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Vettaikkaran (1964 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Vettaikkaran' is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by M. A. Thirumugam and produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran and Savitri Ganesh, with M. R. Radha, M. N. Nambiar, S. A. Ashokan, Thai Nagesh, M. V. Rajamma, Manorama and Baby Shakila in supporting roles. It revolves around an estate hunter whose penchant for hunting displeases his family, and a plunderer who lusts for his wealth.
'Vettaikkaran' was released on 14 January 1964, Pongal day. The film was a commercial success, running for 25 weeks in theatres.
Plot
Babu is a wealthy estate owner and hunter. He is always in the forest hunting animals, much to the displeasure of his mother. He meets Latha, a woman lost in the forest. He rescues her, they fall in love and marry. Latha gives birth to Babu's son Raja who develops an extreme attachment to his father. Meanwhile, a plunderer Mayavan lusts for Latha. To get her, he makes Babu undergo untold miseries. He tricks Latha and Raja into the forest, and demands the papers of the estate. Babu arrives on time and kills Mayavan, saving both Latha and Raja in the process.
Cast
* M. G. Ramachandran as Babu
* Savitri Ganesh as Latha
* M. R. Radha as Sundaram
* M. N. Nambiar as Mayavan
* S. A. Ashokan
* Thai Nagesh as Jokkar
* M. V. Rajamma as Babu's mother
* Manorama as Jokkar's wife
* Baby Shakila as Raja
Production
'Vettaikkaran' was directed by M. A. Thirumugam and produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar under Devar Films. A real leopard was brought for filming.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics by Kannadasan. According to Sachi Sri Kantha, the song "Unnai Arinthaal", through its lyrics which go "'Unnai arinthaal Nee unnai arinthaal, Ulagathil pooradalam'" (Know yourself You, know yourself, then you can fight the world) serves as an "MGR self-praise song, equating his 'good traits' to that of a living God" and Kannadasan "incorporates the Socratic wisdom of 'Know thyself' in the beginning lines".
Release
'Vettaikkaran' was released on 14 January 1964, Pongal day, and distributed by Ramachandran's Emgeeyar Pictures. To promote the film, the Madras-based Chitra theatre had a jungle set to welcome audiences. After much deliberation, they also managed to get a caged tiger inside the theatre premises. Despite facing competition from another Pongal release 'Karnan', the film became a box office success, running for 25 weeks in theatres. It was dubbed Telugu-language as 'Inti Donga' and released on 4 September 1964.
Reception
'The Indian Express' wrote on 17 January 1964, "Loaded with fun and frolic with a substantial sprinkling of spicy scenes and intriguing drama told in a fascinating manner, ['Vettaikkaran'] is designed to please the filmgoer." T. M. Ramachandran of 'Sport and Pastime' wrote on 22 February, "One would presume that 'Vettaikkaran', to justify the title, would provide all the thrills and excitement of big game hunting. But there is nothing of that sort in the film [...] The story is of course a hotchpotch of various ideas and punches freely borrowed from foreign films. The swift tempo with which the latter half of the film moves covers up a major portion of its deficiencies". On 26 January, Kanthan of 'Kalki' said the film could be watched for the leopard, the scenery and the acting of Shakila.
References
Bibliography
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