| Director: | R. C. Sakthi |
| Story: | Peter Selvakumar |
| Producer: | T. R. Srinivasan |
| Starring: | Rajinikanth Sridevi Thengai Srinivasan |
| Cinematography: | N. Balakrishnan |
| Editing: | G. Radhakrishnan |
| Music: | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Studio: | Charusuchithra Films |
| Runtime: | 134 Minutes |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Tamil |
Dharma Yuddam is a 1979 Indian Tamil-language action film directed by R. C. Sakthi. It stars Rajinikanth and Sridevi. The film was released on 29 June 1979.[1]
Vijay's parents are killed by Robert. He is adopted and brought up by Thiyagarajan. He comes to love Thiyagarajan's daughter as his own sister. He becomes a successful, soft-spoken, kind yet reclusive business man and is sought by Chitra for an interview. He falls in love while Manju, and his sister falls in love with a photographer. Though initially against the match, Vijay realizes that his sister's lover is hardworking, sincere and is not after money. All seems to go well until one day Manju is found dead near the pier.
Robert, their family friend, is an illegal organ trader and sells custom requested eyes. He is the one who kidnapped and killed Manju. Vijay has a weakness. On full moon night, he has an alter-ego that takes over which is extremely violent, overtly strong and incredibly dangerous as it was the day he lost his biological family. This was Vijay's biggest secret which he hid from everybody except for Chithra, whom he trusted and loved. His adoptive father and later, his sister chain him up in a room to ensure he does not hurt others and more importantly himself. When Vijay finds out that Robert has been stealing eyes and is responsible for all the deaths, he goes after him but is overpowered by Robert's henchmen. While Robert was completing his last ever deal, the full moon rises and Vijay, in his alter-ego, kills every single one of them in rage. He is acquitted both on account of his condition and that the dead are criminals.
The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[2] [3] The song, "Oru Thanga Radhathil" is set in Mohanam raga and "Aagaya Gangai" is set in Madhyamavati.[4] [5]
Daniel, a consulting psychiatrist, criticised the lead character's condition, that he becomes invincible and violent on a full moon night, as a medically inaccurate myth, noting its similarities to werewolf theories.[6]