Mudhal Thethi

Mudhal Thethi in Tamil, Modala Thedi in Kannada is an Indian bilingual film, directed by P. Neelakantan and produced by B. R. Panthulu. This was the first film produced by Panthulu under Padmini Pictures banner. The Tamil version starred Sivaji Ganesan, Anjali Devi, N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Madhuram in lead roles. The film had musical score by T. G. Lingappa scoring for his first feature film. The film was a remake of Hindi film Paheli Tarikh (1954).

Mudhal Thethi
Poster in Tamil
Tamilமுதல் தேதி
Kannadaಮೊದಲ ತೇದಿ
Directed byP. Neelakantan
Screenplay byP. Neelakantan
Story byDada Mirasi
Produced byB. R. Panthulu
StarringSivaji Ganesan
Anjali Devi
N. S. Krishnan
T. A. Madhuram
CinematographyV. Ramamoorthy
Edited byR. Devarajan
Music byT. G. Lingappa
Production
company
Distributed byMadras Pictures[1]
Release date
  • 12 March 1955 (1955-03-12)
Running time
165 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguagesTamil
Kannada

The film was simultaneously shot in Kannada retaining the same crew members with a slight change in the main star cast. The Kannada version titled Modala Thedi starred Panthulu, M. V. Rajamma, Dikki Madhava Rao and Chi. Sadashivaiah. The movie follows the narrative theme of the 1946 movie It's a Wonderful Life.[2]

Plot

Sivagnanam works as a bank clerk. Though his pay is meagre, he deals with a lot of cash at the bank. His family consists of wife Lakshmi, a daughter whose marriage is being negotiated and two school going children. The bank where he works crashes. Sivagnanam is unable to find another job.

Dejected, he tries to kill himself so that his insurance money would be made available to the family. His soul reaches the court of Yama, the god of death. Angered by what he deals an irresponsible act, Yama sends him back to earth to see the result of his death. He is able to observe the goings on but is unable to participate. He watches his son being picked up by the police for stealing food, his daughter is molested and his wife drowns herself in a well after murdering the rapist. He realizes his mistake. Thankfully the whole series of events has been a dream.

Cast

Tamil version

Kannada version

Production

Muthal Thethi was produced by B. R. Panthulu, as the maiden venture of his production company Padmini Pictures. The film is based on a story by Dada Mirasee and the screenplay and dialogue are by P. Neelakantan, who directed the Tamil version. The film was based on a Hindi film, Paheli Tarikh. The music was composed by T. G. Lingappa and the lyrics were penned by K. D. Santhanam and Udumalai Narayana Kavi. V. Ramamurthi was the cinematographer, with audiography by V. S. Raghavan. Art direction was by the veteran A. K. Sekhar, and make-up and costumes were by Hari Babu and M. G. Naidu respectively. The film was edited by Devarajan. The film was shot at Revathi Studios, and was backed by the veteran A. L. Srinivasan, under his banner, Madras Pictures.[3]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by T. G. Lingappa. Lyrics were by K. D. Santhanam and Udumalai Narayana Kavi. Singers are N. S. Krishnan & T. A. Madhuram. Playback singers are M. M. Dandapani Desikar, T. V. Rathnam, K. Rani and A. P. Komala.[4]

Tamil Track listing

No.SongSingersLyricsLength (m:ss)
1"Onnilayirundhu Irupadhu Varaikkum"N. S. KrishnanUdumalai Narayana Kavi02:52
2"Engum Inbame Pongum"A. P. Komala & K. RaniK. D. Santhanam
3"Aham Kulira... Mudhal Thethi"
(Title song)		T. V. Rathnam02:02
4"Ellorum Kelunga Ullasa Payanam"A. P. Komala03:18
5"Yaen Padaithaai Iraivaa"M. M. Dandapani Desikar
6"Thunbam Varumpodhu Nagaithiduvai"02:45
7"Chinna Chinna Bommai Venum"T. V. Rathnam & K. Rani01:58

Kannada Track listing

No.SongSingersLyricsLength (m:ss)
1"Modal Thedi Indu"T. V. RathnamChi Sadashivaiah03:24
2"Ondarinda Ippattara Varegu"Dikki Madhava RaoChi Sadashivaiah03:00

References
  1. "முதல் தேதி". Kalki (in Tamil). 13 March 1955. p. 17. Archived from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  2. Sing, Bobby (19 December 2020). "CinemaScope: Find out what's the connection between directors Frank Capra, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and Christmas". The Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  3. Guy, Randor (12 September 2015). "Muthal Thethi (1955)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  4. Neelamegam, G. (December 2014). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 99.
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