Thanga Pathakkam

Thanga Pathakkam
Directed by P. Madhavan
Produced by Shanthi Narayanaswamy
T. Manohar
Written by J. Mahendran
Starring Sivaji Ganesan
K. R. Vijaya
Sreekanth
Prameela
Music by M. S. Viswanathan
Cinematography P. N. Sundaram
Edited by R. Devarajan
Production
company
Distributed by Sivaji Productions
Release dates
  • May 1974
Running time
 165 minutes
Country India
Language Tamil

Thanga Pathakkam (English: Gold Medal) is a 1974 Tamil film directed by P. Madhavan and written by Mahendran. Produced by Shanthi Narayanaswamy and T. Manohar, the film stars Sivaji Ganesan, K. R. Vijaya, and Shrikanth in the lead roles, while Major Sundararajan and Cho Ramaswamy play supporting roles. The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The film completed a 182-day run at the box office. It was remade in Telugu as Kondaveeti Simham with N. T. Rama Rao and in Hindi as Farz Aur Kanoon with Jeetendra.[1]

Plot

S.P. Choudhry (Sivaji Ganesan) is a dedicated policeman, caring husband and a respected man in the community. Being a policeman, however, makes him a strong disciplinarian, even at home. Because of Choudhry’s dedication to hs job, his son, Jagan (Shrikanth), grows up more under the care of his mother Lakshmi (K.R.Vijaya) than under his father. As Jagan grows up he becomes more and more rebellious. He begins to play truant, gamble and lie to his parents. Choudhry’s attempts to discipline him only results in Jagan resenting him.

Cast

Production

Sivaji Ganesan wrote in his autobiography:

“ An artist called Senthamarai was staging the play Thanga Padakkam. My colleague, Kannan, told me about this play that he saw. I too saw the play at Annamalai Mandram. I called for Senthamarai and asked him to give me the rights to the story and said that I would stage it as a play and film and that he could be a part of both projects. He was generous enough to accept the proposal. I bought the rights for the story and enhanced its quality before staging it as a play. It received tremendrous response from the audience. We later made this into a film. This is not about a man killing his son to receive a gold medal. The story depicts police officer's commitment to his post.[1] ”

Soundtrack

Thanga Pathakkam
Soundtrack album by M. S. Viswanathan
Released 1974
Genre Feature film soundtrack
Label Saregama

Music is composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics by Kannadasan.[2][3] Behindwoods said, "Songs in the film were superhits like the soulful Sumaithangi saindhal, or the lilting Nalladhoru kudumbam."[4] One of the songs from this film "Nallathoru Kudumbam" has inspired a 1979 film of same name.[5]

Track Song Singers Duration
1 Sothanai Mel Sothanai T. M. Soundararajan 3:54
2 Nalladhoru Kudumbam T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela 4:04
3 Thathi Sellum Muthu Vani Jayaram, Sai Baba 4:49
4 Sumathaki Sayinthal T. M. Soundararajan 3:37

Reception

Behindwoods called the film "a simple story told in a powerful manner." and added that "Sivaji breathed life into the character so much so that several of his successors have imbibed his style in playing the upright police officer."[4]

Legacy

Comedian Vivek has imitated the mannerisms and dialogue delivery of Sivaji Ganesan in various films. He did the satire on Thangapadhakkam in the film Pasupathi c/o Rasakkapalayam (2007).[6] In a comedy scene from Eththan (2011), Singampuli is seen watching "Thangapadhakkam" while Vimal investigates him about the money he was having.[7] In Uthama Raasa (1993), Vellaiyan (Senthil) would be seen lip-syncing for the song "Sodhanai Mel Sodhanai".[8] The dialgoue "Kaanjipona Bhoomiyellam" from the song "Sothanai" was a famous dialogue. In Tata Birla (1996), R. Parthiban mimics the same dialogue to Goundamani who is nude.[9] In Manasthan (2004), R. Sarathkumar misspells the film's title as "Thangappa Thakkam".[10]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sivaji Ganesan (2002). Autobiography of an Actor, p. 183, Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust, Chennai
  2. ↑ http://www.flipkart.com/thanga-pathakkam/p/itmd5bvuzngmqtm8
  3. ↑ http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/album/T0000222.html
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.behindwoods.com/features/classicalmovie/thangappadhakkam/tamil-cinema-movies-article-thangappadhakkam.html
  5. ↑ http://play.raaga.com/tamil/album/Nallathoru-Kudumbam-t0001720
  6. ↑ http://www.indiaglitz.com/vivek-s-antics-tamilfont-news-36460
  7. ↑ Eththan DVD
  8. ↑ Uthamaraasa DVD
  9. ↑ Tata Birla (DVD)
  10. ↑ Maanasthan (DVD)

External links