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Since about 15 years ago when I listened to chinnan chiriya vanna paravai ennaththai solludhamma sung on stage during a Thaipoosam festival in Batu Caves, I have been completely floored by the excellent singing by TMS and S Janaki. The song seems like a competition between two vidhwans and both TMS and S Janaki had given all thier best in the song. Repeated hearings only increased my desire to see the action on the screen but my search for the film was fruitless. Until today that is....
Rajamani Pictures
Kungumam
Starring: Sivaji Ganesan, Vijayakumari, SS Rajendran, Saradha, Muthuraman, Rangarao, M Rajamma, Nagesh, Manorama, etc.
Producer: Mohan Arts
Lyrics: Kannadhasan/Panchu Arunasalam
Music: KV Mahadevan
Direction: Krishnan Panju
Story begins with Vijayakumari awaiting for her murai maaman, Sundaram (SG). She sings poonthOtta kaavalkkaaraa poo paraikka iththanai naalaa. Note the lyrics: this is the reason I maintain that new songs can never compete with the olden day songs. How beautifully Kannadhasan scripts of a woman in love awaiting her lover!!!
We learn that Sundaram is going to the States to further his studies. The titles come on with the fabulous kungumam mangala mangaiyar kungumam- sung to perfection by Soolamangalam Sisters - in the background. In the song, Kannadhasan pays tribute to Sivaji's mother in the line: raajamani ennum annai mugaththil milirum mangala kungumam!
When he returns from the States, Sundaram meets with despair written on everyone's face. He learns that his mother (Rajamma) is now a widow without kungumam! He is told that his father had commited a crime, jailed and had comitted suicide. Sundaram leaves for Bombay for business. While in the hotel room, he comes accross Rangarao shooting and killing a jewlery merchant. Sundaram takes the gun from Rangarao ( ) and claims to be the killer! He then escapes to Madras.
In Madras SSR is made the inspector in charge of the crime. Sundaram meets Sharada on the road. kaalangal thOrum thirudargal irunthar sings Sarada. He then seeks the wife and family of the jewler and gives her money to get by. To escape the police Sundaram dons a lady's dress with a big kungumam. Sivaji will be in his element here.
He meets Rangarao and takes him to his friend Muthuraman's house. When he meets his mother in Madurai, the righteous woman tries to turn him to the police. Sundaram once again escapes and returns to Madras. Sarada's father (Sahasranamam) advertises for a home tutor for his son. Sundaram comes in maaruvEdam as thamizh teacher Kaarmegam and joins the household. In the meantime Inspector SSR has eyes for Sarada!
Slowly but surely Sundaram and Saradha develop feelings for each other. thoongaadha kannendru ondru thudikkindra sugamendru ondru thaangaadha manamendru ondru thandhaayE nee ennai kandu. At the end of the song Karmegam removes his wig and make up and Saradha sees the real Sundaram.
SSR tries many ways to catch Sundaram but all his plans fail. In one scene he enters Muthuraman's house while Sundaram is there. Our master than dons another look and acts as Muthuraman's father.
Later Saradha asks Sundaram the reason for his dual personality who refuses to clarify but instead sings the masterpiece: mayakkam enadhu thaayagam mounam enadhu thaai mozhi. Thinking of his running away from th epoolice he sings: naanE enakku pagai aanEn en naadagathil naanE sirai aanEn, thEnE unakku unakku puriyaadhu, andha deivam varaamal vilangaadhu. He also contemplates about his promise to marry Vijayakumari and now his feelings for Saradha: vidhiyum madhiyum veramma, adhan vilakkam naandhaan paaramma, madhiyil vandhaval neeyamma, en vazhi maraithaal vidhiyamma! Hats off to Kannadhasan! And of course KVM and TMS.
To catch Sundaram, SSR comes as a beggar to Muthuraman's house (where Vijayakumari now stays), but Sundaram gets the one up by appearing as another beggar! Yes, five avathars in one movie!
Just as I was wondering when my beloved song will appear, Saradha is asked to do a katcheri and Sundaram/Karmegam follows. She sings chinna chiriya vanna paravai ennaththai solludhamma. Against my expectations, it was not a competition song and was just a song performed in a concert. At the end of the song, SSR recognises Karmegam as Sundaram. Sarasha comes to his rescue and switches off the lights to enable Sundaram to escape.
In the meantime, Sundaram's mother is adamant in wanting to give up Sundaram to the police. Sundaram promises to give himself up when he gets Vijayakumari to agree to marry Muthuraman. The police arrive and corner the house. People start running away and by mistake Vijayakumari is shot dead! As a last request she asks Sundaram to place the kungumam on her forehead.
Sundaram is brought before the judge. He admits to his crime and request to be punished. Rangarao appears and there is a complete twist to story...... best seen on the screen.
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