Agraharathil Kazhutai () is a 1977 Indian Tamil-language satirical film directed by John Abraham and written by Venkat Swaminathan. Inspired by Robert Bresson's French film Au Hasard Balthazar (1966), the film stars M. B. Sreenivasan and Swathi. It revolves around a donkey which faces ridicule when brought to a Brahmin village. Agraharathil Kazhutai won the Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. Though the film courted controversy as it was perceived as hurting Brahmin sentiments, and was largely shunned during its initial release, it attained cult status in later years. Plot In Madras, a female donkey is killed by a group of people. Her orphaned foal walks into the house of Narayanaswami, a Brahmin college professor. Narayanaswami, sympathetic after learning what happened, decides to raise the foal and names it 'Chinna'. Due to adopting a donkey, Narayanaswami faces ridicule in his neighbourhood and college. The principal feels this is affecting the college's reputation, and asks Narayanaswami to do something. Narayanaswami resigns and leaves with Chinna to his Agraharam (Brahmin village). After Narayanaswami's arrival at the village, his parents are surprised at his idea to care for a foal. However, Narayanaswami convinces his father, and a deaf-mute girl Uma working as their maid is assigned to take care of Chinna. Narayanaswami returns to Madras for work. The village's other residents start criticising the idea of raising a foal in the Brahmin village. A gang of mischievous boys in the village take to harmful pranks, framing Chinna of having acted on its own. When Narayanaswami returns some months later, his father mentions the incidents involving Chinna and how the neighbours are constantly complaining. Narayanaswami's brother Venkat shifts to the village and comes with his wife, who becomes upset by the foal's presence in the house. To keep the peace, Narayanaswami takes Chinna away, pays Uma to take care of it, and returns to Madras. While taking Chinna to the fields, Uma encounters a worker. This develops into a physical relationship, and Uma soon becomes pregnant. The worker disappears, abandoning Uma. Chinna has now matured. Narayanaswami returns to the village after some months, and sees a pregnant Uma. She informs him that the temple priest was injured due because of Chinna; as a result, the villagers, headed by Srinivasa Iyer, sent it to a washerman. Narayanaswami goes to see Chinna, then leaves for Madras. Uma's baby is stillborn; her mother leaves it at