Avandhan Manidhan

Avandhan Manidhan (transl. He is a true man) is a 1975 Indian Tamil-language drama film, co-written and directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar from a story by G. Balasubramaniam. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Muthuraman, Jayalalithaa and Manjula. It revolves around an extremely generous man who refuses to budge from his nature, even as it leads to his downfall.

Avandhan Manidhan
Theatrical release poster
Directed byA. C. Tirulokchandar
Screenplay byA. C. Tirulokchandar
Story byG. Balasubramaniam
Based onKasturi Nivasa
Produced byA. Ramanujam
K. N. Subramanian
StarringSivaji Ganesan
Muthuraman
Jayalalithaa
Manjula
CinematographyM. Viswanatha Rai
Edited byB. Kanthasamy
Music byM. S. Viswanathan
Production
company
Rasi Enterprises
Release date
  • 11 April 1975 (1975-04-11)
Running time
170 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

After Balasubramaniam wrote the story exclusively for Ganesan, director K. Shankar and producer Noor were attached. Ganesan however refused, and the story was later filmed in Kannada as Kasturi Nivasa (1971). After that film's success, Ganesan agreed to act in a potential Tamil remake, which became Avandhan Manidhan, his 175th film as an actor. The new film was directed by Tirulokchandar, produced by A. Ramanujam and K. N. Subramanian, photographed by M. Viswanatha Rai and edited by B. Kandhasamy.

Avandhan Manidhan was released on 11 April 1975. The film became a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.

Plot

Ravi, the owner of a matchbox factory, is a widower and lost his daughter in an accident. Recognising that his honest employee Chandran is in a similar position, he decides to help Chandran financially. As Chandran attends training in the United States, Ravi takes care of Chandran's charming daughter. On return, Chandran suggests changing the company's structure. The traditionalist Ravi becomes infuriated. Protesting this, Chandran resigns and starts his own matchbox company and becomes the leading matchbox manufacturer.

This begins Ravi's downfall, his charity and donating activities have eaten up profit and he ends up putting his house on sale. Chandran calls for the highest bid and wants to give it back to Ravi, but being the man that he is, Ravi would not accept. Chandran has already got Lalitha, his ex-secretary whom Ravi had a crush on, and now Ravi's house.

Film ends on a tragic note when all Ravi has is his Dove, and Lalitha requests him to give it to her, as her daughter is sick and is crying for Ravi uncle's Dove. Ravi has just sold that, so that he could feed. Unable to say no to a request he breathes his last.

Cast

Production

In early 1970, G. Balasubramaniam had written a story exclusively for Sivaji Ganesan, and film producer Noor bought the rights for ₹ 25,000, with K. Shankar signed on to direct. However, Ganesan was reluctant after hearing the story, feeling it was too tragic. A year later, the same story was bought by the director duo Dorai–Bhagavan for ₹ 38,000, and they made it into a Kannada film titled Kasturi Nivasa, with Rajkumar starring. After the film's success, Ganesan decided to remake it in Tamil, and bought the remake rights for ₹ 2,00,000. The remake was titled Avandhan Manidhan,[4][5] and the 175th film of Ganesan.[6] It was directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar, co-produced by K. N. Subramaniam,[7] photographed by M. Viswanatha Rai and edited by B. Kandhasamy. While Tirulokchandar also wrote the screenplay, Panchu Arunachalam wrote the dialogues.[8]

Themes

Film historian Mohan Raman interpreted one scene where Cho's character tells Chandrababu's character, "Ellarum Ungala Marandutaanga pa" (Everyone has forgotten you, man) as reflecting Chandrababu's real life situation at that time.[9] Another historian, K. Puttaswamy noted the story's similarities to Timon of Athens, a play by William Shakespeare.[10]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics by Kannadasan.[11] The song "Aattuviththaal Yaaroruvar", like many songs written by Kannadasan, extols the Hindu god Krishna.[12]

SongSingersLength
"Jalitha Vanitha" (Oonjalukku)T. M. Soundararajan05:44
"Anbu Nadamadum"T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela04:41
"Ah...Engirundho Oru Kural"Vani Jairam04:20
"Aattuviththaal Yaaroruvar"T. M. Soundararajan04:09
"Manidhan Ninaippadhundu"T. M. Soundararajan04:52

Release and reception

Avandhan Manidhan was released on 11 April 1975.[13] Kanthan of Kalki praised Tirulokchander's direction and writing, Arunachalam's dialogues, and Muthuraman's performance.[14] The film became a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.[15]

References
  1. Narayanan, Sujatha (6 December 2016). "How Jayalalithaa's onscreen image helped establish her political one: From 'glam doll' to Amma". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 24 July 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  2. Rangarajan, Malathi (18 June 2016). "A director who stood tall". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 June 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  3. "கைக் குழந்தையிலேயே நடித்தேன்!" (PDF). Gokulam (in Tamil). 1 February 1983. pp. 50–52. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  4. Venkatasubba Rao, K. N. (12 July 2008). "Kasturi Nivasa 1971". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  5. "Sivaji Ganesan passed up on the offer". The Hindu. 5 November 2014. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  6. ""அவர் பெருந்தலைவர்; இவர் உண்மைத்தொண்டன்"". Uthayan News (in Tamil). 30 September 2020. Archived from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  7. "அன்பு நடமாடும் கலைக்கூடமே... என்றென்றும் கண்ணதாசன் (6)". Dina Thanthi (in Tamil). 17 May 2019. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  8. "171–180". nadigarthilagam.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  9. Ramanujam, Srinivasa (7 December 2016). "A different brand of wit". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  10. Puttaswamy, K. (4 March 2023). "How Dorai-Bhagavan conquered the family drama genre". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  11. "Avanthan Manithan (1975)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  12. Venkataramanan, Geetha (30 August 2018). "Kannadasan found Krishna within". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  13. "நடிகர் திலகம் சிவாஜி கணேசன் அவர்கள் நடித்த படங்களின் பட்டியல்". Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  14. காந்தன் (4 May 1975). "அவன்தான் மனிதன்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 63. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  15. Ganesan, Sivaji; Narayana Swamy, T. S. (2007) [2002]. Autobiography of an Actor: Sivaji Ganesan, October 1928 – July 2001. Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust. p. 242. OCLC 297212002.
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