The ballad of Meena, a midwife, the story behind Annakili
The film Annakili, released in 1976, is based on the tragic real-life story of Meena, a midwife who was raped and murdered. Writer R. Selvaraj played a crucial role in bringing the story to the screen and in helping composer Ilaiyaraaja gain recognition. The film's adaptation transformed Meena into a heroic character, highlighting the impact of her story on Tamil cinema and folk narratives.
- ▪Annakili is based on the true story of Meena, a midwife from Madurai who was raped and murdered.
- ▪R. Selvaraj, the writer of the film, helped Ilaiyaraaja secure his opportunity to compose music for it.
- ▪The film's character Annam, inspired by Meena, is portrayed as a flawless epic heroine.
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| Original publisher | The Hindu — Top |
| Canonical URL | https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/the-ballad-of-meena-a-midwife-the-story-behind-annakili/article71015004.ece |
| Publication time | Sat, 23 May 2026 21:38:45 +0530 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-23T16:17:27.490Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-23T16:17:27.490Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Annakili heralded the arrival of a new phenomenon in Tamil cinema — maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The film was based on the real-life story of Meena, a midwife from Pappanaickenpatti in Madurai.“She was raped and murdered after being called to attend a childbirth, and her tragic story later found a place in local ballads and folk narratives,” said R. Selvaraj, the writer of the film. He was instrumental in helping Mr. Ilaiyaraaja secure the opportunity to compose music for Annakili, which was released on May 14, 1976. In those days, Pappanaickenpatti, near T. Kallupatti, was difficult to access. Visitors had to inform the villagers in advance so that a bullock cart could be sent to fetch them.
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