Mazzulah Peel: made basic article w/ infobox

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made basic article w/ infobox

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{{short description|1990 film by K. S. Sethumadhavan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Marupakkam
| image = Marupakkam (The Other Side).JPG
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[K. S. Sethumadhavan]]
| screenplay = K. S. Sethumadhavan
| based_on = {{based on|''Uchi Veyyil'' |[[Indira Parthasarathy]]}}
| starring = [[Sivakumar]]<br />[[Radha (actress)|Radha]]<br />[[Jayabharathi]]
| cinematography = D. Vasanth Kumar
| editing = G. Venkitaraman
| music = [[L. Vaidyanathan]]
| studio = {{plainlist|
* [[National Film Development Corporation of India]]
* [[Doordarshan]]
}}
| released = {{film date|1992|3|6|theatrical|df=y}}
| runtime = 85 minutes<ref name="38thaward" />
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget = {{INR}}12 lakh
}}

'''''Marupakkam''''' ({{langx|en|The Other Side|italic=yes}}) is a 1991 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] written and directed by [[K. S. Sethumadhavan]]. An adaptation of the Tamil novella ''Uchi Veyyil'' by [[Indira Parthasarathy]], the film stars [[Sivakumar]], [[Radha (actress)|Radha]], and [[Jayabharathi]]. Its music is composed by [[L. Vaidyanathan]].

At the [[38th National Film Awards]], ''Marupakkam'' won three [[National Film Awards]], including the Golden Lotus Award for [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film|Best Film]], making it the first Tamil film to win in that category. The film was featured at the [[International Film Festival of India]] in 2003 as part of a retrospective tribute to Sethumadhavan.

== Plot ==
Ambi, who lives in Delhi with his [[Christianity in Tamil Nadu|Christian]] wife Sweetie, arrives at [[Kumbakonam]] to meet his father Vembu Iyer who recently suffered a stroke and was paralysed after getting a message that Ambi separated from his wife. Ambi, feeling guilty, comes to see his father. A few weeks earlier, Ambi, who married Sweetie, came with her to meet his orthodox [[Brahmin]] parents Vembu and Janaki. Vembu insulted Sweetie and, unable to accept it, she decided to return immediately to Delhi and forced Ambi to leave with her. At Delhi, they continued quarrelling over it and finally separated. When Vembu got the news, he was upset and suffered a stroke. In the present, the doctor recognises that there is another side to Vembu's life. His son's separation from his wife reminded him of his separation from his beloved first wife Avayam. Slowly, Ambi understands that his father is longing to see has erstwhile wife, because though paralysed, Vembu keeps tapping his fingers as steps for a dance. Vembu now recollects his past.

Vembu and Avayam loved each other and got married against the wishes of Vembu's mother. While Vembu sang well, Avayam sang and danced well. Both kept enjoying their singing and dancing, which was not liked by Vembu's mother whose husband abandoned her for a dancer many years back. Avayam's continued interest in singing and dancing angered her, and she accused Avayam of behaving like a prostitute. When Avayam protested, Vembu slapped her and threw her out of his house for opposing his mother, whom he respected dearly. Avayam walked out and filed for divorce. In court, Vembu accused her of moral turpitude to justify the divorce petition, which hurt Avayam deeply and they got separated. Though separated, Vembu felt guilty of wrongly accusing Avayam.

Ambi's friend Murthy proposes that Ambi should bring Avayam so that his father can see her once before he dies. However, Janaki refuses. When Vembu's situation deteriorates. the doctor and others feel that his hours are numbered and is awaiting his death. However, Vembu hangs on to life. Murthy learns that Avayam Is now a famous dancer named Chitralekha and goes to meet her. In the meanwhile, knowing Vembu's grave condition, Sweetie returns home in traditional attire and seeks forgiveness from Janaki and Vembu. Janaki is happy that her daughter-in-law is back and Vembu is also happy, but still not satisfied. That is when Murthy brings Avayam. Looking at Avayam, Vembu is excited and feels relieved that she has forgiven him. Avayam holds Vembu's hand tightly, which was tapping all along awaiting her return.

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
*[[Sivakumar]] as Vembu Iyer
*[[Radha (actress)|Radha]] as Avayam<ref name="upperstall" />
*[[Jayabharathi]] as Janaki<ref name="upperstall" />
*Sekar as Ambi<ref name="upperstall" />
*[[Achamillai Gopi|Gopi]] as Murthy{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|p=316}}
*Veeraraghavan as the doctor{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|p=316}}
*Yuvashree as Sweetie{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|p=316}}
}}

== Production ==
=== Development ===
As a fan of [[Indira Parthasarathy]]'s stories, [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]] filmmaker [[K. S. Sethumadhavan]] approached him with a desire to adapt his novel ''Vendhu Tanindha Kaadugal'' for the screen; Parthasarathy however suggested the novella ''Uchi Veyil'', and Sethumadhavan, who had read the story before, read it again and agreed to make it into a film.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 May 1991 |title=Quest for change... and an urge to accept challenge |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19910518&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=9 August 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=19, 22 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The title ''Uchi Veyil'' could not be retained due to a different film with the [[Uchi Veyil|same name]] already having released in 1990, so ''Marupakkam'' was chosen.<ref name="Kumbakonam flavour" /> The film was produced by the [[National Film Development Corporation of India]] and [[Doordarshan]],<ref name="poster" /> Sethumadhavan, in addition to directing, also wrote the screenplay. Cinematography was handled by D. Vasanth Kumar, and editing by G. Venkitaraman, while the background music was composed by [[L. Vaidyanathan]].<ref name="38thaward" />

=== Casting and filming ===
When offered the role of Vembu Iyer by Sethumadhavan, [[Sivakumar]], who had read the source material, readily accepted as he thought it would be a challenging role. He consulted dentists in deciding for his make-up.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 May 1991 |title=Disappointed but not dejected |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=coJlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gJ4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=572%2C604830 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407104506/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=coJlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gJ4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=572,604830 |archive-date=7 April 2023 |access-date=9 August 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=22 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> Though the story is primarily set in Kumbakonam, the film was shot in Madras.<ref name="Kumbakonam flavour" /> Made on a shoestring budget of ₹12 lakh (worth ₹2.7 crore in 2021 prices),<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 February 2019 |title=சிவகுமார் நடித்த தேசிய விருது பெற்ற படம் – மறுபக்கம் |trans-title=Sivakumar acted in a National Award winning film – The Other Side |url=https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinehistory/2019/02/17230436/1228226/cinima-history-sivakumar.vpf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191104044625/https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinehistory/2019/02/17230436/1228226/cinima-history-sivakumar.vpf |archive-date=4 November 2019 |access-date=4 November 2019 |work=[[Maalai Malar]] |language=Tamil}}</ref> filming was completed in 14 days.{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|p=317}}

== Accolades ==
''Marupakkam'' won three awards at the [[38th National Film Awards]] which took place in 1991: Golden Lotus Award for [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film|Best Film]], Silver Lotus Award for [[National Film Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]] (Sethumadhavan), and Silver Lotus Award for [[National Film Award – Special Mention (feature film)|Special Jury Award / Special Mention]] (Jayabharathi).<ref name="38thaward" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=18 May 1991 |title=The other side |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19910518&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=9 August 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=19 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> It was the first Tamil film to win the Best Film award.{{Sfn|Baskaran|2013|page=164}} Sivakumar was a strong contender for the [[National Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role]], but lost to [[Amitabh Bachchan]] for ''[[Agneepath (1990 film)|Agneepath]]''.<ref name="upperstall" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=31 March 2017 |title=கடைசி நேரத்தில் சிவகுமாருக்கு கைநழுவிய தேசிய விருது |trans-title=Sivakumar missed his National Award at the last minute |url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/57828/cinema/Kollywood/sivakumar-missed-his-nation-award-because-of-this-reason.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612211410/http://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/57828/cinema/Kollywood/sivakumar-missed-his-nation-award-because-of-this-reason.htm |archive-date=12 June 2017 |access-date=4 November 2019 |work=[[Dinamalar]] |language=ta}}</ref> Sethumadhavan won the Film Fans Association Award for Best Director, and Sivakumar won for Best Character Actor.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 June 1992 |title=Kamal adjudged best actor for role in ''Guna'' |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19920622&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=12 September 2023 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=3 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The film was featured at the [[International Film Festival of India]] in 2003 as part of a retrospective tribute to Sethumadhavan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 October 2003 |title=Tribute paid to Veteram film maker Sethumadhavan |url=https://zeenews.india.com/home/tribute-paid-to-veteram-film-maker-sethumadhavan_125240.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191104060145/https://zeenews.india.com/home/tribute-paid-to-veteram-film-maker-sethumadhavan_125240.html |archive-date=4 November 2019 |access-date=4 November 2019 |website=[[Zee News]]}}</ref>

== Reception ==
''Marupakkam'' was theatrically released on 6 March 1992.<ref name="poster" /> N. Krishnaswamy of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' wrote the following week, "Sethumadhavan's narration is designed to be impressive. Based on Indira Parthasarathy's novella, the script of ''Marupakkam'' tries to be offbeat by withholding information and by cutting back and forth time."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krishnaswamy |first=N. |date=13 March 1992 |title=Marupakkam |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19920313&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=26 April 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=7 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The Tamil magazine ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'', in a review dated 15 March 1992, applauded ''Marupakkam'' as a sharply focused film on the subject without any diversion with good editing, superb acting, re-recording at the right places and nice presentation. The reviewer said only Sethumadhavan could translate a simple but meaningful story by Indira Parthasarathy into an amazing film like this, and felt more such films like this must come in Tamil cinema.{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|p=317}} Another Tamil magazine, ''[[Kumudam]]'', called it a "masterpiece" from Sivakumar, and said his career could be divided into two eras: "pre-''Marupakkan'' and post-''Marupakkam''".{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|p=317}} Movieman of ''[[Madras Musings]]'' appreciated Sethumadhavan's direction for eschewing "The costumary, loud, artificial theatrics of the usual Kodambakkam Tamil film" while also praising the acting of star cast, Vaidyanathan's background score, Vasanthakumar's cinematography "that make ''Marupakkam'' a fine film at every level".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Movieman |date=1 May 1991 |title=THE BIG ONE, AT LAST! |url=https://madrasmusings.com/older-archives/Vol%201/Vol%20I%20-%20No%2002.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629233607/https://madrasmusings.com/older-archives/Vol%201/Vol%20I%20-%20No%2002.pdf |archive-date=29 June 2024 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=[[Madras Musings]] |pages=4}}</ref>

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="38thaward">{{Cite web |title=38th National Film Festival 1991 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm38thNFAAward.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105174944/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm38thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=5 November 2013 |access-date=9 January 2012 |publisher=[[International Film Festival of India]]}}</ref>
<ref name="upperstall">{{Cite web |last=Bali |first=Karan |date=30 November 2017 |title=Marupakkam |url=http://upperstall.com/film/marupakkam/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203105904/http://upperstall.com/film/marupakkam/ |archive-date=3 December 2017 |access-date=3 December 2017 |website=Upperstall.com}}</ref>
<ref name="Kumbakonam flavour">{{Cite news |date=18 May 1991 |title=The Kumbakonam flavour is very much there |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19910518&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=9 August 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=19, 22 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
<ref name="poster">{{Cite news |date=6 March 1992 |title=Marupakkam (The Other Side) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19920306&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=26 April 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=4 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Baskaran |first=S. Theodore |author-link=S. Theodore Baskaran |title=The Eye Of The Serpent: An Introduction To Tamil Cinema |publisher=Westland |year=2013 |isbn=978-93-83260-74-4 |orig-date=1996}}
* {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |author-link=G. Dhananjayan |title=Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931–2013 |title-link=Pride of Tamil Cinema |publisher=Blue Ocean Publishers |year=2014 |oclc=898765509}}

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

{{K. S. Sethumadhavan}}
{{NationalFilmAwardBestFeatureFilm}}

[[Category:1990 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1991 drama films]]
[[Category:1991 films]]
[[Category:1991 Indian films]]
[[Category:Best Feature Film National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Films based on Tamil novels]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan]]
[[Category:Films scored by L. Vaidyanathan]]
[[Category:Films whose writer won the Best Original Screenplay National Film Award]]
[[Category:Indian nonlinear narrative films]]
[[Category:National Film Development Corporation of India films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Marupakkam - Revision history

Mazzulah Peel: made basic article w/ infobox