:Agathiyar

{{Infobox film

| name = Agathiyar

| image = Agathiyar poster.jpg

| caption = Poster

| director = A. P. Nagarajan

| writer = A. P. Nagarajan

| starring = Sirkazhi Govindarajan

| cinematography = W. R. Subba Rao

| editing = T. Vijayarangam

| music = Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan

| studio = Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures

| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1972|1|15|ref1={{Cite web |title=Agathiyar (1972) |url=https://screen4screen.com/movies/agathiyar |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119111952/https://screen4screen.com/movies/agathiyar |archive-date=19 November 2023 |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=Screen 4 Screen}}}}

| runtime = 153 minutes

| country = India

| language = Tamil

}}

Agathiyar is a 1972 Indian Tamil-language Hindu mythological film written, directed, and produced by A. P. Nagarajan. The soundtrack was composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan. The film stars Sirkazhi Govindarajan playing the main character, T. R. Mahalingam, A. V. M. Rajan, Kumari Padmini, R. S. Manohar, Suruli Rajan, Manorama and Sridevi were in supporting roles. This film ran for 100 days and won widespread appreciation.{{Cite web |title="KALAIMAMANI" SIRKALI'S MEMORABLE MOVIES |url=http://sirkali.org/movies.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041617/http://sirkali.org/movies.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=4 November 2015 |website=sirkali.org}} The film was dubbed into Hindi under the title Maharish in 1986.

Plot

The story is about Agathiyar Muni, who is considered to be the embodiment of one of celestial intellectuals who descended on earth to enlighten human beings. During the wedding of Shiva and Goddess Parvati, the earth tilted to the northern side, as the whole world was witnessing the marriage. Shiva gave the responsibility of balancing the earth to Agathiyar by going to the southern side. Agathiyar is also given the additional responsibility of spreading goodness and equality. He has the additional task of spreading the Tamil language. Many small stories between heaven and earth are interwoven in the movie. The stories teach one to lead a simple existence without ego. It also shows how Agathiyar's journey facing Vindhya Mount, River Kaveri, Vilvala/Vaathapi, Lord Murugan, A Farmer,Ravana,Urvashi, Tholkappiyan thereby teaching them the greatness of humility.

Cast

;Actors

Sirkazhi Govindarajan as Agathiyar
T. R. Mahalingam as Narathar
A. V. M. Rajan as Lord Siva
R. S. Manohar as Ravaneswaran/Langeswaran
T. K. Bhagavathy as Devendran
Sasikumar as Jayandran (Devendran's son)
Sivakumar as Poet Tholkappiayan
Suruli Rajan
A. K. Veerasami as Saint
Usilai Mani as Boodham
O. A. K. Thevar as Vinthiyan (Vindhya mount)
T. N. Sivathanu as Vadhaapi or Saththamuni
Typist Gopu as Vilvala or Saagaramuni
E. R. Sahadevan
K. D. Santhanam
Shanmugasundari
Master Sekhar
Master Sridhar
Gundu Karuppaiah
S. Ramarao

;Actresses

Kumari Padmini as Goddess Parvathy
Lakshmi as Ponni/Kaviri
C. R. Vijayakumari as Mandothari
Manorama as Selli
A. Sakunthala as Urvasi
M. Bhanumathi as Kakkai Padiniyar
Rajakokila
Baby Sridevi as Lord Murugan{{Cite web |date=25 February 2021 |title=7 memorable performances by Sridevi as a child actor, watch |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/sridevi-top-performances-child-actor-on-death-anniversary-7201669/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221174606/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/sridevi-top-performances-child-actor-on-death-anniversary-7201669/ |archive-date=21 February 2022 |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=The Indian Express}}
V. Vasantha
P. Seethalakshmi
Kalasree

Soundtrack

Music was composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan.{{Cite web |title=Agathiyar (1972) |url=http://mio.to/album//Agathiyar+(1972) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118085803/http://mio.to/album//Agathiyar+(1972) |archive-date=18 November 2015 |access-date=4 November 2015 |website=Music India Online}}{{Cite web |title=Agathiyar (1972) |url=http://play.raaga.com/tamil/album/Agathiyar-songs-T0001344 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119183601/http://play.raaga.com/tamil/album/Agathiyar-songs-T0001344 |archive-date=19 November 2015 |access-date=2 November 2015 |website=Raaga.com}} The song "Isaiyai Tamizhai" is set in Kharaharapriya raga.{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=13 April 2012 |title=A Raga's Journey — Kingly Kharaharapriya |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-ragas-journey-kingly-kharaharapriya/article3310742.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823092601/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-ragas-journey-kingly-kharaharapriya/article3310742.ece |archive-date=23 August 2019 |access-date=16 December 2018 |work=The Hindu}} The song "Vendriduven" is a ragamalika comprising 16 ragas and is composed in such a way that the name of the raga used in each stanza is a word play on a common Tamil word which sounds similar to the raga's name starting with Nattai,{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=20 December 2013 |title=Versatile Nattai |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/versatile-nattai/article5482691.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221051732/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/versatile-nattai/article5482691.ece |archive-date=21 December 2019 |access-date=16 December 2018 |work=The Hindu}} Bhairavi,{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=6 July 2012 |title=Bewitching Bhairavi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/bewitching-bhairavi/article3609568.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831023836/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/bewitching-bhairavi/article3609568.ece |archive-date=31 August 2021 |access-date=31 August 2021 |work=The Hindu}} Todi, Arabhi, Shanmukhapriya, Darbar, Hamsadhwani, Vasantha, Mohanam, Manolayam, Bageshri, Saranga, Kamboji, Gowrimanohari, Kalyani and Saraswathi.

class="wikitable" style="— collapse:collapse; font -size:95%;"
style="background:#cccccf; text-align:center;" ! Songs !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length (m:ss)
"Ulagam Samanilai Peravendum"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan	rowspan=4\|Ulundurpet Shanmugam	3:06
"Aandavan Tharisaname"	T. R. Mahalingam	3:42
"Malainindra Thirukumara"	T. R. Mahalingam	2:20
"Ventriduven Unnai"	T. M. Soundararajan, Sirkazhi Govindarajan	8:07
"Thaayir Chirandha"	T. K. Kala	Poovai Senguttuvan	2:55
"Kannai Pole Mannai Kakkum"	L. R. Eswari and Chorus	Puthuneri Subramnyam	3:55
"Naadanthai Vaali Kaveri"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan	rowspan=3\|K. D. Santhanam	3:33
"Thalaiva Thavaputhalvaa"	M. R. Vijaya and P. Radha	4:35
"Isaiyai Thamizhai"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan, T. R. Mahalingam	3:29
"Namachivayamena Solvome"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan, T. R. Mahalingam	Era. Pazhanisamy	4:17
"Muzhu Muthar Porulae"	T. R. Mahalingam	Nellai Arulmani	2:10

Reception

{{Cite news |date=6 February 1972 |title=அகத்தியர் |url=https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP372-8-10-31 |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=Theekkathir |pages=3 |language=ta |via=Endangered Archives Programme}}{{cbignore}}