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{{short description|1973 film by K. Balachander}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Arangetram
| image = Arangetram 1973 poster.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[K. Balachander]]
| writer = K. Balachander
| producer = N. Selvaraj<br />J. Duraisamy<br />V. Govindarajan
| starring = [[Prameela]]
| cinematography = [[B. S. Lokanath]]
| editing = N. R. Kittu
| music = [[V. Kumar]]
| studio = Kalakendra Films
| released = {{film date|1973|2|9|df=y}}
| runtime = 152 minutes{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=256}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Arangetram''''' ({{IPA|ta|aɾaŋɡeːʈram|pron}} {{Translation|[[Arangetram (dance)|Debut performance]]}}) is a 1973 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] written and directed by [[K. Balachander]]. The film stars [[Prameela]], leading an [[ensemble cast]] that includes [[S. V. Subbaiah]], [[Sivakumar]], [[Sasikumar (actor, born 1944)|Sasikumar]], [[Kamal Haasan]], [[M. N. Rajam]], [[M. S. Sundari Bai|Sundari Bai]] and [[Senthamarai (actor)|Senthamarai]]. It revolves around a young woman who takes to prostitution to support her conservative but poor family.

''Arangetram'' marked Kamal Haasan's first adult role, while Prameela, [[Jayachitra]] and [[Jayasudha]] made their acting debut in Tamil with this film. [[V. Kumar]] composed the music for the film, which was the last Balachander film he worked on. Cinematography was handled by B. S. Lokanath, and editing by N. R. Kittu.

''Arangetram'' was released on 9 February 1973. Though it had carried hard hitting messages and very bold scenes and was controversial at the time of its release, the film became a commercial success. In 1974 it was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''Jeevitha Rangam'' (1974), and in [[Hindi]] as ''[[Aaina (1974 film)|Aaina]]'' by Balachander himself.

== Plot ==
Ramu Shastrigal is a poor priest living with his wife Visalam and their eight children. His rigid principles and obstinate behaviour become obstacles to his family's progress. His spendthrift sister Janaki lands in his house with her daughter, adding to their woes and penury. Lalitha, the eldest daughter of Ramu Shastrigal, is enthusiastic to work but her father does not permit it. She bonds with the family's neighbour Nadesa Udaiyaar and his son Thangavelu. Thangavelu expresses his love for Lalitha and his desire to marry her; when Udaiyaar refuses to permit it, he leaves the house. Soon, Thangavelu dies in a military conflict.

Ramu Shastrigal's family suffers due to poverty; on many nights, they go to bed hungry. When Lalitha's hungry brother shares a meal with a beggar, she decides to disobey her father and with Udaiyaar's help, obtains employment. Her income supplements the family and their standard of living improves. Her brother Thyagu aspires to become a doctor; Lalitha runs from pillar to post to get him a seat in a medical college. When she meets a man to facilitate his admission in a medical college in [[Chennai|Madras]], he exploits her desperation and rapes her. Lalitha keeps quiet about this incident and goes back to work. She shifts to [[Hyderabad]], where she gets promoted with a higher salary. Immediately after taking up the new assignment, she asks her employer for a salary advance to be sent to Thyagu for his admission fee; realising her vulnerability, he demands her carnal company. She yields and he gives her the money. Demands from her family increase and to earn more money, she turns to prostitution. While her family lives prosperously, Lalitha suffers silently.

One day, Thangavelu lands in Lalitha's house looking for a prostitute. Both are shocked to see each other; Thangavelu, who had faked his own death just to irritate his father, is upset that Lalitha has fallen so low and leaves. As years pass, Lalitha's siblings progress; Thyagu becomes a doctor, sister Mangalam becomes a singer; younger sister Devi falls in love with Pasupathy, son of a landlord, and their marriage is fixed. Lalitha returns home after a long time and is warmly received. But she feels depressed and frustrated to know that her mother is again in the family way and criticises her parents' lack of responsibility. On the day of Devi's wedding, Lalitha is shocked to see that Pasupathy, her client in Hyderabad, is the groom. She fears he would cancel the wedding knowing that the bride is her sister, but he performs the wedding rituals mechanically and looks withdrawn. Lalitha and Pasupathy meet privately, decide to forget past incidents and move on. When Udaiyaar is about to perform the ''[[Śrāddha|thevasam]]'' for his son, Lalitha intervenes and reveals that Thangavelu is alive, but does not explain the circumstances under which they met.

Thyagu falls in love with Bhama, a [[Tehsildar]]’s daughter, and their engagement is arranged. When Ramu Shastrigal and Visalam go to Udaiyaar's house to invite him for the engagement, they meet Thangavelu, who has returned home and ask him where he met Lalitha. He remains silent, but after they leave, tells his father how and where he met Lalitha. Lalitha's parents overhear this and are shocked; Ramu Shastrigal and Thyagu disown Lalitha. The Tehsildar agrees to continue the wedding only if Lalitha is sent out of home, and she is mercilessly thrown out by Thyagu and Ramu Shastrigal. Udaiyaar, who understands her sacrifices, takes her to his home. To give her the dignity she deserves, he requests Thangavelu to marry her, which he accepts. The wedding of Thangavelu and Lalitha takes alongside Thyagu's wedding with Bhama. Though Lalitha is grateful to Udaiyaar and Thangavelu for their magnanimity, the trauma she has undergone results in her becoming insane.

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
* [[Prameela]] as Lalitha<ref name="kamadenu" />
* [[S. V. Subbaiah]] as Ramu Shastrigal<ref name="kamadenu" />
* [[Sivakumar]] as Thangavel{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=256}}
* [[Sasikumar (actor, born 1944)|Sasikumar]] as Pasupathy{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=257}}
* [[Kamal Haasan]] as Thyagu{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=256}}
* [[M. N. Rajam]] as Visalam{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=256}}
* [[M. S. Sundari Bai|Sundari Bai]] as Janaki{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=256}}
* [[Senthamarai (actor)|Senthamarai]] as Natesan Udaiyaar<ref name="kamadenu" />
* [[Oru Viral Krishna Rao]] as Jayaraman
* [[Neelu]] as a music teacher<ref name="kamadenu" />
* Chitra as Meenu
* Girija as Girija
* [[Jayachitra]] as Mangalam<ref name="kamadenu" />
* [[Jayasudha]] as Devi<ref name="kamadenu" />
* [[Tulasi (actress)|Baby Tulasi]]<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSr_4o2usH8 |title=Actress Tulasi ( Tulasi Shivamani ) Exclusive Interview {{!}} Real Talk With Anji#128 {{!}} Film Tree |date=16 October 2022 |language=te |publisher=Film Tree |time=4:05 |access-date=8 April 2024}}</ref>
* [[Jaishankar (actor)|Jaishankar]] as himself (special appearance)
* [[Lakshmi (actress)|Lakshmi]] as herself (special appearance)
}}

== Production ==
{{Quote box
| quote = After showing her as a prostitute for most of the movie, I couldn't give her a happy ending. In those days – the early seventies – the society was very traditional. I didn't want to alienate my audience, so I tried to strike a balance between what I wanted to convey and what I thought my audience would accept.
| source = – K. Balachander in 2006<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |date=10 September 2006 |title=Interview: K Balachander |url=http://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2006/09/10/interview-k-balachander/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218092352/http://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2006/09/10/interview-k-balachander/ |archive-date=18 December 2013 |access-date=6 December 2013 |website=Baradwaj Rangan |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan}}</ref>
| align = right
| width = 30%
}}
After the release of ''[[Velli Vizha]]'' (1972), director [[K. Balachander]] felt that films must highlight ideas that help society, and he had to dare to shoot stories that others would be reluctant to touch; this laid the foundation for ''Arangetram''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 April 2021 |title=புரட்சிகரமான கதை - வசனம்: பரபரப்பை உண்டாக்கிய "அரங்கேற்றம்' |url=https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinehistory/2021/04/27021107/2569059/cinima-history.vpf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625120513/https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinehistory/2021/04/27021107/2569059/cinima-history.vpf |archive-date=25 June 2021 |access-date=25 June 2021 |website=[[Maalai Malar]] |language=Tamil}}</ref> [[T. S. B. K. Moulee]] said in an interview in 2014 that Balachander, who used to watch Moulee's plays, wanted him to write the comedy subplot for the film as he liked Moulee's style of writing. However, Moulee felt the film did not warrant a comedy subplot as it would "dilute its seriousness" and did not work in the film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saravanan |first=T. |date=12 June 2014 |title=Mouli and the moolah |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Mouli-and-the-moolah/article11643358.ece |url-status=live |access-date=25 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616025813/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/mouli-and-the-moolah/article6107714.ece?secpage=true&secname=entertainment |archive-date=16 June 2014}}</ref> The film marked [[Kamal Haasan]]'s first adult role,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jha |first=Subhash K. |date=25 May 2001 |title=Artiste with endless dreams |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.hindu.com/2001/05/25/stories/09250228.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=6 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928042945/http://www.hindu.com/2001/05/25/stories/09250228.htm |archive-date=28 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 November 2000 |title=Kamal, as we know him |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/nov/08kamal.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221192756/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/nov/08kamal.htm |archive-date=21 December 2014 |access-date=6 December 2013 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> while [[Prameela]], [[Jayachitra]] and [[Jayasudha]] made their acting debut in Tamil with this film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Balachandar's Artists Introduced |url=http://www.kavithalayaa.com/artistintro.php |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211090806/http://www.kavithalayaa.com/artistintro.php |archive-date=11 December 2013 |access-date=6 December 2013 |website=Kavithalayaa}}</ref> The film was produced by N. Selvaraj, J. Duraisamy and V. Govindarajan under Kalakendra Films. Cinematography was handled by [[B. S. Lokanath]], and editing by N. R. Kittu.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=256}}

== Soundtrack ==
The music was composed by [[V. Kumar]], with lyrics by [[Kannadasan]].{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=258}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arangettram Tamil Film EP Vinyl record by V Kumar |url=https://macsendisk.com/product/arangettram-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-v-kumar/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218130539/https://macsendisk.com/product/arangettram-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-v-kumar/ |archive-date=18 February 2023 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=Macsendisk}}</ref> The song "Mappillai Ragasiyam" is set in [[Charukesi]] raga.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=3 February 2012 |title=A Raga's Journey — The charm of Charukesi |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-ragas-journey-the-charm-of-charukesi/article2857091.ece |access-date=7 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911094943/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-ragas-journey-the-charm-of-charukesi/article2857091.ece |archive-date=11 September 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!Song !!Singers !! Duration
|-
|"Aandavanin Thottathile"
|[[P. Susheela]]
|3:24
|-
|"Kannanidam Endhan Karutthinai"
|K. Swarna
|2:10
|-
|"Moothaval Nee"
|P. Susheela
|4:29
|-
|"Aaramba Kaalaththil"
|[[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], P. Susheela
|3:51
|-
|"Kannanai Kaanbadharko"
|[[Thiruchi Loganathan]] & K. Swarna
|2:42
|-
|"Mappilai Ragasiyam"
|[[L. R. Eswari]]
|3:27
|-
|"Enadi Marumagale Unnai Evaradi Pesivittaar"
|[[T. V. Rathnam]]
|0:25
|-
|"Kannaarkkum Katravarum"
|K. Swarna
|0:39
|-
|"Paaviye Kanda Vannam"
|K. Swarna
|1:00
|-
|"Srimaathaa Srimaha"
|K. Swarna
|0:40
|-
|"Agara Mudaka Nagurasa"
|K. Swarna
|0:19
|}

== Release and reception ==
''Arangetram'' was released on 9 February 1973.<ref name="kamadenu" /> It was the first film to be released at the then newly opened Vettri Theatres.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1091613353355571200 |user=RIAZtheboss |title=. #46YearsOfVettri #46YearsOfArangetram 🎉🎉Congratulations @VettriTheatres 🎊🎊On Completing 46 Successfully Amazing Years, I Remember Enjoying Most of My Favourite Films There! #Arangetram Should've Been A Great Start For Your Successful Journey Of 46 Years😊👌 |author=Riaz K Ahmed |date=2 February 2019}}</ref> Reviewing for the magazine ''Film World'', T. G. Vaidyanathan wrote, "''Arangetram'' marks a new beginning, a fresh approach and is a veritable oasis in the dreary desert wastes of Tamil Cinema."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Vaidyanathan |first=T. G. |date=August 1973 |title=Balachander ushers in a new age in Tamil cinema |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IXlTAAAAYAAJ&q=oasis |url-status=live |magazine=Film World |volume=9 |pages=62–64 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703053105/https://books.google.com/books?id=IXlTAAAAYAAJ&q=oasis |archive-date=3 July 2021 |access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref> ''Navamani'' praised the acting and direction.<ref>{{cite news|title=அரங்கேற்றம் |work=Navamani|language=ta|access-date=13 February 2026|url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_22_1_15/4.jp2/0,0,5763,8474/5763,8474/0/default.jpg|via=[[Endangered Archives Programme]]|date=24 February 1973|pages=4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260213110758/https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_22_1_15/4.jp2/0,0,5763,8474/5763,8474/0/default.jpg|archive-date=13 February 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> Though the film carried hard hitting messages and bold scenes and was controversial at the time of its release,<ref>{{Cite magazine |year=1984 |title=Achamillai, Achamillai (I Do Not Fear) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cHSyAAAAIAAJ&q=Arangetram |url-status=live |magazine=[[Manushi]] |issue=24 |page=46 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703053210/https://books.google.com/books?id=cHSyAAAAIAAJ&q=Arangetram |archive-date=3 July 2021 |access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Seshachalam |first=Bhagyalakshmi |date=9 March 2018 |title=Arangetram (1974) – A Slap In The Face Of TamBrahm Orthodoxy |url=https://www.moneylife.in/article/arangetram-1974-a-slap-in-the-face-of-tambrahm-orthodoxy/53325.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015034804/https://www.moneylife.in/article/arangetram-1974-a-slap-in-the-face-of-tambrahm-orthodoxy/53325.html |archive-date=15 October 2021 |access-date=15 October 2021 |website=[[Moneylife]]}}</ref> it became a critical and commercial success.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=26}} The film was featured as part of the Tamil Nadu government's information campaign promoting [[family planning]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jacob |first=Preminda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kbQvTXudN60C&q=Arangetram |title=Celluloid Deities: The Visual Culture of Cinema and Politics in South India |publisher=[[Lexington Books]] |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7391-3130-5 |pages=100 |access-date=13 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703053144/https://books.google.com/books?id=kbQvTXudN60C&q=Arangetram |archive-date=3 July 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Remakes ==
In 1974, the film was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''Jeevitha Rangam'',{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=257}} and in [[Hindi]] as ''[[Aaina (1974 film)|Aaina]]'' by Balachander himself.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Srinivasan |first=S. |date=11 July 2011 |title=K. Balachander: The Middle-Class Maestro |url=http://forbesindia.com/article/recliner/k-balachander-the-middleclass-maestro/26662/0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209171444/http://forbesindia.com/article/recliner/k-balachander-the-middleclass-maestro/26662/0 |archive-date=9 December 2013 |access-date=6 December 2013 |website=[[Forbes India]]}}</ref>

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="kamadenu">{{Cite web |last=ராம்ஜி |first=வி. |date=9 July 2019 |title=அரங்கேற்றம் - அப்பவே அப்படி கதை! |url=https://www.kamadenu.in/news/cinema/37362-.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716162536/https://www.kamadenu.in/news/cinema/37362-.html |archive-date=16 July 2019 |access-date=16 July 2019 |website=[[Kamadenu (magazine)|Kamadenu]] |language=ta}}</ref>
</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |title=The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1931–1976 |publisher=Galatta Media |year=2011 |oclc=733724281 |author-link=G. Dhananjayan}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |title=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |title-link=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-81-8475-796-5 |location=New Delhi |author-link=Naman Ramachandran |orig-date=2012}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}

{{K. Balachander}}

[[Category:1970s feminist films]]
[[Category:1973 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1973 drama films]]
[[Category:1973 films]]
[[Category:1973 Indian films]]
[[Category:Films about poverty in India]]
[[Category:Films about prostitution in India]]
[[Category:Films about women in India]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. Balachander]]
[[Category:Films scored by V. Kumar]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by K. Balachander]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:Indian feminist films]]
[[Category:Tamil films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Arangetram (1973 film) - Revision history

AnnaOgg388928: new new details.