Thanga Padhumai

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Thanga Padhumai
Thanga Padhumai poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byA. S. A. Samy
Written byDialogues:
Aru. Ramanathan,
M. Viswanathan
Screenplay byA. S. A. Samy
Story byAru. Ramanathan
Produced byM. Somasundaram
StarringSivaji Ganesan
Padmini
CinematographyP. Ramasamy
Edited byA. Thangarajan
Music byViswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Production
company
Release date
  • 10 January 1959 (1959-01-10)
[1]
Running time
184 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Thanga Padhumai (transl. Golden Statue) is a Tamil language film starring Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini. The film was co-written and directed by A. S. A. Samy, produced by M. Somasundaram under Jupiter Pictures, and musical score by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy.[2] Thanga Pathumai proved to be a hit in its re-release, and won National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for the year 1959.

Plot[]

Manivannan (Sivaji Ganesan) is a physician, but a simpleton. Selvi (Padmini), daughter of a rich trader of Uraiyur was modelled on Kannagi as the personification of female virtues. The emeralds in the eyes of Kannagi Devi statue at Uraiyur are precious and attract the princess Raja Vadana (M.N.Rajam) of the neighbouring kingdom. To get the gems, the commander Balakumaran (M.N.Nambiaar) and Raja Vadana send their dancer Maya Mohini (T.R.Rajakumari) to dance at the Uraiyur festival.

Maya Mohini captures the eye of Manivannan much to the fury of his wife and father in law. She is insulted and sent away during the dance, and earns the pity of Manivannan who leaves Selvi and settles with Maya Mohini, in the process losing his property as well his wife's, and moving them into poverty. Manivannan's father-in-law passes away in this shock and Selvi's child is born .

Manivannan's father is on death bed and Selvi goes to meet Maya Mohini to get her husband back. Maya Mohini is by now moved by Manivannan's innocence and refuses to hand over his property to the Balakumara . Furious Balakumaran beats Manivannan unconscious when Selvi reaches Mayamohini's place

Mayamohini commands for a mortgage from Selvi for releasing her husband. With no other go, Selvi hands over her son to Maya Mohini and tells him that she will take back the child after giving her a gold statue( Thanga Padhumai) equal to the child.Further Selvi also states that she will not bear any other child till this child is taken back

Manivannan's father passes away before they reach home and Manivannan and Selvi moves to the kingdom of Raja Vadana. Maya Mohini face is burnt Raja Vadana for supporting Manivannan and Manivannan child is held captive. Maya Mohini visits the physician house and is moved by the way Manivannam and Selvi treats him. She takes back her promise and uphelds that she will return the child to Selvi

The king is unwell due to brain tumour and the physician is commanded to the palace to treat the king where Raja Vadana falls for him. She hatches a plan with commander Balakumara to kill the King and Manivannan is blamed for same and sent to prison. Since he doesn't fall to the vicious love of Raja Vadana he is also blinded .

In a long song-oriented climax, Selvi gets the emerald gems of Kannagi statue as per Raja Vadana's demand , but on seeing her blinded husband, boils up in fury and asks Raja vadana to stare at the gems. The powerful gems blinds her. She curses the entire kingdom to succumb to fire (Similar to story of Kannagi) . Maya Mohini hands her back her son before getting engulfed in fire. Selvi brings Manivannan to Kannagi temple, restores the gems back to Kannagi statue and gets Manivannan's eyes restored

Cast[]

Cast according to the opening credits of the film

Production[]

In the late 1950s, Jupiter Somu thought of remaking Kannagi (1942) with Sivaji Ganesan as Kovalan. He projected the 1942 version to mentor C. N. Annadurai who watched it along with Sami, who was to direct the second version.[3] After watching the film, Annadurai told them that remaking the film would not prove successful. The project was dropped but Somu carried in his mind the idea of making something similar about "a woman, who is chastity personified fighting a relentless battle to win her husband back…". The film was titled as Thanga Padhumai. Writers Aru. Ramanathan and A. S. A. Sami wrote the script inspired from American film The Egyptian (1954).[4] Producers initially approached Anjali Devi and P. Bhanumathi for the character of Mayamohini for which they did not agree and finally TR Rajakumari was chosen to play the role.[5] A. S. A. Sami recalled that during the lunch break, Padmini would walk up and down the shooting floor with the script in her hand studying the dialogue over and over and delivering it, giving it different shades of meaning.[3] The film was made in budget of 8 lakhs with Sivaji and Padmini were paid 60000 while Rajakumari was paid 25000 for the film.[5]

Soundtrack[]

The music composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and lyrics were written by Udumalai Narayana Kavi, Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, Kannadasan & A. Maruthakasi.[6][7][8]

The song "Varugiraal Unnai Thedi" is based on Atana raga.[9] The song "Aarambamavadhu" was remixed in Tharai Thappattai (2016).[10]

No. Song Singers Lyrics Length (m:ss)
1 Vanam Poyyaadhu T. M. Soundararajan Sitthar Viruththam 00:30
2 Engal Kula Nayagiye P. Leela Kannadasan 05:36
3 Varugiraal Unnai Thedi M. L. Vasanthakumari & Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi 05:35
4 En Vaazhvil Pudhu Padhai Kanden P. Susheela A. Maruthakasi 03:34
5 Indru Namathullame Pongum T. M. Soundararajan & Jikki Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram 04:30
6 Eedatra Patthinikku.... Aarambam Avathu Pennukkulle C. S. Jayaraman & dialogues by Padmini 07:22
7 Pariththa Kannaipadhitthu P. Leela 05:22
8 Marundhu Vikira Maappillaiku A. P. Komala & K. Jamuna Rani 02:49
9 En Vaazhvil Pudhu Padhai Kanden (pathos) P. Susheela A. Maruthakasi 03:41
10 Poomalai Pottu Pona Mama S. C. Krishnan & A. G. Rathnamala Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram 02:27
11 Ondru Patta Kanavanukku T. S. Bagavathi 01:48
12 Mugatthil Mugam Parkkalam T. M. Soundararajan & P. Leela 02:59
13 Vizhi Vel A. P. Komala & K. Jamuna Rani Udumalai Narayana Kavi 03:00
14 Illara Maligaiyil T. S. Bagavathi Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram 03:00
15 Vidhi Enum Kuzhandai Seerkazhi Govindarajan 01:46
16 Kotravan Madhurai Moodhor P. Leela 03:10

Release[]

The film was sold to Ramakrishnan films who did not release well in its first run in spite of best performance and songs as expected. However, in its second run, film was bought by Jayaraman Pictures for 25000 rs and it did well.[5] Randor Guy of The Hindu wrote that the film is remembered for "Padmini's and Sivaji Ganesan's performance, and the classic song 'Koduthavaney'."[3] Dhananjayan wrote that the narration was "engaging and excellent with many twist and turns throughout".[5]

Legacy[]

The film's dialogue "Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara" (Isn't this what you wished for, Balakumara?) inspired the title of a 2013 film.[11]

Awards[]

National Film Awards[12]

References[]

  1. ^ Dhananjayan 2014, p. 124.
  2. ^ "Thanga Padhumai". nadigarthilagam. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Guy, Randor (3 June 2010). "Blast from the past: Thanga Pathumai (1959)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  4. ^ Dhananjayan 2014, p. 125.
  5. ^ a b c d Dhananjayan 2014, p. 126.
  6. ^ "Thanga Padhumai Songs". raaga. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  7. ^ "Thanga Padhumai". JioSaavn. 10 January 1959. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Thanga Padhumai". Saregama. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Atana for inspiring valour". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  10. ^ "To Appreciate Ilaiyaraaja's Anti-Caste Politics, You Have To Listen To His Music". HuffPost. 7 June 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Kollywood movie titles based on popular dialogues". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  12. ^ "6th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.

External links[]

Bibliography[]

External links[]

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