Aayirathil Oruvan (1965 film)
Encyclopedia
Aayirathil Oruvan is a 1965 swashbuckling action-adventure film in Tamil
directed by B.R. Panthulu
. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran
and Jayalalitha
in the lead roles. The film further stars other widely known actors such as M. N. Nambiar
, R. S. Manohar
, Nagesh
and L. Vijayalakshmi. The film is perhaps well-known and still remembered for its final song "Atho Antha Paravai Pola" ("Live like that bird") which is considered a great creation, portrayed brilliantly by M.S. Viswanathan and Panthulu. The song is of a western style and is still adored by Tamil music lovers.
The movie was inspired from another swashbuckling Errol Flynn
starrer, Captain Blood produced by First National Pictures and Warner Brothers.
), ruled by Sengappan. Manimaran leads the slaves, and fights for their rights.
Poongodi (Jayalalitha), daughter of Sengappan, falls in love with Manimaran at the first sight. Despite the differences between them, she tries to woo him on many occasions. She even offers freedom from slavery only to him, who rejects the offer demanding freedom for all of the slaves. Meanwhile, the island is attacked by pirates headed by a leader (Nambiyar). As Sengappan's troops are out of the island on another assignment, Sengappan pleads with Manimaran and the other slaves to help him. Manimaran demands freedom slavery in return for fighting the pirates, only to be betrayed later
The slaves make an escape plan of their own and successfully take over the pirate ship, with whom they fought earlier. Manimaran explains to the pirate captain/leader, about their plight and asks him to help them reach Neidhl Naadu. The captain, apparently agrees, while actually taking them to his pirate island and holds them captive. He coerces them to work for him as pirates or Manimaran will see all of his other men die before him. With no option in place, Manimaran agrees to work as a pirate to escape the situation. In one of his pirate hunts, he finds Sengappan and Poongodi. He brings Poongodi to the pirate island, and tries to hide her from the pirate leader. Nanjappan, the right hand of the pirate leader, finds out tells the leader about Poongodi. As per the policy of the island, any treasure pirated must be auctioned and so Poongodi is also auctioned. After a tight bidding, Manimaran bids the highest, buys her and keeps her with him.
After few dramatic events, Manimaran gets married to Poongodi and as per the pirate island's laws the pirate leader cannot attempt to separate a married couple. The pirate leader attempts to take Poongodi by force, gets defeated by Manimaran in a sword fight and reforms into a good man. He accompanies the slaves lead by Manimaran, to achieve their goal of freeing their motherland, Neidhal Naadu from the clutches of its cruel dictator. In the ensuing war, the dictator is defeated but tricks into arresting them instead. However, in his court the dictator along begs Manimaran to take over the throne. Everyone else also supports the idea. However, Manimaran politely rejects the offer and further states that he wants to continue his noble work as a doctor, serving the people. He then takes leave from the royal court and walks away with his wife and his med kit.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
directed by B.R. Panthulu
B. Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu
B. Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu , better known as B. R. Panthulu, is an Indian film director, producer, and actor. He is best known for directing movies in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. His most popular films are Sri Krishna Deva Raya, Karnan, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, and Aayirathil...
. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran
M. G. Ramachandran
Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran , popularly known by his initials , was an Indian film actor, director, producer and politician....
and Jayalalitha
J. Jayalalithaa
Jayalalithaa Jayaram ; born 24 February 1948) commonly referred to as J. Jayalalitha, is the Chief Minister of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. She is the incumbent general secretary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian party. She is called Amma and Puratchi Thalaivi by her...
in the lead roles. The film further stars other widely known actors such as M. N. Nambiar
M. N. Nambiar
M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar ( (born Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar 7 March 1919 — 19 November 2008) was a film actor in Tamil cinema and had been in the film industry for more than 50 years.-Biography:...
, R. S. Manohar
R. S. Manohar
R. S. Manohar was a popular villain actor of yesteryears. He was born at Namakkal in 1925. He had acted over 200 films.-Biography:Ramasamy Subramania Manohar was born on 29 June 1925 at Namakkal as Lakshmi Narashiman to Subramania Iyer and Rajalakshmi Ammal. He got the name Manohar after playing...
, Nagesh
Nagesh (actor)
Nagesh , was a Tamil film actor, mostly remembered for his roles as a comedian during the 1960s. He is regarded as one of the most prolific comedians in Tamil cinema....
and L. Vijayalakshmi. The film is perhaps well-known and still remembered for its final song "Atho Antha Paravai Pola" ("Live like that bird") which is considered a great creation, portrayed brilliantly by M.S. Viswanathan and Panthulu. The song is of a western style and is still adored by Tamil music lovers.
The movie was inspired from another swashbuckling Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
starrer, Captain Blood produced by First National Pictures and Warner Brothers.
Plot
The movie story is based on the story of sea-pirates and independence achieved against a cruel tyrant. Manimaran (MGR), is a "Maruththuvar" (Doctor) who helps cure the illness of one of the rebels against the dictator (Manohar) of Neidhal Naadu. The ruler's guards arrest the rebels, along with Manimaran for helping them. Manimaran and the rebels are sold as slaves by the ruler to the nearby island called 'Kanni Theevu' (Tamil for Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
), ruled by Sengappan. Manimaran leads the slaves, and fights for their rights.
Poongodi (Jayalalitha), daughter of Sengappan, falls in love with Manimaran at the first sight. Despite the differences between them, she tries to woo him on many occasions. She even offers freedom from slavery only to him, who rejects the offer demanding freedom for all of the slaves. Meanwhile, the island is attacked by pirates headed by a leader (Nambiyar). As Sengappan's troops are out of the island on another assignment, Sengappan pleads with Manimaran and the other slaves to help him. Manimaran demands freedom slavery in return for fighting the pirates, only to be betrayed later
The slaves make an escape plan of their own and successfully take over the pirate ship, with whom they fought earlier. Manimaran explains to the pirate captain/leader, about their plight and asks him to help them reach Neidhl Naadu. The captain, apparently agrees, while actually taking them to his pirate island and holds them captive. He coerces them to work for him as pirates or Manimaran will see all of his other men die before him. With no option in place, Manimaran agrees to work as a pirate to escape the situation. In one of his pirate hunts, he finds Sengappan and Poongodi. He brings Poongodi to the pirate island, and tries to hide her from the pirate leader. Nanjappan, the right hand of the pirate leader, finds out tells the leader about Poongodi. As per the policy of the island, any treasure pirated must be auctioned and so Poongodi is also auctioned. After a tight bidding, Manimaran bids the highest, buys her and keeps her with him.
After few dramatic events, Manimaran gets married to Poongodi and as per the pirate island's laws the pirate leader cannot attempt to separate a married couple. The pirate leader attempts to take Poongodi by force, gets defeated by Manimaran in a sword fight and reforms into a good man. He accompanies the slaves lead by Manimaran, to achieve their goal of freeing their motherland, Neidhal Naadu from the clutches of its cruel dictator. In the ensuing war, the dictator is defeated but tricks into arresting them instead. However, in his court the dictator along begs Manimaran to take over the throne. Everyone else also supports the idea. However, Manimaran politely rejects the offer and further states that he wants to continue his noble work as a doctor, serving the people. He then takes leave from the royal court and walks away with his wife and his med kit.
Cast
- M. G. RamachandranM. G. RamachandranMaruthur Gopalan Ramachandran , popularly known by his initials , was an Indian film actor, director, producer and politician....
- JayalalithaJ. JayalalithaaJayalalithaa Jayaram ; born 24 February 1948) commonly referred to as J. Jayalalitha, is the Chief Minister of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. She is the incumbent general secretary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian party. She is called Amma and Puratchi Thalaivi by her...
- M. N. NambiarM. N. NambiarM. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar ( (born Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar 7 March 1919 — 19 November 2008) was a film actor in Tamil cinema and had been in the film industry for more than 50 years.-Biography:...
- L. Vijayalakshmi
- NageshNagesh (actor)Nagesh , was a Tamil film actor, mostly remembered for his roles as a comedian during the 1960s. He is regarded as one of the most prolific comedians in Tamil cinema....
- R. S. ManoharR. S. ManoharR. S. Manohar was a popular villain actor of yesteryears. He was born at Namakkal in 1925. He had acted over 200 films.-Biography:Ramasamy Subramania Manohar was born on 29 June 1925 at Namakkal as Lakshmi Narashiman to Subramania Iyer and Rajalakshmi Ammal. He got the name Manohar after playing...
Trivia
- All the songs in this film were super hits. Especially the philosophical songs in this film were best used during the election campaigns in later years by the AIADMK party founded by MGR.
- MGR was a huge fan of Errol FlynnErrol FlynnErrol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
which could have been an important reason for the making of this film. He had previously acted in the movie 'Malai Kallan' which was inspired from Errol Flynn's ' The Adventures of Robin HoodThe Adventures of Robin Hood (film)The Adventures of Robin Hood is a 1938 American swashbuckler film directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley. Filmed in Technicolor, the picture stars Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, and Claude Rains.-Plot:...
'. - The movie portrayed MGR as a kind, noble, lovable, braveful and true leader, later helping him build a massive reputation in his political career.
See also
- Captain Blood
- Aayirathil Oruvan (2010 film)
- M. G. Ramachandran filmographyM. G. Ramachandran filmographyThe following is a complete list of all the films M. G. Ramachandran has acted in:-External links:* *...