Thanga Padhumai

Thanga Padhumai
தங்கப் பதுமை
Directed by A. S. A. Samy
Produced by M. Somasundaram
Written by Aru. Ramanathan
Screenplay by A. S. A. Samy
Story by Aru. Ramanathan
Starring Sivaji Ganesan
Padmini
T. R. Rajakumari
N. S. Krishnan
M. N. Nambiar
M. N. Rajam
Music by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Cinematography P. Ramasamy
Edited by A. Thangarajan
Production
company
Jupiter Pictures
Distributed by Jupiter Pictures
Release dates
 10 January 1959
Running time
 184 mins
Country India India
Language Tamil

Thanga Padhumai (Tamil: :தங்கப் பதுமை) is a Tamil language film starring Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini in the lead roles. The film, directed by A. S. A. Samy, produced by M. Somasundaram under Jupiter Pictures, and musical score by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy.[1] Thanga Pathumai proved to be a hit in its re-release, and is one of the classics of Tamil Cinema. Remembered for Padmini's and Sivaji Ganesan's performance, and the classic song ‘Koduthavaney'.[2] Thanga Pathumai got National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for the year 1959.

Production

Jupiter Pictures entered the big league in 1942 with the phenomenal success of Kannagi, in which P. Kannamba created history with her scintillating performance in the title role. P. U. Chinnappa lent excellent support playing Kovalan.

During the late 1950s, Jupiter Somu thought of remaking Kannagi with Sivaji Ganesan as Kovalan. He projected the 1942 version to his intimate friend and mentor C. N. Annadurai who watched it along with Sami, who was to direct the second version. Annadurai rightly told them that remaking the film would not prove successful as much water had flowed under the Tamil Cinema bridge since 1942. 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 movie was Thanga Pathumai.

A. S. A. Sami told this writer years later about Padmini's devotion to work. During breaks for lunch and ‘tiffin', she 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.

Plot

Sivaji Ganesan plays the younger physician to the king (R. Balasubramaniam) and his wife (Padmini) was modelled on Kannagi as the personification of female virtues. The physician is commanded to the palace to treat the king where the princess (M. N. Rajam) falls for him and virtually enslaves him, preventing him from going back to his wife. She even goes to the extent of blinding the hero and in a long drawn out song-oriented climax, the wife prays before the gold statue of Parvathi, hence the title, and gets back her husband's sight and happiness.

Cast

Crew

Soundtrack

The music composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy.[3] Lyrics by Udumalai Narayana Kavi, Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, Kannadasan & A. Maruthakasi. Playback singers are T. M. Soundararajan, C. S. Jayaraman, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, S. C. Krishnan, P. Leela, M. L. Vasanthakumari, T. S. Bagavathy, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, P. Suseela, Jikki, A. P. Komala, A. G. Rathnamala & K. Jamuna Rani.

No. Song Singers Lyrics Length (m:ss)
1 Vanam Poyyaadhu T. M. Soundararajan Sitthar Viruththam 00:30
2 Engal Kula Nayagiye P. Leela Kannadasan 05:36
3 Varugiraal Unnai Thedi M. L. Vasanthakumari & Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi 05:35
4 En Vaazhvil Pudhu Padhai Kanden P. Susheela A. Maruthakasi 03:34
5 Indru Namathullame Pongum T. M. Soundararajan & Jikki Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram 04:30
6 Eedatra Patthinikku.... Aarambam Avathu Pennukkulle C. S. Jayaraman & dialogues by Padmini 07:22
7 Pariththa Kannaipadhitthu P. Leela 05:22
8 Marundhu Vikira Maappillaiku A. P. Komala & K. Jamuna Rani 02:49
9 En Vaazhvil Pudhu Padhai Kanden (pathos) P. Susheela A. Maruthakasi 03:41
10 Poomalai Pottu Pona Mama S. C. Krishnan & A. G. Rathnamala Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram 02:27
11 Ondru Patta Kanavanukku T. S. Bagavathy 01:48
12 Mugatthil Mugam Parkkalam T. M. Soundararajan & P. Leela 02:59
13 Vizhi Vel A. P. Komala & K. Jamuna Rani Udumalai Narayana Kavi 03:00
14 Illara Maligaiyil T. S. Bagavathy Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram 03:00
15 Vidhi Enum Kuzhandai Seerkazhi Govindarajan 01:46
16 Kotravan Madhurai Moodhor P. Leela 03:10

Awards

National Film Awards[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Thanga Padhumai". nadigarthilagam. Retrieved 2014-10-29.
  2. ↑ "Thanga Padhumai Reviews". the hindu. Retrieved 2014-10-29.
  3. ↑ "Thanga Padhumai Songs". raaga. Retrieved 2014-10-29.
  4. ↑ "6th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Retrieved September 3, 2011.

External links