Avandhan Manidhan
Avandhan Manidhan (transl. He is a true man) is a 1975 Indian Tamil-language drama film, directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Muthuraman and Jayalalithaa. It is a remake of the Kannada film Kasturi Nivasa (1971). This film was 175th film of Sivaji Ganesan.
| Avandhan Manidhan | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | A. C. Tirulokchandar |
| Produced by | A. Ramanujam K. N. Subramaniyan |
| Screenplay by | Panju Arunachalam |
| Story by | G. Balasubramaniam |
| Starring | Sivaji Ganesan Manjula Jayalalithaa R. Muthuraman |
| Music by | M. S. Viswanathan |
| Cinematography | M. Viswanatha Rai |
| Edited by | B. Kanthasamy |
Production company | Rasi Enterprises |
Release date |
|
Running time | 170 Minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
Ravi, owner of a matchbox factory is a widower and has lost his daughter in an accident. Recognizing that his honest employee Chandran is in a similar position, he decides to help Chandran financially. As Chandran attends training in the U.S., Ravi takes care of Chandran's charming daughter. On return, Chandran suggests changing the company's structure. The traditionalist Ravi, becomes infuriated. Protesting this, Chandran resigns and starts his own matchbox company and becomes the leading matchbox manufacturer.
This begins Ravi's downfall, his charity and donating activities have eaten up profit and ends up putting his house on sale. Chandran calls for the highest bid and wants to give it back to Ravi, but being the man that he is, Ravi would not accept. Chandran has already got Lalitha, his ex-secretary on whom Ravi had a crush on, and now Ravi's house.
Film ends on a tragic note when all Ravi has is his Dove, and Lalitha requests him to give it her, as her daughter is sick and is crying for Ravi uncle's Dove. Ravi has just sold that, so that he could feed. Unable to say no to a request he breathes his last.
Cast
- Sivaji Ganesan as Ravikumar
- Manjula as Manju
- Jayalalithaa as Lalitha
- R. Muthuraman as Chandran
- Major Sundarrajan as Murugan
- J. P. Chandrababu as Singaram
- M. R. R. Vasu as Paramasivam
- Cho as Appavu
- Sachu as Kamala
- Baby Sumathi as Selvi
Production
In early 1970, G. Balasubramanium had written a story for Sivaji Ganesan, and film producer Noor bought the rights for ₹ 25,000, with K. Shankar signed on to direct. However, Ganesan was reluctant after hearing the story, feeling it was too tragic. A year later, the same story was bought by the Kannada director duo Dorai-Bhagavan for ₹ 38,000, and they made it into a Kannada film titled Kasturi Nivasa, with Rajkumar in the lead role. After the film's success, Ganesan's company Sivaji Productions decided to remake it in Tamil, and bought the remake rights for ₹ 2,00,000. The remake was titled Avandhan Manidhan,[1][2] and was co-produced by K. N. Subramaniam.[3]
Themes
Film historian Mohan Raman interpreted one scene where Cho's character tells Chandrababu's character, "Ellarum Ungala Marandutaanga pa" (Everyone has forgotten you, man) as reflecting Chandrababu's real life situation at that time.[4]
Soundtrack
The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan.[5]
| No. | Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Jalitha Vanitha" (Oonjalukku) | T. M. Soundararajan | Kannadasan | 05:44 |
| 2 | "Anbu Nadamadum" | T. M. Soundararajan, Susheela | 04:41 | |
| 3 | "Ah ... Engirundho Oru Kural" | Vani Jayaram | 04:20 | |
| 4 | "Aattuviththaal Yaaroruvar" | T. M. Soundararajan | 04:09 | |
| 5 | "Manidhan Ninaippadhundu" | T. M. Soundararajan | 04:52 | |
References
- Venkatasubba Rao, K. N. (12 July 2008). "Kasturi Nivasa 1971". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- "Sivaji Ganesan passed up on the offer". The Hindu. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- "அன்பு நடமாடும் கலைக்கூடமே... என்றென்றும் கண்ணதாசன் (6)". Dina Thanthi. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- Ramanujam, Srinivasa (7 December 2016). "A different brand of wit". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
- "Avanthan Manithan (1975)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.