Ezhai Padum Padu
Encyclopedia
Ezhai Padum Padu is a 1950 Tamil
film directed by K Ramnoth. It was simultaneously released in Telugu
as Beedala Patlu
. It was an adaptation of Les Misérables
by Victor Hugo
. The film was released on Deepavali
day, 1950 and was a hit. For his memorable portrayal of Inspector Javert in this film, N Seetharaman came to be called as Javert Seetharaman. It was produced by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu
of Pakshiraja Studios
.
at Pakshiraja Studios in Coimbatore. K. Ramnoth was hired as the director and Chittor V. Nagaiah
was cast as Kandan (based on Jean Valjean
). Initially, Nagercoil K. Mahadevan, was cast as the bishop who reforms the thief. But after a few scenes were shot, Sriramulu Naidu replaced him with Serukulathur Sama. Elangovan (Thanigachalam) wrote the script for Ezhai Padum Padu based on Sudhanandha Bharathi's novel of the same name. Sriramulu Naidu was known for his strict schedule. Once when director Ramnoth was absent from the set, one of the actors - V. Gopalakrishnan - left the set thinking that there would be no filming on that day. An incensed Naidu, filmed the scene (a love song sequence) using a female actress (Ragini) dressed up as a man instead of Gopalakrishnan.
) who has escaped from prison. Kandhan turns a new leaf with the help of a Christian Bishop (Serukulathur Sama). When he is released from prison he starts a glass making company. He changes his identity and becomes successful. He becomes the mayor of his town. Inspector Javert finds out about his new life and threatens to expose him. One one occasion Kandhan saves Javert's life. Javert commits suicide unable to turn Kandhan in to the authorities out of his sense of gratitude.
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...
film directed by K Ramnoth. It was simultaneously released in Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
as Beedala Patlu
Beedala Patlu
Beedalapatlu or Beedala Patlu is a 1950 Telugu Drama film directed by K. Ramnoth starring Chittor V. Nagaiah. It is simultaneous made in Tamil language as Ezhai Padum Padu...
. It was an adaptation of Les Misérables
Les Misérables
Les Misérables , translated variously from the French as The Miserable Ones, The Wretched, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, or The Victims), is an 1862 French novel by author Victor Hugo and is widely considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century...
by Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
. The film was released on Deepavali
Diwali
Diwali or DeepavaliThe name of the festival in various regional languages include:, , , , , , , , , , , , , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons...
day, 1950 and was a hit. For his memorable portrayal of Inspector Javert in this film, N Seetharaman came to be called as Javert Seetharaman. It was produced by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu
S. M. Sriramulu Naidu
Subbarayalu Naidu Munuswami Naidu Sriramulu Naidu , also pronounced as Sreeramulu Naidu, was an Indian businessman and movie producer from Coimbatore who founded the Pakshiraja Studios in 1945. He was responsible for the early development of the Tamil film industry in Coimbatore and was called the...
of Pakshiraja Studios
Pakshiraja Studios
Pakshiraja Studios was a motion picture movie studio in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, established by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu in 1945.The studio has released movies in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam and Sinhala under the banner Pakshiraja Films...
.
Production
Ezhai Padum Padu (lit. Plight of the poor) was produced by S. M. Sriramulu NaiduS. M. Sriramulu Naidu
Subbarayalu Naidu Munuswami Naidu Sriramulu Naidu , also pronounced as Sreeramulu Naidu, was an Indian businessman and movie producer from Coimbatore who founded the Pakshiraja Studios in 1945. He was responsible for the early development of the Tamil film industry in Coimbatore and was called the...
at Pakshiraja Studios in Coimbatore. K. Ramnoth was hired as the director and Chittor V. Nagaiah
Chittor V. Nagaiah
Chitturu Nagayya or Chittor V. Nagaiah birth name - Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya was an Indian actor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer of Telugu film industry, Andhra Pradesh, India. Indian film journalist and the editor of Film India, Baburao Patel, described Nagiah as ‘The...
was cast as Kandan (based on Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean is the protagonist of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Misérables...
). Initially, Nagercoil K. Mahadevan, was cast as the bishop who reforms the thief. But after a few scenes were shot, Sriramulu Naidu replaced him with Serukulathur Sama. Elangovan (Thanigachalam) wrote the script for Ezhai Padum Padu based on Sudhanandha Bharathi's novel of the same name. Sriramulu Naidu was known for his strict schedule. Once when director Ramnoth was absent from the set, one of the actors - V. Gopalakrishnan - left the set thinking that there would be no filming on that day. An incensed Naidu, filmed the scene (a love song sequence) using a female actress (Ragini) dressed up as a man instead of Gopalakrishnan.
Plot
Tough and ruthless Police Inspector Javert (Javar Seetharaman) recaptures a small time criminal Kandhan (Chittor V. NagaiahChittor V. Nagaiah
Chitturu Nagayya or Chittor V. Nagaiah birth name - Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya was an Indian actor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer of Telugu film industry, Andhra Pradesh, India. Indian film journalist and the editor of Film India, Baburao Patel, described Nagiah as ‘The...
) who has escaped from prison. Kandhan turns a new leaf with the help of a Christian Bishop (Serukulathur Sama). When he is released from prison he starts a glass making company. He changes his identity and becomes successful. He becomes the mayor of his town. Inspector Javert finds out about his new life and threatens to expose him. One one occasion Kandhan saves Javert's life. Javert commits suicide unable to turn Kandhan in to the authorities out of his sense of gratitude.
Cast and crew
- Chittor V. NagaiahChittor V. NagaiahChitturu Nagayya or Chittor V. Nagaiah birth name - Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya was an Indian actor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer of Telugu film industry, Andhra Pradesh, India. Indian film journalist and the editor of Film India, Baburao Patel, described Nagiah as ‘The...
- Kandhan - Javar Seetharaman - Inspector Javert
- M. N. Rajam - Kandhan's niece
- T. S. BalaiyaT. S. BalaiyaTirunelveli S. Balaiah is a Tamil film actor who is best known for the supporting roles in the Tamil film industry. He was one of the very few actors who excelled both in character roles and comic roles....
- Kandhan's niece's husband - Serukulathur Sama - Bishop
- PadminiPadmini (actress)Padmini was an Indian actress and trained Bharathanatyam dancer who has acted in over 250 Indian films. She has acted in the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi language films...
- V. GopalakrishnanV. GopalakrishnanV. Gopalakrishnan is an Indian politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly. He was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as an Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate from Sankaranayanarkoil constituency in 1991 election.- References :...
- Lalitha
- T. S. DurairajT. S. DurairajT. S. Durairaj, was a noted Tamil film comedian, drama artist, producer and director in the early stages of the Tamil film industry. He received a Kalaimamani award from the Tamil Nadu Government in 2006.-References:...
- Kumari N. Rajam
- Elangovan - Screenplay, Dialogue
- K Ramnoth - Direction
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu - Music
- Sellappa - Art Director
- Gopalakarishnan - Lyrics
- N. Prakash - Cinematographer
Reception
The film was released on Deepavali day (6 November), 1950 at ‘Casino’ cinema, Madras. It was a commercial and critical success.Sound Track
The sound track had six songs composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu:- Vidhiyin vilaivaal - Radha JayalakshmiRadha JayalakshmiRadha and Jayalakshmi popularly known as Radha Jayalakshmi , were Indian Carnatic music vocalist duo as well as playback singers in films in 1940s and 1950s, before they became music teachers. The person who does the playback singing is Jayalakshmi but was named as Radha Jayalakshmi in the cine field...
- Vaazhvu malarnthathuve
- Aha yovvaname - M. L. VasanthakumariM. L. VasanthakumariMadras Lalitangi Vasanthakumari , was a Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. MLV and her contemporaries D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulakshmi were popularly referred to as the "female trinity of Carnatic Music. A prime disciple of the G. N...
- Sowbakyamae
- Kannan mananilayai - M. L. VasanthakumariM. L. VasanthakumariMadras Lalitangi Vasanthakumari , was a Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. MLV and her contemporaries D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulakshmi were popularly referred to as the "female trinity of Carnatic Music. A prime disciple of the G. N...
- Osai Kuyilae