Kumudham And Kalki

Sri MGR Year 95, 30th November, Friday

MGR Devotee Tirupur Ravichandran has forwarded two images from Kumudham and Kalki Tamil weekly magazine to share in our MGR Blog.

 

 

The above image is from Kalki magazine, the article is about MGR philosophical song “Naalu Perukku Nandri” from Sangay Muzhangu. The lyric was penned by Kannadasan, the last stanza of the song ends in negative, our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR after going through the lyrics asked to change the last stanza to positive note.

 

The song:

 

 

 

Above is the answer given by Music Director Ilayaraja in Kumudham weekly magazine. After MGR became the Chief Minister he wished to continue acting and as per his wish “Unnai Vida Mataen” movie pooja was done. The music director of that movie was Ilayaraja (he was upcoming at that time). He has given a detailed answer how MGR chooses song and playback singer and he never revert back his decisions.

 

In Coimbatore Oli Vilakku had a 17 days run in Delite theater and previously the same movie was released in Royal theater couple of weeks back and screened two weeks. In Chennai the same movie with a worst print and blaring sound was re-released in Anna and Mahalakshmi theaters. In Anna the movie did one week run followed by 3 weeks in Mahalakshmi theater. Sathya Movies Rickshawkaran was re-released in Royal Theater for Diwali and was screened for 10 days.

Unfinished MGR Movies

Sri MGR Year 95, 26th November, Monday

Here are some images from MGR’s unfinished movies. I have categorised into movies that were not completed from 1940s to 1960s and 1970s.

 

Some movie images from 1940s to 1960s.

 

 

MGR’s first Hero movie Saya. The director Nandalal Jaswanthlal and producer were not in good terms and the project was dropped and this become MGR’s first unreleased movie.

 

 

Saravana Productions Eastman colour movie Paramapitha which was shot for two days and shelved. MGR acted as Catholic Priest. For information after this movie MGR has acted in other G.N.Velumani productions and also the Director K.Shankar has continued to work with MGR.

 

 

Black and White movie Veluthevan directed by P.Neelakantan and supporting roles done by S.V.Subbaiah and Nagesh. Two villains M.N.Nambiyar and S.A.Asokan. The heroine of the movie is Rathna (though Vijayakumari was also in the cast)

 

Two songs and one fight scene were recorded. We have already uploaded  more than 2 minutes philosophical song from Veluthevan, the song was Thattungal Thirakapadum.

 

Video of Thattungal Thirakapadum

 

 

About Velu Thevan

 

 

The first colour movie from Devar Films was Thanthaiyum Maganum. When MGR was shot by M.R.Radha in 12 January 1967, Chinnappa Devar approached MGR and booked in couple of films such as Vivasahi, Ther Thiruvizha, Kadhal Vaganam and Thanthaiyum Maganum (Father and Son).

 

All other movies were released and this movie did not go to shooting stage. And after many years Devar Films first colour movie in Tamil, Nalla Neram was released in 1972.

 

In the end of 1969 Emgeeyar Productions planned to produce a big budget movie Inaintha Kaigal story written by Ravindran. We already posted about this movie. Planned to be shot in Iran, the Government of Iran did not gave permission for the shooting and the movie was dropped with two days shooting. MGR then planned to shoot Ulagam Sutrum Tamilan later named as Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban.

 

 

About Inaintha Kaigal

 

The above images were from MGCB Pradeep, B.S.Raju, Editor Olikirathu Urimaikural and Hardware Merchant Venkatesan.

Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban Full Movie

Sri MGR Year 95, 22nd November, Thursday

Emgeeyar Pictures Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban movie is fully uploaded by Saregama. We have already posted lot of information regarding Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban.

Above image is the ad given for the release of Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban in Bangalore theaters.

  

Above images are from the video thumb nails of Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban.

Story:

(Starts from Singapore ends in Japan)

Extensive use of Expo 70 held in Osaka, Japan.

From Wikipedia

Mr.Murugan (M.G.R) is an Indian scientist who has recently discovered how to store a part of the energy unleashed from lightning. He tells this in the Hong Kong scientists' conference. He tells that he won't reveal his discovery to the world since the world is at the brink of world war III and his research may be used for destructive purposes. Scientist Mr.Bairavan (Asokan) tells Murugan is just showing off without researching anything. So Mr.Murugan demonstrates it and destroys the vital research notes which upsets the other scientists. Bairavan negotiates with him to sell the research to a foreign country which Murugan refuses. Murugan then departs with his girlfriend Miss.Vimala (Manjula) for a world tour. He tells to Vimala that he actually pretended like destroying the research notes and he has kept the notes in some safe place. He was willing to use them and research further so that his research is used for productive purposes. Bairavan who have been following them hears this and follows them wherever they go. Bairavan wants the research notes so that he can sell them to some countries for a lump sum amount. 

In Singapore, Bairavan shoots Murugan with a special gun (not killing him). Vimala faints on seeing this. Murugan became mentally affected and is taken into Bairavan's custody.

Now comes Mr.Raju (M.G.R) a CBCID officer and Murugan's younger brother who comes to Singapore in search of his brother. How he finds his brother and what happens to others form the rest of the story.

 

Cast:

MGR – Dual Role Murugan as the Scientist and Jeyaraj alias Raju as Police Officer.

Manjula – Murugan pair

Latha – Secretary to Murugan and Raju’s pair

Chandrakala – Dancer and also Raju’s pair

Mehta Rungroth – Guest appearance

Nagesh – Raju’s friend

Asokan – Bairavan another Scientist

Gopalakrishnan – Doctor

Shyam Sundar – Asokan’s henchman

Manohar – Asokan’s henchman and Latha’s brother

M.N.Nambiyar – Paid Assassin

Songs:

1. Intha Vetriyai (Title Song)

2. Lilly malaruku (Duet)

3. Sirithu Vazha vendum (MGR Philosophical song)

4. Nilavu Oru pennagi (solo song)

5. Thanga Thoniyilae (Duet with Chandrakala over Hong Kong waters)

6. Pachai Kili (Duet with Mehta in Thailand)

7. Bansaiyi (Duet with Chandrakala in Japan)

8. Aval Oru navarasa (Solo song – with scenes from Water ballad)

9. Ulagam Azhagu (can be said as the documentary of Expo 70, with as many as 250 shots)

all the 9 songs are nine gems of Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban finely tuned by M.S.Viswanathan. The background music was breathtaking.

Video File:

MGR’s hard work = Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban

We have already posted about Padagotti full movie below is the link.

If the above video does not work please click the link below.

Uploaded by Raj Video Vision.

Click here for Padagotti full movie.

Madurai Movie News

Sri MGR Year 95, 17th November, Saturday

Emgeeyar Pictures first production Nadodi Mannan was released as Diwali attraction in Madurai Central theater this week. MGR Devotee Tirupur Ravichandran has personally paid a visit to Madurai and captured some images to share in our MGR Blog.

 

  

 

In the above image of Central Theater I have included other two MGR movie posters. The image to the right is the entrance to Central theater.

 

 

Entrance to Central Theater another view. Some of MGR Fans club of Madurai have placed banners, in the above image you can see three such banners.

 

The distributor has fixed various designed posters for Nadodi Mannan. Some of the posters are posted here.

 

 

MGR Documentary

Sri MGR Year 95, 14th November, Wednesday

 

MGR and M.G.Chakrapani’s Grandson MGCB Pradeep along with Arcot Talkies is producing a researched first of the kind documentary about our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR.

 

Below is the post from his site.

 

The Arcot Talkies & MGR Peran Production is producing the life history documentary film on Makkal Thilagam, Puratchi Nadigar, Ponmanachemmal, Puratchi Thalaivar M.G.R.

It will be released in DVD format in beginning of  2013. The documentary will cover the entire life of Thiru M.G.R with many unique and rare interviews from stalwarts in the industry and contemporaries of the legend. It will be the first of its kind as it has been extensively researched and being produced by his own grand nephew.

 

Here is the teaser trailer for his documentary work.

 

Click here to view

Padagotti Full Movie

Sri MGR Year 95, 13th November, Tuesday

MGR first flick as a fisherman Padagotti is fully downloadable from youtube website. Saregama South has uploaded the full movie of Padagotti in youtube.

Padagotti was first released on Diwali day, 3rd November 1964.

Here is the full video.

Film Name : Padagotti (Colour) 1964.

Click here for the Download link:



Diwali release ad for the movie Padagotti.

If the above video link does not work click the below video to watch full movie of Padagotti.

 

Story: (From Wikipedia)

Manickam (MGR) is the leader of a small fishing community named Thirukaai Meenavargal. In the same area, Alaiyappan (S.V.Ramadhaas) is the leader of a second group named Sura Meenavargal, in opposition to Manickam’s group.

 

The enmity between the two groups goes way beyond competition. While Manickam is honest, compassionate and principled, his counterpart, Alaiyappan, is exactly the opposite, driven mainly by greed. Manickam's father main wish was to end the dispute between the two groups, and he persuades them to be friends. However the Sura Meenavargal refuse, and beat him to death. Manickam promises to fulfill his father's wish, and works hard to end the dispute.

 

The person responsible for fuelling this enmity between the two groups is the man who stands to gain the most from it all – The village Zamindar and Yajaman (M.N.Nambiar). Alaiyappan’s blind allegiance is to the Zamindar.

 

Manickam soon falls in love with Alaiyappan's daughter Muthazhagi (Saroja Devi), and she shows the same. However, their romance is strongly disapproved of by their communities. Things further escalate when Manickam again goes to Sura Meenavargal to seek peace, and he gets beaten up to his apparent death. Because of this, his men nearly kill Alaiyappan, who is then saved by a mysterious old man. Thankful to the old man, Alaiyappan allows him to stay for the night at his home. Muthazhagi later realizes the old man is actually Manickam in disguise, but keeps it a secret from everyone.

 

One day, it is a boat race between the two communities. But Manickam (still in disguise) chooses to go with Sura Meenavargal, and they eventually win the race. However, his fake beard falls down after the race, and everyone recognizes him as Manickam. The Thirukaai Meenavargal, enraged for his betrayal, forces him to leave Muthazhagi.

 

When Alaiyappan suddenly goes bankrupt, zamindar agrees to help him, but wants to be married to Muthazhagi in return. Alaiyappan, initially hesitant, later agrees but Muthazhagi is not ready. She is kept custody at the zamindar's mansion and is unable to escape, even Manickam (in a new disguise) is unable to save her. But the zamindar's wife (Jayanthi) secretly helps Muthazhagi out of the mansion. However, the former gets caught in the act by the zamindar, who then kills her. He begins to chase Muthazhagi, but is cornered by Manickam with whom he starts a battle. Shortly later, the local police arrive and arrest the zamindar, because they witnessed him killing his own wife. With both the communities finally reconciling, Alaiyappan agress for Muthazhagi and Manickam to be married.

 

Cast:

MGR – Manickam

Sarojadevi – Muthazhagi

M.N.Nambiyar – Neelamegam

Asokan – Neelamegam’s henchman

Nagesh – Leader of Fishermen Society (comic role as a Leader)

 

Songs:

The movie has 8 mesmerizing songs tuned by M.S.Visvanathan and Ramamurthy. All the songs are penned by Vaali.

 

The songs are:

1. Tharaimel Pirakka vaithan (MGR Philosophical song)

2. Ennai Eduthu Thanai Koduthu

3. Thottal Poo Malarum (Duet song)

4. Koduthellam Koduthaan (MGR Philosophical song)

5. Azhagu Oru Ragam

6. Naan Oru Kuzhandhai Nee Oru Kuzhandhai (MGR in disguise, song)

7. Paatukku Patteduthu

8. Kalyana Ponnu Kannana Kannu (another song for MGR in disguise)

Uploaded in HD format the total size of the movie comes to 2.45 GB. It takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes to download. For you to download use Youtube Downloader is a free tool to download videos from YouTube and save it to your computer. And this a free software created especially to download youtube videos.

November Movie News

Sri MGR Year 95, 13th November, Tuesday

MGR Devotee Tirupur Ravichandran has forwarded some of the images that he had captured for the MGR movie release in Ottanchatiram and news about MGR movie release in Coimbatore theaters.

 

 

  

 

The above two posters are for the re-release of Ninathathai Mudipavan in Aruna Theater Ottanchatiram. The posters with different background looks nice.

 

He also told that he received information from his friends about MGR movie Ooruku Uzhaipavan running successfully from 6th November (till yesterday) in Royal theater with a good print. (Coimbatore people are fortunate to watch MGR movie with good print)

 

From today Olivilakku is released in Delite theater, which information we have provided earlier in our post.

 

Enga Veetu Pillai is released today in Gopikrishna, (Ayanavaram, Chennai). The ad is given in today’s Daily Thanthi Newspaper.

 

 

Click the above images.

Anbay Vaa Review

Sri MGR Year 95, 11th November, Sunday

Below is the review written by Randor Guy in The Hindu Newspaper for the column titled A Blast from the Past.

 

Come September is a popular Hollywood movie of 1963 featuring Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida. This movie, directed by the noted filmmaker Robert Mulligan, was a hit around the world, including India where it had a successful run in places like Madras.

 

(Poster from 3linesabout.blogspot.com, author has not mentioned his name)

 

One of the contributing factors for its success was the popular title music, ‘Come September,’ and the long-playing record, rendered by the famous American musician Billy Vaughn, was a bestseller even in Madras city.

 

The movie narrated the tale of Robert (Rock Hudson), an American millionaire, who arrives early for his annual vacation at his luxurious Italian villa. His long-time girlfriend Lisa (Gina Lollobrigida) has given up waiting for him to “pop the question,” and has decided to marry another man. Meanwhile, his sneaky villa manager Maurice secretly converts the villa into a hotel when the boss is away. The current guests of the “hotel” are a group of young American girls trying to fend off a gang of oversexed boys, led by Tony (famed singer Bobby Darin in his movie debut).

 

This interesting storyline was brilliantly adapted into a Tamil film by the multifaceted writer-director-producer A.C. Thirulokachandar, who was then working for the House of AVM writing screenplays and also making movies. A.C. Thirulokachandar hails from an upper middle-class family of Madras and after qualifying himself with an MA degree he worked hard to appear for the Indian Administrative Service without thinking of a job.

 

Even as a student he wrote stories and articles and was a voracious reader. His close friend and classmate P. Balasubramaniam, son of the South Indian movie pioneer R. Padmanabhan, introduced him to his father and soon he joined RP as his assistant and learnt the ropes of moviemaking, especially screenplay writing. Then he moved to the AVM unit where he made his debut as a filmmaker…

 

Anbe Vaa was all about JB (MGR), a wealthy industrialist, who decides to take a break at his Simla home away from business concerns. He lands there to find that his caretaker (Sambandam) has rented his house to Geetha’s (Saroja Devi) family, taken the rent and left for Kasi with his wife. His daughter Manorama and brother-in-law Nagesh are left in charge of the house and the guests. JB decides not to reveal his identity and pretends to be a wealthy man, Balu, willing to pay rent for a place in the house. Nagesh takes the money and gives him JB’s room.

 

 

Balu keeps playing practical jokes on Geetha and they keep clashing. She brings her friends who are on a trip to Simla and tries to drive JB from the house. After he gets the friends on his side, she gets angry and tells her parents to get her married to Asokan, a relative and an Air Force pilot.

 

 

Puthiya Vaanam Puthiya Bhoomi song from our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR movie Anbe Vaa. The video clip was uploaded by Goldtreat in youtube site.

 

By the time Balu confesses his love for her, Geetha’s engagement is already fixed. Asokan turns out to be a school friend of JB, but he also agrees to play along with the trick. Asokan discovers that Balu and Geetha are actually in love with each other and steps aside. When Balu’s true identity is known, Geetha thinks that the wedding plans are yet another of his practical jokes and tries to run away. He finds her and all misunderstandings are cleared. The two get married.

 

The screenplay was brilliantly written by A.C.Thirulokachandar. MGR’s performance as the rich man posing as a tenant was impressive. Nagesh was inimitable. Saroja Devi looked glamorous in her glossy make-up and costume.

 

One of the major plus points was its melodious music (composer M.S. Viswanathan working on his own after separating from his erstwhile partner T.K. Ramamurthi). Many songs became hits. The opening song, ‘Puthiya Vaanam Puthiya Bhoomi’ (lyrics: Vaali and voice: T.M. Soundararajan) filmed on MGR sporting a red and black striped coat in Simla and other areas, had a political touch. It was brilliantly photographed by master lens man S. Maruthi Rao. ‘Rajavin Paarvai’ (TMS and P.Suseela) is another hit number.

 

The film was produced by the sons of AV.Meiyappan — Murugan, Saravanan and Balasubramaniam.

With so many plus points, Anbe Vaa turned out to be a box office hit….

 

 

Remembered for the impressive performances by MGR, Nagesh and Saroja Devi, melodious music, interesting storyline and screenplay, picturesque cinematography which captured the beautiful landscape of the Himalayan region, and the fabulous sets in true AVM style.

 

The above appears in The Hindu.com website address given below.

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/anbe-vaa-1966/article4084816.ece

Anbay Vaa Review

Sri MGR Year 95, 11th November, Sunday

This is the review written by Randor Guy in The Hindu Newspaper for the movie Anbay Vaa.

 

Come September is a popular Hollywood movie of 1963 featuring Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida. This movie, directed by the noted filmmaker Robert Mulligan, was a hit around the world, including India where it had a successful run in places like Madras.

 

One of the contributing factors for its success was the popular title music, ‘Come September,’ and the long-playing record, rendered by the famous American musician Billy Vaughn, was a bestseller even in Madras city.

 

The movie narrated the tale of Robert (Rock Hudson), an American millionaire, who arrives early for his annual vacation at his luxurious Italian villa. His long-time girlfriend Lisa (Gina Lollobrigida) has given up waiting for him to “pop the question,” and has decided to marry another man. Meanwhile, his sneaky villa manager Maurice secretly converts the villa into a hotel when the boss is away. The current guests of the “hotel” are a group of young American girls trying to fend off a gang of oversexed boys, led by Tony (famed singer Bobby Darin in his movie debut).

 

This interesting storyline was brilliantly adapted into a Tamil film by the multifaceted writer-director-producer A.C. Thirulokachandar, who was then working for the House of AVM writing screenplays and also making movies. A.C. Thirulokachandar hails from an upper middle-class family of Madras and after qualifying himself with an MA degree he worked hard to appear for the Indian Administrative Service without thinking of a job.

 

Even as a student he wrote stories and articles and was a voracious reader. His close friend and classmate P. Balasubramaniam, son of the South Indian movie pioneer R. Padmanabhan, introduced him to his father and soon he joined RP as his assistant and learnt the ropes of moviemaking, especially screenplay writing. Then he moved to the AVM unit where he made his debut as a filmmaker…

 

Anbe Vaa was all about JB (MGR), a wealthy industrialist, who decides to take a break at his Simla home away from business concerns. He lands there to find that his caretaker (Sambandam) has rented his house to Geetha’s (Saroja Devi) family, taken the rent and left for Kasi with his wife. His daughter Manorama and brother-in-law Nagesh are left in charge of the house and the guests. JB decides not to reveal his identity and pretends to be a wealthy man, Balu, willing to pay rent for a place in the house. Nagesh takes the money and gives him JB’s room.

 

 

Balu keeps playing practical jokes on Geetha and they keep clashing. She brings her friends who are on a trip to Simla and tries to drive JB from the house. After he gets the friends on his side, she gets angry and tells her parents to get her married to Asokan, a relative and an Air Force pilot.

 

By the time Balu confesses his love for her, Geetha’s engagement is already fixed. Asokan turns out to be a school friend of JB, but he also agrees to play along with the trick. Asokan discovers that Balu and Geetha are actually in love with each other and steps aside. When Balu’s true identity is known, Geetha thinks that the wedding plans are yet another of his practical jokes and tries to run away. He finds her and all misunderstandings are cleared. The two get married.

 

The screenplay was brilliantly written by A.C.Thirulokachandar. MGR’s performance as the rich man posing as a tenant was impressive. Nagesh was inimitable. Saroja Devi looked glamorous in her glossy make-up and costume.

 

One of the major plus points was its melodious music (composer M.S. Viswanathan working on his own after separating from his erstwhile partner T.K. Ramamurthi). Many songs became hits. The opening song, ‘Puthiya Vaanam Puthiya Bhoomi’ (lyrics: Vaali and voice: T.M. Soundararajan) filmed on MGR sporting a red and black striped coat in Simla and other areas, had a political touch. It was brilliantly photographed by master lens man S. Maruthi Rao. ‘Rajavin Paarvai’ (TMS and P. Suseela) is another hit number.

The film was produced by the sons of AV.Meiyappan — Murugan, Saravanan and Balasubramaniam.

With so many plus points, Anbe Vaa turned out to be a box office hit….

 

Remembered for the impressive performances by MGR, Nagesh and Saroja Devi, melodious music, interesting storyline and screenplay, picturesque cinematography which captured the beautiful landscape of the Himalayan region, and the fabulous sets in true AVM style.

 

The above appears in The Hindu.com website address given below.

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/anbe-vaa-1966/article4084816.ece

MGR Week

Sri MGR Year 95, 10th November, Saturday

Four MGR movies is re-released this week in Mahalakshmi theater as part of MGR week (four movies for four days).

 

The movies are:

9.11.2012 – Kudumba Thalaivan

10.11.2012 – Naan Yen Piranthen

11.11.2012 – Dharmam Thalai Kakum

12.11.2012 – Vivasahi

 

3 movies are black and white and one colour movie. All the three black and white movies are from Devar Films banner.

 

 

Romantic song from Kudumba Thalaivan

 

 

Philosophical song from Naan Yen Piranthen.

 

 

Dharmam Thalai Kaakum superb song and one of the best philosophical song from MGR movies.

 

 

Kadavul Ennum song from Vivasahi another great philosophical song from MGR movies.

 

All the above videos are uploaded by goldtreat, seablues, rajshritamil  youtube uploaders.

1975

Sri MGR Year 95, 9th November, Friday

1975 is a memorable year for MGR Fans super duper hit movie Ithayakani and Santharam’s classic film Tamil version Pallandu Vazhga were released.

 

Four movies were released in 1975 they are:

 

1. 9.5.1975 – Ninaithathai Mudipavan

2. 4.7.1975 – Nalai Namathae

3. 22.8.1975 – Ithayakani

4. 31.10.1975 – Pallandu Vazhga

 

Of this Ninaithathai Mudipavan, Nalai Namathae and Pallandu Vazhga are remake of Hindi films.

 

 

The above ad appeared in Thenagam on 8.5.1975.

 

 

MGR dual action movie Nalai Namathae released on 4.7.1975, four theaters in Chennai – Odeon, Rajakumari, Muralikrishna and Pandian.

 

  

 

Sathya Movies colour movie Ithayakani was released in 4 theaters they are Sathyam, Maharani, Uma and Kamala.

 

From today ad was published in Makkal Kural Tamil Evening Newspaper.

 

  

 

The movie turned out to be the highest grosser in 1975. In ten theaters the movie crossed 100 days. The name of the theaters are:

Chennai – Sathyam, Maharani, Uma

Madurai – Chintamani

Coimbatore - Central

Salem – Alankar

Trichy – Palace

Nellai – Central

Erode – Royal

Vellore – Krishna

 

Another 100 days movie Pallandu Vazhga was released in 3 theaters in Chennai Devi Paradise, Agasthiya and Saravana.

 

 

The movie crossed 100 days in 6 centres in Tamil Nadu. Chennai – Devi Paradise, Agasthiya, Madurai – Alankar, Trichy – Central, Salem – Apsara, Nellai – Poornakala.

 

The above ad appeared in Thenagam Newspaper.

Coimbatore Movie News

Sri MGR Year 95, 6th November, Tuesday

MGR Devotee Tirpur Ravichandran has forwarded some of the images relating to MGR movie re release in Coimbatore.

 

 

Southern movies Baghdad Thirudan was re-released previous week in Delite theater, the same movie was released in Royal theater couple of months back.

 

  

 

Festival time and for Deepawali festival our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR movie Olivilakku will be re-released in Delite on 13th November.

 

 

In Chennai Olivilakku made a 3 weeks run with worst print and blaring audio in Mahalakshmi theater. More news about Olivilakku in Coimbatore will be forwarded by Tirupur Ravichandran.

1978

Sri MGR Year 95, 2nd November, Friday

In 1978 last MGR movie was released, though the movie was already completed in June 1977. The movie story is from Akilan titled Kayalvizhi the project was produced and directed by B.R.Panthalu and in the middle he died the project was shelved for long time, then MGR directed the remaining part of the movie with another producer and released his last flick in January 1978.

 

 

The above ad shows that the movie will be released in April 1976, the ad was given in Makkal Kural on 20th November 1975.

 

The second and final movie released when our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR was the Chief Minister.

 

  

 

The above ad left side, given on 14th January 1978. The above two ads were from Tamil Newspapers the second one that is to your right is from Anna Tamil Newspaper 13th January edition.

 

  

 

The above image is the 1978 Calendar given by Thirai Ulagam for the release of last MGR movie Madurai Meeta Sundarapandian.

 

 

Above is the Philosophical song from Madurai Meeta Sundarapandian taken from Multi Abdul Gafoor uploader in youtube.

 

NINE CAMERAS

 

MGR directed movie Madurai Meeta Sundarapandian has showcase of technical brilliance. MGR used 9 cameras to shoot one scene to reduce the time and money.

K.Kannan who acted as Kosala King in that movie narrates MGRs techniques in filming the long scene into one shot.

At 2 pm MGR handed over 7 page dialogues to Kannan and asked him to by heart the dialogs and the shot will be ready by 4 pm. Since it is the last day of shooting in Jaipur, if the scene does not end by 5 pm (as the Sunlight gets weak) they have to stay another day.

Kannan was eager how MGR will shoot this lengthy scene. Within two hours MGR fixed 9 cameras and no camera is visible to other camera angle. His placement of 9 cameras was checked again.

 

Click the above image to read

 

By 4.15 pm MGR said "Action" then Kannan as the King and Latha as Kayalvizhi spoke the 7 page dialog without any mistake and the shot was ok. And further Kannan says that to shoot that scene it will normally take one day to complete but MGR's brilliant mind completed the scene within 15 minutes. MGR's Cinema technology mind is far ahead of others of his day.
 

This is the video clip showing the work of nine cameras and also the editing brilliance. Total duration of this video clip of nine cameras is 2 minute 10 seconds. I checked the clip and counted the cameras it came to 10 and I checked again with one person view and it came to 9. Please check yourself and write your comments through email id: replytomgr@live.in, were and which the camera are placed.

 

All the nine cameras are placed to capture the Soldiers and Elephants 1000 in number. The last 15 second of this clip is from 3 cameras side by side on the right side of the characters played by K.Kannan and Latha. A frame is not missed. Watch the clip. This clip is not only for the camera work of those days (MGR movies) but also the editing techniques used in those days.

 

 

As said by K.Kannan this camera placement was done by MGR with a map and his editing mind. This kind of camera work is done to other characters and not to important MGR character. That shows MGR's good nature to other actors. Who will allow such a first time feat featured by other actors in this Tamil movie world? And I don’t know which one camera MGR has handled.

 

The above nine camera is from our blog previous post.