VirgilioBrereton: Redirect article

2026-04-21T12:04:06Z

Redirect article

New page

{{Use Indian English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Irumbu Thirai
| image = Irumbu Thirai 1960 poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[S. S. Vasan]]
| producer = S. S. Vasan
| story = Ganesh Subramaniyam along with Gemini Story Department
| starring = [[Sivaji Ganesan]]<br/>[[Vyjayanthimala]]<br/>[[B. Saroja Devi]]
| music = [[S. V. Venkatraman]]
| cinematography = P. Elappa<br/>N. C. BalaKrishnan
| editing = M. Umanath
| studio = [[Gemini Studios]]
| released = {{film date|1960|1|14|df=y}}
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
'''{{Lang|ta-latn|Irumbu Thirai}}''' ({{Translation|Iron Curtain}}) is a 1960 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language film produced and directed by [[S. S. Vasan]]. The film stars [[Sivaji Ganesan]], [[Vyjayanthimala]], [[K. A. Thangavelu]] and [[B. Saroja Devi]], with [[S. V. Ranga Rao]], [[Pandari Bai]] and [[Vasundhara Devi]] in supporting roles. A remake of Vasan's own [[Hindi]] film {{Lang|hi-latn|[[Paigham]]}} (1959), it revolves around two brothers Manikam and Kondamuthu and their mill owner.

The soundtrack was composed by [[S. V. Venkatraman]] and the lyrics were written by [[Kothamangalam Subbu]], [[Papanasam Sivan]] and [[Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram]]. The editing was done by M. Umanath while the camera was handled by P. Elappa and N. C. Bala Krishna. The film was released on 14 January 1960 and ran more than 175 days in theatres.

== Plot ==
{{more plot|date=June 2021}}
The story revolves around two brothers Manikam and Saravanan and their mill owner.

== Cast ==

{{Cast listing|* [[Sivaji Ganesan]] as Manickavasagam (alias) Manickam
* [[Vyjayanthimala]] as Jayanthi
* [[B. Saroja Devi]] as Malathi
* [[Pandari Bai]] as Parvathi
* [[S. V. Subbaiah]] as Saravanan
* [[S. V. Ranga Rao]] as Mohanarangam
* [[Vasundhara Devi]] as Jayanthi's mother
* Radha Bai as Malathi's mother
* [[K. A. Thangavelu]] as Kottamuthu
* [[T. S. Durairaj]] as Gundu Pillai
* Vanaja as Challi
* [[D. Balasubramaniam]] as Judge
* [[C. R. Parthiban|Parthiban]] as Circle Inspector
* [[Javar Seetharaman]] as Lawyer
* Mukherji as Inspector
* Seetalakshmi as Sheela
* G. V. Sharma as Jeevan
* Pushpamala as Kamala
* Master Gopi as Bhola
* Karupaiah as Kundan
* S. R. Janaki as Saravanan and Manickam's mother
* Pattusamy as Sleuth
* Azhwar Kuppusami as Prosecutor
* Kannan as Factory Laber's}}

== Production ==
In 1959, [[S. S. Vasan]], the proprietor of [[Gemini Studios]], began working on a film built around capital-labour relations.<ref name="finger" /> The film, which was the Tamil remake of his own [[Hindi]] film {{Lang|hi-latn|[[Paigham]]}},<ref name="sriramv" /> was untitled, and the creative team of Gemini could not come up with a convincing title. Vasan invited his employees to suggest a title for the under-production film, and he received an abundance of entries; one office boy submitted as many as 2500 entries. After examining one by one, Vasan chose the title {{Lang|ta-latn|Irumbu Thirai}} ({{translation|Iron Curtain}}). He also hosted a reception to honour the boy who suggested the title and rewarded him with some prize money.<ref name="finger" /> Besides producing, Vasan also directed the film.<ref name="kamadenu" />

The female cast of {{Lang|hi-latn|Paigham}} – [[Vyjayanthimala]], [[B. Saroja Devi]] and [[Pandari Bai]] – returned to star in {{Lang|ta-latn|Irumbu Thirai}},<ref>{{Cite magazine |year=1959 |title=Gemini's ''Paigham'' |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N5gcAQAAMAAJ&q=PAIGHAM |magazine=Thought |publisher=Siddhartha Publications |page=156 |volume=11}}</ref><ref name="lakshmansruthi" /> while [[Sivaji Ganesan]] reprised the role originally played by [[Dilip Kumar]]. It was a "coup of sorts" for Vasan to cast Ganesan since the latter had earlier been rejected by the former for a role in ''[[Chandralekha (1948 film)|Chandralekha]]'' (1948), an incident which created a permanent rift between them.<ref name="sriramv" />{{sfn|Guy|1997|p=282}} Vyjayanthimala's mother [[Vasundhara Devi]] played her screen mother as well, having done the same in {{Lang|hi-latn|Paigham}}.<ref name="sriramv" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pradeep |first=K. |date=2 November 2011 |title=Dance and Vyjayantimala |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/dance-and-vyjayantimala/article2591559.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318014547/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/dance-and-vyjayantimala/article2591559.ece |archive-date=18 March 2014 |access-date=24 November 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The final length of the film was 18396 feet.<ref name="lakshmansruthi" />

== Themes ==
{{Lang|ta-latn|Irumbu Thirai}} focuses on capital-labour relations,<ref name="finger" /> and the conditions of working-class people.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vijayakumar |first=B. |date=1 May 2017 |title=Punnapra Vayalar: 1968 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/punnapra-vayalar-1968/article18346031.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180928060516/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/punnapra-vayalar-1968/article18346031.ece |archive-date=28 September 2018 |access-date=28 September 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by [[S. V. Venkatraman]]. The album had [[Kothamangalam Subbu]], [[Papanasam Sivan]] and [[Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram]] as the lyricists.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Neelamegam |first=G. |title=Thiraikalanjiyam – Part 1 |date=December 2014 |publisher=Manivasagar Publishers |edition=1st |location=Chennai |pages=191 |language=Tamil}}</ref> The song "Nenjil Kudiyirukkum" is set in the [[carnatic raga]] known as [[Shanmukhapriya]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=2 September 2011 |title=A Raga's Journey – Sacred Shanmukhapriya |url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article2418290.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102204446/http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article2418290.ece |archive-date=2 November 2012 |access-date=24 November 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> while the classical-themed "Enna Seidhaalum" is set in [[Kharaharapriya]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Srinivasan |first=Anil |author-link=Anil Srinivasan |date=24 July 2015 |title=How Carnatic music has enriched – and been enriched by – movie scores |url=https://scroll.in/article/743532/how-carnatic-music-has-enriched-and-been-enriched-by-movie-scores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170920154030/https://scroll.in/article/743532/how-carnatic-music-has-enriched-and-been-enriched-by-movie-scores |archive-date=20 September 2017 |access-date=27 September 2018 |website=[[Scroll.in]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=13 April 2012 |title=A Raga's Journey — Kingly Kharaharapriya |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-ragas-journey-kingly-kharaharapriya/article3310742.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180928165416/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-ragas-journey-kingly-kharaharapriya/article3310742.ece |archive-date=28 September 2018 |access-date=28 September 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"
! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length
|-
| "Nenjil Kudiyirukkum" || T. M. Soundararajan & P. Leela || rowspan=4| Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram || 03:57
|-
| "Aasai Konda Nenju Rendu" || P. Leela || 04:27
|-
| "Manidharai Manidhar Sari Nigar Samamaai" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan || 02:40
|-
| "Kaiyile Vaanginen Paiyile Podalai" || rowspan=2|Thiruchi Loganathan ||03:00
|-
| "Erai Piditthavanum English Padichavanum" || rowspan=5|Kothamangalam Subbu || 03:19
|-
| "Nandri Ketta Manitharukku" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan || 03:22
|-
| "Dabba Dabba Dabba" || S. C. Krishnan ||
|-
| "Padipirkum Oru Kumbidu" || P. Leela & Jikki || 02:47
|-
| "Nikkatuma Pogatuma" || Thiruchi Loganathan & K. Jamuna Rani ||
|-
| "Enna Seidhaalum" || (Radha) Jayalakshmi || Papanasam Sivan || 02:52
|}

== Release and reception ==
{{Lang|ta-latn|Irumbu Thirai}} was released on 14 January 1960.<ref name="kamadenu" /> Kanthan of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' wrote {{clarify|date=March 2023}}.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=காந்தன் |date=24 January 1960 |title=இரும்புத்திரை |url=https://ibb.co/NCD982G |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302043744/https://ibb.co/NCD982G |archive-date=2 March 2023 |access-date=10 March 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=14–15 |language=ta}}</ref> The film was a commercial success, running for over 175 days in theatres and thereby becoming [[silver jubilee]] film.{{sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|p=241}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Selvaraj |first=N. |date=20 March 2017 |title=வெள்ளி விழா கண்ட தமிழ் திரைப்படங்கள் |trans-title=Tamil films that completed silver jubilees |url=http://puthu.thinnai.com/?p=34587 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170329085911/http://puthu.thinnai.com/?p=34587 |archive-date=29 March 2017 |access-date=27 September 2018 |website=Thinnai |language=Tamil}}</ref>

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="finger">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=23 May 2003 |title=With a finger on people's pulse |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/05/23/stories/2003052301510600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211192149/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/05/23/stories/2003052301510600.htm |archive-date=11 February 2012 |access-date=24 November 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
<ref name="sriramv">{{Cite web |last=Sriram |first=V. |author-link=V. Sriram |date=1 May 2018 |title=Paigham and Irumbu Thirai – #MayDay Special |url=https://sriramv.wordpress.com/2018/05/01/paigham-and-irumbu-thirai-mayday-special/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180927113547/https://sriramv.wordpress.com/2018/05/01/paigham-and-irumbu-thirai-mayday-special/ |archive-date=27 September 2018 |access-date=27 September 2018 |website=Madras Heritage and Carnatic Music}}</ref>
<ref name="lakshmansruthi">{{Cite web |title=1960 – இரும்புத் திரை – ஜெமினி பிலிம்ஸ் – பைகாம்(இ) |trans-title=1960 – Irumbu Thirai – Gemini Films – Paigham(hi) |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1960-cinedetails6.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180927105453/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1960-cinedetails6.asp |archive-date=27 September 2018 |access-date=28 September 2018 |website=[[Lakshman Sruthi]] |language=Tamil}}</ref>
<ref name="kamadenu">{{Cite web |date=9 May 2018 |title=இரும்புத்திரை - இது சிவாஜி படம் |trans-title=Irumbu Thirai – This is a Sivaji film |url=https://www.kamadenu.in/news/cinema/2504-sivajiyin-irumbuthirai.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726103905/https://www.kamadenu.in/news/cinema/2504-sivajiyin-irumbuthirai.html |archive-date=26 July 2018 |access-date=27 September 2018 |website=[[Kamadenu (magazine)|Kamadenu]] |language=ta}}</ref>

</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last1=Ganesan |first1=Sivaji |author-link1=Sivaji Ganesan |title=Autobiography of an Actor: Sivaji Ganesan, October 1928 – July 2001 |title-link=Autobiography of an Actor |last2=Narayana Swamy |first2=T. S. |publisher=Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust |year=2007 |oclc=297212002 |orig-date=2002}}
* {{Cite book |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |title=Starlight, Starbright: The Early Tamil Cinema |publisher=Amra Publishers |year=1997 |oclc=1049072979}}

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

{{S. S. Vasan}}
{{Gemini Studios}}

[[Category:1960 films]]
[[Category:1960 Indian films]]
[[Category:1960 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by S. S. Vasan]]
[[Category:Films scored by S. V. Venkatraman]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Kothamangalam Subbu]]
[[Category:Gemini Studios films]]
[[Category:Tamil remakes of Hindi films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Films about brothers]]
[[Category:Indian courtroom films]]
[[Category:Indian legal drama films]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of the Tamil Nadu Police]]
[[Category:Films about lawyers]]
[[Category:Films about labor relations]]
[[Category:Films about the labor movement]]
[[Category:Films about social class]]
[[Category:Films about social realism]]
[[Category:Films about businesspeople]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]

Irumbu Thirai (1960 film) - Revision history

VirgilioBrereton: Redirect article