Vilaiyattu Pillai is based on Kothamangalam Subbu's novel Rao Bahadur Singaram, which was serialised in the magazine Ananda Vikatan.

Muthiah, a farmer, manages to tame Neelamani, a bull owned by Maragatham, the daughter of a wealthy man.

Muthiah's mother, while happy about the accolades her son has won, believes he is too playful and advises him to marry and live more responsibly.

Gemini Studios decided to adapt Subbu's story as a feature film titled Vilaiyattu Pillai,[1] with A. P. Nagarajan directing and writing the dialogues.

[7] The Indian Express panned the film, saying it lacked the warmth of the novel and criticised its length, but praised the scenes of the taming of the elephant and the bull fight.

The reviewer praised the performances of only Balaiah, Padmini and Sivakumar, while adding that Kanchana's role was "undefined", concluding that the film was a "waste of talent".