Thayilla Pillai: Difference between revisions

Thayilla Pillai
Thayilla Pillai
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	L. V. Prasad
Screenplay by	M. Karunanidhi
Story by	S. R. Pinisetty
Produced by	A. Anand; L. V. Prasad
Starring	T. S. Balaiah; M. V. Rajamma
Cinematography	V. Madhan Mohan; K. S. Prasad
Edited by	A. Sanjeevi
Music by	K. V. Mahadevan
Production; company	Prasad Movies
Distributed by	Gemini Studios
Release date	18 August 1961
Running time	173 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 04:40, 21 February 2019

Thayilla Pillai (lit. 'The Motherless Child')^[2] is 1961 Tamil-language Indian drama film directed and co-produced by L. V. Prasad and written by M. Karunanidhi. The film stars T. S. Balaiah and M. V. Rajamma in the lead roles, with G. Muthukrishnan, Kalyan Kumar, S. Rama Rao, R. S. Manohar, Nagesh, C. V. V. Panthulu, L. Vijayalakshmi, Madhuri Roy, Sandhya, T. P. Muthulakshmi and Seethalakshmi in supporting roles. It tells the story of a mother torn between her love for her orthodox Brahmin husband and her son.

Thayilla Pillai speaks against the caste system in India. It was released on 18 August 1961, and became a commercial success. The film was remade in Malayalam as Pravaham (1975).^[3]

Plot

The conservative Brahmin Pathanjali Sasthri severs relations with his modern brother-in-law Bharati, a doctor. When Sasthri’s wife Parvathi, who had two miscarriages, finds herself pregnant, she goes to her brother to get medical aid and incurs the displeasure of her husband. The wife gives birth to a son but simultaneously adopts the son of a lower-caste woman who died in childbirth, creating some confusion for Sasthri as to which baby is his son. Eventually the couple raise the adopted child while their biological son becomes a rickshaw-puller. The two boys grow up and become friends. In the end, the family reunites.

Cast

Male cast^[4]

T. S. Balaiah as Pathanjali Sasthri
G. Muthukrishnan as Sankar
Kalyan Kumar as Somu
S. Rama Rao as Rangu
R. S. Manohar as Bharathi
Nagesh as Mohan
C. V. V. Panthulu as Gurumoorthy Pillai
Senthamarai as Ponnan

Female cast^[4]

M. V. Rajamma as Parvathi
L. Vijayalakshmi as Suguna
Madhuri Roy as Chandra
Sandhya as Suseela
T. P. Muthulakshmi as Gangamma
Seethalakshmi as Subbamma

Production

Thayilla Pillai was directed by L. V. Prasad and produced by A. Anand under Prasad Movies.^[4] Although Prasad was the co-producer, he was not listed as such in the opening credits.^[5] The screenplay was written by M. Karunanidhi,^[4] based on a story by S. R. Pinisetty.^[6] Cinematography was handled by V. Madhan Mohan and K. S. Prasad, art direction by Thotta, and the editing by A. Sanjeevi.^[4] The final length of the film was 15,567 feet (4,745 m).^[7]

Themes

Like many films Karunanidhi wrote, Thayilla Pillai reflects his political ideology.^[8] It speaks against the caste system in India,^[9]^[1] and the problem of "orphan children".^[10] Karunanidhi said that, through the character of Pathanjali Sasthri, he portrayed "how casteist feelings, age-old customs and rituals and superstitious beliefs had been deeply entrenched in the human psyche for generations."^[11]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan and the lyrics were written by Kannadasan, Kothamangalam Subbu and A. Maruthakasi.^[1]^[12] The playback singers were T. M. Soundararajan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, P. B. Srinivas, A. L. Raghavan, P. Susheela, K. Jamuna Rani, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, R. Balasaraswathi Devi and L. R. Eswari.^[4] The songs "Chinna Chinna Ooraniyam", "Kaalam Maruthu Karuthu Maruthu" and "Kadavulum Naanum Oru Jaathi" attained popularity.^[13]

No.	Songs	Singers	Lyrics	Length
1	"Cheeradum Painkiliyae"	R. Balasaraswathi Devi	Kothamangalam Subbu	04:16
2	"Chinna Chinna Ooraniyam"	Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi	Kannadasan	03:47
3	"Vaamma Vaamma Chinnamma"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan, P. Susheela	Kannadasan	04:30
4	"Kaalam Maruthu Karuthu Maruthu"	A. L. Raghavan, L. R. Eswari	Kannadasan	04:16
5	"Kadavulum Naanum Oru Jaathi"	A. L. Raghavan	Kannadasan	04:10
6	"Padikka Vendum Pudhiya Paadam"	P. B. Sreenivas, K. Jamuna Rani	A. Maruthakasi	04:25
7	"Oorar Aadithuvittar"	T. M. Soundararajan	Kannadasan	03:57
8	"Thotta Kaigal"	P. Susheela	Kannadasan	03:32
9	"Chinna Chinna Ooraniyam" – 2	R. Balasaraswathi Devi	Kannadasan	02:02

Release and reception

Thayilla Pillai was released on 18 August 1961,^[14]^[15] and distributed by Gemini Studios.^[16] The Indian Express applauded the film, particularly Balaiah's performance, saying he "outshines all others in the cast". The reviewer also praised Rama Rao and Muthulakshmi for providing "good comic relief", and director Prasad for being able to "blend comedy and emotion so well".^[10] The film was commercially successful, running for over 100 days in theatres.^[17]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 371.
^ Narwekar 1994, p. 242.
^ Vijayakumar, B. (3 December 2010). "Tamil Movies made in Malayalam". Old is Gold. Archived from the original on 8 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f தாயில்லப் பிள்ளை [The Motherless Child] (songbook) (in Tamil). Prasad Movies. 1961.
^ Prasad, L. V. "My 55 years experience". Prasad Group. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ Thai Illa Pillai (motion picture) (in Tamil). Prasad Movies. 1961. Opening credits, from 0:00 to 2:23.
^ Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [Tamil film history and its achievements] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publishers. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ "Life of Kalaignar M Karunanidhi in cinema". The New Indian Express. 7 August 2018. slide 11. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ Thoraval 2000, p. 324.
^ ^a ^b "Baliah steals the show in "Thai Illa Pillai"". The Indian Express. 18 August 1961. p. 3.
^ Karunanidhi, M. (9 August 2018). "Excerpts from a special article written by Karunanidhi". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ "Thaayilla Pillai". JioSaavn. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ Swathi (25 August 2018). "கலைஞர் என்னும் கலைஞன் - 14 : தாயில்லாப் பிள்ளை". Valai Tamil. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ Rathinagiri 2007, p. 66.
^ "திரையுலகில் கலைஞர்" [Artist in the world of films]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 27 July 2018. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ "தாயில்லா பிள்ளை" [The Motherless Child] (PDF). Dinamani (in Tamil). 2 September 1961. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ தீனதயாளன், பா (28 August 2015). "தாய்மையின் ராணி!- எம்.வி. ராஜம்மா" [Queen of Motherhood! - M. V. Rajamma]. The Hindu Tamil. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

Bibliography

Narwekar, Sanjit (1994). Directory of Indian Film-makers and Films. Flicks Books. OCLC 924860434. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul, eds. (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-563579-5. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Rathinagiri, R. (2007). Time capsule of Kalaignar. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. OCLC 233030854. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Thoraval, Yves (2000). The cinemas of India. India: Macmillan Publishers. OCLC 315628673. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

External links

Thayilla Pillai at IMDb

[FOOTNOTERajadhyakshaWillemen1998371-1] Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 371.

[FOOTNOTENarwekar1994242-2] Narwekar 1994, p. 242.

[3] Vijayakumar, B. (3 December 2010). "Tamil Movies made in Malayalam". Old is Gold. Archived from the original on 8 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[songbook-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f தாயில்லப் பிள்ளை [The Motherless Child] (songbook) (in Tamil). Prasad Movies. 1961.

[5] Prasad, L. V. "My 55 years experience". Prasad Group. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[movie-6] Thai Illa Pillai (motion picture) (in Tamil). Prasad Movies. 1961. Opening credits, from 0:00 to 2:23.

[Anandan-7] Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [Tamil film history and its achievements] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publishers. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[8] "Life of Kalaignar M Karunanidhi in cinema". The New Indian Express. 7 August 2018. slide 11. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[FOOTNOTEThoraval2000324-9] Thoraval 2000, p. 324.

[IE_review-10] "Baliah steals the show in "Thai Illa Pillai"". The Indian Express. 18 August 1961. p. 3.

[11] Karunanidhi, M. (9 August 2018). "Excerpts from a special article written by Karunanidhi". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[12] "Thaayilla Pillai". JioSaavn. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[valaitamil-13] Swathi (25 August 2018). "கலைஞர் என்னும் கலைஞன் - 14 : தாயில்லாப் பிள்ளை". Valai Tamil. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[FOOTNOTERathinagiri200766-14] Rathinagiri 2007, p. 66.

[15] "திரையுலகில் கலைஞர்" [Artist in the world of films]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 27 July 2018. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[16] "தாயில்லா பிள்ளை" [The Motherless Child] (PDF). Dinamani (in Tamil). 2 September 1961. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[17] தீனதயாளன், பா (28 August 2015). "தாய்மையின் ராணி!- எம்.வி. ராஜம்மா" [Queen of Motherhood! - M. V. Rajamma]. The Hindu Tamil. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 == Production ==
-''Thayilla Pillai'' was directed by [[L. V. Prasad]] and produced by A. Anand under Prasad Movies.<ref name="songbook" /> Although Prasad was the co-producer, he was not listed as such in the opening credits.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://prasadgroup.org/lvprasad-autobiography.html |title=My 55 years experience |last=Prasad |first=L. V. |authorlink=L. V. Prasad |website=Prasad Group |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190219102141/http://prasadgroup.org/lvprasad-autobiography.html |archive-date=19 February 2019 |dead-url=no |access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref> The screenplay was written by [[M. Karunanidhi]],<ref name="songbook" /> based on a story by S. R. Pinisetty.<ref name="movie">{{Cite AV media |title=Thai Illa Pillai |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=Prasad Movies |year=1961 |time=0:00 to 2:23 |time-caption=Opening credits, from}}</ref> Cinematography was handled by V. Madhan Mohan and K. S. Prasad, art direction by Thotta, and the editing by A. Sanjeevi.<ref name="songbook" /> The final length of the film was {{convert|15567|feet|metres}}.<ref name="Anandan">{{Cite book |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1931onwords.asp |title=Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru |last=Film News Anandan |publisher=Sivagami Publishers |year=2004 |location=Chennai |language=Tamil |trans-title=Tamil film history and its achievements |author-link=Film News Anandan |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190219101243/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1961-cinedetails11.asp |archive-date=19 February 2019 |dead-url=no}}</ref><!-- http://www.valaitamil.com/kalaignar-enum-kalaignan-14_17788.html -->
+''Thayilla Pillai'' was directed by [[L. V. Prasad]] and produced by A. Anand under Prasad Movies.<ref name="songbook" /> Although Prasad was the co-producer, he was not listed as such in the opening credits.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://prasadgroup.org/lvprasad-autobiography.html |title=My 55 years experience |last=Prasad |first=L. V. |authorlink=L. V. Prasad |website=Prasad Group |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190219102141/http://prasadgroup.org/lvprasad-autobiography.html |archive-date=19 February 2019 |dead-url=no |access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref> The screenplay was written by [[M. Karunanidhi]],<ref name="songbook" /> based on a story by S. R. Pinisetty.<ref name="movie">{{Cite AV media |title=Thai Illa Pillai |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=Prasad Movies |year=1961 |time=0:00 to 2:23 |time-caption=Opening credits, from}}</ref> Cinematography was handled by V. Madhan Mohan and K. S. Prasad, art direction by Thotta, and the editing by A. Sanjeevi.<ref name="songbook" /> The final length of the film was {{convert|15567|feet|metres}}.<ref name="Anandan">{{Cite book |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1931onwords.asp |title=Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru |last=Film News Anandan |publisher=Sivagami Publishers |year=2004 |location=Chennai |language=Tamil |trans-title=Tamil film history and its achievements |author-link=Film News Anandan |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190219101243/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1961-cinedetails11.asp |archive-date=19 February 2019 |dead-url=no}}</ref>
 == Themes ==
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 == Soundtrack ==
-The soundtrack was composed by [[K. V. Mahadevan]] and the lyrics were written by [[Kannadasan]], [[Kothamangalam Subbu]] and [[A. Maruthakasi]].{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=371}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/thaayilla-pillai/GSbvC18UR,o_ |title=Thaayilla Pillai |website=[[JioSaavn]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219120705/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/thaayilla-pillai/GSbvC18UR,o_ |archive-date=19 February 2019 |dead-url=no |access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref> The playback singers were [[T. M. Soundararajan]], [[Seerkazhi Govindarajan]], [[P. B. Srinivas]], [[A. L. Raghavan]], [[P. Susheela]], [[K. Jamuna Rani]], [[Soolamangalam Sisters|Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi]], [[Raavu Balasaraswathi|R. Balasaraswathi Devi]] and [[L. R. Eswari]].<ref name="songbook" />
+The soundtrack was composed by [[K. V. Mahadevan]] and the lyrics were written by [[Kannadasan]], [[Kothamangalam Subbu]] and [[A. Maruthakasi]].{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=371}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/thaayilla-pillai/GSbvC18UR,o_ |title=Thaayilla Pillai |website=[[JioSaavn]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219120705/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/thaayilla-pillai/GSbvC18UR,o_ |archive-date=19 February 2019 |dead-url=no |access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref> The playback singers were [[T. M. Soundararajan]], [[Seerkazhi Govindarajan]], [[P. B. Srinivas]], [[A. L. Raghavan]], [[P. Susheela]], [[K. Jamuna Rani]], [[Soolamangalam Sisters|Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi]], [[Raavu Balasaraswathi|R. Balasaraswathi Devi]] and [[L. R. Eswari]].<ref name="songbook" /> The songs "Chinna Chinna Ooraniyam", "Kaalam Maruthu Karuthu Maruthu" and "Kadavulum Naanum Oru Jaathi" attained popularity.<ref name="valaitamil">{{Cite web |url=http://www.valaitamil.com/kalaignar-enum-kalaignan-14_17788.html |title=கலைஞர் என்னும் கலைஞன் - 14 : தாயில்லாப் பிள்ளை |last=Swathi |date=25 August 2018 |website=Valai Tamil |archive-url=http://archive.fo/dEZdO |archive-date=2019-02-19 |dead-url=no |access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref>
 {| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border&nbsp;— collapse: collapse; font&nbsp;— size: 95%;"
 |- bgcolor="#CCCCCF" align="centre"