Motor Sundaram Pillai

Motor Sundaram Pillai is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language comedy-drama film, directed by S. S. Balan and written by Veppathur Kittoo. An adaptation of the 1959 American film The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker, the film features Sivaji Ganesan playing the title role leading an ensemble cast consisting of Ravichandran, Sooryakumar, Sivakumar, Major Sundarrajan, Nagesh, Kanchana, Sowcar Janaki, Pandari Bai, Jayalalithaa, Shylashri, Manimala and Rajkokila.

Motor Sundaram Pillai
Theatrical release poster
Directed byS. S. Balan
Produced byS. S. Vasan
Screenplay byVeppatthur Kittu
Based onThe Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker
StarringSivaji Ganesan
Ravichandran
Sowcar Janaki
Jayalalithaa
Music byM. S. Viswanathan
CinematographyP. Ellappa
Edited byM. Umanath
Production
company
Release date
  • 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26)
Running time
160 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Motor Sundaram Pillai is the directorial debut of Balan, whose father Vasan produced the film under Gemini Studios. After Kittoo completed the screenplay, Ganesan was approached to star but declined; Vasan then produced Kittu's screenplay in Hindi as Grahasti (1963). When Ganesan saw this film, he offered to act if Kittu made a Tamil version, and was cast.

Motor Sundaram Pillai was released on 26 January 1966. The film was commercially successful, running for over 100 days in theatres. It was remade in Telugu as Manchi Kutumbam (1968).

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 Madras (now 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] Cinematography was handled by P. Ellappa.[1]

Soundtrack
Motor Sundaram Pillai
Soundtrack album by
M. S. Viswanathan
GenreFilm soundtrack
Length22:00
LanguageTamil
ProducerM. 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, Sirkazhi 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] Subbu initially wanted it to be in Atana, but as Viswanathan wanted it to be in Hindolam, Subbu assented.[7] The song was re-used in Motor Sundaram Pillai's Telugu remake Manchi Kutumbam (1968) as "Manase Andhala Brindavanam".[8]

Tracklist[9]
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"VaaliP. Susheela
L. R. Eswari
Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi		02:55
Total length:22:00

Release and reception

Motor Sundaram Pillai was released on 26 January 1966.[10] T. M. Ramachandran of Sport and Pastime wrote, "Though, up to the interval, it contains the usual quota of songs, dances, romantic chases of the young lovers and comedy [...] it grips the audience with a clever and logical twist in the story."[11] The film was commercially successful, running for over 100 days in theatres.[12]

References
  1. Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 389. ISBN 0-19-563579-5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  2. Vamanan (27 October 2017). "Sachu long journey". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  3. 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. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  7. Krishnamachari, Suganthy (5 March 2020). "Tamil fuelled Subbu's creativity — in all forms". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  8. Mani, Charulatha (19 August 2011). "A Raga's Journey – Hindolam Highlights". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  9. "Motor Sundaram Pillai (1966)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  10. 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. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  11. Ramachandran, T. M. (19 February 1966). "Motor Sundaram Pillai". Sport and Pastime. Vol. 20. p. 42.
  12. Ganesan, Sivaji; Narayana Swamy, T.S. (2007) [2002]. Autobiography of an Actor: Sivaji Ganesan, October 1928 – July 2001. Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust. p. 241.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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