Thaaikkuppin Thaaram

Thaaikkuppin Thaaram
Directed by M. A. Thirumugam
Produced by Sando M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar
Written by Kannadasan & S. Ayyapillai
Starring M. G. Ramachandran
P. Bhanumathi
P. Kannamba
T. S. Balaiah
Kaka Radhakrsihnan
Music by K. V. Mahadevan
Distributed by Devar Films
Release date(s) 4 September 1956
Language Tamil

Thaaikkuppin Thaaram is a Tamil language film starring M. G. Ramachandran in the lead role. The film was released on 4 September 1956. It is most notable for Ramachandran (or MGR) using an older film as a flashback in the film. The story was a simple rural tale of love and valour.

Contents

Production

The movie was directed by M. A. Thirumugam, the younger brother of Sando M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar. Thirumugam had already been as an editor while working for Jupiter Pictures, and Thaaikkuppin Thaaram was the first movie he directed. Devar took Thirumugam to famous directors like K. Ramnoth and L. V. Prasad and sought their blessings and guidance. The shooting commenced on 5th July 1955 in the sets put up at the Vauhini Studios, with Nagi Reddy cranking the camera for the first shot.

As the story needed an imposing bull, Devar searched far and wide for a fine specimen. His men came back with reports of a landowner in Periakulam having a majestic bull in his farm. Devar approached the landowner, and managed to buy the bull after much persuasion, paying Rs. 1000 for it.

Plot

Muthaiyan is the brave son of Ratnam Pillai and Meenakshi. They are landed gentry and are highly respected in the village for their noble qualities. Meenakshi’s brother Doraiswami, on the other hand, is despised by all for his arrogance, cruelty and dishonourable ways. The two families are not in speaking terms ever since Doraiswami tried to usurp Ratnam Pillai’s traditional rights at the temple festival. Doraiswami’s daughter Sivakami, however, is a good-natured girl who is in love with Muthaiyan. Muthaiyan too reciprocates her love and they are determined to surmount all hurdles and get married. When Doraiswami’s men capture Muthaiyan and keep him a prisoner on the pretext that he had hurled stones at Doraiswami’s prized bull when he had caught it grazing on his crops, Sivakami comes to his rescue.

Meanwhile accosting Doraiswami demanding his son’s release, Ratnam Pillai declares bravely that he would overpower the touted bull. But the bull gores him to death. In his dying breath, he elicits a promise from Meenakshi that she would ensure that their son sets right this slur on their honour. Muthaiyan’s mother makes him promise that he would not even think of Sivakami anymore. Sivakami’s father too has isolated her in house arrest and has started looking out for a suitable husband for her.

How Muthaiyan wins the hand of Sivakami after overpowering the mighty bull Senkodan and reforming his wily uncle forms rest of the tale.

Cast

Actor Role
M. G. Ramachandran Muthaiyan
P. Bhanumathi Sivakami
P. Kannamba Meenakshi
T. S. Balaiah
Kaka Radhakrsihnan
E. R. Sahadevan
G. Sakunthala
K. Rathinam
Surabhi Balasaraswathi

Crew

Soundtrack

List of songs:

  1. manusanai manusan saapiduRaanda by T. M. Soundararajan
  2. kaathal viyaathi polladhadhu by Jikki
  3. asaindhaadum thendRalE by P. Bhanumathi
  4. vittadhadi aasai by S. C. Krishnan & A. G. Rathnamala
  5. aahaa nam aasai by T. M. Soundararajan & P. Bhanumathi
  6. uNNamal uRangaamal uyirOdu mandRaadi by T. M. Soundararajan
  7. naadu sezhithithida naaLum uzhaithithida by M. L. Vasanthakumari
  8. thandhayaippOl ulagilE deivam uNdO by T. M. Soundararajan
  9. thandhaavaram thandhaaLuvaan, thiruchendhooril vaazhvOnE vandhaaLuvaan by S. C. Krishnan, A. G. Rathnamala & chorus
  10. en kaadhal inbam idhuthaana by A. M. Rajah & P. Bhanumathi

Trivia

The movie was a runaway hit, and proved an auspicious launch vehicle for Devar Films.

After a brief misunderstanding with MGR immediately after Thaaikkuppin Thaaram, Devar went on produce 15 movies with MGR as the hero.

All the 16 movies that Devar produced with MGR as the hero had music by K. V. Mahadevan.

References