Vettaikkaran (1964 film)

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For the 2009 film, see Vettaikaaran (2009 film).

Vettaikkaran
Vettaikkaran 1964 poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byM. A. Thirumugam
Story byAaroor Dass
Produced bySandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar
Starring
CinematographyN. S. Varma
Edited by
  • M. A. Thirumugam
  • M. G. Balu Rao
  • M. A. Mariappan
Music byK. V. Mahadevan
Production
company
Devar Films
Distributed byEmgeeyar Pictures
Release date
  • 14 January 1964 (1964-01-14)
Running time
157 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Vettaikkaran (transl. Hunter) is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by M. A. Thirumugam and produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran and Savitri Ganesh, with M. R. Radha, M. N. Nambiar, S. A. Ashokan, Thai Nagesh, M. V. Rajamma, Manorama and Baby Shakila in supporting roles. It revolves around an estate hunter whose penchant for hunting displeases his family, and a plunderer who lusts for his wealth.

Vettaikkaran was released on 14 January 1964, Pongal day. The film was a commercial success, running for 25 weeks in theatres.

Plot[]

Babu is a wealthy estate owner and hunter. He is always in the forest hunting animals, much to the displeasure of his mother. He meets Latha, a woman lost in the forest. He rescues her, they fall in love and marry. Latha gives birth to Babu's son Raja who develops an extreme attachment to his father. Meanwhile, a plunderer Mayavan lusts for Latha. To get her, he makes Babu undergo untold miseries. He tricks Latha and Raja into the forest, and demands the papers of the estate. Babu arrives on time and kills Mayavan, saving both Latha and Raja in the process.

Cast[]

Production[]

Vettaikkaran was directed by M. A. Thirumugam and produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar under Devar Films.[4] A real leopard was brought for filming.[5]

Soundtrack[]

The soundtrack is composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics by Kannadasan.[6][7][8] According to Sachi Sri Kantha, the song "Unnai Arinthaal", through its lyrics which go "Unnai arinthaal – Nee unnai arinthaal, Ulagathil pooradalam" (Know yourself – You, know yourself, then you can fight the world) serves as an "MGR self-praise song, equating his ‘good traits’ to that of a living God" and Kannadasan "incorporates the Socratic wisdom of ‘Know thyself’ in the beginning lines".[9]

No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Methuva Methuva"KannadasanT. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela3.33
2."Unnai Arinthaal"KannadasanT. M. Soundararajan3.30
3."Seettu Kattu Raja"KannadasanL. R. Eswari, A. L. Raghavan3.11
4."Manchal Mugame"KannadasanT. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela 
5."En Kannanukkethani"KannadasanP. Susheela 
6."Katha Naayagan"KannadasanP. Susheela 
7."Velli Nila"KannadasanT. M. Soundararajan 

Release[]

Vettaikkaran was released on 14 January 1964, Pongal day,[10][11] and distributed by Ramachandran's Emgeeyar Pictures.[12] To promote the film, the Madras-based Chitra theatre had a jungle set to welcome audiences. After much deliberation, they also managed to get a caged tiger inside the theatre premises.[13][14] Despite facing competition from another Pongal release Karnan,[15] the film became a box office success, running for 25 weeks in theatres.[3] It was dubbed Telugu-language as Inti Donga and released on 4 September 1964.[16]

Reception[]

The Indian Express wrote on 17 January 1964, "Loaded with fun and frolic with a substantial sprinkling of spicy scenes and intriguing drama told in a fascinating manner, [Vettaikkaran] is designed to please the filmgoer."[17] T. M. Ramachandran of Sport and Pastime wrote on 22 February, "One would presume that Vettaikkaran, to justify the title, would provide all the thrills and excitement of big game hunting. But there is nothing of that sort in the film [...] The story is of course a hotchpotch of various ideas and punches freely borrowed from foreign films. The swift tempo with which the latter half of the film moves covers up a major portion of its deficiencies".[2] On 26 January, Kanthan of Kalki said the film could be watched for the leopard, the scenery and the acting of Shakila.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b காந்தன் (26 January 1964). "வேட்டைக்காரன்" [Hunter]. Kalki (in Tamil). p. 28. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Ramachandran, T. M. (22 February 1964). "Another in the Thevar Tradition". Sport and Pastime. Vol. 18. p. 50.
  3. ^ a b c Guy, Randor (20 February 2016). "Vettaikaaran (1964)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  4. ^ Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [Tamil film history and its achievements] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publishers. Archived from the original on 8 February 2019.
  5. ^ "படம் பேசும்" [The film speaks for itself]. Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 19 September 2014. Archived from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  6. ^ வேட்டைக்காரன் (song book) (in Tamil). Devar Films. 1964.
  7. ^ "Vettaikaaran (1964)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  8. ^ "Vettaikkaran (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". iTunes. Archived from the original on 16 September 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  9. ^ Kantha, Sachi Sri (28 March 2019). "MGR Remembered – Part 50 | Teaching with Songs". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  10. ^ Kannan 2017, p. 122.
  11. ^ "Vettaikkaran". The Indian Express. 14 January 1964. p. 3.
  12. ^ "Vettaikkaran". The Indian Express. 8 January 1964. p. 3.
  13. ^ "Did you know?". The Times of India. 22 August 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  14. ^ Viswanathan, Lakshmi (2 September 2012). "Growing up with the talkies". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  15. ^ Dheenadhayalan, Pa. (31 July 2015). "சாவித்ரி-13. நூறு நூறு பெருமைகள்!". Dinamani (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  16. ^ "Inti Donga". Andhra Patrika (in Telugu). 4 September 1964. p. 6.
  17. ^ "'Vettaikkaran' is a good action drama". The Indian Express. 17 January 1964. p. 3.

Bibliography[]

External links[]

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