Ramu () is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar and written by Javar N. Seetharaman. The film mainly stars Gemini Ganesh and K. R. Vijaya, with Ashokan, Nagesh, V. K. Ramasamy, O. A. K. Thevar and Master Rajkumar—as the titular character—in supporting roles. A remake of the Hindi film Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (1964), it revolves around a boy who loses his speech after witnessing his mother's death, and his father attempts to restore his son's speech.
Ramu was produced by Uma Productions, a subsidiary of AVM Productions, and predominantly shot in the village of Kaduvetti, Tamil Nadu. It was released on 10 June 1966 and became a commercial success, winning the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil and received positive reviews. The film was remade in Telugu with the same title in 1968 by the same studio and director, with Rajkumar reprising his role.
Plot
Raja, a soldier in the Indian Army, returns to his village to be with his wife Seetha and son Ramu. He receives a telegram ordering him to report for duty and has to leave. During the war, Raja sees his superior wounded before dying in Raja's arms after mentioning his unmarried daughter. In Raja's absence, dacoits invade Raja's village and torch several houses, including Raja's. Ramu, who witnesses his mother's death in the fire, loses his speech due to trauma. After reuniting with Ramu, Raja learns of his wife's death and son's loss of speech. They leave the village to seek treatment for Ramu; they pass through a village where a woman named Seethalakshmi, or Lakshmi, whose father has recently died, lives alone. Ganganna, her maternal uncle, has two sons; Rangan, who is as unscrupulous as his father, and Muthu, who is sympathetic.
Ganganna, avaricious for Lakshmi's wealth, orders her to marry Rangan; she refuses and Ganganna harasses and persuades her. When Ramu accidentally drops firewood, Rangan slaps Ramu. Raja beats Rangan, but he is knocked unconscious; Lakshmi then nurses him back to health. Ganganna prevents workers from tilling Lakshmi's land so Raja helps her by hiring a tractor and completing the work. Raja helps Lakshmi manage her farm and she gradually becomes attracted to him. Lakshmi becomes close to Ramu, who reciprocates. Raja, however, refuses to return Lakshmi's feelings as he still grieves for his wife. Raja saves Lakshmi from an attempted molestation by Rangan and discovers she is his deceased superior's daughter.
Ramu visits a nearby forest and becomes acquainted with a former Tamil teacher. Rangan and Ganganna ask Sangili, a dacoit, to kill Raja. Ramu recognises Sangili and tells his father that he is responsible for Seetha's death. Raja then forces him to leave the village. Sangili returns to kill Raja but is eventually arrested. The physician treating Ramu recommends he be taken to an ear, nose, and throat specialist in Madras, who advises psychological treatment but the psychologist is unable to offer a solution. Raja becomes dejected; after being robbed by a passerby, he attempts suicide with his son but both listen to a prayer about Krishna, reconsider and return to Lakshmi's village. Lakshmi insists they continue living with her; they agree.
One night, Rangan secretly harvests crops from Lakshmi's land and his own, and frames Raja for doing so. Raja is arrested and Ramu's dog is tied in one of Rangan's houses because it witnessed Rangan harvesting. Ramu enters the house to free it but is also tied up. The Tamil teacher, searching for Ramu, enters the house and sees Ganganna, who earlier cheated on his daughter, leading her to drown herself in a well. The teacher intimidates Ganganna, who falls into the same well. When Rangan tries molesting Lakshmi, the dog escapes and brings Raja to the house; he fights Rangan and a fire breaks out, causing Lakshmi to faint. Before the fire can engulf her, Ramu suddenly regains his speech and shouts at Lakshmi, who awakens, and they safely evacuate. Police arrest Rangan and the teacher admits to having killed Ganganna. Later, Raja plans to leave the village with Ramu, who refuses to leave Lakshmi. Raja agrees to marry Lakshmi and remain in the village.