Login
Login

Karpagam

{{short description|1963 film by K. S. Gopalakrishnan}}

{{other uses}}

{{Use Indian English|date=December 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Karpagam

| image = Karpagam poster.jpg

| caption = Poster

| director = K. S. Gopalakrishnan

| writer = K. S. Gopalakrishnan

| producer = K. S. Sabarinathan

| starring = See Cast

| cinematography = M. Karnan

| editing = R. Devarajan

| music = Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy

| studio = Amar Jothi Movies

| released = {{film date|1963|11|15|df=y}}

| runtime = 162 minutes{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=214}}

| country = India

| language = Tamil

}}

Karpagam is a 1963 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. The film features an ensemble cast including Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, S. V. Ranga Rao, M. R. Radha, R. Muthuraman, V. K. Ramasamy, V. Nagayya, Karikol Raju, Sheeladevi, K. R. Vijaya and Baby Shakila. In Karpagam, a rich farmer (Ranga Rao) makes his newly married daughter (Vijaya) and her husband (Ganesan) live in his house to take care of his business. Problems arise when his estranged son (Muthuraman) starts to squander his money.

Karpagam is the debut film for Vijaya who plays the title character. It was released on 15 November 1963, Diwali day, and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil – Certificate of Merit for the Second Best Feature Film, while Ganesan won the Chennai Film Fans' Association for Best Actor. The film was also a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres; from the profits earned, Gopalakrishnan built a studio named after the film. It was remade in Hindi as Rishte Naate (1965), in Telugu as Thodu Needa (1965), in Malayalam as Vishukkani (1977) and in Kannada as Muddina Aliya (1996).

Plot

Nallasivam is a rich farmer and lives in the village of Pillaiyarpatti with his son Rajangam and daughter Karpagam. Rajangam is married to Pankajam, daughter of the greedy Thandavam; Karpagam is married to Sundaram, a hardworking farmer from the same village. Karpagam and Sundaram continue to live with Nallasivam at his request to take care of the households and the farm.

Pankajam gives birth to a girl named Meenakshi, but she and Rajangam neglect her. Karpagam, who is childless, takes care of Meenakshi, who starts considering Karpagam and Sundaram as her parents. Unhappy to see how Rajangam is squandering money, Nallasivam hands over the administration of his properties to Sundaram. Pankajam, who has ignored her child in her formative years, is annoyed with this development and, at the instigation of Thandavam, forces Rajangam to send a legal notice to his father, asking for property settlement. Thandavam creates problems in Rajangam's family by brainwashing and misleading Pankajam and Rajangam, who blindly follow his advice.

When Meenakshi is taken away by Rajangam, Karpagam goes into depression. Finally, Rajangam sends her back and Karpagam becomes happy. A bull attacks Meenakshi, and Karpagam is killed saving her. Meenakshi refuses to return to her parents and opts to stay with Nallasivam and Sundaram. Nallasivam forcibly gets his son-in-law married to his friend Subramanian's daughter Amudha, who was a friend of Karpagam, so that the child will have a mother. Sundaram and Meenakshi do not accept Amudha. Sundaram lives in the memory of his deceased wife Karpagam, roaming around like a sage. Amudha longs for the love and attention of both Sundaram and Meenakshi. Sadness prevails at home.

Meanwhile, Rajangam and Thandavam conspire to swindle Nallasivam. Thandavam, frustrated with his failure to swindle the wealth of Nallasivam's family, decides to kill Sundaram and sends goons to attack him. Both Nallasivam and Amudha come and save him, while Thandavam is arrested. In the process, Amudha gets stabbed when a goon tries to attack Sundaram. When she is almost dying, Meenakshi sings her favourite song "Athai Madi Methaiyadi" and Amudha is saved. Sundaram realises Amudha's love for Meenakshi. The family unites, while Rajangam and Pankajam repent for their actions.

Cast

{{Col-begin|width=50%}}

{{col-break|width=20%}}

;Male cast

{{col-break|width=20%}}

;Female cast

  • Baby Shakila as Meenakshi

    • {{Col-end}}

    Production

    Karpagam is the feature film debut of K. R. Vijaya.{{Cite news |last=Chowdhary |first=Y. Sunita |date=19 November 2011 |title=Screen goddess |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/screen-goddess/article2642189.ece |url-status=live |access-date=9 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609134950/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/screen-goddess/article2642189.ece |archive-date=9 June 2019}} It was written and directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan, and produced by K. S. Sabarinathan under Amar Jothi Movies. The lead role was originally offered to M. G. Ramachandran, who agreed to act in the film if T. S. Balaiah was cast as the character's father-in-law; as S. V. Ranga Rao was already cast and Gopalakrishnan refused to recast the role, Ramachandran declined, and Gemini Ganesan was cast instead.{{Cite web |date=11 September 2016 |title=கற்பகம் படத்தில் நடிக்க மறுத்த எம்.ஜி.ஆர் |trans-title=MGR refused to act in the film Karpagam |url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com//tamil-news/50760/cinema/Kollywood/MGR-refuses-to-act-in-the-movie-karpagam-movie.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109151323/http://cinema.dinamalar.com//tamil-news/50760/cinema/Kollywood/MGR-refuses-to-act-in-the-movie-karpagam-movie.htm |archive-date=9 November 2016 |access-date=24 January 2023 |website=Dinamalar |language=ta}}{{Cite web |date=15 October 2024 |title=நடிக்க மறுத்து விலகிய எம்.ஜி.ஆர்: ஜெமினி கணேசன் நடித்து சூப்பர் ஹிட்டான படம்; வாலிக்கு கிடைத்த வாழ்க்கை! |url=https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema-classic-history-about-karpagam-movie-mgr-vs-gemini-ganesan-7316982 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250106120434/https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema-classic-history-about-karpagam-movie-mgr-vs-gemini-ganesan-7316982 |archive-date=6 January 2025 |access-date=16 October 2024 |website=The Indian Express |language=ta}} The role of the title character was originally offered to C. R. Vijayakumari, who declined.{{Cite web |date=25 July 2017 |title=கே.பாலசந்தரின் "தாமரை நெஞ்சம்{{''}} விஜயகுமாரிக்கு பதில் சரோஜாதேவி நடித்தார் |url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/Cinema/CineHistory/2017/07/25215430/1098503/cinima-history-vijayakumari.vpf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601054010/https://www.maalaimalar.com/Cinema/CineHistory/2017/07/25215430/1098503/cinima-history-vijayakumari.vpf |archive-date=1 June 2019 |access-date=13 July 2022 |website=Maalai Malar |language=ta}} Vijaya, then known by her birth name Deivanayaki, had given a dance performance at an event in Island Grounds which Ganesan attended. They took a photograph together, which Ganesan later showed to Gopalakrishnan, who wanted a newcomer for the role.{{Cite web |last=Majordasan |title=Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema |url=http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Sep_1_10/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_gemini_ganesan_page1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123050409/http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Sep_1_10/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_gemini_ganesan_page1.html |archive-date=23 November 2016 |access-date=18 February 2020 |website=Kalyanamalai}} Sabarinathan took a loan of {{INRConvert|4|m|lk=|year=1963}} from AVM Productions to produce the film. Cinematography was handled by M. Karnan, and editing by R. Devarajan. The final length of the film was {{Convert|4567|metres|feet}}.

    Soundtrack

    The soundtrack was by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and lyrics were written by Vaali. P. Susheela is the only playback singer featured on the soundtrack.{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=215}} The songs "Athai Madi Methaiyadi" and "Mannavane Azhalama Kanneerai" attained popularity.{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=3 August 2013 |title=Idhaya Kamalam (1965) |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/idhaya-kamalam-1965/article4985463.ece |url-status=live |access-date=9 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821060822/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/idhaya-kamalam-1965/article4985463.ece |archive-date=21 August 2018}}{{Cite news |last=Kolappan |first=B. |date=15 November 2015 |title=Director K.S. Gopalakrishnan dead |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/director-ks-gopalakrishnan-dead/article7879484.ece |url-status=live |access-date=17 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201091632/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/director-ks-gopalakrishnan-dead/article7879484.ece |archive-date=1 December 2016}}

    {{Track listing

    | headline = Track listing

    | extra_column = Singer

    | title1 = Aayiram Iravugal Varuvathundu

    | extra1 = P. Susheela

    | length1 = 4:14

    | title2 = Athai Madi Methaiyadi

    | extra2 = P. Susheela

    | length2 = 5:40

    | title3 = Pakkathu Veettu Paruva Machaan

    | extra3 = P. Susheela

    | length3 = 6:01

    | title4 = Mannavane Azhalama Kanneerai

    | extra4 = P. Susheela

    | length4 = 3:48

    | total_length = 19:43

    }}

    Release and reception

    Karpagam was released on 15 November 1963, Diwali day.{{Cite news |last=தீனதயாளன் |first=பா. |date=31 July 2015 |title=சாவித்ரி-13. நூறு நூறு பெருமைகள்! |language=ta |work=Dinamani |url=https://www.dinamani.com/junction/kanavukkannigal/2015/aug/01/சாவித்ரி-13.-நூறு-நூறு-பெருமைக-48877.html |url-status=live |access-date=9 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124507/https://www.dinamani.com/junction/kanavukkannigal/2015/aug/01/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BF-13.-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%82%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%82%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%95-48877.html |archive-date=9 February 2019}} Ananda Vikatan, in its review dated 8 December 1963, positively the film, describing Ranga Rao's performance as the highlight of the film. The reviewer also appreciated Vijaya's performance and lauded that of Shakila. According to the reviewer, the film's only weakness was the fact that it was stretched like rubber in the second half.{{Cite web |date=8 December 1963 |title=கற்பகம் |url=https://www.vikatan.com/arts/nostalgia/37425--2 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527090049/https://www.vikatan.com/arts/nostalgia/37425--2 |archive-date=27 May 2022 |access-date=27 May 2022 |website=Ananda Vikatan |language=ta}} T. M. Ramachandran, writing for Sport and Pastime, appreciated the film for various aspects, particularly the cast performances, but was disappointed over Savitri's limited role.{{Cite magazine |last=Ramachandran |first=T. M. |date=7 December 1963 |title='Karpagam' Heralds New Trend |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.12215/page/n681/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230203080058/https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.12215/page/n681/mode/2up |archive-date=3 February 2023 |access-date=3 February 2023 |magazine=Sport and Pastime |page=50 |via=Internet Archive |volume=17}} Kanthan of Kalki called the story ordinary, but lauded Gopalakrishnan's direction.{{Cite magazine |last=காந்தன் |date=1 December 1963 |title=கற்பகம் |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1963/dec/01-12-1963/p31.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220724044535/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1963/dec/01-12-1963/p31.jpg |archive-date=24 July 2022 |access-date=8 October 2021 |magazine=Kalki |page=31 |language=ta}} The film was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.{{Cite magazine |last=Ramachandran |first=T. M. |date=11 April 1964 |title=Trends in Tamil films |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.98084/page/n835/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230203065032/https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.98084/page/n835/mode/2up |archive-date=3 February 2023 |access-date=3 February 2023 |magazine=Sport and Pastime |pages=50–51 |via=Internet Archive |volume=18}} It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil – Certificate of Merit for the Second Best Feature Film,{{Cite web |date=25 April 1964 |title=State Awards for Films |url=https://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/103_11thNfacatalogue.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609120223/http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/103_11thNfacatalogue.pdf |archive-date=9 June 2019 |access-date=9 June 2019 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |page=24}}{{Cite news |date=26 March 1964 |title='Best Picture' award for Hindi film |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kIFlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xJ0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1036%2C3969227 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524143845/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kIFlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xJ0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1036%2C3969227 |archive-date=24 May 2024 |access-date=9 March 2023 |work=The Indian Express |pages=5 |via=Google News Archive}} and Ganesan won the Chennai Film Fans' Association for Best Actor.{{Cite web |date=26 April 2020 |title=நூற்றாண்டு நாயகன் - ஜெமினி கணேசன் (9) |url=https://www.dinamalar.com/malarkal/vara-malar-weekly-magazine/man-of-the-century---gemini-ganesan-9/52618 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215115450/https://www.dinamalar.com/supplementary_detail.asp?id=52618&cat=2 |archive-date=15 December 2021 |access-date=15 December 2021 |website=Dinamalar |language=ta}}

    Remakes

    Karpagam was remade in Hindi as Rishte Naate (1965), and in Telugu as Thodu Needa (1965), where S. V. Ranga Rao and V. Nagayya reprised their roles.{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=15 December 2017 |title=Thodu Needa (1965) |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/thodu-needa-1965/article21669108.ece |url-status=live |access-date=9 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609134814/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/thodu-needa-1965/article21669108.ece |archive-date=9 June 2019}}{{Cite web |title=Hindi Version Songs |url=http://www.superstarrajnikanth.com/hindiversionsongs2.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601103902/http://www.superstarrajnikanth.com/hindiversionsongs2.html |archive-date=1 June 2021 |access-date=1 June 2021 |website=superstarrajnikanth.com |page=2}}{{Cite web |last=Sriram |first=V. |author-link=V. Sriram |date=15 May 2019 |title=Doris Day sang 'Que Sera Sera' – and so did Telugu star Bhanumathi |url=https://scroll.in/reel/923526/doris-day-sang-que-sera-sera-but-so-did-bhanumathi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608155915/https://scroll.in/reel/923526/doris-day-sang-que-sera-sera-but-so-did-bhanumathi |archive-date=8 June 2019 |access-date=9 June 2019 |website=Scroll.in}} It was remade in Malayalam as Vishukkani (1977){{Cite news |date=26 August 2017 |title=Salil Chowdhury's 'Poovili' |pages=6 |work=The Times of India |location=Kerala |url=http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/NasData//PUBLICATIONS/THETIMESOFINDIA/KOCHI/2017/08/26/PagePrint/26_08_2017_506_7adf9c57a1102443499a869f1dfa1470.pdf |url-status=dead |access-date=9 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609135102/http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/NasData//PUBLICATIONS/THETIMESOFINDIA/KOCHI/2017/08/26/PagePrint/26_08_2017_506_7adf9c57a1102443499a869f1dfa1470.pdf |archive-date=9 June 2019}}{{Cite news |last=Vijayakumar |first=B. |date=14 April 2014 |title=Vishukkani (1977) |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/vishukkani-1977/article5910234.ece |url-status=live |access-date=7 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007052519/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/vishukkani-1977/article5910234.ece |archive-date=7 October 2022}} and in Kannada as Muddina Aliya.{{Cite web |title=Rishte Naate |url=https://myswar.co/album/rishte-naate-1965 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240709103413/https://myswar.co/album/rishte-naate-1965 |archive-date=9 July 2024 |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=MySwar}}

    Legacy

    From the profits the film made, Gopalakrishnan built Karpagam Studio.{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|pages=102–103}} Though Vijaya feared she would not get further acting offers due to her character's early death in Karpagam which she considered a "bad omen", she went on to act in more than 500 films.{{Cite web |last=Vandhana |date=24 September 2017 |title='Back Then, There Was No Pressure To Maintain Our Waistlines': Interview With KR Vijaya |url=https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/features/kr-vijaya-interview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250106120638/https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/features/kr-vijaya-interview/ |archive-date=6 January 2025 |access-date=6 January 2025 |website=Silverscreen India}} The film is available for viewing on Amazon Prime Video.{{Cite web |date=26 July 2019 |title=Here is a list of old Tamil films you can catch up on Amazon Prime |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/here-list-old-tamil-films-you-can-catch-amazon-prime-106165 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005115404/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/here-list-old-tamil-films-you-can-catch-amazon-prime-106165 |archive-date=5 October 2021 |access-date=5 October 2021 |website=The News Minute}}

    References

    {{reflist|refs=

    {{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/download/sok.Karpagam_K.S.Gopalakrishnan_1963/117.%20Karpagam_K.S.Gopalakrishnan_1963.pdf |title=கற்பகம் |publisher=Amar Jothi Movies |year=1963 |language=ta |type=song book |access-date=15 December 2021 |via=Internet Archive}}

    {{Cite news |date=30 March 2018 |title=AVM Film Studios absolute owner of copyright of 1963-Gemini starrer 'Karpagam': HC |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/avm-film-studios-absolute-owner-of-copyright-of-1963-gemini-starrer-karpagam-hc-118033000854_1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190609152147/https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/avm-film-studios-absolute-owner-of-copyright-of-1963-gemini-starrer-karpagam-hc-118033000854_1.html |archive-date=9 June 2019 |access-date=9 June 2019 |work=Business Standard |agency=Press Trust of India}}

    {{Cite web |title=1963 – கற்பகம் – அமர்ஜோதி மூவிஸ் |trans-title=1963 – Karpagam – Amar Jothi Movies |url=http://lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1963-cinedetails12.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190609122427/http://lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1963-cinedetails12.asp |archive-date=9 June 2019 |access-date=9 June 2019 |website=Lakshman Sruthi |language=Tamil}}

    }}

    Bibliography

    • {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |title=The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1931–1976 |publisher=Galatta Media |year=2011 |oclc=733724281 |author-link=G. Dhananjayan}}
    • {{Cite book |last1=Rajadhyaksha |first1=Ashish |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema |last2=Willemen |first2=Paul |publisher=British Film Institute and Oxford University Press |year=1998 |isbn=0-19-563579-5 |author-link=Ashish Rajadhyaksha |author-link2=Paul Willemen |orig-date=1994}}

    External links

    • {{IMDb title}}
    • {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

    {{K. S. Gopalakrishnan}}

    {{NationalFilmAwardBestFeatureFilmTamil}}

    Category:1960s Indian films

    Category:1960s Tamil-language films

    Category:1963 drama films

    Category:1963 films

    Category:Films about farmers

    Category:Films about Indian weddings

    Category:Films about siblings

    Category:Films directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan

    Category:Films scored by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy

    Category:Films with screenplays by K. S. Gopalakrishnan

    Category:Indian black-and-white films

    Category:Indian drama films

    Category:Tamil films remade in other languages

    Category:Tamil-language drama films

    Category:Tamil-language Indian films