Pudhea Paadhai

New Path) is a 1989 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by R. Parthiban in his directorial debut.

The film stars Parthiban as an inhumane ruffian who gets reformed by his rape victim (Seetha), while V. K. Ramasamy, Manorama, Nassar, Sridhar, Kuyili and Sathyapriya appear in supporting roles.

It was remade in Kannada in 1990 as Hosa Jeevana, in Hindi in 1991 as Benaam Badsha, in 1991 in Telugu as Rowdy Gaari Pellam and in 1996 in Malayalam as Swarnakireedam.

She narrates to the people in the area that he molested her and the sequences which forced her to leave her father and live in the slum.

Thoguthi, for whom Seetharaman previously worked, kills Annapoorani when she demands her share from his illegal gains.

Seetharaman, busy working for extra money to buy a gift for Seetha and their wedding anniversary, does not have lunch.

When Seetha returns home to take her child's feeding bottle which she had forgotten, she opens the lunchbox out of curiosity, expecting a gift from her husband, and dies in the ensuing explosion.

[4][2] Parthiban initially approached Khushbu to portray the lead actress, but the producer did not accept as she was not fluent in Tamil at the time; the role went to Seetha.

Despite facing competition from other Puthandu releases such as Apoorva Sagodharargal, En Rathathin Rathame and Pillaikkaga, the film became a commercial success.