Suryagandhi
DVD cover
Directed byMuktha Srinivasan
Written byA. S. Prakasam
Screenplay byA. S. Prakasam
Story byBasumani
Produced byM. Venu Gopal
StarringR. Muthuraman
Jayalalithaa
CinematographyV. Selvaraj
Edited byL. Balu
Music byM. S. Viswanathan
Production
company
Vidhya Movies
Release date
27 July 1973
Running time
152 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Suryagandhi (transl. Sunflower) is a 1973 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by Muktha Srinivasan. It stars Jayalalithaa and Muthuraman, with Savithri, Cho Ramaswamy, Moulee, CID Shakuntala and Manorama in supporting roles. The film was digitised and re-released on 16 September 2016. The film was remade in Malayalam as Priyamvada, in Telugu as Moguda Pellama and in Kannada as Hennu Samsaradha Kannu.[1] Kamal Haasan worked under Thangappan as his dance assistant in this movie.[2]

Plot

Mohan is the eldest son in a middle-class family, having a superiority complex that he should be the first in everything. He and Radha fall in love and they get married. Mohan works in a low wage job despite being a graduate, which is insufficient for the family. So, Radha decides to join as a sales officer and starts working in a company. Her hard work earns her a good name and a promotion. So, her respect in the family rises as it improves the economic status of the family and she is able to fulfill the needs and wants of the family. Mohan is intolerant of Radha's respect growing, and he starts hating her.

Mohan's ego wants him to earn more than Radha and in the process he quits his job with the hope of finding a better one. Meantime, he also does modelling for liquor ads much against his family's wishes. Radha, with the help of her boss, recommends a high paying job for Mohan. But she does not inform this to Mohan as he might not take up the job if he knows that Radha was responsible for it. Mohan quits modelling after he gets the new job and mocks Radha, as he is paid more than her now. Mohan wants Radha to quit her job, but Radha does not agree to that.

Mohan's sister Suseela falls in love with a guy and becomes pregnant. Radha finds this out and arranges for the wedding to be as soon as possible, so that her pre-marital pregnancy is not known to others. Mohan misunderstands that Radha is overpowering him in family decisions and sends Radha out from his home and plans for a divorce. On the day of Suseela's marriage, the groom's father (M. R. R. Vasu) informs the truth to Mohan, which makes him realise his mistakes. Mohan understands that Radha preferred going to the job so that she can pay the dowry demanded by Suseela's in-laws. Mohan also finds out that his job was recommended with the help of Radha. Mohan transforms into a good man and decides to lead a happy life with Radha.

Cast

Award

1973 Tamil Nadu State Film Award[3]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan.[5][6]

Song Singers Lyrics Length
"Naan Endral Adhu Avalum" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Jayalalithaa Vaali 04:34
"Paramasivan Kazhuthil" T. M. Soundararajan Kannadasan 04:23
"O Meri Dilruba" T. M. Soundararajan, Jayalalithaa Vaali 04:39
"Theriyaatho Nokku" Manorama 04:22

Reception

Kanthan of Kalki praised the story for being innovative, avoiding the path often taken by Tamil films.[7]

Re-release

A digitally restored version of the film was released on 16 September 2016.[8][9][10] Baradwaj Rangan of The Hindu compared it to "a YouTube video stretched over the big screen".[11]

References

  1. ^ "Old is Gold: Tamil Movies made in Malayalam". 3 December 2010. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  2. ^ "DID YOU KNOW KAMAL HAASAN HAD CHOREOGRAPHED FOR JAYALALITHAA?". behindwoods.com. 13 May 2020. Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  3. ^ Anandan, ‘Film News’ (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru (Tamil Film History and Its Achievements). Sivagami Publications. p. 738.
  4. ^ "Ten films to remember Jayalalithaa". Mint. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Suryakanthi (1973)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Suriyakanthi Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  7. ^ காந்தன் (9 September 1973). "சூரியகாந்தி". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 51. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  8. ^ "'Jayalalithaa lived the role'". The Hindu. 10 September 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Old classics find newage fans". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  10. ^ "Friday Fury-September 16". Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  11. ^ "Screening Room: Memories in movies". The Hindu. 24 September 2016. Archived from the original on 25 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.

External links

Muktha Srinivasan
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