The screenplay and dialogues for Parasakthi were written by M. Karunanidhi, who would later become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The film's soundtrack was composed by R. Sudarsanam. Parasakthi was released on 17 October 1952, during the festive occasion of Diwali, and ran into trouble because of its portrayal of Brahmins and Hindu customs and practices in poor light. The elitarian society including the then ruling State government even demanded the film to be banned. Nevertheless, the film was critically acclaimed, with critics praising its dialogues and the actors' performances in particular. The film also become a commercial success, and had a theatrical run of over 175 days. Parasakthi also acquired cult status in Tamil cinema, and became a trendsetter for dialogues and acting for later Tamil films.
Contents
- 1 Plot
- 2 Cast
- 3 Production
- 4 Themes
- 5 Music
- 6 Release
- 7 Legacy
- 8 See also
- 9 Explanatory notes
- 10 References
- 11 External links
Plot
The film begins in 1942, during World War II, when Chandrasekaran, Gnanasekaran and Gunasekaran are three Indian immigrant brothers from Madurai, Tamil Nadu living in Rangoon, Burma. Their younger sister Kalyani was raised in their home town by their father Manickampillai. Her marriage is arranged with a writer named Thangappan, and the brothers plan to visit Madurai to attend the wedding. Due to war conditions and bombardment of Burmese ports by Japan, the shipping company offers only one ticket and Gunasekaran, the youngest brother, takes it and leaves for Tamil Nadu. The ship however fails to reach on time due to the dangers of the war, and Kalyani's marriage takes place without any of her brothers present.Kalyani becomes pregnant. But on the day she delivers her child, Thangappan dies in an accident and Manickampillai dies of shock, leaving Kalyani and her child destitute. Her house gets auctioned off, and she makes her living by selling food on the streets. Gunasekaran, after being stranded at sea for several months, finally arrives in Tamil Nadu at Madras. However, while watching a dance performance, he is robbed of all his belongings after being intoxicated. Reduced to the status of a pauper, he becomes enraged at the status of the once glorious Tamil Nadu, and fakes insanity by indulging in numerous tricks to make a living. Gunasekaran finally comes across his destitute sister at Madurai, having learned of their father's death and her poverty. He continues to play insane and does not reveal his true identity to her due to his poverty, but hovers around her. Kalyani is irritated by the stranger's behaviour, unaware that he is her brother.
Kalyani is nearly molested by a vagabond named Venu, but is saved by Gunasekaran. She later leaves Madurai and arrives at Tiruchi, where she obtains work as a maid of blackmarketeer Narayana Pillai, who also tries to molest her. She is, however, saved by his wife Kantha, and leaves the job. While searching for his sister, Gunasekaran reaches Tiruchi and comes across Vimala, a wealthy woman, to whom he explains the miserable status of him and his sister in the society. After resting in her house for a while, he silently leaves to continue searching for Kalyani.
Meanwhile, as Japanese shelling intensifies in Burma, Chandrasekaran and Gnanasekaran decide to return to India. Chandrasekaran, accompanied by his wife Saraswati, reaches Tiruchi safely and becomes a judge, but Gnanasekaran is lost in the journey and loses a leg in the shelling before arriving in India. He begs for a living, forms an association for beggars and tries to reform them. Kalyani reaches Chandrasekaran's palatial house seeking food, but Chandrasekaran throws her out without recognising her. She later arrives at a temple seeking help, but the pujari (priest) also tries to molest her. Frustrated with life and unable to feed her child, Kalyani throws it into a river and attempts suicide, but is soon arrested for killing the child and brought for trial.
At the court, Kalyani defends her act of infanticide with the judge being Chandrasekaran, who after hearing her tragic story realises she is his sister, and faints. Gunasekaran is also brought to the court for having attacked the priest who tried to molest his sister. During his trial, Gunasekaran explains the misfortunes which has befallen him and his family, and justifies his actions. Gunasekaran's valiant defence in court awakens everyone on the evils of the society. As the trial proceeds, Vimala arrives and produces Kalyani's child, which was revealed to have safely fallen in her boat instead of the river. Kalyani and Gunasekaran are pardoned and acquitted by the court, and are finally reunited with Chandrasekaran. Gnanasekaran, while collecting donations for his association of beggars, also joins them unexpectedly. With Vimala and Gunasekaran deciding to get married, the family subsequently inaugurates a welfare home for orphans.
Cast
- Male cast
- Sivaji Ganesan as Gunasekaran, the youngest of three brothers
- S. V. Sahasranamam as Chandrasekaran, the eldest of three brothers
- S. S. Rajendran as Gnanasekaran, the second of three brothers
- Duraiswamy as Manickampillai, the father of the three brothers
- T. K. Ramachandran as Venu, a local vagabond
- K. M. Nambirajan as Vellai Swamy
- Venkatraman as Thangappan, husband of Kalyani
- V. K. Ramasamy as Narayana Pillai, a blackmarketeer
- K. P. Kamatchi as the pujari (priest)
- M. N. Krishnan as Kuppan
- Sakthivel as a servant
- D. V. Narayanaswamy as Thambi Durai
- V. K. Karthikeyan as the Tamil Pandit
- Female cast
- Sriranjani Jr. as Kalyani, the sister of the three brothers
- Pandari Bai as Vimala, Gunasekaran's future wife
- Susheela as Saraswati, Chandrasekaran's wife
- Kannamma as Jolly
- Angamuthu as the Fruit seller
- T. P. Muthulakshmi as Kantha, Narayana Pillai's wife
- A. S. Jaya as Parvati
Production
"My intention was to introduce the ideas and policies of social
reform and justice in the films and bring up the status of the Tamil
language as they were called for in DMK policies."
– Karunanidhi, in a 1970 interview with Robert L. Hardgrave Jr.
The shooting of the film En Thangai began with Tiruchi Loganathan, then a popular playback artist, playing the lead role of the sacrificing brother. However, he was eventually replaced by actor M. G. Ramachandran. Meanwhile, film distributor P. A. Perumal of National Pictures, with the patronage of A. V. Meiyappan of AVM Productions, bought film rights of Parasakthi. M. Karunanidhi was signed to write the script. Sivaji Ganesan, the stage actor of En Thangai was chosen to play the hero, making his acting debut in film. Ganesan had simultaneously shot for the film Poongothai, which was supposed to be his actual film to release first, but released much later. He had earlier dubbed for Telugu actor Mukkamala Krishnamurthi in the 1951 Tamil film Niraparadhi.
Parasakthi did not begin well for Ganesan. After 3000 feet of the film was shot, Meiyappan and the film's directors Krishnan and Panju were dissatisfied with Ganesan's performance, and Meiyappan wanted to replace Ganesan with actor K. R. Ramasami. Producer Perumal refused to have Ganesan replaced, and even considered taking the production house elsewhere. He later approached political leader C. N. Annadurai, who convinced Meiyappan to retain Ganesan in the film. Ganesan was paid a monthly salary of
250 (valued at about US$52.5 in 1952 ) for acting in the film. S. S. Rajendran, who was another successful stage artist, also debuted in Parasakthi after the advice of Annadurai. Actress Raja Sulochana was initially cast as the female lead, but opted out due to her pregnancy, and was eventually replaced by Telugu actress Sriranjani Jr. Pandari Bai was also added to the film, after Meiyappan was impressed with her performance in Raja Vikrama (1950). Poet Kannadasan
declined the offer to be one of the film's lyricists, and instead acted
in a minor role as a court judge, as he was "determined to take part in
the Parasakthi movie". The cinematography was handled by S. Maruti Rao, while the songs were choreographed by Heeralal.
The dialogues of the film, written by Karunanidhi, critically examined
the social issues of the time and holds an important part in the Dravidian Movement. The film's climax song Ellorum Vazha Vendum featured stock footage of the political leaders C. Rajagopalachari, Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, Bhakthavatchalam, Annadurai, and Karunanidhi. Themes
The title song of the film was composed by Bharathidasan, keeping with the demand of the DMK party seeking a sovereign Dravidian nation. The poem glorifies the utopian nature of the Dravidian nation and ends with a long monologue that grieves the present India's reality. When the female lead Kalyani becomes pregnant, she and her husband Thangappan decide to name the child "Pannirselvam" if it is a boy, and "Nagammai" if it is a girl. The names are references to A. T. Pannirselvam, a prominent and respected leader of the Justice Party and Nagammai, a leading activist in the Self-Respect Movement and the wife of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy.The film deploys Kalyani's vulnerability as a widow in a hostile society, with consequent threats to her chastity, especially during the court trial scenes. The name Kalyani was chosen by the script writer to emphasise the contradiction between the meaning of her name indicating auspiciousness and her contrasting penury. The theme is expressed through Gunasekaran's arguments in the court : "[My] sister's name is Kalyani. An auspicious name [indeed]. But there is no 'mangalyam' around [her] neck". Also, Vimala, who becomes Gunasekaran's bride, compares herself to Kannagi, a popular symbol of chastity in Tamil culture. Sivaji Ganesan, who enacted the role of Gunasekaran in Parasakthi, was a DMK activist in real life in 1952 and helped in propagating the theme of Dravida Nadu. The film attempted to bring to light the alleged fraud in the name of religion and presented agnostic views, displaying a powerful critique of the Congress rule in the Madras Presidency.
Music
The music of Parasakthi was composed by R. Sudarsanam. The lyrics were written by Kannadasan, Bharathidasan, T. N. Ramaiah Nadu, Bharathiyar, Karunanidhi, and Udumalai Narayana Kavi. The background score was composed by the Chennai-based Saraswathi Stores Orchestra. Relatively higher importance was given to the film's dialogues over its music, so the dialogues were printed and sold separately like film song books. Parasakthi established this trend, which was eventually followed by later Tamil films. The track O Rasikkum Seemane is said to have inspired the song Itai Tazhukikkolla from the film Periyar. The 2010 film Rasikkum Seemane borrows its title from the song of the same name.| No. | Title | Singers | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Desam Gnanam Kalvi" | C. S. Jayaraman | 3:26 | |
| 2. | "Kaa Kaa Kaa" | C. S. Jayaraman | 3:00 | |
| 3. | "Nenju Porkku Thillaiye" | C. S. Jayaraman | 4:50 | |
| 4. | "Ill Vaazhviniley" | T. S. Bhagavathi, M. H. Hussain | 2:07 | |
| 5. | "Puthu Pennin" | M. S. Rajeswari | 4:23 | |
| 6. | "Oh Rasikkum Seemane" | M. S. Rajeswari | 1:44 | |
| 7. | "Ellorum" | T. S. Bhagavathi, M. L. Vasanthakumari | 1:35 | |
| 8. | "Konju Mozhi" | T. S. Bhagavathi | 3:03 | |
| 9. | "Poomaalai" | T. S. Bhagavathi | 3:01 | |
| 10. | "Porule Illaarkku" | T. S. Bhagavathi | 3:37 | |
| 11. | "Vaazhga Vaazhgave" | M. L. Vasanthakumari | 5:00 |
Release
Reception
Parasakthi was released on 17 October 1952, on Diwali day. Regarded as the first significant attempt by the Dravidian Movement to use media for propaganda, the film catapulted Ganesan to fame overnight and evoked comparisons with Hollywood actor Spencer Tracy. Ganesan's performance in the film's court scene was also very well received by audience, and was considered to have propelled him to stardom. The film became an instant commercial success, running for over 175 days in several theatres, and was one of the first films to be screened at the Madurai-based Thangam theatre, which was noted as Asia's largest theatre at the time. Parasakthi's Telugu-dubbed version of the same name was released in 1957.Critical response
Entertainment portal IndiaGlitz said, "One can never forget the impeccable and revolutionary dialogues from Parasakthi. Former chief minister M. Karunanidhi's power packed dialogues and Shivaji Ganesan's master class acting made this movie a unforgettable watch." Behindwoods.com praised the film for the "fiery dialogues, talented direction, and terrific acting by the cast". Film historian S. Muthiah said that Parasakthi "showed Karunanidhi as the master of meaningful screen dialogue that carried forceful messages to the masses". The Sunday Indian called it "a classic DMK film scripted by M Karunanidhi". In a 2007 interview with S. R. Ashok Kumar of The Hindu, director Balu Mahendra said, "'Parasakthi's' heavy dialogue (written in chaste Tamil by the current Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi) coupled with a stunning performance by newcomer, Sivaji Ganesan, make it a favourite." Film historian "Film News" Anandan called it "one of the most elaborately plotted melodramas in the Indian cinema". In his 2011 book The Best of Tamil Cinema: 1931 to 1976, G. Dhananjayan said, "The impact of the film can be felt even after 60 years among the film loving audience, who fondly remember its dialogues, acting and songs", and called the film a "must watch."
Controversies
Post release, Parasakthi was marred by numerous controversies, and was defined as "one of the most controversial films in the history of Tamil cinema" by film historian Theodore Baskaran. It was accused of trying to portray Brahmins in poor light. Abuse of Hindu customs and religious practices evoked strong protests from the Hindu orthodoxy. Scenes like a priest attempting to rape a woman in a temple were found to be very provocative. The social elite and members of the then ruling Congress party demanded the film to be banned. The Chief Minister of Madras, Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari was unhappy with the extremely provocative nature of the film, but allowed it to be screened. One of the reasons stated by them was the dialogue spoken by Ganesan's character, "Just because you came around chanting names and offered flowers to the stone, would it become a god?", which was accused of "mocking the audiences." His reference to Goddess Parasakthi as a stone created a stir, and the word "stone" was eventually censored from the soundtrack. However, the given message was still "clear and the impact viral." The State Government requested the Union Government to reconsider the film certification, but they declined, due to a previous examination by a Madras intelligence officer, who stated:The dialogues for the film have been specially written in a forceful manner by Sri M Karunanidhi, the well known leader of the Dravidian Progression Federation ... The film graphically describes the sufferings and hardships that a young widow with her babe in arms has to face due to poverty and how cruelly society treats her, or illtreats her. The substance of the story by itself is not objectionable. The plot is interesting and the story has a powerful moral appeal, namely that there will be ups and downs in a man's life and that chastity is the most precious jewel of womanhood.
—A Madras intelligence officer, who reviewed the film
Legacy
In celebration of the film's 50th year, Ganesan's autobiography entitled Sivaji Ganesan: Autobiography of An Actor was released on 1 October 2002 in Tamil, exactly a year after the actor's death in 2001. The English version was released exactly five years later in 2007. To commemorate 50 years since the release of Parasakthi, a memorial was inaugurated in AVM Studios on 17 October 2002 by Kamal Haasan in the presence of Ganesan's sons Prabhu and Ramkumar. The memorial stands at the same place where Ganesan first faced the camera. A slab of black granite, the memorial has on its top a brass medallion that bears a close-up of Ganesan uttering his popular opening line "Success". At its bottom is a rectangular plaque that gives details about the memorial's inauguration. At the base of the rectangular plaque are two other plaques resembling the pages of an open book and contains the names of the technical crew and all those involved in the making of the film. The visage of Ganesan wearing a hat was designed by Thotta Tharani. The 2003 film Success starring Ganesan's grandson Dushyant was named after Ganesan's popular line, but opened to negative reception.
Parasakthi is included with other Sivaji Ganesan-starrers in 8th Ulaga Adhisayam Sivaji, a compilation DVD featuring Ganesan's "iconic performances in the form of scenes, songs and stunts" which was released in May 2012. During the film's "diamond jubilee" year celebrations in January 2013, K. Chandrasekaran, the president of Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Social Welfare Association said, "Six decades down the line 'Parasakthi' is remembered because it is not just a film, but an epic".
See also
- Portrayal of Tamil Brahmins in popular media
- Tamil cinema and Dravidian politics
Sivaji`s performance won him an international award at the Egypt Film Festival. Veerapandiya Kattabomman is notable for being the first Tamil film to be shot in Technicolor. This movie ran 100 days in 28 theatres in those days which is worth to mention for all time. When this movie was re released in USA i.e. in third round, ran with houseful shows in second week. Padmini(Nattipaeroli) said in one interview.
Contents
- 1 Plot
- 2 Cast
- 3 Production
- 4 Soundtrack
- 5 Release
- 6 Historical accuracies
- 7 Re-release
- 8 References
- 9 External links
Plot
Veerapandiya Kattabomman is the Rajah of Panchalankurichi in the extreme south of India — a brave fighter and a devotee of his family deity, Lord Subrahmaniya of Tiruchendur. On receiving the news of loot and arson in his territory, he himself sets out in disguise to encounter the robbers. The robbers are captured and they confess that they had been hired by the British to create unrest in his domain. They also tell him that the British had enticed the neighbouring chieftain Ettayappan to help their endeavour to annex Panchalankurichi.Ettayappan is promised by the British an addition of two villages to his land as a price for his betrayal. Ettayappan goes in disguise to Kattabomman's court and tries to frighten him with his account of the omnipotence of the British. Kattabomman is indignant and tears out the mask of Ettayappan but spares him because he had come to his court as an ambassador. At Chayalkudi, a village near Panchalamkurichi, lives a beautiful damsel, Vellaiamma, who would marry the man who tames her bull, a proud pet. She takes her bull for participation in the games to be held at Panchalamkurichi under the patronage of the king. No-one dare touch Vellaiamma's bull. At Kattabomman's call, his Commander-in-chief Vellaiathevan, comes forward, subdues the bull and gets the prize — the hands of the beautiful Vellaiamma.
Kattabomman is delivered a message from the collector Jackson that he should meet him on an appointed day, following which he would be deprived of his kingdom. Davison, a British friend of Kattabomman advises him to go and see the collector. Jackson, finding that Kattabomman has come to see him with his troops, changes his camp from place to place and finally meets him at Ramnad. In the interview, Jackson insults him and orders his arrest. Though surrounded by the British troups, Kattabmman fights his way out and joins his troupes. But his Minister is captured by the British.
Some time after, the Minister is released. He brings the news that Jackson has been transferred home on the advice of Davison. Life in Panchalamkurichi goes on with the usual gaiety. At Kattabomman's court, a British messenger comes and reports that the Minister and his men have looted their granaries and killed their men at Srivaikuntam. The Minister justifies his act, by saying that he instructed his men to do it as there was a shortage of food grains due to the British amassing all rice in their granary.
The king accuses him of injustice and he is ashamed of his Minister's acts. The Minister apologises and offers himself as a fugitive to the messenger, whose soldiers are about to handcuff the Minister. But Kattabomman is infuriated and cries that he will never betray his Minister and fail in his duty as a king. The messenger hangs down head in shame and walks out. The king's brother Oomaithurai says that the British will start attacking them. A spy is sent by Kattabomman to the enemy camp and discloses the plans which Ettayappan has drawn up for the British forces for launching an attack on Panchalamkurichi on the day of the festival at Tiruchendur when Kattabomman and most of the people would be away from the capital. Kattabomman gets prepared to meet the enemy.
On the day of the battle, Vellaiamma pleads Vellaiathevan not to go for fighting because the previous night she has had bad dream and seen evil omens in those dreams. Notwithstanding her entreaties, Vellaiathevan sets out for the battle, and so does Kattabomman. The British win because of their brutal strength. Vellaiathevan is killed, and Vellaiamma seeks out under cover of night, the man who killed her husband and avenges her husband's death by killing him. Crawling back, she falls dead on her husband's corpse.
Kattabomman is wounded in the neck. He is, however saved by his devoted followers, who take him to the adjoining kingdom of Kovilapatti. The old woman who protects the royal brothers, sends the prying soldiers away with a clever ruse. Minister Thanapati misleads the British soldiers who are on the trial of Kattabomman by dressing himself as the chief. From Kovilapatti, Kattabomman and his brother flee to Pudhukottai. Rajah of Pudhukottai, afraid of the British, instructs his men to capture Kattabomman. Kattabomman is captured and taken to the British. Undaunted Kattabomman faces a trial by the British and is hanged.
Cast
- Sivaji Ganesan as Veerapandiya Kattabomman
- S. Varalakshmi as Jakkamma
- Gemini Ganesan as Vellaiyathevan
- Padmini as Vellaiyammal
- O. A. K. Thevar as Oomaithurai
- Ragini as Sundaravadivu
- M. R. Santhanam as Thaanapathi Pillai
- A. Karunanidhi as Sundaralingam
- T. P. Muthulakshmi as Kamakshi
- V. K. Ramasamy as Ettappan
- Kuladeivaam V. R. Rajagopal as Kariappan
- Tambaram Lalitha as Valli
- Javar Seetharaman as Bannerman
- C. R. Parthiban as Jackson Durai
- Sukumari
- Baby Kanchana as Meena
- Crew
- Produced: B. R. Panthulu, Padmini Pictures
- Directed: B. R. Panthulu
- Music : G. Ramanathan
- Lyrics : Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
- Screenplay & Dialogues: Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy
- Art Director: Ganga
- Editing : R. Devanarayanan
- Costumes : M. G. Naidu
- Choreography : Hiralal, P. S. Gopalakrishnan & Madhavan
- Cinematography : W. R. Subbarao & Karnan
Production
Development
Kattabomman was a popular play staged 100 times between 1957 and 1959 by Sivaji Ganesan through his Sivaji Nadaga Mandram. Director B. R. Panthulu, on seeing the play, decided to adapt it into a feature film, and hired Sakthi Krishnaswamy to write the dialogues. For the purpose of making the popular play as a film, a "History-Film Format Research Group" was formed under the leadership of Ma. Po. Sivagnanam with Sakthi Krishnasamy, Panthulu, Ganesan, P. A. Kumar, K. Singamuthu and S. Krishnaswamy as members.Casting
C. R. Parthiban was chosen to play the role of the "arrogant British officer" Jackson Durai. Ganesan originally offered the role of the character Vallaithevan to S. S. Rajendran, but he declined it due to his commitment with the film Sivagangai Seemai. He later advised actress Savitri to send her husband Gemini Ganesan to play the role, which she agreed to. Actress Padmini was chosen to play Vallaithevan's love interest Vellaiyamma, and S. Varalakshmi as Kattabomman's wife Jakkamma. O. A. K. Thevar was chosen to play Kattabomman's brother Oomaithurai, and V. K. Ramasamy as the antagonistic Ettappan.Filming
Shooting for the film took place at Jaipur. With help from Janakaraja – the man in charge of the cavalry division, the team of Veerapandiya Kattabomman managed to get hold of the cavalry and soldiers for the shot. The film was made in Gevacolor, and then converted to Technicolor at London, to offer superior quality prints. During the making of the film, producer S. S. Vasan was also planning to make Kattabomman as a film and was writing a series in his magazine Vikatan. Ganesan had to personally meet him and request him to drop the plan.Soundtrack
| Veerapandiya Kattabomman | |
|---|---|
Original CD Cover
|
|
| Soundtrack album to Veerapandiya Kattabomman by G. Ramanathan | |
| Released | 1959 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Length | 72:16 |
| Language | Tamil |
| Label | Saregama |
| Producer | G. Ramanathan |
- Seermevum Paanchi Nagar - Seerkazhi Govindarajan, V. N. Sundaram & Thiruchi Loganathan
- Maattu Vandi Poottikkittu - T. M. Sounderarajan & T. V. Rathinam
- Anjaatha Singgam En Kaalai - P. Suseela
- Singgara Kanne - S. Varalakshmi
- Inbam Pongum Vennila - P. B. Sreenivos & P. Suseela
- Takku Takku - S. Varalakshmi, P. Suseela & A. P. Komala
- Aathukkulle Oothu Vetti - Thiruchi Loganathan, K. Jamuna Rani, V. T. Rajagopalan & A. G. Rathnamala
- Manam Kanintharul - V. N. Sundaram & S. Varalakshmi
- Pogathe Pogathe - A. G. Rathnamala
- Karantah Paalum - T. M. Sounderarajan
- Jakkamma - Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Release
Reception
Ananda Vikatan (24.5.1959) said, "Kattabomman will not leave the hearts of the people who have seen it... Sivaji Ganesan has acted so well. This film adds pride to every person born as a Tamilian". L. K. Advani, said, "I have seen the Tamil movie of Veerapandia Kattabomman, acted by Shivaji Ganesan, many times. It is fresh in my memory." IndiaGlitz said, "Shivaji as Kattabomman gives a tremendous act and the scene when Kattabomman confronts Jackson instantly comes into our mind. This movie is sure to give you the Goosebumps with Shivaji's powerful acting and a sense of what rebellion and freedom fighting is." Janani Karthik of The Times of India said, "Watch this [film] for the legendary actor's performance, something that old-timers remember even today".Awards
- 1959: Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Tamil
- For the title role Veerapandiya Kattabomman at the Afro-Asian Festival
- G. Ramanthan also won the best music director award in Cairo festival
Historical accuracies
In 2011, Tamil film historian S. Theodore Baskaran criticised Veerapandiya Kattabomman along with two other films—Parthiban Kanavu and 7aum Arivu—because of their historical inaccuracies. He said, "Kattabomman was not even a king. His arsenal had just about three to four guns. All this is well-documented, but the film showed just the opposite".Re-release
Veerapandiya Kattabomman is due to be re-released as a 3D film in early 2013.
Contents
- 1 Plot
- 2 Cast
- 3 Character map of Navarathri and its remakes
- 4 External links
Plot
The film opens with the narrator explaining that there are nine types of human behaviors (Navarasam) such as Wonder (அற்புதம்), Fear (பயம்), Compassion (கருணை), Anger (கோபம்), Equanimity (சாந்தம்), Disgust (அருவருப்பு), Elegance (சிங்காரம்), Bravery (வீரம்) and Bliss (ஆனந்தம்) and that Sivaji Ganesan's nine roles represents one character per role.Nalina (Savitri) is the only daughter of a rich man. When she happily celebrates Navaratri festival at her home with her friends her father informs about the visit of a groom and his parents for her wedding. Nalina is reluctant to the proposal as she wants to marry her college mate Anand. After arguments with her father, she leaves away from home without her father's knowledge at the first Navaratri night.
First Night (Wonder): She searches for her lover in the college hostel but finds that he has gone to get married. Nalina felts cheated by Anand and attempts for suicide where she is stopped by a widower Arputharaj (Sivaji Ganesan). He takes her to his house and introduces her to his daughter. He urges her to tell her address to drop her safely. Unwilling to return home she leaves the place the next early morning.
Second Night (Fear): The next day she damages the vegetables of a vendor. When vendor fights with her she was rescued by a homely looking woman. The woman takes Nalina to her home. Nalina meets several women in her house. But the house is actually a brothel house. She is trapped to a drunkard (Sivaji Ganesan). The drunkard justifies that he cannot seduce his own wife as she is a T.B patient. Though he does not want to betray his wife, he is not able to resist his feelings. Nalina advises and warns him in order to escape from him but he does not want to hear. After much struggle the drunkard falls into the floor and faints. Nalina escapes from the place.
Third night (Compassion): After escaping from the brothel house, Nalina is caught by a patrol police for wandering into the road at unusual time. At police station she pretends to be a mentally ill woman. The police admits her at a mental hospital. The old aged lonely doctor Karunaagaran (Sivaji Ganesan) understands that Nalina is fine but pretends to escape from cops and so he helps her. She stays in the hospital the whole night. Doctor finds a newspaper with the photograph of hers the next morning. But Nalina escapes, while the doctor is still looking at the newspaper.
Fourth Night (Anger): Nalina misunderstands the police jeep is coming for her. She dashes with a man with a gun (Sivaji Ganesan) and faints. The man takes her to his place. Nalina understands police is not looking for her but looking for the man as he is a killer who killed a rich businessman as a revenge for his brother's death. The gun man insists Nalina to leave. But she doesn't as she feels he is a good person and convinces him to surrender to police. In an attack the gunman is killed by the businessman's henchmen. Nalina escapes from the place.
Fifth night (Equanimity): Fed up by the life Nalina runs into a track for attempting suicide. An innocent villager (Sivaji Ganesan), looks at her and rushes to the track to save her and succeeds. He takes to his house and introduces to his elder sister. A local priest (Nagesh) visits their home and tells that Nalina is possessed by a spirit in order to cheat for money by performing some fake rituals. Nalina gets irritated by their acts and escapes away that night.
Sixth Night (Disgust): Nalina meets an old aged leper (Sivaji Ganesan), who once upon a time was a rich man. The man lost all his money in the treatment and charity (hoping that will help him from disease). He is disgusted by everyone including his own son who discarded him when his money ran out. Nalina helps him by taking him to a hospital. The doctor is surprised as he is one of the beneficiers who was benefitted with medicine degree by charity of the rich man. The doctor decides to stay with him until he is cured. Nalina leaves the hospital.
Seventh Night (Elegance): Nalina feels very tired and asks for water from one of the houses. People offer water for her. One of the men "Sathyavaan Singaaram" (Sivaji Ganesan), is a director and actor of stage plays and road side plays. They have been committed for nine stage plays in the village on the account of Navaratri celebration. But the heroine falls sick and his whole troop are in critical position in search of a replacement for the seventh day play failing on which will make them to lose their money and reputation in the village. He asks Nalina to help by acting with him for the day's play. Nalina agrees on a condition that she should be let gone after the play is over. The play is successful that night. The agent tries to misbehave with Nalina and the actor pulls him from it and warns him. But finds Nalina has left.
Eight Night (Bravery): Nalina disguises as a man and visits a house of a hunter Veerapan (Sivaji Ganesan). The hunter has been there for hunting a man-eater and for another purpose. Nalina introduces herself a Nathan a secret agent in search of a criminal. The hunter seems to believe her and gives a her an earnest welcome, feast and hospitality. Nalina finds that the hunter is actually a commissioner of police stayed in search of a criminal which actually faked by Nalina. She tries to escape from the place but she is caught by the hunter.
The hunter introduces himself as the paternal uncle of the groom whom her father proposed for her and the groom is none other than her lover - Anand. Nalina has actually left her home before her father knew that she is in love with a person and the lover is the same man he has arranged for his daughter. Also Nalina misunderstands that Anand actually is going to marry another girl but the girl is actually herself. Nalina leaves for the Anand's place the ninth day.
Ninth Day (Bliss): Anand (Sivaji Ganesan), looks pale and dull after Nalina left her home. He is neither interested to live usually nor to continue with his studies. His parents are worried and scolds him for wasting his life for a girl after all. Angered by this he shuts himself into a room. Nalina reaches his home that time. Anand's parents and Nalina fears that he is attempting suicide. But suddenly the room opens and Nalina runs inside.
Anand actually wanted to surprise Nalina about their marriage and that is why he did not inform her about the engagement. Due to miscommunication Nalina left home on the first Navatri Night and comes back on ninth Navaratri night.
Anand and Nalina happily marry. Except the dead gun man, her marriage is attended by the all the people she met during those eight days.
Cast
- Shivaji Ganesan in nine roles as
- The Widower "Arputharaj" (Wonder)
- The Drunkard (Fear)
- The Doctor "Karunaagaran" (Compassion)
- The Gunman (Anger)
- The Villager (Equanimity)
- The Leper (Disgust)
- The Actor "Sathyavaan Singaaram" (Elegance)
- The Hunter/The Commissioner of police "Veerapan" (Bravery)
- The Bridegroom "Anand" (Bliss)
- Savitri as Nalini
- Nagesh as Priest
- Manorama as Mentally ill woman
- Kutty Padmini
| Name of the movie (year) (Language) | Navarathri (1964) (Tamil) |
Navarathri (1966) (Telugu) |
Naya Din Nai Raat (1974) (Hindi) |
| Lead Actor | Sivaji Ganesan | Akkineni Nageshwara Rao | Sanjeev Kumar |
| Lead Actress | Savitri | Savitri | Jaya Bhaduri |
| Director | A.P. Nagarajan | Tatineni Rama Rao | A. Bhimsingh |
Contents
- 1 Plot
- 2 Cast
- 3 Remakes
- 4 Soundtrack
- 5 See also
- 6 References
- 7 External links
Plot
The film has Sivaji Ganesan portarying three roles; an insecure father, a timid son and an angst-ridden twin brother. Sivaji Ganesan, a lawyer with a scarred face gets married to Pandari Bai. The couple lead a happy life and Pandari Bai gives birth to twin brothers, a son with a scarred face (Also Ganesan) like his father and a brother (Also Ganesan). Their father unable to tolerate his eldest son's face leaves him under the custody of another person and tells his wife that the first child is dead. As years pass by, the father becomes a justice and his younger son, a happy-go-lucky college-going timid son falls in love with Jayalalithaa. In the meanwhile, the elder son comes to know about his family and tries to meet his mother and brother but he is asked by his father not to reveal his identity to them. M. N. Nambiar, a man once punished by the father kidnaps the younger son in order to take revenge on him. In the end, the elder son rescues his brother, killing M. N. Nambiar. He succumbs to his injuries and dies on the lap of his mother (Pandari Bai). This film was the first Tamil film recommended for an Oscar.Cast
- Sivaji Ganesan
- Chittor V. Nagaiah
- Pandari Bai
- Jayalalitha
- Major Sundarrajan
- M. N. Nambiar
Remakes
Deiva Thirumagal, a 2011 Tamil film starring Vikram which was earlier titled as Deiva Magan was thought to be the remake of this film, however the director denied it by saying the story of both these films are no way connected with each other and eventually the new film's title was changed as Deiva Thirumagal.Soundtrack
| Deiva Magan | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by M. S. Viswanathan | |
| Released | 1969 |
| Language | Tamil |
| No. | Title | Singers | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Deivame Deivame Nandri Solven" | T. M. Soundararajan | ||
| 2. | "Kadal Malar Kootam" | T. M. Soundararajan | ||
| 3. | "Anbulla Nanbare" | T. M. Soundararajan | ||
| 4. | "Kaatha Likka" | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | ||
| 5. | "Kangal Pesuthamma" | P. Susheela | ||
| 6. | "Kettadhum Koduppavane Krishna" | T.M. Soundararajan | 3.56 |
See also
- List of submissions to the 42nd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Indian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Plot
Veteran lawyer Rajinikanth(Shivaji Ganeshan) has never lost a case in the court. He is a self made man with a rags to riches story. Hence he does not ask for favours from anyone, except in the aspiration of being appointed as a Judge/ Justice of supreme court, where he expects the Bar Council of the court to favour him. Kannan is his nephew who is brought up like a son by the childless Rajinikanth and his wife. Kannan was also played by Shivaji Ganeshan in a double role. Kannan is an antithesis of Rajinikanth, he is a god fearing, amiable, domesticated young man.Rajinikanth is shocked to know that an undeserving person has been promoted as supreme court judge. Meanwhile, Mohandas (Major Sundarajan) murders his wife & beseeches lawyers to appear on his behalf & save him. Rajinikanth feels that the Bar council has not recognized his prowess in jurisprudence and decides to seek his revenge by gaming the system and fighting for Mohandas despite the latter's guilt. Mohandas is thus acquitted by the court, thanks to Rajinikanth's expertise in law. This deeply hurts Kannan who does not say anything at that time out of respect for his uncle.
Under unnatural circumstances, Mohandas's fiance dies in the bath tub. Once again Mohandas is convicted. Once again, Rajinikanth appears on Mohandas's behalf. But this time around, Kannan protests and walks out of the house to become the prosecution lawyer facing Rajinikanth. Kannan defeats Rajinikanth due to his meticulous preparation and Rajinikanth's own failure to notice certain vital points in the case proceedings.
With his very first defeat at the hand of Kannan proves too much to handle. An anguished Rajinikanth succumbs to death, just before the news of him being appointed as a judge is announced.
Reactions
The film was directed by Vietnam Veedu Sundaram and considered a major triumph in the history of Tamil cinema and in the filmography of Shivaji Ganeshan. In later years, Gauravam has been much parodied & paid homage to via skits and television episodes. In a brilliant piece of writing, Kannan is portrayed as a romancing devotee a-la Lord Krishna, while Rajinikanth is a single-minded hard-working atheist. Kannan's victory on purely technical grounds despite Rajinikanth's enormous legal expertise demonstrates the eventual triumph of good over evil.
The film was critically received upon release. It fetched Best Lyricist Award and Best Feature Film in Tamil Award for Vairamuthu and Bharathiraja respectively at the 33rd National Film Awards. While the lead actors won their respective Filmfare Awards South in Best Tamil Actor and Best Tamil Actress category.
Contents
- 1 Plot
- 2 Cast
- 3 Songs
- 4 Awards
- 5 References
- 6 External links
Plot
The film commences with friends and family of an ailing village head, Malaichami (Sivaji Ganesan), gathered around him on his death bed. The plot then moves along in a series of flashbacks, featuring significant episodes of the dying man's life. These include the presence of a boatman's young daughter Kuyil (Radha) in his village. The protagonist is unhappily married to a shrewish wife by the name of Ponnatha (Vadivukkarasi), and seeks comfort and solace in a friendship with Kuyil. The friendship raises eyebrows, and is socially awkward and complicated for both Malaichami and Kuyil.Cast
- Sivaji Ganesan as Malaichami
- Radha as Kuyil (Voice-over by Raadhika Sarathkumar)
- Vadivukkarasi as Ponnatha
- Dipan as Sevuli's lover
- Ranjani as Sevuli (Voice-over by Usha Rajendar)
- Aruna Mucherla as Rasamma
- Janagaraj
- A. K. Veerasamy as Sengodan
- Sathyaraj as former lover of Ponnatha
Songs
All lyrics written by Vairamuthu, all music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.| Tracklist | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Antha Nilava Than" | Ilaiyaraaja, K.S. Chitra | 4:31 | |||||||
| 2. | "Poongatru Thirumbuma" | Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki | 4:52 | |||||||
| 3. | "Vetti Veru Vasam" | Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki | 4:28 | |||||||
| 4. | "Yeh Kuruvi" | Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki | 1:16 | |||||||
| 5. | "Raasave Unna Nambi" | S. Janaki | 4:32 | |||||||
| 6. | "Hey Kiliyirukku" | Ilaiyaraaja | 1:08 | |||||||
| 7. | "Eratha Malai Mele" | Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki | 2:08 | |||||||
| 8. | "Naanthaaney Antha Kuyil" | S. Janaki | 0:28 | |||||||
Total length:
|
22:54 | |||||||||
Awards
- 33rd National Film Awards
- Best Feature Film in Tamil for Bharathiraja
- Best Lyricist for Vairamuthu
- 36th Filmfare Awards South
- Best Tamil Actor - Sivaji Ganesan
- Best Tamil Actress - Radha
- Cinema Express Awards
- 1985 Best Tamil Film for Bharathiraja
India chose this film as its entry for the Best Foreign Language Film for the 65th Academy Awards. The film was screened at the Toronto Film Festival in 1994.
The film won five National Film Awards, including the Best Tamil Film Award, Best Supporting Actress Award (Revathi), and a Special Jury Award (Sivaji Ganesan).
The film was dubbed into Telugu under the title Kshatriya Putrudu. While S. P. Balasubrahmanyam provided dubbing for Kamal Hassan, Kongara Jaggayya provided voice for Sivaji Ganesan. It was later remade into the Hindi film Virasat (1997) by Priyadarshan and in Kannada as Tandege Takka Maga (2006) by S. Mahendar.
Contents
- 1 Plot
- 2 Awards and honours
- 3 Soundtrack
- 4 Footnotes
- 5 References
- 6 External links
Plot
Saktivelu (Kamal Haasan) returns home to his father, Periya Thevar’s (Sivaji Ganesan) village in Tamil Nadu, after completing his education in London. Much to his father’s annoyance, he brings his westernized girlfriend (Gautami) with him to meet his family. Periya Thevar is deeply offended since it is tradition that the family elders choose the youngster's spouses. To make things worse, Saktivelu reveals his plans on opening a chain of restaurants in Chennai which saddens Periya Thevar as he wanted his son to help the villagers improve their lifestyle with his level of education.Periya Thevar is a well respected village chief. His younger half-brother (Kaka Radhakrishnan) and nephew Mayan Thevar (Nassar) hold a huge grudge against him over a falling out. The entire village suffers from a spillover of this longstanding family feud as most of the village and its surrounding areas that fall within its jurisdiction is divided between the brothers. Since Maya Thevar always tries to one up Periya Thevar, it puts them at loggerheads with each other.
Saktivelu spends time in the village with his girlfriend by re-visiting his childhood memories. They come across an old temple which has been closed off on Maya Thevar’s instructions. He insists on entering and his friend and servant Esaki (Vadivelu) breaks open the lock for them to look around. Maya Thevar hears of this and a brutal riot is started among the two village factions. Periya Thevar, in order to quell the situation, contemplates on apologizing to his opponents. Sakthivelu feels it should be him or Esaki who should apologize. When Saktivelu asks for Esaki, he learns that Maya Thevar has amputated Esaki’s hand for opening the temple. In order to prevent further escalation of the situation Saktivelu, with permission from his father, enlists the help of his friends in the government and opens the temple for all legally. Slighted by this, Maya Thevar hires goons to break a dam protecting a part of the village faction that supports Periya Thevar. Although one of the villagers spots one of the goons near the dam, he does not think much of it.
The dam is damaged by explosives used by the goons which results in flooding of half the village. This results in numerous deaths including infants which deeply saddens Saktivelu. He spots the goon who placed the explosives again in the village and gives chase. After capturing, he hands the goon over to the police but the goon does not speak of Maya Thevar's involvement due to fear for his own family's safety.
Later Maya Thevar closes a portion of his land, preventing the public from reaching the main road easily. Sakthivelu and his father invite them for talks at village Panchayat to resolve the standoff due the riots and flooding. In the village panchayat, accusations fly from both sides. With no evidence backing up the truth, Maya Thevar accuses Periya Thevar for orchestrating various attacks on his brother's family. Disrespected and broken, Periya Thevar returns to his home and passes away shortly. Saktivelu takes over his father’s duties as the head of the village.
As time passes, this incident dies down. The villagers express concern to Saktivelu about going around the piece of land belonging to Maya Thevar’s side of the village everyday to work in their farm which causes a much longer travelling time. Saktivelu reasons with the owner of the land to open it up for all villagers to pass so that their long commute is shortened. Although understanding and willing, the land owner is afraid of Maya Thevar’s backlash especially since he has a daughter (Revathi). Saktivelu assuages his fear by arranging marriage between a well-to-do person from his village to the land owner's daughter. Everybody involved happily agrees and the land owner opens up the land for everyone.
On the day of the wedding, the groom runs away, fearing Maya Thevar. The landowner and his daughter are distraught over this claiming that it is a huge disrespect to his family. He opines that even if someone marries his daughter, they have to live in constant fear. Saktivelu then gets permission from the landowner and weds his daughter. Although Saktivelu still has feelings for his girlfriend and his new bride is very shy, they overcome their awkwardness and move on. Soon, his girlfriend returns and learns the truth. Although saddened by the turn of events, she understands the situation and leaves. Saktivelu, too, closes the chapter about his girlfriend and starts his new life with his wife.
Maya Thevar, agitated by the opening of the land, plants a bomb during the village festival. This results in deaths on both sides of the village. Both factions of the village, wanting revenge, go after Maya Thevar and his family. Saktivelu protects the innocent family and helps them get away from the villagers. Appreciative of Saktivelu's efforts to protect them, they give away Maya Thevar's hiding location.
Saktivelu goes to meet Maya Thevar and asks him to surrender to the police before the villagers kill him. Maya Thevar’s rabid hatred for Saktivelu makes him reject his offer of help. Maya Thevar, blaming Saktivelu for all his problems, tries to kill him. In the struggle that follows, Saktivelu accidentally chops off Maya Thevar's head, killing him. Although other villagers are willing to take the blame for Maya Thevar's murder, Saktivelu gives himself up to the police.
Awards and honours
1993 National Film Awards (India)| Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Lotus Award | Best Regional Film (Tamil) | Kamal Hassan as a producer | Won |
| Silver Lotus Award | Best Supporting Actress | Revathi | Won |
| Silver Lotus Award | Best Playback Singer (Female) | S. Janaki | Won |
| Silver Lotus Award | Best Audiography | N. Pandu Rangan | Won |
| Silver Lotus Award | Special Jury Award – Actor | Sivaji Ganesan | Won |
- Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil – Kamal Hassan
- Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil – Revathi
Soundtrack
The soundtrack features 9 songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja to lyrics written by Vaali. The song Inji Idupazhaka was inspired from Yeh Dil Deewana Hai, composed by S. D. Burman for the film Ishq Par Zor Nahin. Ilaiyaraaja was a strong contender for the National Film Award for Best Music Direction, which he eventually lost to A. R. Rahman.| Tracklist | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Potri Paadadi Penne" | Ilaiyaraaja, Mano | ||||||||
| 2. | "Sandhu Pottu" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Kamal Hassan | 5:05 | |||||||
| 3. | "Potri Paadadi Penne" | Sivaji Ganesan, Shruti Haasan | 1:26 | |||||||
| 4. | "Vaanam Thottu Pona" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | ||||||||
| 5. | "Ada Puthiyathu Piranthadhu" | Malaysia Vasudevan | ||||||||
| 6. | "Inji Idupazhaga" | S. Janaki | ||||||||
| 7. | "Inji Idupazhagi" | S. Janaki, Kamal Hassan, Minmini | ||||||||
| 8. | "Manamagale Manamagale" | Swarnalatha, Minmini & Sindhuja | 2:13 | |||||||
| 9. | "Masaru Ponnae Varuga" | Minmini, Swarnalatha | ||||||||
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