Muthal Mariyathai

Muthal Mariyathai (pronounced [muðal maɾijaːðaɪ]; transl. Prime Honour) is a 1985 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film produced, directed and co-written by Bharathiraja. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Radha, with Vadivukkarasi, Deepan, Ranjani (in her feature debut), Janagaraj, Sathyaraj, Aruna and Veerasamy in supporting roles. It revolves around the relationship between a village head and a boatman's daughter.

Muthal Mariyathai
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBharathiraja
Produced byBharathiraja
Screenplay byBharathiraja
Story byR. Selvaraj
StarringSivaji Ganesan
Radha
Music byIlaiyaraaja
CinematographyB. Kannan
Edited byV. Rajagopal
P. Mohan Raj
Production
company
Manoj Creations
Release date
  • 15 August 1985 (1985-08-15)
Running time
161 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

The story of Muthal Mariyathai was developed from two sources: an English-language film about the relationship between a young girl and an ageing painter, and a story in Jayakanthan's novel Samoogam Enbadhu Naalu Paer about the relationship between a teacher and an administrator with a strained marriage. The film was co-written by R. Selvaraj, photographed by B. Kannan, and edited by V. Rajagopal and P. Mohan Raj. Filming was entirely held at Talakadu, a village near Mysore in Karnataka.

Muthal Mariyathai was released on 15 August 1985 and ran for over 200 days, becoming a silver jubilee hit. It fetched the Best Lyricist Award and Best Feature Film in Tamil Award for Vairamuthu and Bharathiraja respectively in the 33rd National Film Awards, and Ganesan and Radha won their respective Filmfare Awards South in Best Tamil Actor and Best Tamil Actress category.

Plot

The film commences with friends and family of an ailing village head, Malaichami, gathered around him on his deathbed. 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 in his village. The protagonist is unhappily married to a shrewish wife by the name of Ponnatha, 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

Production

Development

The storyline of Muthal Mariyathai was developed by Bharathiraja from two sources: an English-language film about "an old painter and a young girl who is attracted to his paintings. Gradually, she becomes attracted to the person as well", and a story in Jayakanthan's novel Samoogam Enbadhu Naalu Paer which was about "the relationship that develops between a young teacher who comes to a place and a local administrator who is in a bad marriage. She becomes his intellectual companion". After Bharathiraja outlined this to writer R. Selvaraj, they both developed the screenplay of Muthal Mariyathai.[6] Bharathiraja himself produced the film under Manoj Creations, cinematography was handled by B. Kannan, and editing by V. Rajagopal and P. Mohan Raj.[2]

Casting
A view of Talakadu where the film was shot.

Bharathiraja and Selvaraj initially wanted Rajesh for the role of Malaichami, but retracted after distributors objected. Selvaraj later considered S. P. Balasubrahmanyam but realised it would not be possible due to Balasubrahmanyam's playback singing commitments, so Bharathiraja suggested Sivaji Ganesan.[7] Though unwell at the time, he still accepted Bharathiraja's request.[8] The film was Radha's 99th as an actress.[9] Bharathiraja cast her in the role of Kuyil because she was "dusky, slender, and tall" just like he envisioned the character. Radha's voice was dubbed by Raadhika. Bharathiraja cast Vadivukkarasi as Ponnatha because of her "large eyes".[6] Since Vadivukkarasi was not as old as the character she plays, the makers "smeared ash on my face. They glued tubes to my ears to make them look different. But I didn't mind and didn't really know."[10] This was the feature film debut of Sasha Selvaraj, who was given the stage name Ranjani by Bharathiraja. Ranjini, who played Sevuli, was then studying in Singapore and arrived in Madras to take a break from education.[3] It was also the debut of Deepan, who plays Chellakannu.[11]

Filming

Filming was entirely held at Talakadu, a village near Mysore in Karnataka.[9][8] Though Ganesan was known mainly for his melodramatic performances and powerful dialogue delivery, Bharathiraja asked him to tone them down for playing Malaichami and "just be himself".[6] On the sets, Ganesan insisted seeing what Bharathiraja wanted first before enacting a scene.[12][13] Many scenes were filmed at a tree near the Shivanasamudra Falls on the banks of the Kaveri river.[8] While filming a scene where Ponnatha walks angrily across a street with a broom and strikes Kuyil with it, Vadivukkarasi fainted as a result of exertion from long-distance walking.[6] According to Ranjini, Ganesan never coached the other actors, "but always let them try out their roles themselves."[14] Though she hoped that filming would conclude within two weeks, it did not, with Ranjini attributing it to "Bharathiraja being a perfectionist".[3] According to historian G. Dhananjayan, filming lasted roughly 50 days,[12] whereas Ganesan claimed that it lasted a month,[8] and Selvaraj said the complete film was ready, 100 days after filming began.[7]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja while the lyrics for the songs were written by Vairamuthu.[15][16] Both did not like the film after viewing its rough cut because they felt it "wasn't youthful", but Bharathiraja insisted that Ilaiyaraaja compose the score.[6] Ilaiyaraaja later recalled, "I gave my best songs/BGM to that flick. When, Bharathiraja saw the movie after my work, he questioned how am I able to deliver such a wonderful music, even for a film which I did not like".[17] The song "Antha Nilava Thaan" is set in the Carnatic raga Natabhairavi,[18] and "Poongatru Thirumbuma" is set in Kharaharapriya.[19]

Track list
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Antha Nilava Thaan"Ilaiyaraaja, K. S. Chithra4:31
2."Poongatru Thirumbuma"Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki4:52
3."Vetti Veru Vasam"Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki4:28
4."Yeh Kuruvi"Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki1:16
5."Raasave Unna Nambi"S. Janaki4:32
6."Hey Kiliyirukku"Ilaiyaraaja1:08
7."Eratha Malai Mele"Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki2:08
8."Naanthaaney Antha Kuyil"S. Janaki0:28
9."Poongatru Thirumbuma"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Asha Bhosle0:28
Total length:22:54

Release and reception

Muthal Mariyathai was released on 15 August 1985.[4] On 8 September 1985, Ananda Vikatan said that when detractors where talking about the end of Ganesan's era in Tamil cinema, Bharathiraja proved through an intense script and character that his saga was not over yet. The reviewer also applauded Radha's performance and Bharathiraja's direction.[20] Though Vadivukkarasi received acclaim from critics for her performance, she was the subject of vitriol from fans of Ganesan due to her character's antagonistic nature.[10] The film ran for over 200 days, becoming a silver jubilee hit.[21]

Awards

At the 33rd National Film Awards, Muthal Mariyathai won in two categories: Best Feature Film in Tamil, and Best Lyricist for Vairamuthu.[22] Radha was a strong contender for the National Film Award for Best Actress, but was disqualified since her voice was dubbed by a different actress.[23] At the 33rd Filmfare Awards South, the film won in two categories: Best Tamil Actor for Ganesan, and Best Tamil Actress for Radha. It also won the Cinema Express Award for Best Film – Tamil.[12]

Home media

Muthal Mariyathai is included alongside other Sivaji starrers in the compilation of DVD titled 8th Ulaga Adhisayam Sivaji.[24]

Legacy

Muthal Mariyathai became a landmark film for Ganesan and Bharathiraja.[25] In a comedy scene from Thalattu Ketkuthamma (1992), Goundamani's character sings "Poongatru Thirumbuma" to impress his wife (Vijay Chandrika), His nephew (Prabhu) completes the lyrics after the former has forgotten the lyrics.[26] In Rajakumaran (1994), a milkman (Goundamani) tries to impress a girl whose face he has not seen by providing the milk. The song "Poongatru" with different lyrics is heard as background song for the scene.[27] In Parambarai (1996), Kannayiram (Senthil) is seen singing the lyrics "Medhdhai Vanginen" from that song.[28] In a scene from Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga (1999), Kundalakesi (Goundamani) lifts a huge stone similar to Malaichami's technique from Muthal Mariyathai to impress his lover.[29] In Mozhi (2007), Ananthakrishnan (Brahmanandam) will be seen watching "Poongatru" in television before getting disturbed by a cockroach.[30] The dialogue "Enaku oru unma therinjaaganum" (I need to know the truth) spoken by Veerasami's character became popular.[31] An unrelated series of same name also directed by Bharathiraja aired on Kalaignar TV.[32]

References
  1. Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 472.
  2. Dhananjayan 2014, p. 284.
  3. Sreenivasa Raghavan, T. S. (9 January 2012). "Will she? Won't she?". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  4. ராம்ஜி, வி. (15 August 2019). "பாரதிராஜாவின் 'முதல் மரியாதை'க்கு 34 வயது!" [Bharathiraja's Muthal Mariyathai turns 34!]. Hindu Tamil Thisai. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  5. ""வெட்டிவேரு வாசம்.. வெடலப்புள்ள நேசம்" முதல் மரியாதைக்கு 35 ஆண்டுகள்!!" ["The fragrance of grassroots.. love of a young woman" Muthal Mariyathai turns 35!]. Puthiya Thalaimurai (in Tamil). 15 August 2020. Archived from the original on 16 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  6. Suganth, M. (15 August 2020). "#35YearsOfMuthalMariyathai: Muthal Mariyathai is a moving tale of a man's journey from his house to home: Bharathirajaa". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  7. ப்ளாக், கிராபியென் (6 December 2018). "``முதல் மரியாதை படத்தைப் பாத்துட்டு இளையராஜா என்ன சொன்னார் தெரியுமா?"- கதாசிரியர் ஆர்.செல்வராஜ்" ["After Ilaiyaraaja saw Muthal Mariyathai do you know what he said?" - Screenwriter R. Selvaraj]. Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 16 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  8. Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 208.
  9. Ashok Kumar, S.R. (28 May 2020). "Landmark films, golden memories". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  10. Vandhana (26 November 2018). "'I Played Wife, Mother & Grandmother in My 20s. I Got Used To It': In Conversation With Vadivukkarasi". Silverscreen India. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  11. Muthal Mariyathai (motion picture) (in Tamil). Manoj Creations. 1985. Opening credits, at 1:55.
  12. Dhananjayan 2014, p. 285.
  13. Ashok Kumar, S. R. (31 August 2007). "Penchant for innovation Making an impact". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  14. Ramachandran, Mythily (16 April 2014). "Catching up with actress Ranjini". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 16 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  15. Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 209.
  16. "Mudhal Mariyadhai (1985)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  17. "I didnt like Mudhal Mariyadhai Ilayaraja". IndiaGlitz. 13 August 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  18. Sundararaman 2007, p. 124.
  19. Sundararaman 2007, p. 154.
  20. "சினிமா விமர்சனம்: முதல் மரியாதை" [Movie Review: Muthal Mariyathai]. Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 8 September 1985. Archived from the original on 16 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  21. Selvaraj, N. (20 March 2017). "வெள்ளி விழா கண்ட தமிழ் திரைப்படங்கள்" [Tamil films that completed silver jubilees]. Thinnai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  22. "33rd National Film Festival" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  23. "Gossip". Dinakaran. 5 May 1999. Archived from the original on 5 May 1999.
  24. Iyer, Aruna V. (13 May 2012). "For the love of Sivaji". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  25. Dhananjayan 2014, pp. 284–285.
  26. Thalattu Ketkuthamma (motion picture) (in Tamil). Sivaji Productions. 1991.
  27. Rajakumaran (motion picture) (in Tamil). Sivaji Productions. 1994.
  28. Parambarai (motion picture) (in Tamil). Malar Films. 1996.
  29. Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga (motion picture) (in Tamil). Lakshmi Movie Makers. 1999.
  30. Mozhi (motion picture) (in Tamil). Duet Movies. 2007.
  31. "Veteran actor honoured". The Hindu. 5 February 2009. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  32. Akilan, Mayura (4 June 2013). "பாரதிராஜா ஸ்டைல் முதல்மரியாதை!". Filmibeat. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.

Bibliography
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