Dharmam Engey

Dharmam Engey
Poster
Directed byA. C. Tirulokchandar
Screenplay bySakthi T. K. Krishnasamy
Story byA. C. Tirulokchandar
Produced byPeriyanna
StarringSivaji Ganesan
Jayalalithaa
CinematographyThambu
Edited byB. Kanthasamy
Music byM. S. Viswanathan
Production
company
Shanthi Films
Release date
  • 15 July 1972 (1972-07-15)[1]
Running time
151 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Dharmam Engey (transl. Where is dharma?) is a 1972 Indian Tamil-language action film[2] directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa, with M. N. Nambiar, Muthuraman, Nagesh, S. V. Ramadas and Kumari Padmini in supporting roles. It was released on 15 July 1972, and failed at the box office.

Plot

In a village, Rajasekaran works in the field picking and selling flowers. Maarthaandan is the tyrant ruler who exploits the villagers. Rajasekaran becomes their leader, rebels against Maarthaandan and ultimately succeeds.

Cast

Production

The film was shot at Thiruchopuram in Cuddalore,[3] and AVM Studios in Madras.[4] Sivaji Ganesan appeared in several costumes throughout the film.[5] Like a previous Ganesan film, Sivandha Mann (1969), it revolved around the protagonist rebelling against a tyrant ruler.[6] The film was colourised via Eastmancolor.[7]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics by Kannadasan.[8] An assistant director suggested the director not to use the lyric "Thangai" (transl. younger sister) for a song in Avandhan Manidhan (1975) since "Thangaiyila Illai" (transl. not in the younger sister) was the pallavi for a song in this film.[9] The song "Palli Araikkul Vantha" attained popularity.[10][11]

Song Singers
"Suthanthira Bhoomiyile" T. M. Soundararajan
"Dharmam Engey" Sirkazhi Govindarajan, P. Susheela
"Veeram Ennum Paavai" T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari
"Naangu Kaalamum" L. R. Eswari, S. Janaki
"Palli Araikkul Vantha" T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela

Release and reception

Dharmam Engey was released on 15 July 1972,[12] delayed from April.[13] The film was an unexpected failure.[14] The film did not run for more than two days, and as a result, it was not successful commercially.[15] The reason for the film's failure, according to historian Randor Guy, was that critics and filmgoers felt it would have better suited M. G. Ramachandran, who was known for such films.[4] This was the only film of Ganesan that released that year that was a failure.[16][17] Despite the film's failure, in 2022, Laxmi Karthi of Cinemapettai said it still remains one of Sivaji Ganesan's memorable films.[18]

References

  1. ^ "ஜெயலலிதா நடித்த திரைப்படங்கள் பட்டியல்" [List of films starring Jayalalithaa]. Dinamani (in Tamil). 5 December 2016. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  2. ^ "72ல் ஏழு சிவாஜி படம்; 'வசந்தமாளிகை' மெகா ஹிட்! - இன்று டிஜிட்டலில் படம் ரிலீஸ்" [In '72, Sivaji film Vasantha Maaligai was a mega hit! - Today digital release]. Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  3. ^ Ragunathan, A. V. (26 January 2012). "'Thane' did not spare even sand dunes". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b Guy, Randor (14 June 2017). "Dharmam Engey (1972)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  5. ^ Nārāyaṇan̲, Ar̲antai (1 September 1981). "Tamil̲ cin̲imāvin̲ katai" (in Tamil). Niyū Ceñcuri Puk Havus. p. 688 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ ராஜநாயஹம், R.P. (1 February 2017). ""என் அப்பாவை மீண்டும் பார்த்தேன்!″" [I saw my father again!]. Andhimazhai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  7. ^ "தர்மம் எங்கே". Sivaji (in Tamil). Vol. XXXIV. October 1972. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ "Dharmam Engay Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by MS Viswanathan". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  9. ^ Vanankamudi (August 2008). கண்ணதாசன் கதை [The story of Kannadasan] (in Tamil). Kannadhasan Pathippagam. p. 116. ISBN 978-81-8402-028-1.
  10. ^ "'கவி'க்கும், 'இசை'க்கும் இன்று பிறந்த நாள்: மறக்கமுடியுமா இரு மேதைகளை?" [Today is the birthday of 'poet' and 'music': Can we forget the two geniuses?]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  11. ^ Kaṇmatiyan̲ kavitaikaḷ (in Tamil). Katiravan̲ Patippakam. 1 September 1972. p. 100 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ "151-160". nadigarthilagam.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  13. ^ "தர்மம் எங்கே". Dina Thanthi (in Tamil). 15 March 1972.
  14. ^ "Puraṭcic celvi Jeyalalitā" (in Tamil). Maṇimēkalaip Piracuram. 1 September 1990. p. 166 – via Google Books.
  15. ^ "தமிழர்களை ஈர்த்த மலையாளப் படங்கள் – தேவிபாரதி" [Malayalam films that attracted Tamilians: Devibharathi]. Minnambalam (in Tamil). 23 April 2019. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  16. ^ Raj, John Babu (8 December 2023). "ஒரே வருடத்தில் 2 வெள்ளிவிழா, 4 நூறு நாள் படங்கள் தந்த சிவாஜி கணேசன்" [In one week, 2 silver jubilees, 4 100-day films given by Sivaji Ganesan]. News18 (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  17. ^ "ஒரே வருடத்தில் 6 ஹிட் கொடுத்த சிவாஜி" [In one year, Sivaji gave six hits]. Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 8 May 2020. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  18. ^ Karthi, Laxmi (8 December 2022). "70-களில் 100 நாட்களுக்கு மேல் ஓடிய சிவாஜியின் 7 படங்கள்.. வெள்ளி விழா கொண்டாடிய வசந்தமாளிகை" [7 films of Sivaji that ran for more than 100 days in the 1970s.. Vasantha Maligai celebrated its silver jubilee]. Cinemapettai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2024.