| Uthama Puthiran | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | T. Prakash Rao |
| Written by | C. V. Sridhar |
| Starring | Sivaji Ganesan Padmini M. N. Nambiar M. K. Radha P. Kannamba K. A. Thangavelu Ragini |
| Music by | G. Ramanathan |
| Distributed by | Venus Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 7 February 1958[1] |
| Running time | 16044 ft |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Uthama Puthiran (English: Ideal Son) is a 1958 Indian historical fiction film produced in Tamil cinema. Directed by Tatineni Prakash Rao, the film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, M. N. Nambiar, K. A. Thangavelu, Ragini and P. Kannamba. It is the first film to feature Sivaji Ganesan in two distinct roles.[2] The film was also released in Telugu as Veera Prathap and in Hindi as Sitamgar.[3] Uthama Puthiran is the story of a queen who gives birth to twins. But as fate would have it, one of the twins is forcefully abandoned and grows up elsewhere. He grows up as a kind and honest man, while the other twin grows up as a greedy and arrogant man. When fate brings both the twins together and they start fighting without recognizing each other, it is only their mother who can bring peace. The film was released on 7 February 1958, and became a huge success.
Contents[hide] |
[edit]Plot
It is a joyous time for everyone in a land known as Malarpuri, when the queen (P. Kannamba) becomes pregnant. Joyful for everyone except her brother Naganathan (M.N. Nambiar), the army commander who has his eye on the throne. So he pays one of the maids to deliver the newborn to him. He then proceeds to hand it over to his henchman Somu, ordering it to be killed. But the queen gives birth to twins and the king (M. K. Radha), ever suspicious of Naganathan, passes an order that forces Naganathan to take care of this baby. But he decides to raise it as his hand puppet. Meanwhile, Somu desists from killing the baby and instead, raises it in another town. So the twins grow up separately - Parthiban, a good, honest and brave man and Vikraman (both played by Sivaji Ganesan), a drunkard and womaniser who is dependent on his uncle for everything.
Parthiban falls in love with Amuthavalli alias "Amutha" (Padmini), the daughter of the minister at the palace and on one of his nocturnal visits, runs into his brother and his mother. The queen finds out that Parthiban was her other son who she did not raise, and she accepts him as her son. She pleads Vikraman also to accept Parthiban as his brother, but Vikraman, his mind poisoned by his uncle, fights Parthiban and defeats him, later clamping an iron mask on his face and locks him up in the dungeons. But through some strategies Parthiban escapes, he reaches Vikraman and forces him into the same prison, thus the same iron mask is put on Vikraman's face this time. Parthiban then puts on Vikraman's clothes and acts as the king, while the guards at the dungeons are unaware that it is Vikraman (dressed as the pauper that Parthiban earlier was) who is trapped.
Vikraman keeps pleading the guards to release him and tries to make them understand the truth but the guards continue to laugh, thinking that "Parthiban" has gone insane. His last proof of identity, Vikraman writes a message on a nearby plate and after signing it, tosses it out of the window. A guard reads the message and after seeing Vikraman's sign, finds out that he is in prison. The guard releases Vikraman who challenges Parthiban to a final fight. With Parthiban seeming to emerge victorious, Vikraman escapes on a horse and while running through the mountains, he however loses control of the horse and falls off the cliff. With Vikraman finally gone, Parthiban is crowned the new king of Malarpuri and the Uthama Puthiran (Ideal Son) of his mother.
[edit]Cast and Crew
[edit]Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Sivaji Ganesan | Parthiban (the Pauper) and Vikraman (the Prince) |
| Padmini | Amuthavalli |
| M. N. Nambiar | Naganathan |
| M. K. Radha | King |
| P. Kannamba | Queen |
| K. A. Thangavelu | Ponnan |
| Ragini | Rajathi |
| Stunt Somu | Somu |
| M. S. S. Bakkiam | Ponni |
[edit]Crew
| Designation | Assigned |
|---|---|
| Producer | S. Krishnamoorthy, C. V. Sridhar and T. Govindarajan |
| Production Company | Venus Pictures |
| Director | T. Prakash Rao |
| Music | G. Ramanathan |
| Screenplay | C. V. Sridhar |
| Dialogues | C. V. Sridhar |
| Art Direction | Ganga |
| Editing | N.M. Sankar |
| Choreography | B. Heera Lal, P. S. Gopala Krishnan and Thangaraj |
| Cinematography | A. Vincent |
| Stunts | "Stunt" Somu |
| Dance | Helen, Gemini Chandra and Rita |
[edit]Production
[edit]Filming
Uthama Puthiran was the first film which featured the lead actor Sivaji Ganesan in two roles. About his experience in the film, he said,
| “ | In those days, it was technically very difficult to film movies which call for double roles. Though computer technology was non-existent those days, filming was very well executed. There was nothing much to my dance performance in Utthama Puthiran. I had already mentioned I was a good dancer, having been trained in the art of traditional Indian dance. The dance performance for Utthama Puthiran was different. The credit goes to the dance master, Heera Lal, who conceived the dance and choreographed it with fast steps and claps.[4] | ” |
[edit]Influences
Uthama Puthiran is a remake of a same-titled 1938 Tamil film that featured P. U. Chinnappa in two distinct roles, notably the first Tamil film to feature an actor in two roles. It is also said to be adapted from the French novel The Man in the Iron Mask, written by Alexandre Dumas in 1850.[5] The story of identical twins was used often in Tamil cinema, and Dumas himself used it to write his famous The Corsican Brothers which was also adapted into Tamil. The Gemini Studios version Apoorva Sagotharargal with M. K. Radha playing the twins was a box office hit. M. G. Ramachandran played the twins in a rehash of the film titled Neerum Neruppum, which did not do as well.[2] Uthama Puthiran (1958) also was the inspiration behind Imsai Arasan 23m Pulikesi, a 2007 historical comedy film starring comedian Vadivelu as the twins.[6]
[edit]Soundtrack
The soundtrack of the film has been composed by G. Ramanathan.[7]
| Track | Song | Singer(s) | Duration | Lyrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anbe Amuthey | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Suseela | 03:20 | |
| 2 | Yaaradi Ni Mogini | T. M. Soundararajan, A. P. Komala, K. Jamuna Rani, Jikki | 07:06 | |
| 3 | Kaththiruppaan Kamalakannan | P. Leela | 04:48 | T.K. Sundaravathiyar |
| 4 | Mullai Malar Mele | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Suseela | 05:06 | A. Maruthakasi |
| 5 | Unnazhagai | P. Suseela | 04:42 | K.S. Gopalakrishnan |
[edit]Release
[edit]Reception
Uthama Puthiran has received critical acclaim. The Hindu called it "ever-popular", and labelled Sivaji Ganesan as a "Consummate villain and a suave hero".[8] Film critic Malathi Rangarajan said, "That one scene where the arrogant twin callously goes up and down on the swing as his mother rebukes and pleads with him to mend his ways, is enough to ensure the everlasting shelf-life of the decades-old offering from the stable of Sivaji Ganesan. Catch it the next time it is telecast. It's worth it."[9] Indiaglitz said, "It has good performances, melodious music, and an engaging screenplay and is hugely entertaining."[5]
[edit]Box office
Uthama Puthiran was very successful during its theatrical run. With Sivaji Ganesan's dual role performance being praised, he went on to do several hit dual role films in his later career.[10] The film ran for over 100 days in theatres.[3]
[edit]References
- ^ http://www.jointscene.com/movies/Kollywood/Uthama_puthiran_-_1958/3774
- ^ a b Randor Guy (2011-03-17). "Arts / Cinema : A trailblazer". The Hindu. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
- ^ a b "Chevalier Dr. Sivaji V. C. Ganesan". Geocities.ws. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
- ^ Sivaji Ganesan (2002). Autobiography of an Actor, p. 118, Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust, Chennai
- ^ a b "Uthama Puthiran - Making history with historicals - Tamil Movie News". IndiaGlitz. 2006-09-19. Retrieved 2012-05-02.
- ^ "Friday Review Chennai / Film Review : Messages in a light vein - Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikesi". The Hindu. 2006-07-14. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
- ^ "Uthama Puthiran Songs - Uthama Puthiran Tamil Movie Songs - Tamil Songs Lyrics Trailer Videos, Preview Stills Reviews". Raaga.com. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
- ^ http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/gallery/sg/sg001.htm
- ^ http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2801198.ece
- ^ "THE DOUBLE ACTION BONANZA IN KOLLYWOOD". Behindwoods.com. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
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