Thiruvilayadal (1965 film)
Encyclopedia
Thiruvilayadal (English: The Divine Sport) is a 1965 Tamil
feature film directed by A.P. Nagarajan. The cast included Sivaji Ganesan
, R. Muthuraman
, Savitri, Nagesh
, Manorama, K. B. Sundarambal
, T. R. Mahalingam
and T. S. Balaiah. The film is based on the Thiruvilayadal Puranam, a Saivite devotional epic
.
) who has the habit of confounding his devotees in order to test their devotion.An enraged lord muruga flees from kailash and stands as a begggar at the peak of the palani hills.Goddess Parvati comes and narrates the thiruvilayadalgal of lord Shiva to her son Lord Muruga.
She narrates the story of when the Lord opened his third eye, an episode where Lord comes to the city of Madurai of the Pandya Kingdom in the form of a poet, enters the court of the King Shenbaga Pandian (actor Muthuraman
), and makes an ego - filled poet of the Durbar, Great Tamil Poet Nakeeran (AP Nagarajan), realise himself. In the process, he helps an ardent devotee, Poet Dharumi (Nagesh) become rich. She also narrates in another episode that the Lord marries tatchayini(parvatahi) against the will of thatchayini's father tatchan.tatchan also perfomes a mahayagna without inviting shiva in the respect of son-in-law and also as a god.Shiva does not go to the yagna,but parvathi disobeys her and goes there,only to be insulted by tatchan.parvathi curses him and returns.Shiva refuses to live with her and a battle goes on.Shiva wins,burns tatchayni to ashes and performs his Mahathandava dance to reduce his fury.Then he gives life to parvathi and orders her(Goddess Parvathi) to be born as a fisher-princess due to a misunderstanding and then he himself takes the form of a fisherman and marries her. She recites another time when the Lord took the form of a woodcutter and seller and taught a lesson to the great singer, Hemanatha Bhagavathar (Balaiah), that Pride even with the Greatest Talent is no good.
The film is considered an epic and even after many years is still a blockbuster. It has and is still having many reruns in top theaters. The roles of Muthuraman, Nagesh and Balaiah, though short, are portrayed aptly with vigor and expertise.
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...
feature film directed by A.P. Nagarajan. The cast included Sivaji Ganesan
Sivaji Ganesan
Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar , commonly known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan , was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. He is one of the most respected film actors in India. He is well known for his versatility and acting skills with...
, R. Muthuraman
R. Muthuraman
R. Muthuraman was an Indian actor who has performed in Tamil language films. He was a leading actor during the 60's and 70's and was fondly called Navarasa Thilakam. He has paired with all the leading heroines of his time and acted in over a hundred films. Muthuraman's son Karthik Muthuraman is...
, Savitri, Nagesh
Nagesh
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....
, Manorama, K. B. Sundarambal
K. B. Sundarambal
Kodumudi Balambal Sundarambal was a renowned stage artist and singer of South India. She was popularly referred to as the "Queen of the Indian stage." She was noted both for her resonant, vibrant voice and for the dignity of her performances. A political activist during the Indian independence...
, T. R. Mahalingam
T. R. Mahalingam (actor)
Thenkarai Ramakrishna Mahalingam was a Tamil film actor, singer and music composer of the 1940s and 1950s. He was known for his melodious songs mostly based on romantic or devotional themes.-Early days:...
and T. S. Balaiah. The film is based on the Thiruvilayadal Puranam, a Saivite devotional epic
Epic poetry
An epic is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation. Oral poetry may qualify as an epic, and Albert Lord and Milman Parry have argued that classical epics were fundamentally an oral poetic form...
.
Plot
Thiruvilayadal covers three stories in the Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam which is originally composed of 64 stories. The plot revolves around the "divine sport" of Lord Shiva (played by Sivaji GanesanSivaji Ganesan
Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar , commonly known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan , was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. He is one of the most respected film actors in India. He is well known for his versatility and acting skills with...
) who has the habit of confounding his devotees in order to test their devotion.An enraged lord muruga flees from kailash and stands as a begggar at the peak of the palani hills.Goddess Parvati comes and narrates the thiruvilayadalgal of lord Shiva to her son Lord Muruga.
She narrates the story of when the Lord opened his third eye, an episode where Lord comes to the city of Madurai of the Pandya Kingdom in the form of a poet, enters the court of the King Shenbaga Pandian (actor Muthuraman
Muthuraman
Muthuraman may refer to:Indian people:* S. P. Muthuraman , director* B. Muthuraman , business manager* R. Muthuraman , actor* Karthik Muthuraman , actor...
), and makes an ego - filled poet of the Durbar, Great Tamil Poet Nakeeran (AP Nagarajan), realise himself. In the process, he helps an ardent devotee, Poet Dharumi (Nagesh) become rich. She also narrates in another episode that the Lord marries tatchayini(parvatahi) against the will of thatchayini's father tatchan.tatchan also perfomes a mahayagna without inviting shiva in the respect of son-in-law and also as a god.Shiva does not go to the yagna,but parvathi disobeys her and goes there,only to be insulted by tatchan.parvathi curses him and returns.Shiva refuses to live with her and a battle goes on.Shiva wins,burns tatchayni to ashes and performs his Mahathandava dance to reduce his fury.Then he gives life to parvathi and orders her(Goddess Parvathi) to be born as a fisher-princess due to a misunderstanding and then he himself takes the form of a fisherman and marries her. She recites another time when the Lord took the form of a woodcutter and seller and taught a lesson to the great singer, Hemanatha Bhagavathar (Balaiah), that Pride even with the Greatest Talent is no good.
The film is considered an epic and even after many years is still a blockbuster. It has and is still having many reruns in top theaters. The roles of Muthuraman, Nagesh and Balaiah, though short, are portrayed aptly with vigor and expertise.
Music
Some of the songs featured in this movie are:-
- "Isai Tamil Nee Seitha Arum Saadhanai"...sung by T.R.Mahalingam himself who stars in the movie as a devotee
- "Oru Naal Pothuma"...sung by Balaiah in film (voice by Mangalampalli BalamuralikrishnaMangalampalli BalamuralikrishnaMangalampalli Balamuralikrishna is a Carnatic vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and a playback singer. He is also acclaimed as a poet, composer and respected by all Indian classical musicians for his knowledge of Carnatic Music....
) - "Paattum Naanae, Baavamum Naanae"...sung by Shivaji (Voice by T.M. Soundararajan)
- "Gnana Pazhathai "...sung by K.B. Sundaramabal (Voice by K.B. Sundarambal)