Pudhumai Pithan (1957 film)
{{More plot|date=February 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Pudhumai Pithan (1957).jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = T. R. Ramanna
| writer = M. Karunanidhi
| producer = K. Muniratnam
| starring = M. G. Ramachandran
T. R. Rajakumari
B. S. Saroja
| cinematography = G. K. Ramu
| editing = R. Devarajan
| music = G. Ramanathan
| studio = Sivakami Pictures
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1957|8|2|ref1=}}
| runtime = 176 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
Pudhumai Pithan is a 1957 Indian Tamil-language film directed by T. R. Ramanna and written by M. Karunanidhi, starring M. G. Ramachandran, T. R. Rajakumari and B. S. Saroja. The film was released on 2 August 1957.{{Cite web |date=2 April 2011 |title=எம்.ஜி.ஆர். நடித்த படங்களின் பட்டியல் |url=http://www.ithayakkani.com/jsp/Content/MGR_Cinema.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181114041813/http://www.ithayakkani.com/jsp/Content/MGR_Cinema.jsp |archive-date=14 November 2018 |access-date=20 October 2022 |website=Ithayakkani |language=ta}}
Plot
A king is imprisoned by his ambitious brother, who creates the impression that the king had died during an animal hunt. The crown prince was on a sea journey and returns to attend the king's fake funeral. During the funeral, the crown prince discovers the truth, via a secret message conveyed to him by the daughter of the palace physician. As expected, she falls in love with the prince. The king's sibling also plots to kill the prince by poisoning him with a drug, concocted by the palace physician. The drug was supposed to make the crown prince mad, who acts like a madman poisoned by the drug to fool everyone. The Prince is also helped by a woman drama troupe leader, who also had affection to the crown prince. Eventually, she sacrifices her life, leaving the prince to unite with the daughter of the palace physician. The plotting villains were avenged by the prince and his comedian sidekick.
Cast
Cast according to the opening credits
{{Col-begin|width=60%}}
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Male cast
- M. G. Ramachandran as Jeevagan
- T. S. Balaiah as Prathapan
- J. P. Chandrababu as Arivumani
- E. R. Sahadevan as Parakraman
- R. Balasubramaniam as Dhunmuki
- C. S. Pandian as Chitraguptan
- P. S. Venkatachalam as Veeraiah
- C. V. V. Panthulu as Emperor
- C.R.Parthibhan as Nallannan (Brother of Inbavalli)
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Female cast
- T. R. Rajakumari as Inbavalli
- B. S. Saroja as Velvizhi
- E. V. Saroja as Aprajitha
- K. S. Angamuthu as Poonkodi
;Supporting cast
- Shantha, Rita, Jayanthi, Kamala, Vitto Bai, Shanthi, Chandra, Bala, Thara, Mohana, Janaki, Saroja, Rajeswari, Rukkumani, Leela, Ranganayaki, Saraswathi and Prema.
{{col-end}}
Production
The film was directed by Ramanna and it was produced by K. Muniratnam under the banner Sivakami Pictures. The film's script was written by M. Karunanidhi and the cinematography was handled by G. Ramu.{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=27 October 2012 |title=Blast From the Past – Puthumai Pithan 1957 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/blast-from-the-past-puthumai-pithan-1957/article4037906.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102095101/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/blast-from-the-past-puthumai-pithan-1957/article4037906.ece |archive-date=2 January 2022 |access-date=8 March 2021 |work=The Hindu}} According to historian M. L. Narasimham, it was partly inspired by William Shakespeare's Hamlet.{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=11 February 2016 |title=Blast from the Past: RAJAMAKUTAM (1960) |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/starring-nt-ramarao-rajasulochana-kannamba-gummadi-padmanabham-rajanala/article8223231.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809163538/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/starring-nt-ramarao-rajasulochana-kannamba-gummadi-padmanabham-rajanala/article8223231.ece |archive-date=9 August 2022 |access-date=20 October 2022 |work=The Hindu}}
Soundtrack
The music was composed by G. Ramanathan. All lyrics were by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass.{{Cite web |title=Puthumai Pithan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |url=https://music.apple.com/ve/album/puthumai-pithan-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1436663414 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020105305/https://music.apple.com/ve/album/puthumai-pithan-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1436663414 |archive-date=20 October 2022 |access-date=20 October 2022 |website=Apple Music}}
| class="wikitable"
! Song !! Singers !! Length | ||
| "Aiyya Yaarukku Venum" | A. G. Rathnamala | 03:30 |
| "Azhagai Paar" | Jikki | 03:10 |
| "Manamohanaa" | P. Leela | 03:36 |
| "Ullam Rendum" | C. S. Jayaraman & Jikki | 03:20 |
| "Maamannar Andha" | A. G. Rathnamala | 01:20 |
| "Kanavaa Ninaivaa" | Jikki | 03:42 |
| "Maaraadha Soozhchi" | Sirkazhi Govindarajan | 01:54 |
| "Aaraichi Mani...Thillana Pattu Paadi" | J. P. Chandrababu & Jikki | 03:52 |
| "Then Madhuvai Vandinam" | P. Susheela | 04:11 |
| "Melam Kotti Thaali Katti" | C. S. Jayaraman | 03:47 |
| "Karumbum Erumbum...Maane Un Mel" | C. S. Jayaraman | 01:45 |
| "Pittham Theliya Marundhonrikkudhu" | C. S. Jayaraman | 01:03 |
| "Yaaradi Nee Ingu Vandhaval" | C. S. Jayaraman | 01:36 |
| "Naadhar Mudi Mel Irukkum" | M. G. Ramachandran | 02:22 |
Reception
Kanthan of Kalki wrote, this movie seems to be an album of MGR's various photo shots.{{Cite magazine |last=காந்தன் |date=25 August 1957 |title=புதுமைப்பித்தன் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1957-08-25/page/92/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230315050956/https://archive.org/details/kalki1957-08-25/page/92/mode/2up |archive-date=15 March 2023 |access-date=20 October 2022 |magazine=Kalki |pages=92–93 |language=ta |via=Internet Archive}} Historian Randor Guy wrote that the film failed because of the "predictable storyline".
References
{{reflist}}