Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan (transl. The king who redeemed Madurai) is a 1978 Indian Tamil-language historical action film, directed by M. G. Ramachandran, starring himself in the lead role, with M. N. Nambiar, P. S. Veerappa, Latha and Padmapriya. It was Ramachandran's final film as an actor. The film is based on the serial novel Kayalvizhi by Akilan. It was released on 14 January 1978 and became a box-office bomb, but Latha won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress.
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan | |
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Directed by | M. G. Ramachandran |
Screenplay by | P. Neelakantan |
Based on | Kayalvizhi by Akilan |
Produced by | Sokkaiah Subramani Iyer |
Starring |
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Cinematography |
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Edited by | Sundaram |
Music by | M. S. Viswanathan |
Production company | Soleswar Combines |
Release date |
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Country | India |
Language | Tamil |
Plot
The story narrates the tale of a brave Pandiya prince named Sundharapandhiyan who redeems the kingdom from the hands of a Chola king. Under the identity of an itinerant poet, Paintamizh Kumaran, he is going to fire the consciousness of the people with his words and reunite them in his cause, which is the defence of freedom and rights. He unites the people and then engages in war with the emperor sending him reeling back and liberating Madurai reestablishing Pandiya empire.
Cast
- M. G. Ramachandran as Paintamizh Kumaran alias Sundharapandhiyan
- Latha as Kayalvizhi
- Padmapriya as Princess Bhamini
- M. N. Nambiar as Prince Raja Rajan
- P. S. Veerappa as The Minister Thaigum Valavarai
- K. Kannan as The King Narasihma
- S. V. Subbaiah as The King Chozhan
- S. V. Sahasranamam as The King Kulasegara Pandiyan
- Shanmugasundaram as Son of Minister
- V. S. Raghavan as The Minister
- Thengai Srinivasan as Vilava, The Prince Sundharapandhiyan's spy
- Isari Velan as Naghavana
- Mustapha
- Ennatha Kannaiya as Salabu
- T. K. S. Natarajan as Iyer
- Trichy Sounderarjan as Kingdom's doctor
Production
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan is based on the serial novel Kayalvizhi by Akilan.[1] The film began production in 1974, with B. R. Panthulu as director and producer; however, following his death, M. G. Ramachandran took over directing while Sokkaiah and Subramani Iyer of Soleswar Combines took over production.[2][3] It was Ramachandran's final film as an actor,[4][5] after which he became a full-time politician. (When this film was released, Ramachandran was already Tamil Nadu's chief minister for months).[6][7]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan.[8] The song "Amutha Thamizhil" is based on Dwijavanthi raga.[9]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Mangalyam" | Muthulingam[10] | Vani Jairam | 3:26 |
2. | "Veera Magan Poraada" | Muthulingam[10] | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | 3:41 |
3. | "Thayagathin Sudhanthiramae" | Muthulingam[10] | T. M. Soundararajan | 3:53 |
4. | "Amutha Tamizhil" | Pulamaipithan | Jayachandran, Vani Jairam | 3:48 |
5. | "Thendralil Aadidum" | Pulamaipithan | K. J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam | 4:43 |
Total length: | 19:31 |
Release and reception
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan was released on 14 January 1978.[11] The film became a box-office bomb, with many people attributing it to the poor timing of release.[12] Latha won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress, creating a major upset as people expected either Sridevi (for 16 Vayathinile) or Lakshmi (for Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal) to win.[13]
References
- Guy, Randor (25 October 2014). "Blast from the past: Paavai Vilakku 1960". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- கிருஷ்ணசாமி, சித்ரா (January 1974). "ஜெய்ப்பூர்.. திரையுலக குருக்ஷேத்திரம்". Pesum Padam (in Tamil). p. 33. Archived from the original on 12 September 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- "மறக்க முடியுமா? - மதுரையை மீட்ட சுந்தரபாண்டியன்" [Forgettable? Madhuraiya Meetta Sundharapandiyan]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 18 May 2020. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- Kesavan, N. (14 May 2016). "100th film jinx grips the mighty sans 'Captain'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- Venkateswaran, Anand (24 January 2012). "Past is where the future is". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- Rajanayagam, S. (2002). Ramifications of Popular Screen Image in Thamizh Nadu: A Comparative Study of the Films of M G Ramachandran and Rajinikanth (PDF). University of Madras. pp. 285–286. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- Vamanan (2 February 2016). "Uptight to comic: Big daddy of Tamil films". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- "Maduraiyai Meetta Sundarapandian". Gaana. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- Srinivasan, Meera (15 July 2015). "Something for everyone". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- Parthasarathy, Anusha (8 November 2011). "Memories of Madras – Verse in the woods". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- Sri Kantha, Sachi (27 December 2019). "MGR Remembered – Part 54 | An Overview of the Final 31 movies of 1970s". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- Shanker, V. Prem (26 May 2017). "Will the superstar take the leap? - Rajinikanth fans look for political clues in film poster". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- Piousji (20 May 1979). "Khaas Baat". Sunday. Vol. 7. p. 43. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.