Paalai

• Sunil Kumar as Valan
• Shammu as Kaayampoo
• Prof. V. Natarajan
• Jayan
• Krishnagiri
• Julu

The film was shot extensively in the forests of Thanjavur, Mysore and Sathyamangalam.[1] Actress Shammu was the only professional actress to be cast in the film and Sunil Kumar prepared for his role by standing for hours under the sun to sport a tan as well as learning the basics of different forms of martial arts.[2][3] It became the actress's final film before she left the film industry to complete her education.[4] Members of the Irula tribe also acted in the film.[5]

The film was widely appreciated by critics though it was not released in many theaters. The film was privately screened in Norway a week later and was prepared for a theatrical release in the country shortly after, with the makers claiming it would be the first Tamil film to be released in regular cinema halls across Norway.[6] The film was screened at the Norway International Film Festival and then subsequently at the 10th International Tamil Film Festival in Canada in 2012.[7] It has won the best social awareness movie in Norway international film festival.[8]

Ved Shanker Sugavanam is the debudant music director. All the lyrics were written by M. Senthamizhan. There are five tracks in the film.

• 1. "Maayama Mayaa"
• 2. "Yaado Yaadho" (Male)
• 3. "Paalai Theme"
• 4. "Yaadho Yaadho" (Female)
• 5. "Hey Kollare"

• Paalai at IMDb