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 Ilaiyaraaja secure the opportunity to compose music for Annakili, which was released on May 14, 1976.Meena’s taleIn 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. The sister of Selvaraj’s grandfather, Kothandarama Naidu, lived there.“She had a large house, and the terrace was used for drying paddy. The terrace had holes connected to a storage room below. Women drying the paddy would push the grain with their feet into these holes so that it could be collected downstairs. It was while watching them work that I heard songs in praise of Meena, who had been raped and murdered. They would sing that the paddy would have dried faster had Meena been alive,” recalled Selvaraj.