Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan

Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
Theatrical release poster
Directed byM. G. Ramachandran
Screenplay byP. Neelakantan
Based onKayalvizhi
by Akilan
Produced bySokkaiah
Subramani Iyer
Starring
Cinematography
Edited bySundaram
Music byM. S. Viswanathan
Production
company
Soleswar Combines
Release date
  • 14 January 1978 (1978-01-14)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

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, M. N. Nambiar, P. S. Veerappa, Latha and Padmapriya. It was Ramachandran's final film as an actor. The film is based on the 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.

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

Production

Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan is based on the novel Kayalvizhi by Akilan, serialised in the magazine Kalki.[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] The film was shot in Jaipur, Delhi and Mysore.[4] It was Ramachandran's final film as an actor,[5][6] after which he became a full-time politician. (When this film was released, Ramachandran was already Tamil Nadu's chief minister for months).[7][8]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan.[9] The song "Amutha Thamizhil" is set in Dwijavanthi raga.[10] The song "Thendralil Aadidum" is set in Suddha Saveri raga.[11]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Mangalyam"MuthulingamVani Jairam3:26
2."Veera Magan Poraada"MuthulingamT. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela3:41
3."Thayagathin Sudhanthiramae"MuthulingamT. M. Soundararajan3:53
4."Amutha Tamizhil"PulamaipithanJayachandran, Vani Jairam3:48
5."Thendralil Aadidum"PulamaipithanK. J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam4:43
Total length:19:31

Release and reception

Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan was released on 14 January 1978.[12] Ananda Vikatan rated the film 50+1⁄2 out of 100.[13] The film became a box-office bomb, with many people attributing it to the poor timing of release.[14] 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.[15]

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "மதுரையை மீட்ட சுந்தரபாண்டியன் எம்.ஜி.ஆர். நடித்த கடைசிப்படம்: கதை-அகிலன், டைரக்ஷன்-எம்.ஜி.ஆர்". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 11 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Maduraiyai Meetta Sundarapandian". Gaana. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  10. ^ Srinivasan, Meera (15 July 2015). "Something for everyone". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  11. ^ "ஏழிசை எம்எஸ்வி | பயோகிராபி". Dinamalar (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "மதுரையை மீட்ட சுந்தரபாண்டியன்". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 1978. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Piousji (20 May 1979). "Khaas Baat". Sunday. Vol. 7. p. 43. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023 – via Internet Archive.