Jenma Natchathiram

Jenma Natchathiram (தமிழ்: ஜென்ம நட்சத்திரம், English: Birth Star) is a 1991 Tamil supernatural horror film, directed and screenplay by Thakkali Srinivasan for Thirai Gangai Films.[1][2] The film dialogue was written by Ma. Pandarinathan, and the story was written by Krishnan, respectively. Music was by Premi-Srini and Manachanallur Giridharan. It stars Baby Vichithra playing titular role, with Pramoth, Sindhuja and Vivek playing pivotal roles.[3] The film was unofficial remake of The Omen, 1976 American supernatural horror drama film, directed by Richard Donner.

Jenma Natchathiram
ஜென்ம நட்சத்திரம்
DVD Cover
Directed byThakkali Srinivasan
Produced byDhinakkar
Sudharsan (Supervisor)
Written byMa. Pandarinathan (dialogue)
Screenplay byThakkali C. Srinivasan
Story byKrishna
Based onThe Omen by Richard Donner
StarringPramoth
Sindhuja
Nassar
Vivek
Baby Vichithra
Music byPremi Seeni, Manachanallur Giridharan
CinematographyDhayal Osho
Edited byKarthik Keyas
Distributed byThirai Gangai Films
Release date
  • 30 August 1991 (1991-08-30)
Running time
117 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

The film concerns a young child adopted at birth by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Private Secretary Anthony, unbeknownst to his wife, after their own son is stillborn. They are surrounded by mysterious and ominous deaths, unaware that the child is the Antichrist.

Plot

In Coimbatore, collector Anthony (Pramoth) is in a hospital where his wife Jenny Anthony (Sindhuja) gives birth to a boy, who he told died moments after being born. Anthony is convinced by the hospital chaplain head doctor Philips (V. Gopalakrsihnan) to secretly adopt an orphan whose mother died at the same time. Anthony agrees, but does not reveal to his wife that the child is not theirs. They name the child as Xavier. Soon after, Anthony is appointed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's private secretary. When Xavier reaches the age of five, Anthony is transferred to Madras. Mysterious events plague the Anthonys: large black dogs congregate near the Anthony home; Xavier's nanny publicly hangs herself at his 5th birthday party; a new nanny Mrs. Elizabeth (Indradevi) arrives unannounced to replace her; the five-year-old Xaviet violently resists entering a church; and zoo animals are terrified of Xavier.

Father Murphy (Nassar) a Catholic Priest tries repeatedly to warn the Anthonys about Xavier's mysterious origins, hinting that Xavier may not be human. The priest later tells Anthony that Jenny is pregnant and that Xavier will prevent her from having the child. Afterward, Father Murphy is impaled and killed by a lightning rod thrown from the roof of a church during a sudden storm. Upon returning home, Jenny tells Anthony that she is pregnant and wants an abortion. Learning of Father Murphy's death, photographer Swaminathan investigating Damien. He notices shadows in photographs of the Nanny and of Father Murphy that seem to presage their bizarre deaths. Photos of Swaminathan also show these shadows, Swami shows Anthony the photos and tells him he also believes that Damien is a threat and that he wants to help Anthony. While Anthony is away, Xavier knocks Jenny over an upstairs railing to the floor below, causing her to miscarry.

Swami and Anthony travel to Coimbatore to investigate Xavier's birth. A fire destroyed the hospital records and the maternity and nursery wards five years earlier. Most of the staff on duty died in the fire. Anthony and Swami trace Dr. Philips to a Church abbey in Coimbatore, where he is recuperating from his injuries. Stricken mute, blind in his right eye and paralyzed in his right arm, Philips writes the name of an ancient cemetery in Athivetti, where Xavier's biological mother is buried. Anthony and Swami find a jackal carcass in the grave and in the child's grave next to it, the child's skeleton with a shattered skull. These are Xavier's unnatural "mother" and the remains of the Anthony's own child, murdered at birth so that Xavier could take his place. Swami reiterates Father Murphy's belief that Xavier is the Antichrist, whose coming is being supported by a conspiracy of Satanists. A pack of wild dogs, similar to ones seen near the Anthony's mansion, drive Anthony and Swami out of the cemetery.

Back in Madras, Mrs. Elizabeth persuades a nurse to allow her access to Jenny, who is heavily sedated and under police protection. Once inside the room, Mrs. Elizabeth pushes Jenny out of the window, causing her to fall onto an Ambulance truck, killing her. Anthony and Swami travel to Pondicherry to find Lawrence (Thakkali Srinivasan), an archaeologist and expert on the Antichrist. Lawrence explains that if Xavier is the Antichrist he will have a birthmark in shape of three sixes, under his hair, if nowhere else. Anthony learns that the only way to kill the Antichrist is with seven mystical daggers. Appalled by the idea of murdering a child, Anthony discards the daggers, but when Swami tries to retrieve them, he is decapitated by a sheet of window glass sliding off a truck, matching the shadow across his neck, which had presaged his death.

Returning home, Anthony examines Xavier for the birthmark, finding it on the child's scalp. Mrs. Elizabeth attacks him and in the ensuing struggle, Anthony kills her. He loads Xavier and the daggers in to a car and drives to nearest church. Due to his erratic driving, he is followed by the police, who arrive as he is dragging the screaming child to the altar. An officer orders him to raise his hands and stand away. Anthony raises the first dagger, and the officers fires his gun. The double funeral of Jenny and Anthony is attended by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, who now has custody of a smiling Xavier. The film then concludes with Revelation 13:18.

Cast

  • Vichithra as Xavier
  • Pramoth as Antony
  • Sindhuja as Jennifer
  • G. Anandharam as Swaminathan
  • Nassar as Father Murphy
  • Vivek as David
  • Prasanna as Doctor Sambath
  • Indradevi as Mrs. Elizabeth, Xavier's Nanny
  • V. Gopalakrishnan as The Head Doctor Philips
  • Lose Mohan as John, as Watchman
  • Sridevi
  • Sundari as Xavier's Nanny
  • Thakkali Srinivasan as Lawrence

References

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