Sri MGR Year 98, 30th May,
Saturday
Yesterday 29.5.2015 is the 44th Anniversary of release of our
beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR’s super hit movie Rickshawkaran. The movie
was produced by Sathya movies, the first colour film from the production house
and also this movie fetched the National Film Award for Best Actor to our
beloved Leader MGR for the year 1971 , the first time for a Tamil movie actor
(Bharat Award).
Story:
An Ex-service man Selvam (MGR) is a Rickshaw driver happens to
see Manickam (Stunt Sankar) been murdered and burnt by Kailasam (Asokan) in
daylight. Manickam is also one of the rickshaw drivers who is looking after
motherless child. The accused Kailasam gets released by the clever defense
lawyer and his relative Dharmaraj (Major Sundararajan). Selvam takes the child
to the orphanage and appeals the case in the High Court. Meanwhile Dharmaraj was
promoted as Judge.
(MGR as Rickshawkaran races in the streets of the newly formed Anna Nagar, my father was very much fortunate who watched this shooting)
Another incident Uma (Manjula) a college girl on the brink of
kidnapping was saved by Selvam but was punished in the Court because Uma does
not come to court to prove his innocence.
Dharmaraj now a new man starts to worry about his behaviours
and how he had lead his life. The flashback shows that he is a killer who has
killed his wife Kamala (Sakunthala, Selvam’s sister) with the help of Kailasam
when she had a baby girl. On her death she gave her baby to her friend Parvathi
(Padmini) who is married to a rowdy Karmegam (R.S.Manohar) on his return from
jail Karmegam mistakes she has given birth to a girl and tries to kill her.
Parvathi escapes from Karmegam and lives lonely. She has to protect Uma from
Dharmaraj and Kailasam and as well as she should live unnoticed from her husband
Karmegam.
Parvathi lives by selling food to Rickshaw drivers. She knows
that Selvam has saved Uma but she did not tell him anything about her past life.
Meanwhile Selvam happens to see Uma and takes her to the Judge Dharmaraj house,
there she comes to know about Selvam and she was asked by Dharmaraj to visit her
often.
(Mother of all dream songs in MGR movies Azhagiya Tamil Magal)
Kailasam who is the Chairman of the college does unlawful
business of sending young girls to foreign countries illegally. And Uma is
his target, he tries his best to kidnap her but Selvam was always present to
guard her. Turn of events, Uma comes to know about her past life and also Selvam
comes to know who is Parvathi and what had happened to his sister. Uma kills
Dharmaraj at point blank range and she runs from the house, Selvam grabs her and
hands over to police.
(MGR in disguise dancing for the tune of Pambai udukai song)
Selvam understands that the girl is dumb and feels that she is
not real Uma. With the help of Police & Karmegam, Selvam enters the lair of
Kailasam fights all his henchmen and finally releases the real Uma from the
clutches of Kailasam.
The movie has 5 songs:
1. Angay siripavargal sirikattum (MGR’s philosophical song)
2. Ponnazhagu Penmai (Manjula introductory song)
3. Azhagiya Tamil Magal Ival (Duet song)
4. Kadaloram vangiya katru (MGR and Manjula song in a
beach)
5. Kollimalai kattukullay (MGR in disguise song)
The action scenes are very different for this movie. MGR
performed his stunts by driving the rickshaw and fighting with the goons. And
not only that he also performed silambam from the rickshaw during the fight. The
climax fight with Justin will give us goose bumps followed by fight using surl
pattai. We will be in the edge of the seat during the climax of the film.
MGR with the Bharat award
The way of rickshaw driver’s thinking towards the society
and uplift of poor, an ex serviceman doing service to the people is new type of
story telling which gained him the best actor award.