Mazhalai Pattalam was released on 9 May 1980, and Makkala Sainya on 21 July that year.

The film, announced in 1979,[2] is the directorial debut of Lakshmi,[3] who was supervised by K. Balachander.

[4][5] When Balachander approached Visu to write the screenplay and dialogues, he left his job at a travel company and agreed to write the screenplay while also taking care of post-production activities as per Balachander's request.

[12] Kanthan of Kalki wrote that Lakshmi's direction in her debut did not speak; however her experienced maturity was evident.

[13] The film opened to a poor response, but picked up by the eighth week and became a success.