Avan Pithana?

Avan Pithana?
Poster
Directed byP. Neelakantan
Screenplay byM. Karunanidhi
Based onDagudu Moothalu
Produced byR. Periyanayagam
S. P. Karupaiah
P. Angamuthu
StarringS. S. Rajendran
C. R. Vijayakumari
CinematographyT. M. Sundara Babu
Music byR. Parthasarathi
Production
company
Umayal Productions
Release date
  • 29 April 1966 (1966-04-29)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Avan Pithana? (transl. Is He Mad?) is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film directed by P. Neelakantan, produced by R. Periyanayagam and written by M. Karunanidhi. It is a remake of the Telugu film Dagudu Moothalu (1964). The film stars S. S. Rajendran, C. R. Vijayakumari, S. V. Sahasranamam, T. S. Balaiah and T. P. Muthulakshmi. It was released on 29 April 1966.

Plot

Nallaiah, a wealthy industrialist, discovers his son intends to marry an impoverished woman, causing Nallaiah to disown him. The son and wife die separately, leaving their son Kumar destitute. A couple running a tea shop adopt Kumar and raise him as their own. One day, Kumar offers the shop as shelter to a young woman named Gomathi. He later gets her a job as Nallaiah's nurse, unaware of his own relation. Nallaiah is ill and shows regret over his decision to disown his son. Nallaiah gives Gomathi access to his safe as a sign of trust. When Nallaiah dies, this leads to a war over his property. Two miscreants forge Nallaiah's will to give themselves inheritance, but Kumar is able to prove that he is Nallaiah's grandson and receives the inheritance.

Cast

Production

Avan Pithana? was directed by P. Neelakantan and produced by R. Periyanayagam, S. P. Karupaiah and P. Angamuthu under Umayal Productions.[1][2] It was remade from the Telugu film Dagudu Moothalu (1964),[3][4] with M. Karunanidhi writing the remake, while T. M. Sundara Babu handled the cinematography.[5] The final length of the film was 4,379 metres (14,367 ft).[1]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by R. Parthasarathi.[6][7]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Iraivan Irukkindrana"KannadasanT. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela5:19
2."Kizhakku Veluthathadi"KannadasanT. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela3:31
3."Aayiram Mutham"Trichy ThiyagarajanT. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela3:11
4."Maapillai Manasukku"M. K. AthmanathanP. Susheela3:31
5."Aandavan Padaippil"KannadasanL. R. Eswari3:23
Total length:18:55

Release and reception

Avan Pithana? was released on 29 April 1966.[1] Kalki praised it for the performances of Rajendran, Vijayakumari and Balaiah, but felt Nagesh could have been better utilised.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c "1966 – அவன் பித்தனா – உமையாள் புரொ" [1966 – Avan Pithana – Umayal Pro.]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  2. ^ "அவன் பித்தனா?". Kalki (in Tamil). 8 May 1966. p. 33. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  3. ^ Narasimham, M. L. (3 June 2017). "Dagudu Moothalu (1964)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  4. ^ Nadadhur, Srivathsan (20 August 2015). "Daagudu Moothalu: The 'hidden' treasures unveiled". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  5. ^ Guy, Randor (13 August 2016). "Avan Pithana? (1966)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 June 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Avan Pithana". Tamil Songs Lyrics. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Avan Piththana". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  8. ^ "அவன் பித்தனா?". Kalki (in Tamil). 15 May 1966. p. 29. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2021.