Thangappathakkam
Thangappathakkam | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | P. Madhavan |
Written by | Mahendran |
Based on | Thangappathakkam by Mahendran |
Produced by | Shanthi Narayanaswamy T. Manohar |
Starring | Sivaji Ganesan K. R. Vijaya Srikanth Prameela |
Cinematography | P. N. Sundaram |
Edited by | R. Devarajan |
Music by | M. S. Viswanathan |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 164 minutes[1] |
Country | India |
Language | Tamil |
Thangappathakkam(transl. Gold medal) is a 1974 IndianTamil-languagedrama film,directed byP. Madhavanand written byMahendran.Based on Mahendran's play of the same name, the film starsSivaji Ganesan,K. R. Vijaya,SrikanthandPrameela.It focuses on a disciplined police officer who is dedicated to his job, while his son, on the contrary, is rebellious by nature and resents his father. Ganesan reprises his role from the play.
Thangappathakkamwas released on 1 June 1974. The film was a commercial success, running for over 175 days in theatres, and thereby becoming asilver jubilee film.It served as an inspiration for theTelugufilmKondaveeti Simham(1981), theKannadafilmKadamba(2004) and theHindifilmShakti(1982).
Plot
[edit]Choudhry is a strict and committed police officer. Though a loving husband and father, his top priority is his duty. While he upholds the principles of justice and honesty, his son Jagan proves contrary to this even at a young age. After his father berates him for skipping school and indulging ingambling,Jagan runs away from home. He lands inBombay,where he is caught by the police for a petty theft and sent tojuvenile prison.Though Choudhry's wife Lakshmi longs to meet their son, Choudhry prevents her as he feels it would hamper Jagan's reformation process.
Years later, Choudhry is promoted toSuperintendent of Police.Jagan, after his release, returns home. While affectionate towards his mother, he still dislikes his father. This hatred has been ingrained over the years since his father had ignored him for the sake of duty. Jagan falls in love with a woman named Vimala, marries and brings her home. Choudhry and Lakshmi accept her, hoping that all differences have been sorted out and they would now be able to enjoy domestic happiness. However, father and son are still at loggerheads.
Jagan, who befriended other criminals in prison, indulges in several illegal activities like theft, kidnapping and smuggling, and is wanted by the police. Choudhry tries his best to reform Jagan, but fails. His repeated attempts to reform him are misunderstood by Jagan, who decides to take revenge on his father for blocking his path to easy riches. In their fight, the family splits, and a depressed Lakshmi dies. Jagan does not come even for her cremation.
Jagan decides to sell sensitive military documents to a foreign country for a large sum. Choudhry learns of this, confronts him and persuades him to stop, but Jagan refuses and shoots Choudhry, who is forced to shoot back. Jagan dies in the arms of Choudhry, who survives, and is later rewarded with agold medalfor his valour.
Cast
[edit]- Sivaji GanesanasS. P.Choudhry
- K. R. Vijayaas Lakshmi
- Srikanthas Jagan
- Prameelaas Vimala
- V. K. Ramasamyas Gopalsamy
- Major Sundarrajanas Mayandi
- Choas Constable Sundaram and Vaiyapuri
- R. S. Manoharas Manimangalam Minor
- Suruli Rajanas Soodamani
- Manoramaas Muthammal
- Pushpamala as Karuppaiee
- V. R. Thilakam as Savithiri
- K. VijayanasD. I. G.Palanivel
- Poornam Viswanathan(guest appearance)
- Veeraragavan as Rajasekaran Chettiar / Inspector Nithyanandan
Production
[edit]Irandil Ondru(transl. One in two) was a play written byMahendranfor actorSenthamarai.[2]While naming the male lead character, aSuperintendent of Police,Mahendran could not find any convincing name in Tamil; he found the Bengali name "Choudhry"convincing, and decided to give the character that name.[3]After seeing the play,Sivaji Ganesanbought the rights and staged the play again with some changes under the titleThangappathakkam,starring as Choudhry.[4][5]This play, which was inaugurated in 1972, was directed by S. A. Kannan.[6]It became a huge success, being staged more than 100 times.[2]Ganesan's companySivaji Productionsdecided to adapt it into a film with the same title, withP. Madhavandirecting.[4][5]
Ganesan's daughter Shanthi Narayanaswamy produced the film along with T. Manohar.[6][7]Mahendran wrote the film's dialogues and was also credited for the original story.[8]Ganesan reprised his role from the play as Choudhry,[9]K. R. Vijayawas cast as his wife Lakshmi, reprising the role originally played by Sivakami whileSrikanthwas cast as Choudhry's son Jagan, reprising the role originally played by Rajapandian.[6][3]Chowas cast in two roles: a politician named Vaiyapuri and his older brother Sundaram, a constable.[10][11]The politician character was not present in the play.[2]Mahendran did not write any dialogue for the scene where Lakshmi dies, instead he "visually depict[ed] the sorrow of a widower, which was very challenging", although Ganesan managed it successfully in a single take.[12]Cinematography was handled byP. N. Sundaram,and editing by R. Devarajan.[7]
Themes
[edit]According to Ganesan,Thangappathakkamis not about a man killing his son to receive agold medal,but a police officer's commitment to his post. In his view, the story elucidates the code of conduct for police officers and how they should perform their duties; the character upholds justice, so the title "Thangappathakkam" (meaning gold medal) actually personifies this dutiful police officer.[4]Within the film, Vaiyapuri calls the policy Annaism (introduced in 1973 by politicianM. G. Ramachandran,described by him as "a blend of the fine aspects ofGandhism,communism and capitalism ") as" Appaism "(Anna meaning elder brother and Appa meaning father), as a means of ridiculing the policy which was known for being very radical.[13]
Soundtrack
[edit]The music was composed byM. S. Viswanathan,with lyrics byKannadasan.[14]The song "Thatti Sellum" is set in theCarnatic ragaknown asValaji,[15][16]and "Sumaithangi Saaithal" is set inHarikambhoji.[17][18]
No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Sothanai Mel Sothanai" | T. M. Soundararajan,Prameela | 3:54 |
2. | "Thatti Sellum" | Vani Jairam,Saibaba | 4:49 |
3. | "Nallathoru Kudumbam" | T. M. Soundararajan,P. Susheela | 4:04 |
4. | "Sumaithangi Saaithal" | T. M. Soundararajan | 3:37 |
Total length: | 16:24 |
Release and reception
[edit]Thangappathakkamwas released on 1 June 1974.[5]F. C. Arul, the thenInspector Generalof Tamil Nadu, made all possible arrangements to exhibit the film in 16 mm in all police stations throughout Tamil Nadu.[19]On 30 June 1974, the Tamil magazineAnanda Vikatanappreciated the film and mentioned that Ganesan showed how a police officer should behave and live through his fantastic acting, and added that the film was a gold medal for Ganesan.[20]Kanthan ofKalkilauded the performances of the lead cast, particularly Srikanth for portraying a new kind of villain not usually seen in Tamil films, in addition to Madhavan's direction and Mahendran's writing.[21]Thangappathakkamwas a commercial success, running for over 175 days in theatres, thereby becoming asilver jubilee film.[22][23]It won the Chennai Film Fans' Association Awards for Best Film, Best Actor (Ganesan), Best Story (Mahendran) and Best Actress (Vijaya).[24]
Impact
[edit]Thangappathakkamwas dubbed inTeluguasBangaru Pathakkamin 1976.[4][25]It served as an inspiration for the Telugu filmKondaveeti Simham(1981),[26]theKannadafilmKadamba(2004),[27]and theHindifilmShakti(1982).[28]According toRediff's N. Sathiya Moorthy, Ganesan's characterisation of Choudhry "became a role model for aspiring young police officers".[29]The characterisation of the role became a benchmark in such a way that many later Tamil films would often refer to Choudhry when mentioning an "honest and upright officer".[6]According to film historianG. Dhananjayan,the scene where Choudhry does not utter even a word after his wife's demise "is the way [Mahendran] started his brand of cinema".[30]
References
[edit]- ^Dhananjayan 2011,p. 262.
- ^abc"செலுலாய்ட் சோழன் சிவாஜி தொடர் 152 – சுதாங்கன்".Dinamalar(in Tamil). Nellai. 20 November 2016. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018.Retrieved3 December2018.
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^abMahendran 2013,p. 224.
- ^abcdGanesan & Narayana Swamy 2007,p. 183.
- ^abc"என்றும் மின்னும் 'தங்கப் பதக்கம்'"[The ever-shiningThanga Pathakkam].Hindu Tamil Thisai(in Tamil). 22 November 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 10 October 2019.Retrieved10 October2019.
- ^abcd"Thanga Padhakkam: From stage to celluloid".The Cinema Resource Centre.21 May 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 11 December 2018.Retrieved11 December2018.
- ^abThanga Pathakkam(motion picture) (in Tamil). Sivaji Productions. 1974. Opening credits, from 0:00 to 2:51.
- ^Mahendran 2013,p. 343.
- ^Dhananjayan, G.(7 October 2014)."Sivaji: Benchmark for long, colossus forever".The Times of India.Archived fromthe originalon 22 August 2018.Retrieved22 August2018.
- ^"ஜக்குவுக்குள் ஒரு துக்ளக்!".Hindu Tamil Thisai(in Tamil). 9 December 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 10 October 2019.Retrieved10 October2019.
- ^"திரையில் குடும்பக் கட்டுப்பாடு பிரசாரம் – 1".Dinamalar(in Tamil). Nellai. 27 January 2020. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020.Retrieved2 September2020.
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^Prabhakar, Siddharth; Ramesh, Neeraja (3 April 2019)."When silence spoke more than words".The Times of India.Archivedfrom the original on 10 October 2019.Retrieved10 October2019.
- ^"When Annaism sought de-mon".The Indian Express.15 August 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 11 December 2018.Retrieved10 December2018.
- ^"Thanga Pathakkam Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan".Mossymart.Archivedfrom the original on 14 August 2021.Retrieved14 August2021.
- ^Mani, Charulatha(16 August 2013)."Wake up to Valaji".The Hindu.Archivedfrom the original on 3 December 2018.Retrieved3 December2018.
- ^Sundararaman 2007,p. 161.
- ^Mani, Charulatha(6 December 2013)."Positively tranquil".The Hindu.Archivedfrom the original on 2 July 2018.Retrieved5 June2019.
- ^Sundararaman 2007,p. 159.
- ^David, C. R. W. (1983).Cinema as Medium of Communication in Tamil Nadu.Christian Literature Society. p. 40.Archivedfrom the original on 26 November 2020.Retrieved16 August2019.
- ^"சினிமா விமர்சனம்:தங்கப் பதக்கம்"[Movie Review:Thanga Pathakkam].Ananda Vikatan(in Tamil). 30 June 1974.Archivedfrom the original on 12 May 2020.Retrieved12 May2020.
- ^காந்தன் (30 June 1984)."தங்கப்பதக்கம்".Kalki(in Tamil). p. 61. Archived fromthe originalon 29 July 2022.Retrieved29 November2022.
- ^Selvaraj, N. (20 March 2017)."வெள்ளி விழா கண்ட தமிழ் திரைப்படங்கள்"[Tamil films that completed silver jubilees].Thinnai(in Tamil).Archivedfrom the original on 29 March 2017.Retrieved3 December2018.
- ^Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007,p. 242.
- ^"அன்றிலிருந்து இன்றுவரை சினிமா"(PDF).Vlambaram(in Tamil). 15 March 2000.Archived(PDF)from the original on 28 February 2019.Retrieved19 September2020.
- ^"Bangaru Pathakam (Celluloid)".Central Board of Film Certification.22 June 1976.Archivedfrom the original on 3 December 2018.Retrieved3 December2018.
- ^Srikanth (18 January 2004)."Kadamba – Kannada".Deccan Herald.Archived fromthe originalon 25 March 2014.Retrieved3 December2018.
- ^Nanda Kumar, S. (22 October 2016)."Buzzing with ideas".Deccan Herald.Archivedfrom the original on 3 December 2018.Retrieved3 December2018.
- ^Verma, Sukanya(22 August 2013)."This tragedy is never a spoiler in Shakti".Rediff.Archivedfrom the original on 21 October 2023.Retrieved21 October2023.
- ^Sathiya Moorthy, N. (22 July 2001)."Sivaji: Actor who revolutionised Tamil cinema".Rediff.Archivedfrom the original on 13 December 2018.Retrieved13 December2018.
- ^"J Mahendran: A legend who redefined Tamil cinema".Business Line.Press Trust of India.2 April 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 3 April 2019.Retrieved20 December2019.
Bibliography
[edit]- Dhananjayan, G.(2011).The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1931–1976.Galatta Media.OCLC733724281.
- Ganesan, Sivaji;Narayana Swamy, T.S. (2007) [2002].Autobiography of an Actor: Sivaji Ganesan, October 1928 – July 2001.Chennai: Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust.OCLC297212002.
- Mahendran(2013) [2004].சினிமாவும் நானும்[Cinema and I] (in Tamil). Karpagam Publications.OCLC54777094.
- Sundararaman (2007) [2005].Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music(2nd ed.). Pichhamal Chintamani.OCLC295034757.
External links
[edit]- 1974 films
- 1970s Indian films
- 1970s Tamil-language films
- 1974 drama films
- Fictional portrayals of the Tamil Nadu Police
- Films about filicide
- Films directed by P. Madhavan
- Films scored by M. S. Viswanathan
- Indian drama films
- Indian films based on plays
- Indian police films
- Tamil films remade in other languages
- Tamil-language Indian films