Nadigar Thilagam : The Greatest Actor of the Universe & The One & Only BO Emperor

[ScottAlise]

SONGS:

1. O!Manida Jathiye (TM Soundararajan)
2. Oru Kinnathai (TM Soundararajan)
3. Kudimaganey (TM Soundararajan, L.R.Eswari)
4. Kalaimagal (P Susheela)
5. Mayakam Enna (TM Soundararajan, P Susheela)
6. Irandu Manam (TM Soundararajan)
7. Yaarukaga (TM Soundararajan)
Were super duper hits and are popular even today
Extra shots:

The film is a turning point to producer Ramanaidu. This film came at a time when he was in deep troubles due to the then-recent flops.
It was ANR's wife Annapurna gaaru who suggested the then-hit novel by Arekapudi. K.S. Prakasha Rao and Athreya made a lot of changes to the novel.
Storywriter Koduri Kausalya Devi sold the film's rights to Sridhar Reddy originally. The original version was a tragic ending in that the lead pair do not marry. The story was changed to take the sad note off. Annapurna gaaru encouraged her husband ANR to do the film. Smt Koduri Kausalya devi died recently
For Ramanaidu, this was the last straw - he was so ready to leave Madras and go back to his native place Karamchedu if this movie flopped in telugu
A Hindi version followed with Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini in the lead and tasted appreciable success there too
Initially Jayalalitha was to play the heroine role but due to her mother’s death Vanisri played her role that she portrayed in telugu
Even neutral people and other actor fans would agree that it is a master piece of NT
The still of NT face resting on Vanishri chest was so popular
The movie ran, ran & ran for more than 25 weeks
The success was so huge that 1972 means its Vasantha Maligai
The movie had two climax one NT death, ie ending with blood vomit of NT but following fans displeasure the climax was changed to happy ending( My father saw the movie in kanchipuram the first day as he could not get tickets in Pallavaram Janata he saw tragic ending)
The movie did wonders to music director KV Mahadevan as it did it in Thuruvilayadal
My father was studying in college and Kannadasan sir was chief guest & mentioned about uniqueness of songs of Vasantha Maligai and urged them to watch it during semester holidays
Vanisree’s hair style & Long sleeved blouses was a rage to teenage girls
Slow motion scenes in Eastman colour movie was first used in this movie
It was a hit in Sri Lanka also
Many love stories released in 80 years of Tamil cinema but this one is one among top 5 love stories in tamil
It is one of often re released movies of NT and continues to mint money for producers
NT mother expired during this shooting of this movie
The Vasantha Malaigai set was open for public to see it and my father saw it by paying 1rupee
PERFORMANCE:

NT looks ravishing right from beginning in green suit and his opening dialogues evoke laughter along with philosophy, next is his pink suit in Oru Kinnathai song and his dance with Aalam nothing short than top class , his subsequent fight by uttering seri ne sonna yara irunthalum udakudathu, Vendanum sonna Vibachariya irudhalum todakudathu
His next scene in swimming pool with blue shots & shirt resembles aristocrat
His outburst towards vanisri about lack of mother’s love , final scenes, his way of expression of love, white dress ------------------------------ extra ordinary
For a love story like this there must be a beautiful heroine vanisree fits the bill in terms of appearance & performance
Balaji as elder brother evokes vengeance on NT
Anjali Devi as mother is also good
But comedy scenes are seriously a speed breaker for this movie
Final word:
MASTER Piece from legends, Classic love story

Home Video

Its available in Symmphony video costs Rs 50/-

[ScottAlise]

If you like this next comes Pudhiya Paravai

[RAGHAVENDRA]

Dear Ragul
Your analysis on VM is apt. Please do write on other movies too. awaiting for new bird.
btw mother's role was played by Santhakumari and not Anjali Devi.

This set was kept for a long time even after the release of VM. THIRUMANGALYAM, Jayalalitha's 100th film was shot in this set.

[Subramaniam Ramajayam]

Dear Ragul
Your analysis on VM is apt. Please do write on other movies too. awaiting for new bird.
btw mother's role was played by Santhakumari and not Anjali Devi.

This set was kept for a long time even after the release of VM. THIRUMANGALYAM, Jayalalitha's 100th film was shot in this set.

Dear raghul
VM analysis very apt as mentioned by raghavendran. regarding TRAGIC ENDING WHICH WAS MADE HAPPY ENDING, iam not very sure whether it was done like this as i have missed first day first show
seeing as i was out of station. true that there were rumors spread like this at that time our other friends has to confirm the real happenings. still a big question unanswered correctly. now you say your father has seen tragic ending.
raghavendran murali sarada to give their views.

[RAGHAVENDRA]

The Tragic End climax copies were intended for Kerala only. However I heard that a very few prints were despatched in Tamil Nadu districts. Luckily our friend's father was one to have seen it in TN. In Chennai and major Tamil Nadu cities it was the one which we now see i.e. happy ending.

[RAGHAVENDRA]

A write up on the movie Ethirpaaraathathu1955 in The Hindu today (17.11.2012).

[ScottAlise]

Dear Ragavendran Sir,

Thanks for your valuable comments & appreciations

[ScottAlise]

Dear Subramaniam sir,

Thanks for your feedback

[ScottAlise]

A write up on the movie Ethirpaaraathathu1955 in The Hindu today (17.11.2012).



Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, Chittoor V. Nagaiah, S.V. Sahasranamam, S.A. Asokan, S. Varalakshmi, ‘Baby’ Saraswathi, K.S. Angamuthu, M.R. Santhanam, ‘Friend’ Ramasami, K. Duraiswami, Narayanasami, N.S. Ponnusami and T.K. Ramasami

Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini were a popular pair in Tamil cinema during the 1950s and even later. One of the Sivaji Ganesan-Padmini hits, Ethirpaaraathathu (1955), was not only a box office success but also established screenwriter Sridhar as a man to look out for. He rapidly became a successful writer, director and producer, creating hits in more than one language, with his own production company ‘Chitralaya.’ One of his early screenplays Ethirpaaraathathu narrates the story of star-crossed lovers Sundar (Sivaji Ganesan) and Sumathi (Padmini) in whose house Sundar, a college student, lodges. Both dream of a happy, married life, but that is not to be. Sundar is involved in an air crash and is believed to be dead. However, he survives the crash and loses his eyesight. Unwilling to face his father (Nagaiah), he tries to lead a life on his own. Destiny takes over their lives and the widowed father marries Sumathi and on the wedding night, the husband realises that his son and bride are sweethearts. Broken-hearted, he leaves home and wanders around visiting temples and holy places.

Meanwhile, the blind hero realises that his sweetheart is now his stepmother. An eye surgery restores his sight. More complications follow and when the hero tries to rekindle the old romance, the young woman and the lonely stepmother slaps him and throws him out. She reconciles herself to a life of an eternal bride, with the hero going away to continue his studies abroad. This melodrama was excellently narrated onscreen by Chithrapu Narayanamuthi, noted Telugu filmmaker who also made several Tamil movies. The melodious music was a plus point (composer C.N. Pandurangan, lyrics Papanasam Sivan, K.S. Gopalakrishnan, K.P. Kamatchi, and Surabhi, with the voices lent by P. Leela, (Radha) Jayalakshmi, Chellamuthu and Jikki). The film was shot at the Jupiter Studios, Adyar, which was then under lease to Jupiter Pictures, and its sister concern ‘Saravanabhava and Unity Pictures’ produced the film. Art direction was by the maestro A.K. Sekhar. The latter day successful filmmaker M.A. Thirumugam was then an assistant editor attached to the studio. Brilliant performances by Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini and Nagaiah in the three lead roles contributed to the success of the movie. The music also played a role and one song, ‘Sirpi sethukkatha porsilayey’ (lyrics KPK, voices Jikki and A.M. Raja singing separately), became a hit. Another song ‘Kannana kaathalar’ (voice Jikki, lyrics Surabhi) also became popular.

The film was a success and remade in Malayalam (Nithya Kannika, director K.S. Sethumadhavan), Telugu (Ilavelpu, director D. Yoganand) and Hindi (Sharada, director L.V. Prasad). All the versions faired well.

Remembered For the brilliant performances of Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini and Nagaiah, and the melodious music of C.N. Pandurangam.

[uvausan]

The story line goes like this :
blast from the past
Ethirpaaraathathu 1955
Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, Chittoor V. Nagaiah, S.V. Sahasranamam, S.A. Asokan, S. Varalakshmi, ‘Baby’ Saraswathi, K.S. Angamuthu, M.R. Santhanam, ‘Friend’ Ramasami, K. Duraiswami, Narayanasami, N.S. Ponnusami and T.K. Ramasami

Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini were a popular pair in Tamil cinema during the 1950s and even later. One of the Sivaji Ganesan-Padmini hits, Ethirpaaraathathu (1955), was not only a box office success but also established screenwriter Sridhar as a man to look out for. He rapidly became a successful writer, director and producer, creating hits in more than one language, with his own production company ‘Chitralaya.’ One of his early screenplays Ethirpaaraathathu narrates the story of star-crossed lovers Sundar (Sivaji Ganesan) and Sumathi (Padmini) in whose house Sundar, a college student, lodges. Both dream of a happy, married life, but that is not to be. Sundar is involved in an air crash and is believed to be dead. However, he survives the crash and loses his eyesight. Unwilling to face his father (Nagaiah), he tries to lead a life on his own. Destiny takes over their lives and the widowed father marries Sumathi and on the wedding night, the husband realises that his son and bride are sweethearts. Broken-hearted, he leaves home and wanders around visiting temples and holy places. Meanwhile, the blind hero realises that his sweetheart is now his stepmother. An eye surgery restores his sight. More complications follow and when the hero tries to rekindle the old romance, the young woman and the lonely stepmother slaps him and throws him out. She reconciles herself to a life of an eternal bride, with the hero going away to continue his studies abroad. This melodrama was excellently narrated onscreen by Chithrapu Narayanamuthi, noted Telugu filmmaker who also made several Tamil movies. The melodious music was a plus point (composer C.N. Pandurangan, lyrics Papanasam Sivan, K.S. Gopalakrishnan, K.P. Kamatchi, and Surabhi, with the voices lent by P. Leela, (Radha) Jayalakshmi, Chellamuthu and Jikki). The film was shot at the Jupiter Studios, Adyar, which was then under lease to Jupiter Pictures, and its sister concern ‘Saravanabhava and Unity Pictures’ produced the film. Art direction was by the maestro A.K. Sekhar. The latter day successful filmmaker M.A. Thirumugam was then an assistant editor attached to the studio. Brilliant performances by Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini and Nagaiah in the three lead roles contributed to the success of the movie. The music also played a role and one song, ‘Sirpi sethukkatha porsilayey’ (lyrics KPK, voices Jikki and A.M. Raja singing separately), became a hit. Another song ‘Kannana kaathalar’ (voice Jikki, lyrics Surabhi) also became popular. The film was a success and remade in Malayalam (Nithya Kannika, director K.S. Sethumadhavan), Telugu (Ilavelpu, director D. Yoganand) and Hindi (Sharada, director L.V. Prasad). All the versions faired well. Remembered For the brilliant performances of Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini and Nagaiah, and the melodious music of C.N. Pandurangam. randor guy