Sirai is based on Anuradha Ramanan's 1980 short story of the same name. The film was produced by Mohan of Anandhi Films, photographed by the duo Vishwam–Nataraj, and edited by G. Radhakrishnan. It shot on actual locales, with minimal use of sets, although shooting also took place at Vauhini Studios.
Anthony is a wealthy landlord, a drunkard who has no values in life and indulges in several atrocities. The village chief Ondriyam and the police inspector are his supporters. Irudhayasami, an honest and soon-to-retire senior police constable, arrests a man who attempted to rape a woman, but due to Anthony's clout, the accused is exonerated. Irudhayasami curses that one day Anthony would repent for his sins.
Raghupathi and Bhagirathi, a Brahmin couple, move into the village and settle in the house next to Anthony's. Anthony lusts after Bhagirathi and one night when Raghupathi is not home, a drunk Anthony rapes Bhagirathi. When Raghupathi notices Anthony walking away from his home and Bhagirathi crying, he disowns her as she is maligned. When she refuses, he leaves the home after locking it without informing her and does not return. Left outside the locked house, Bhagirathi searches for him but fails. When no one supports her in the village and she is helpless and alone, Irudhayasami advises her to move into Anthony's house as he is the root cause of all her troubles.
Bhagirathi goes to Anthony's house and declares that he should take responsibility for her as he is the cause of her hardship and confines herself to a room in his house, warning him that he should not enter it at any cost in the name of Mother Mary. She states that as she is unable to punish him for his sin, she is punishing herself by being in his home and living in a room like a prison. His punishment is watching her suffer before his eyes for the sin he committed.
Anthony's servant Marudhu takes care of Bhagirathi's needs. Soon, Anthony realises his mistakes and his attitude and behaviour change. He helps his worker Muthu marry his lover Jilla, daughter of Ondriyam, by gifting his lands to him. Anthony helps Bhagirathi's father financially to get her three sisters married on the same day. Gradually, he advises everyone to hand over his financial matters to Bhagirathi and people start gossiping about their relationship. He stops drinking, smoking, womanising, and his house is converted into a proper living place. Though Bhagirathi is happy that he is a changed person, she frequently reminds him of his sins which caused harm to many.
One day, Anthony suffers a paralytic attack and becomes bedridden. He regrets all his sins, particularly to Bhagirathi, who now takes care of him. She even nurses him in the absence of his servant. Anthony requests Marudhu to locate Raghupathi and bring him. Raghupathi is found and agrees to come the next day. On the same night, Anthony becomes weak. He requests Bhagirathi to sing the song which she sang when she was happily married and which tempted him to molest her. Listening to her song, Anthony dies. When Anthony's coffin leaves, Bhagirathi realises how he took care of her and cries that she has no one to take care of her now.
Raghupathi comes after the coffin has left and in a selfish tone asks Bhagirathi to join him the next day. She refuses and tells him that a couple should be together in good and bad times. When she needed him the most, he deserted her; though Anthony molested her for his momentary pleasure, he regretted his mistake and took great care of her, treating her with respect till his end. So she would be proud to be Anthony's widow rather than the wife of a self-centered husband who did not take care of his life partner. She removes her tali, the symbol of their marriage, and continues to live in Anthony's house.
Subscribe now for more updates: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-ToRajshriTamil
Join & Like our Facebook Rajshritamil Fan Page
http://www.facebook.com/rajshritamil view more