Vaazhkai Padagu
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Vaazhkai Padagu
| image = Vaazhkai Padagu.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = C. Srinivasan
| producer = S. S. Vasan
| screenplay = Veppathur Kittu
| based_on = Zindagi
| starring = Gemini Ganesan
Devika
R. Muthuraman
| narrator =
| music = Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
| cinematography = P. Ellappa
| editing = J. Balakrishnan
| studio = Gemini Studios
| distributor =
| released = {{film date|1965|3|26|df=y}}
| runtime = 166 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
Vaazhkai Padagu ({{translation|The Boat of Life}}) is a 1965 Indian Tamil-language drama film, directed by C. Srinivasan and produced by S. S. Vasan under Gemini Studios.{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=15 December 2012 |title=Blast from the Past Vaazhkai Padagu 1965 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/vaazhkai-padagu-1965/article4203435.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808110503/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/vaazhkai-padagu-1965/article4203435.ece |archive-date=8 August 2021 |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=The Hindu}} The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Devika and R. Muthuraman, with S. V. Ranga Rao, K. Balaji R. S. Manohar and M. V. Rajamma in supporting roles. A remake of the studio's own Hindi film Zindagi (1964), it was released on 26 March 1965.
Plot
{{more plot|date=July 2022}}
A young, unemployed woman Seetha takes up stage acting as a career. A wealthy man Kannabiran is after her, and uses his henchman to kidnap her. During the attempt, Rajan and his dog rescue her and the two fall in love. Rajan is the son of a zamindar, who has a poor opinion of Seetha. However, after many hurdles, the two marry. The director of Seetha's stage troupe Gopal too is in love with her. But, she never responds. When Kannabiran is murdered. Gopal is arrested. He has an alibi – on the night of the murder, a young woman stayed with him in his house, but then he does not disclose her identity. The woman turns out to be Seetha and she gives them the evidence. One of the members of the jury is her father-in-law and complications follow with the husband leaving her and wishing to marry again. However, the truth comes out and the family is united in the end.
Cast
;
{{Col-begin|width=60%}}
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Male
- Gemini Ganesan as Rajan
- Muthuraman as Gopal
- S. V. Ranga Rao as Rajan's father
- Nagesh
- T. S. Balaiah
- Manohar as Kannabiran's henchman
- Balaji as Kannabiran
- S. Rama Rao
- P. D. Sambandam
- Baby Farida
- Master Saheeth
- Honey
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Female
- Devika as Seetha
- M. V. Rajamma
- Pushpavalli
- S. N. Lakshmi
- Geetanjali
{{col-end}}
Production
Vaazhkai Padagu is the Tamil remake of Gemini Studios's own Hindi film Zindagi (1964). It was Devika's first film with the studio.
Soundtrack
Music was by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and were lyrics written by Kannadasan.{{Cite web |first= |date=31 December 1965 |title=Vazhkai Padagu |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/vazhkai-padagu/sfLYp3Fuzfo_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827065907/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/vazhkai-padagu/sfLYp3Fuzfo_ |archive-date=27 August 2021 |access-date=8 August 2021 |website=JioSaavn}}
| class="wikitable"
! Songs !! Singer !! Length | ||
| "Aayiram Penmai Malaratume" | P. Susheela | 05:24 |
| "Netru Varai Nee Yaaro" | P. B. Srinivas | 03:56 |
| "Unnai Thaane Naan Ariven" | P. Susheela | 03:43 |
| "Chinna Chinna Kannanukku" | P. B. Srinivas | 03:34 |
| "Pazhani Santhana Vaadai" | Sirkazhi Govindarajan L. R. Eswari | 03:08 |
| "Thanga Magal" | P. Susheela | 03:17 |
| "Kangale Kangale" | P. B. Srinivas | 03:22 |
Release and reception
Vaazhkai Padagu was released on 26 March 1965,{{Cite news |date=26 March 1965 |title=Vazhkai Padagu |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19650326&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=21 July 2017 |work=The Indian Express |pages=3 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cbignore}} and emerged a box office success. It was the first film to be released at the theatre Nataraj, which opened on the same day.{{Cite news |date=19 March 1965 |title=A New Theatre in the city of Madras {{!}} Nataraj |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19650319&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=7 July 2022 |work=The Indian Express |pages=3 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite news |date=26 March 1965 |title=Cinema theatre opened |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19650326&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=7 July 2022 |work=The Indian Express |pages=3 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cbignore}} The magazines Kumudam and Ananda Vikatan wrote positive reviews, primarily praising Devika's performance.{{Cite web |date=10 September 2016 |title=தேவிகா 4. மறக்க முடியுமா...? |url=https://www.dinamani.com/junction/kanavukkannigal/2016/sep/10/தேவிகா-4-மறக்க-முடியுமா-2561985.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910143156/http://www.dinamani.com/junction/kanavukkannigal/2016/sep/10/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE-4-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%B1%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE-2561985.html |archive-date=10 September 2016 |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=Dinamani |language=ta}} Kalki magazine also praised the performances of actors.{{Cite magazine |date=18 April 1965 |title=வாழ்க்கை படகு |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1965-04-18/page/n34/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230328142416/https://archive.org/details/kalki1965-04-18/page/n34/mode/2up |archive-date=28 March 2023 |access-date=29 March 2023 |magazine=Kalki |page=34 |language=Ta |via=Internet Archive}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|3460848}}
{{Gemini Studios}}
Category:1960s Tamil-language films
Category:Films scored by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Category:Indian black-and-white films