Thanga Padhumai

Thanga Padhumai (English: Golden Statue) is a Tamil language film starring Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini in the lead roles. 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.

Thanga Padhumai
Directed byA. S. A. Samy
Produced byM. Somasundaram
Written byDialogues:
Aru. Ramanathan,
M. Viswanathan
Screenplay byA. S. A. Samy
Story byAru. Ramanathan
StarringSivaji Ganesan
Padmini
T. R. Rajakumari
N. S. Krishnan
M. N. Nambiar
M. N. Rajam
Music byViswanathan–Ramamoorthy
CinematographyP. Ramasamy
Art Direction:
T. V. S. Shama
Edited byA. Thangarajan
Production
company
Distributed byJupiter Pictures
Release date
10 January 1959[1]
Running time
184 mins
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

Manivannan (Sivaji Ganesan) is a physician, but a simpleton. His wife Selvi (Padmini), daughter of a rich trader of Uraiyur was modelled on Kannagi as the personification of female virtues. The emerald in the eyes of Kannagi Devi statue at Uraiyur are precious and atract the princess Raja Vadana (M.N.Rajam) of the neighbouring kingdoom. 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 unconcious when Padmini visits Maya Mohini

Mayamohini commands for a mortgage from Selvi for releasing her husband. With no other go, she 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 M.N.Rajam. 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 the 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 blinded .

In a long song-oriented climax, Selvi gets the emrald 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

Crew

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] Playback singers are C. S. Jayaraman, T. M. Soundararajan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, S. C. Krishnan, M. L. Vasanthakumari, P. Leela, P. Suseela, Jikki, T. S. Bagavathi, A. P. Komala, K. Jamuna Rani, A. G. Rathnamala & Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi. The songs were recorded by V. Sreenavasa Raghavan and A. Govindasamy.

The soundtrack was released under the label "Saregama".[8]

The song "Varugiraal Unnai Thedi" is based on Atana raga.[9] The dancers for this song are T. R. Rajakumari, C. Lakshmi Rajyam and Sashi (of Madras sisters Sashi, Kala and Mala. They are related to Music director V. Chandra Bose & old actress K. N. Kamalam)

The song "Aarambamavadhu" was remixed in Tharai Thappattai (2016).[10]

No.SongSingersLyricsLength (m:ss)
1Vanam PoyyaadhuT. M. SoundararajanSitthar Viruththam00:30
2Engal Kula NayagiyeP. LeelaKannadasan05:36
3Varugiraal Unnai ThediM. L. Vasanthakumari & Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi05:35
4En Vaazhvil Pudhu Padhai KandenP. SusheelaA. Maruthakasi03:34
5Indru Namathullame PongumT. M. Soundararajan & JikkiPattukkottai Kalyanasundaram04:30
6Eedatra Patthinikku.... Aarambam Avathu PennukkulleC. S. Jayaraman & dialogues by Padmini07:22
7Pariththa KannaipadhitthuP. Leela05:22
8Marundhu Vikira MaappillaikuA. P. Komala & K. Jamuna Rani02:49
9En Vaazhvil Pudhu Padhai Kanden (pathos)P. SusheelaA. Maruthakasi03:41
10Poomalai Pottu Pona MamaS. C. Krishnan & A. G. RathnamalaPattukkottai Kalyanasundaram02:27
11Ondru Patta KanavanukkuT. S. Bagavathi01:48
12Mugatthil Mugam ParkkalamT. M. Soundararajan & P. Leela02:59
13Vizhi VelA. P. Komala & K. Jamuna RaniUdumalai Narayana Kavi03:00
14Illara MaligaiyilT. S. BagavathiPattukkottai Kalyanasundaram03:00
15Vidhi Enum KuzhandaiSeerkazhi Govindarajan01:46
16Kotravan Madhurai MoodhorP. Leela03:10

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]
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gollark: derek1, that is.
gollark: Also the various ubqorals and possibly derek.

References
  1. Dhananjayan 2014, p. 124.
  2. "Thanga Padhumai". nadigarthilagam. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  3. "Thanga Padhumai Reviews". the hindu. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  4. Dhananjayan 2014, p. 125.
  5. Dhananjayan 2014, p. 126.
  6. "Thanga Padhumai Songs". raaga. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  7. http://www.saavn.com/s/album/tamil/Thanga-Padhumai-1959/QktqzCYZO0k_
  8. http://www.saregama.com/album/thanga-padhumai_14960
  9. "Atana for inspiring valour". Hindu. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsk0tvNvSR0
  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.

Bibliography

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