Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon) (1978) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo
Last updated: 17 Jul 2026
Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon) (1978) Review
Released on 10 Feb 1978, Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon) (1978) is a Tamil action, comedy, drama movie starring Vijayakumar, Rajinikanth, Jai Ganesh. Directed by P. Madhavan. Shankar is the son of a corrupt businessman. When his sister is married against her wishes, she escapes to live with Simon, a poor man whom she loves. The society strongly objects to this union. Our Rating: 1.75/5. Verdict: DISASTER. Runtime: 1h 52m.

Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon)(1978)
Tamil · Action, Comedy, Drama
1h 52m · 10 Feb 1978
DOP: P. N. Sundaram | Writer: N/A
Ratings
Our Rating
1.75
📖 Story
Shankar Salim Simon is a Tamil drama that revolves around the lives of three friends from different religious backgrounds—Hindu, Muslim, and Christian—navigating their personal struggles and societal challenges. The story explores themes of friendship, communal harmony, and love, set against the backdrop of social issues prevalent in the 1970s. The narrative weaves through their individual journeys and the conflicts they face, ultimately emphasizing unity and brotherhood.
Shankar Salim Simon presents a socially relevant story that attempts to promote communal harmony through the intertwined lives of its three protagonists. The screenplay is straightforward, focusing on emotional and dramatic elements to engage the audience. The pacing is moderate, with the first half establishing the characters and their backgrounds effectively, while the second half delves deeper into the conflicts and resolutions, maintaining audience interest.
The film's songs and background score, though not credited to a specific music director in the available data, complement the narrative by highlighting emotional beats and cultural settings. The cinematography by P. N. Sundaram captures the essence of the era and the mood of the story well. However, some sequences may feel dated to contemporary viewers, and the storytelling style is typical of the late 1970s Tamil cinema.
Overall, Shankar Salim Simon balances its message-driven content with entertainment, relying heavily on performances and the emotional weight of the story. The film's music and BGM support the narrative but do not stand out as major highlights. It remains a notable film for its attempt to address social unity through mainstream cinema.
Vijayakumar: Delivered a sincere and grounded portrayal of his character, effectively conveying emotional depth.
Rajinikanth: Showcased early signs of his charismatic screen presence, bringing intensity and charm to his role.
Jai Ganesh: Provided solid support with a convincing performance that complemented the lead actors.
Manjula Vijayakumar: Offered a heartfelt and engaging performance, adding emotional layers to the narrative.
Latha Sethupathi: Played her role with grace and contributed well to the film's dramatic moments.
Manorama: Added comic relief and warmth, enhancing the film's lighter moments.
💪 Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- ✓Strong theme of communal harmony and friendship
- ✓Effective performances by lead actors
- ✓Engaging screenplay with emotional depth
- ✓Good cinematography capturing the period setting
Weaknesses
- ✕Lack of credited music director limits musical impact
- ✕Pacing slows down in parts of the second half
- ✕Some sequences feel dated by modern standards
- ✕Background score is functional but not memorable
🎬 Direction & Writing
P. Madhavan's direction is focused on delivering a socially conscious message through a conventional narrative style. His writing emphasizes character-driven drama and moral values, maintaining clarity and coherence throughout the film. The direction successfully balances emotional storytelling with the film's underlying themes, though it adheres closely to the cinematic norms of its time.
📰 Ratings Sources
No rating sources available.
Our Rating
💰 Box Office Collection
No collection data available yet.
🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards
No centers data available.
No awards data available.
😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | — |
| Neutral | — |
| Negative | — |
Critics
No numeric critic ratings are publicly available from the specified sources for this film. Critical reception historically acknowledges the film for its message and performances but lacks detailed published numeric ratings.
Final Box-Office Result
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon) release in theatres?▾
Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon) released on 10 February 1978 (1978).
Is Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon) a hit or flop?▾
Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon) is declared a DISASTER at the box office.
Where to watch Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon) online? OTT release date?▾
Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon) OTT release date not announced yet.
Who directed Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon)?▾
Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon) directed by P. Madhavan.
Who are the main cast members of Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon)?▾
Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon) stars Vijayakumar, Rajinikanth, Jai Ganesh, Manjula Vijayakumar, Latha Sethupathi.
What is the Tollybo rating for Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon)?▾
Tollybo rates Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon) 1.75/5. Verdict: DISASTER.
What is the genre and runtime of Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon)?▾
Shankar Salim Simon (Shankar Salim Simon) — Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama, Runtime: 112 minutes, Language: Tamil.
