Song: Uzhaippali Illatha
Composer: Ilaiyaraaja
Lyrics: Vaali
Singers: Mano
Cast: Rajinikanth
Film: Uzhaippali
Today marks 26 years since the release of director P Vasu’s Uzhappali. The super-hit 1993 film stars Rajini as a coolie working in a factory. After realising he is the heir of a rich man and that he was cheated by his brothers who killed his father, Rajini avenges his father’s death. But, he refuses the money and goes back to his life as a coolie. This song, with music by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics by Vaali, speaks of the indispensability of labourers.
Tamil films about workers’ rights are many in number, and Rajinikanth-starrers such as Uzhaippali were huge hits. P Vasu and Rajini also collaborated for Panakkaran, Mannan, Chandramukhi and Kuselan.