit him for his money. Bhoopathi has a sweetheart called Asha. Thanks to the marriage, the lawyer's safe keys are now handled by Mahalakshmi, which upsets Bahadur. He drives a wedge between the lawyer and his wife. Suspecting his wife, the lawyer turns her out of the house. The innocent woman without her husband's knowledge takes the child away. She loses the child, who is brought up by a rich couple, Manivel and Maragatham. This upsets Mahalakshmi, who loses her mental balance.
Years pass and Mahalakshmi, completely cured, takes care of a young girl, Vijaya, under a new name, Ponni. Her son goes to England to become a barrister, about which his mother has no knowledge. Bahadur creates fake letters as if written by Mahalakshmi and threatens to publish them in his third-rate "yellow" magazine unless she pays a huge price. When she goes to meet Bahadur to persuade him to hand over the letters, he is found murdered. She is arrested and charged with murder. By now Sadhasivam has become a judge and the case comes up for trial before him. How the truth comes out and happiness is restored forms the rest of the plot.

## Production

V. Gopalakrishnan who acted in this film revealed that Ganesan worked in this film "hardly 4 to 6 days".

## Soundtrack

The music was composed by S. Rajeswara Rao while the lyrics were penned by Papanasam Sivan, V. Seetharaman, Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, and V. Lakshmanan. One song "Kannan Pirandhaan" by Subramania Bharati also was included in the film.
| Song | Singer/s | Lyricist | Duration |
| "Kan Kaanum Minnal Thaano" | Raghunath Panigrahi | Vidwan Lakshmanan | 03:12 |
| "Naan Thedum Podhu Nee Odalaamo" | Raghunath Panigrahi | Vidwan Lakshmanan | 03:11 |
| "Pattu Poochchi Polum Raani" | A. M. Rajah & Jikki | Vidwan Lakshmanan | 02:58 |
| "Adakkiduven" | S. C. Krishnan & T. V. Rathnam | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 03:17 |
| "Sugam Varuvadhu" | Jikki & group | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | |
| "Pudhu Azhagai Rasikka Varum" | P. B. Srinivas, Jikki & Group | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 03:59 |
| "Enna Aanandam" | P. Leela | Papanasam Sivan | 02:46 |
| "Kanne En Kanmaniye" | P. Leela | Papanasam Sivan | 03:13 |
| "Kannukkazhagaa Pengalai" | Jikki, T. V. Rathnam & group | V. Seetharama | 03:16 |
| "Vaaraaru Vaaraaru Vanthukitte" | V. N. Sundaram & group | V. Seetharama | 05:13 |
| "Kannan Pirandhaan Engal" | Kumari Abhayam | Subramania Bharati | |

## Reception

Ananda Vikatan said that though the story was confusing, the film was technically good. Kanthan of Kalki appreciated the director for trying to take Tamil cinema in a new direction, even if he was not successful in achieving that goal. Facing competition from another Sivaji Ganesan starrer Bhaaga Pirivinai, it did not do well at the box-office.