Iruvar Ullam
Theatrical release poster
Directed byL. V. Prasad
Screenplay byM. Karunanidhi
Based onPen Manam
by Lakshmi
Produced byAnand
StarringSivaji Ganesan
B. Saroja Devi
CinematographyK. S. Prasad
Edited byA. Sanjeevi
Music byK. V. Mahadevan
Production
company
Prasad Movies
Distributed bySivaji Films
Release date
  • 29 March 1963 (1963-03-29)
Running time
165 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Iruvar Ullam (transl. Two Hearts) is a 1963 Indian Tamil-language romance film, directed by L. V. Prasad and written by M. Karunanidhi. Based on Lakshmi's novel Pen Manam, the film stars Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi, while M. R. Radha, S. V. Ranga Rao, T. R. Ramachandran, T. P. Muthulakshmi, Sandhya and Padmini Priyadarshini play supporting roles.

The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, while the lyrics were written by Kannadasan. K. S. Prasad and A. Sanjeevi handled cinematography and editing respectively. The filming was held in places like Kodaikanal, Kanyakumari and Bangalore.

Iruvar Ullam was released on 29 March 1963 and became a box office success. Clips of the film were used to portray the younger Ganesan and Saroja in the 1997 film Once More, which Saroja Devi considered a sequel to Iruvar Ullam.

Plot

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Selvam, the younger son of a prosecutor Neethimanickam, is a medical student studying in Bangalore. Unlike his righteous father, he is a playboy. Vasanthi, a scheming woman, tries to blackmail Selvam into marriage. On his refusal, she writes to his father. Selvam's uncle Gnanasigamani, another lawyer, arrives in Bangalore and pays ₹10,000 to Vasanthi to silence her.

Selvam stops studying and arrives in Madras. He takes over the responsibility of managing his uncle's company. He eventually sees Shanta, a teacher, on the road and pursues her. Shanta dislikes Selvam's continuing old habits, but he eventually transforms and wants to live prosperously with her, yet she continues disliking him.

Shanta is eventually forced by her parents to marry Selvam. When Vasanthi is murdered by her other lover Paramathma, Selvam is wrongfully convicted; this brings the couple closer. Shantha later exposes Paramathma, and Selvam is released.

Cast

Production

Iruvar Ullam was directed by L. V. Prasad and produced by A. Anand under Prasad Movies.[1] The film is based on Lakshmi's novel Pen Manam, which was previously adapted into the Telugu film Bharya Bhartalu (1961).[6] However Lakshmi's name was not credited in the opening titles.[7] The screenplay was written by M. Karunanidhi,[8][9] who received a salary of ₹20,000 (equivalent to ₹1.7 million or US$21,000 in 2023).[10] Cinematography was handled by K. S. Prasad and the editing by A. Sanjeevi.[11] The filming was held in places like Kodaikanal, Kanyakumari and Bangalore.[12]

One scene in the film called for an aggressive performance by B. Saroja Devi. Sivaji Ganesan sought to outdo her acting in the scene. While it was being filmed, Prasad stopped filming and told Ganesan that he should not upstage Saroja Devi as the scene required her to dominate, and if Ganesan did so it would ruin the film. Ganesan complied, and at Prasad's request, underplayed his role.[13][14] Iruvar Ullam was the final Tamil film directed by Prasad.[15] The final length of the film was 35,441 feet (4,543 m).[16]

Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack and background score were composed by K. V. Mahadevan, while the lyrics for the songs were written by Kannadasan.[17][18] A. L. Raghavan initially sang the song "Buddhi Sigamani", picturised on M. R. Radha, in a manner that would match Radha's hoarse voice, but Prasad did not accept this and told Raghavan to sing with a melodious voice. When Radha objected to Prasad's decision, Prasad said he would have the song recorded with a melodious voice, and if Radha did not like the final recording, it would be excluded from the film; after listening to the final recording, Radha approved.[2]

Title Singer's
"Paravaigal Palavitham" T. M. Soundararajan
"Idayaveenai" P. Susheela
"Azhagu Sirikkindrathu" T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
"Nadhi Engey Pogirathu" T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
"Yean Azuthai" T. M. Soundararajan
"Kanneya Kanneya Urangatheya" P. Susheela
"Buddhi Sigamani" A. L. Raghavan, L. R. Eswari
"Kannethire Thondrinal" T. M. Soundararajan

Release and reception

Iruvar Ullam was released on 29 March 1963, and distributed by Sivaji Films.[11] It was promoted as a "newspaper cutting that featured pencil sketches of two hearts", each displaying the name of the lead actor and actress.[19] On 9 April, The Indian Express wrote that it "has one significant and rare virtue. Its basic dramatic design is of a lightly pleasant variety, with the sweet underlining of a playful romance".[20] On 21 April, the magazine Kalki positively reviewed the film, praising Saroja Devi for delivering a very natural performance.[21] The film was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.[22][23] Lakshmi who saw the film was shocked with the twist of the protagonist being blamed for the murder as she felt the film completely deviated from her novel.[7]

Legacy

Film journalist Sujatha Narayanan considers Iruvar Ullam a trendsetter for "all following films that dealt with post-marriage narratives" in Tamil cinema.[24] Clips of the film were used to portray the younger Ganesan and Saroja Devi in the 1997 film Once More,[25] which Saroja Devi considered a sequel to Iruvar Ullam.[26]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 376.
  2. ^ a b முகில் (28 June 2015). "எம்.ஆர். ராதா - கலகக்காரனின் கதை! (20)" [M. R. Radha – The story of a rebel! (20)]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  3. ^ Pandian, A.T.S (3 July 2021). "எஸ்வி.ரங்கா ராவ்.. அவருக்கு நிகர் வேறு யார்?" [S. V. Ranga Rao.. Who else is equal to him?]. Patrikai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b c ராம்ஜி, வி. (29 March 2019). "இருவர் உள்ளம் – அப்பவே அப்படி கதை – இருவர் உள்ளம் படத்துக்கு 56 வயது!" [Iruvar Ullam – Then itself such a story – The film Iruvar Ullam turns 56!]. Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  5. ^ ஜீவசுந்தரி, பா. (16 March 2018). "செல்லுலாய்ட் பெண்கள் | அதான் எனக்குத் தெரியுமே... டி.பி. முத்து லட்சுமி" [Celluloid women | I already know that... T. P. Muthulakshmi]. Kungumam (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  6. ^ Narasimham, M. L. (28 April 2016). "Bharya Bharthalu (1961)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  7. ^ a b அசோக்குமார் (22 June 1980). "நாவல் படமான போது." (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 60–62. Retrieved 10 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 123.
  9. ^ "Excerpts from a special article written by Karunanidhi". The Hindu. 9 August 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  10. ^ "கருணாநிதி சொத்து கணக்கு இந்த நூற்றாண்டின் இணையற்ற நகைச்சுவை: ஜெயலலிதா" [Karunanidhi's property account is an unparalleled joke of the century: Jayalalithaa]. Dinamani (in Tamil). 20 September 2012. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Iruvar Ullam". The Indian Express. 29 March 1963. p. 10. Retrieved 11 November 2018 – via Google News Archive.
  12. ^ "Iruvar Ullam, a romantic social". The Indian Express. 29 March 1963. p. 3. Retrieved 11 November 2018 – via Google News Archive.
  13. ^ Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, pp. 181–182.
  14. ^ "செலுலாய்ட் சோழன் சிவாஜி தொடர் 171– சுதாங்கன்" [Celluloid king Sivaji Part 171 – Sudhangan]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). Nellai. 16 April 2017. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ Pillai 2015, p. 10.
  16. ^ "1963 – இருவர் உள்ளம் – பிரசாத் மூவிஸ்" [1963 – Iruvar Ullam – Prasad Movies]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 11 November 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  17. ^ "Iruvar Ullam (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. 1 December 1963. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  18. ^ "Iruvar Ullam Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by K V Mahadevan". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  19. ^ Jeshi, K. (27 March 2014). "Just like that". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Iruvar Ullam offers wholesome fare". The Indian Express. 9 April 1963. p. 3. Retrieved 26 November 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  21. ^ காந்தன் (21 April 1963). "இருவர் உள்ளம்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 53. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  22. ^ Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 241.
  23. ^ தீனதயாளன், பா. (27 May 2016). "சரோஜா தேவி: 6. அழுமூஞ்சி...!" [Saroja Devi: 6. Crying face...!]. Dinamani (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  24. ^ Narayanan, Sujatha (28 October 2018). "Thamizh Talkies: The forgotten trendsetters". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Her last years in the industry". Rediff.com. 1 July 2008. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  26. ^ "There is no such thing as right talent". The Times of India. 9 May 1998. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.

Bibliography

External links

Films directed by L. V. Prasad
Categories