Padikkadha Medhai

Padikkadha Medhai
Theatrical release poster
Directed byA. Bhimsingh
Screenplay byA. Bhimsingh
K. S. Gopalakrishnan (dialogues)
Story byAshapurna Devi
Produced byN. Krishnaswamy
StarringSivaji Ganesan
S. V. Ranga Rao
Kannamba
Sowcar Janaki
CinematographyG. Vittal Rao
Edited byA. Bhimsingh
Music byK. V. Mahadevan
Production
company
Bala Movies
Release date
  • 25 June 1960 (1960-06-25)
Running time
164 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Padikkadha Medhai (transl. The uneducated genius) is a 1960 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed and co-written by A. Bhimsingh. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, S. V. Ranga Rao, Kannamba and Sowcar Janaki. It is a remake of the 1953 Bengali film Jog Biyog, itself based on the novel of the same name by Ashapurna Devi. The film was released on 25 June 1960 and became a commercial success with silver jubilee celeberation. It was remade in Telugu as Aatma Bandhuvu (1962), with Ranga Rao and Kannamba reprising their roles,[2] and in Hindi by Bhimsingh as Mehrban (1967).[3]

Plot[edit]

Rao Bahadur Chandrasekar, a wealthy stockbroker, lives with his wife Parvathi, three sons (Thyagu, Sridhar and Raghu), their wives and two daughters (one widowed and another unmarried). Rangan, an uneducated and naïve orphan, is raised as a family member and he in return is very dedicated to this family, especially his adopters – Chandrasekar and Parvathi. Parvathi promises her dying poor friend that her friend's daughter Lakshmi would be married to Parvathi's son. But since her son loves another woman, Rangan agrees to marry Lakshmi to keep up Parvathi's word. On the day of his younger daughter's betrothal, Chandrasekar loses heavily in the stock market. The engagement is cancelled by the groom's father seeing the sudden change of fortunes. The fate of the house changes dramatically as the creditors storm the house, demanding repayment of their money. The sons' behaviour also changes drastically.

Though Raghu and Lakshmi take good care of Chandrasekar and Parvathi, the other family members insult them now and falsely accuse Lakshmi of stealing valuables. Lakshmi pleads with Rangan to leave the household, but he refuses. Understanding the situation, Chandrasekar and Parvathi forcibly send Rangan and Lakshmi away to enable them to live in peace, away from the turmoil. The naïve Rangan leaves and obtains work in a factory. He saves money to gift Chandrasekar his favourite cigars which he could not live without. When Rangan presents the cigars, he is reprimanded for being a spendthrift by Chandrasekar's family. Rangan leaves with a broken heart.

Rangan misses Chandrasekar's family and tries to come to their help on every occasion. Chandrasekar is pulled into more litigation; unable to take the stress, he dies. Parvathi is neglected by her children; when she falls ill, Rangan gets her treated. The creditors announce a public auction of Chandrasekar's house to recover their dues, and the sons do nothing to save their house. Rangan saves the factory owner's son (whose engagement to Chandrasekar's daughter had been cancelled) from an accident. The owner offers Rangan money, but he makes him realise that money is not everything; with Lakshmi, he convinces him to have his son marry Chandrasekar's younger daughter. The owner buys Chandrasekar's house in the auction and gifts it to Rangan for saving his son, who in turn gives them to Chandrasekar's family. Rangan unites everyone and gets appreciation for his unconditional love for the family.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Padikkadha Medhai is a remake of the 1953 Bengali film Jog Biyog,[6] based on the novel of the same name by Ashapurna Devi.[7] After producer N. Krishnasamy bought the rights to remake the film in Tamil, he approached C. V. Sridhar to write the dialogues. Sridhar, after watching the Bengali film, felt it had a weak script and could not be localised for Tamil audiences. Declining the offer, he instead recommended his then assistant K. S. Gopalakrishnan. Sivaji Ganesan agreed to star in the remake after being impressed by the original film. He also recommended A. Bhimsingh as director. The producer initially wanted a glamorous actress to play the female lead, but Gopalakrishnan suggested Sowcar Janaki and threatened to leave if she was not signed.[8] Bhimsingh gave Gopalakrishnan complete freedom while writing the dialogues.[9]

Soundtrack[edit]

The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, while lyrics were written by Mahakavi Bharathiyar, Kannadasan and A. Maruthakasi.[10][11] "Engiruntho Vanthan", set in Madhyamavati raga, is based on Bharathiyar's poem of the same name.[4][12][13]

Song Singers Lyrics Length
"Aadi Pizhaithaalum Paadi Pizhaithaalum" P. Leela A. Maruthakasi 04:20
"Engiruntho Vanthan" Sirkazhi Govindarajan Mahakavi Bharathiyar 03:16
"Inba Malargal Poothu" P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari A. Maruthakasi 03:25
"Ore Oru Oorile" T. M. Soundararajan, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi Kannadasan 04:09
"Padithathanal Arivu" M. S. Rajeswari 02:52
"Seevi Mudichu Singarichu" T. M. Soundararajan A. Maruthakasi 03:58
"Pakkathile Kanni Pen" A. L. Raghavan, K. Jamuna Rani 03:00
"Ulladhai Solven" T. M. Soundararajan Kannadasan 03:09
"Vindhaiyinum Periya Vindhaiyadi" P. Leela A. Maruthakasi 03:20
"Ore Oru Oorile" T. M. Soundararajan Kannadasan 01:23

Release and reception[edit]

Padikkadha Medhai was released on 25 June 1960.[14] The Indian Express positively reviewed the film, particularly for Ganesan's performance.[15] Kanthan of Kalki appreciated Gopalakrishnan's dialogues and the performances of the various cast members, including Ganesan's, but criticised the music, saying "Ore Oru Oorile" was the only memorable song.[5] Ananda Vikatan said that though everyone did a good job, it was Ganesan's acting which stays in their eyes even after the reviewer left the theatre. C. V. Sridhar appreciated Gopalakrishnan for learning the art of converting a script into success. The film was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.[9]

Legacy[edit]

Padikkadha Medhai is considered a trendsetter in Tamil cinema for films where a faithful uneducated servant helps the family in times of dire need and thus brings a change in their fortunes, demonstrating that education is not needed for a good character. Films which followed the trend include Muthu Engal Sothu (1983), Vaazhkai (1984), Per Sollum Pillai (1987) and Ponmana Selvan (1989).[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Dhananjayan 2011, p. 192.
  2. ^ Narasimham, M. L. (21 July 2016). "Athmabandhuvu (1962)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  3. ^ Saravanan 2013, p. 193.
  4. ^ a b Vamanan (10 March 2019). "கலைமாமணி வாமனன் எழுதும் 'திரை இசைத்திலகம் கே.வி.மகாதேவன் 1918–2018' – 54 | 'படிக்காத மேதை'க்கு எடுப்பான பாடல்கள்!". Dinamalar (in Tamil). Nellai. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ a b c d e காந்தன் (17 July 1960). "படிக்காத மேதை". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 54–55. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  6. ^ Vamanan (23 April 2018). "Tamil cinema's bong connection". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  7. ^ ரவிக்குமார், வா (5 August 2016). "திறந்த வெளி திரையரங்கத்தின் முன்னோடி!". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  8. ^ Prasad, Arun (16 January 2023). "பெங்காலி படத்தை பார்த்து தெறித்து ஓடிய ஸ்ரீதர்… இயக்குனரின் காலில் விழுந்த சௌகார் ஜானகி… அடடா!!". CineReporters (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Dhananjayan 2011, p. 193.
  10. ^ "Padikkatha Methai ( EP 45 RPM )". AVDigital. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Padikkatha Medhai". Gaana. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  12. ^ Vamanan (28 March 2016). "வாமனனின் 'நிழலல்ல நிஜம் – 16 | தடைகளைத் தாண்டி திரைப்பாட்டில் பாரதியின் தேரோட்டம்!". Dinamalar (in Tamil). Nellai. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ ராமானுஜன், டாக்டர் ஜி. (8 June 2018). "ராக யாத்திரை 08: முத்துக்களோ ராகம்; தித்திப்பதோ பாடல்!". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  14. ^ "61-70". Nadigarthilagam.com. Archived from the original on 9 December 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  15. ^ "Padikkaatha Methai". The Indian Express. 1 July 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 30 April 2019 – via Google News Archive.

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

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