Motor Sundaram Pillai

Motor Sundaram Pillai
Theatrical release poster
Directed by S. S. Balan
Produced by S. S. Vasan
Screenplay by Veppatthur Kittu
Based on The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker
Starring Sivaji Ganesan
Sowcar Janaki
Ravichandran
Jayalalithaa
Sivakumar
Kanchana
Shylashri
Rajkokila
Manimala
Kutty Padmini
Music by M. S. Viswanathan
Cinematography P. Ellappa[1]
Edited by M. Umanath
Production
company
Release date
  • 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26)
Running time
 160 minutes[1]
Country India
Language Tamil

Motor Sundaram Pillai is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language comedy-drama film, directed by S. S. Balan and produced by his father S. S. Vasan under the banner of Gemini Studios. The film features Sivaji Ganesan playing the title role with an ensemble cast of Ravichandran, Suryakumar, Sivakumar, Major Sundarrajan, Nagesh, Kanchana, Sowcar Janaki, Pandari Bai, Jayalalithaa, Shylashri, and Rajkokila in supporting roles. It is an adaptation of the 1959 American film The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker, itself based on a play written by Liam O'Brien. The film was remade in Telugu as Manchi Kutumbam (1968).[2]

Cast

Production

The 1959 American film The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker, adapted from a play written by Liam O'Brien, which was inspired by a real life incident, was a global success, especially in Chennai. Veppatthur Kittu of Gemini Studios wrote a screenplay based on this film (with changes made to suit regional tastes) and approached Sivaji Ganesan to act. He refused, and Gemini Studios proprietor S. S. Vasan produced Kittu's screenplay in Hindi as Grahasti (1963) When Ganesan saw this film, he offered to act if Kittu made a Tamil version. Vasan later announced the Tamil version, titled Motor Sundaram Pillai. Like Grahasti, this too featured some changes from the American film.[3] It marked the directorial debut of Vasan's son Balan.[4]

Soundtrack

Motor Sundaram Pillai
Soundtrack album by M. S. Viswanathan
Genre Film soundtrack
Length 22:00
Language Tamil
Producer M. S. Viswanathan

The soundtrack album was composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The lyrics were penned by Kothamangalam Subbu and Vaali. Playback singers are P. B. Srinivas, T. M. Soundararajan, A. L. Raghavan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, P. Susheela, (Radha) Jayalakshmi, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi and L. R. Eswari.[5] The song "Maname Muruganin" is set in the carnatic raga known as Hindolam.[6]

Track list[7]

No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Kathiruntha Kangale"VaaliP. B. Sreenivas
P. Susheela		03:58
2."Kathal Endral Enna"Kothamangalam SubbuT. M. Soundararajan
P.Susheela		07:38
3."Gubu Gubu Naan Engine"Kothamangalam SubbuA. L. Raghavan
L. R. Eswari		03:22
4."Maname Muruganin"Kothamangalam Subbu(Radha) Jayalakshmi01:50
5."Penne Maanthartham (Penmai Endra)"Kothamangalam SubbuSirkazhi Govindarajan02:17
6."Thulli Thulli Vilaiyada"Kothamangalam SubbuP. Susheela
L. R. Eswari
Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi		02:55
Total length:22:00

Release and reception

Motor Sundaram Pillai was released on 26 January 1966.[8] The film was commercially successful, running for over 100 days in theatres. Film historian and critic Randor Guy noted that the film will be "remembered for the gripping storyline, first class performance by Sivaji Ganesan who was well supported by Sowcar Janaki and tuneful music of M. S. Viswanathan".[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 389. ISBN 0-19-563579-5.
  2. ↑ "Manchi Kutumbam (1968)". Telugu Cinema Prapamcham. 18 June 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  3. 1 2 Guy, Randor (10 July 2009). "Motor Sundaram Pillai 1966". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "இயக்குநரானார் முரசொலி மாறன்!". Dinakaran (in Tamil). 15 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 April 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  5. ↑ Neelamegam, G. (November 2016). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 2 (in Tamil) (1st ed.). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 261.
  6. ↑ Saravanan, T. (20 September 2013). "Ragas hit a high". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  7. ↑ "Motor Sundaram Pillai — Track listing". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  8. ↑ Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [Tamil film history and its achievements] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publishers. Archived from the original on 24 April 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.