imported>WikiPedant: Reverted edits by 106.203.213.209 (talk) to last version by Radartooth

2021-08-17T06:42:15Z

Reverted edits by 106.203.213.209 (talk) to last version by Radartooth

New page

{{Short description|2003 film directed by Bala}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Pithamagan
| image = Pithamagan poster.jpg
| caption = Film poster
| director = [[Bala (director)|Bala]]
| writer =
| screenplay = Bala
| based_on = {{based on|''Nandavanathil Oru Aandi''|[[Jayakanthan]]}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
*[[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]]
*[[Suriya]]
*[[Laila (actress)|Laila]]
*[[Sangeetha Krish|Sangeetha]]|}}
| music = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| producer = [[Evergreen Movie International|V. A. Durai]]
| studio = [[Evergreen Movie International]]
| cinematography = [[Balasubramaniem|Balasubrahmannyam]]
| editing = [[Suresh Urs]] ([[Tamil language|Tamil]])<br>[[Mutyala Nani]] ([[Telugu language|Telugu]])
| released = 24 October 2003
| runtime = 158 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| gross =
}}

'''''Pithamagan''''' ({{trans.|Brahma}}) is a 2003 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Action film|action]] [[drama]] film written and directed by [[Bala (director)|Bala]]. The film stars [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]], [[Suriya]], [[Sangeetha Krish|Sangeetha]] and [[Laila (actress)|Laila]]. Produced by V. A. Durai, the film has cinematography by [[Balasubramaniem]], lyrics are by [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]], Pazhani Bharathi and [[Na. Muthukumar]], dance has been choreographed by [[Brindha (choreographer)|Brindha]], editing by [[Suresh Urs]], fights by [[Stun Siva]] and art direction by A. C. Pillai.<ref name="Crew">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/10/24/stories/2003102401490400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031110180633/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/10/24/stories/2003102401490400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2003 |title=Variety fare for Deepavali |last=S. R. Ashok Kumar |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=24 October 2003 }}</ref> The film's score and soundtrack are composed by [[Ilayaraaja]]. The film plot is based on [[Jayakanthan]]'s ''Nandhavanathil Oru Andi'', the story of an [[undertaker]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://rameshbalablog.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/if-i-didnt-come-to-movies-i-would-have-died-dir-bala/ |title=If I didn't come to movies, I would have died – Director Bala |date=11 October 2012}}</ref>

Upon release, the film met with critical acclaim and Vikram won the [[National Film Award for Best Actor]] for his role as Chithan. Owing to the success, the film was dubbed into [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and released as ''Sivaputrudu'' (The son of Siva) on 2 April 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-sivaputrudu.html |title=Siva Putrudu |publisher=idlebrain.com}}</ref> The film was also remade in Kannada as ''[[Anatharu]]'' (2007). It was also dubbed and released in [[Hindi]] in 2020 with the same title by [[B4U Movies]].

== Plot ==
An anonymous woman dies while giving birth in a graveyard. Her child, Chithan, is found and raised by the caretaker of the graveyard. Chithan grows up among corpses with minimal human contact and is perhaps more feral than autistic. He growls like a wolf, runs like a gorilla, has the unkempt appearance of an orangutan, but seems to understand loyalty and is (despite his circumstance) a social animal. He ventures into a town in search of food and gets into trouble as he does not understand the concept of money. He is rescued by Gomathi, a petty ganja seller. She sees his ability to be loyal and enrolls him into the service of her employer, a large scale ganja producer. Chithan is caught during a drug raid and is arrested.

Sakthi is a conman with a silver tongue. He gets into trouble when he cons a woman named Manju into losing all her personal effects in a game of dice. Sakthi gets sent to jail thanks to Manju's detective work. He meets Chithan in prison and starts protecting him out of sympathy and pity. Chithan starts to reciprocate to Sakthi's kindness with the only way he knows: by being as loyal as a dog.

Sakthi serves his term and then butts heads with the ganja producer to get Chithan out of jail. Chithan gets out but commits a crime when he obeys his master's instruction to burn the body of a murder victim. Sakthi, realising that Chithan is being used as accessory in crimes that he cannot comprehend, prevents Chithan from going back to working in the ganja fields. At the same time, a budding romance starts between Sakthi and Manju. Chithan too starts to see a shared spirit in Gomathi.

The police catches a wind of the murder and arrests Chithan. Sakthi gets Chithan to side with the police and goes against the ganja producer. The ganja producer later attacks and kills Sakthi and dumps his body in the middle of the road - all of this when Chithan is not around. Chithan does not understand that Sakthi is dead and zones out to outer space when everyone surrounds him. Gomathi, Manju, and the others are crying. Gomathi sees Chithan's confusion as indifference and angrily drives him away from Sakthi's body.

Chithan slowly starts to understand that Shakthi is dead as he sees him on the funeral pyre. His realization is complete when he wakes up in the morning next to the burnt remains of Shakthi's corpse. He experiences emotions that he has never experienced before: fury, agony, betrayal, and emotional pain that he has never felt. His body bears the scars of a million bruises, and his violence has always been self-defense and the defense of his masters. This realization of the meaning of death and the pain of losing a loved one breaks the feral chains that had wound up on his psyche.

Chithan then sets out like a man intent on destroying the world. He sets fire to the ganja fields, lets the ganja producer experience the pain of his loss, and then sets upon destroying him physically. He drives him through the street, taking his time by breaking a few bones at a time until he is done toying with him. He then kills the ganja producer and offers his body as a tribute to Manju, who now has lost her will to live.

Gomathi realizes what Chithan has been through and tries to get him to stay. However, Chithan turns back to the world of the graveyard among the corpses that cannot hurt him anymore.

== Cast ==
{{colbegin}}
* [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]] as Chithan
* [[Suriya]] as Sakthi
* [[Laila (actress)|Laila]] as Manju
* [[Sangeetha Krish|Sangeetha]] as Gomathi
* [[Mahadevan (actor)|Mahadevan]] as Sekar Vasudevan, Ganja Producer
* [[Karunas]] as Karuvaayan
* [[Manobala]] as Sakthi's uncle
* [[Rajendran]] as Prison Warden
* [[Ganja Karuppu|Karuppu]] as Ganja Kuduki
* [[Ramji (actor)|Ramji]] as Vasu
* [[T. P. Gajendran]] as Director
* Soundhar
* [[Mu Ramaswamy]]
* [[Stun Siva]] as Police Inspector (special appearance)
* [[Simran (actress)|Simran]] as herself in a special appearance<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Tamil-stars-play-themselves-on-screen/articleshow/21779303.cms |title=Suriya: Tamil stars play themselves on screen |date=13 August 2013 |website=The Times of India |access-date=22 January 2017}}</ref>
{{colend}}

== Production ==
After ''[[Nandha]]'', Bala announced his next project ''Pithamagan'' with [[Vikram(actor)|Vikram]] and [[Suriya]], heroes of his previous films who received popularity after struggle. For Gomathy's role, Bala selected Rasika P. Mani after considering [[Vijayashanti]], [[Malavika (actress)|Malavika]] and [[Gayatri Jayaraman]] and also changed her name back to [[Sangeetha Krish|Sangeetha]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://line.com/reeltalk/12reeltalk3rd.asp |title=Sangita on a high |date=24 December 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031224203909/http://www.chennaionline.com/reeltalk/12reeltalk3rd.asp |archive-date=24 December 2003 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Most part of the Film was shot in a town called [[Bodinayakanur]] in [[Theni District]]. Bodinayakanur, which is surrounded by Western Ghats Hills and also known as the Cardamom Capital of [[India]].

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Pithamagan
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 2003
| recorded =2003
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack]]
| length = 32:26 / 30:16
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]] / [[Telugu (language)|Telugu]]
| label = Five Star Audio
| producer = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| prev_title = [[Solla Marandha Kadhai]]
| prev_year =2002
| next_title = Sambhu
| next_year = 2003
}}

The soundtrack album was composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]]. The lyrics were penned by [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]], Palani Bharathi, [[Na. Muthukumar]] and [[Muhammed Metha|Mu. Metha]]. The song "Piraiye Piraiye" is set in Pantuvarali raga.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/a-ragas-journey-poignant-pantuvarali/article2500456.ece |title=A Raga's Journey — Poignant Pantuvarali |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |date=2011-09-30 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2018-12-16 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

'''Track list'''
{{track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 32:26
| title1 = Adadaa Aghangaara Arakka Kaigalil
| extra1 = [[K.J. Yesudas]]
| lyrics1 = [[Muhammed Metha|Mu. Metha]]
| length1 = 04:38
| title2 = Aruna Runaam
| extra2 = [[Savitha Reddy]] for Simran & Old Songs Medley
| length2 = 06:39
| title3 = Elangaathu Veesudhey
| extra3 = [[Sriram Parthasarathy]], [[Shreya Ghoshal]]
| lyrics3 = Palani Bharathi
| length3 = 06:10
| title4 = Elangaathu Veesudhey
| note4 = solo
| extra4 = Sriram Parthasarathy
| lyrics4 = Palani Bharathi
| length4 = 06:10
| title5 = Kodi Yethi Vaippom
| extra5 = [[Bhavatharini]], [[Shanmugasundari]], Periya Karuppa Thevar, Ragavendar
| length5 = 04:08
| lyrics5 = [[Na. Muthukumar]]
| title6 = Piraiye Piraiye
| extra6 = [[Madhu Balakrishnan]]
| lyrics6 = [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]]
| length6 = 04:41
| title7 = Yaaradhu Yaaradhu
| extra7 = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| lyrics7 = [[Na. Muthukumar]]
}}

'''Telugu track list'''
{{track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| all_lyrics = [[Vanamali]]
| total_length = 30:16
| title1 = Adigo Avineethi
| extra1 = [[Vijay Yesudas]], chorus
| lyrics1 =
| length1 = 04:38
| title2 = Priyatama Ninne
| note2 = Old Songs Medley
| extra2 = Murali, Lalitha Sagari, chorus
| length2 = 06:39
| title3 = Chirugali Veechane
| extra3 = [[R. P. Patnaik]], [[Sunitha Upadrashta]]
| lyrics3 =
| length3 = 06:10
| title4 = Chirugali Veechane
| note4 = solo
| extra4 =R. P. Patnaik
| lyrics4 =
| length4 = 06:10
| title5 = Evaridi Evaridi
| extra5 = Vijay Yesudas
| length5 = 01:58
| lyrics5 =
| title6 = Okate Jananam
| extra6 = Vijay Yesudas
| lyrics6 =
| length6 = 04:41
}}

== Release ==
The film was released on 24 October 2003, coinciding with [[Deepavali]]. The film released alongside [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]]'s ''[[Thirumalai]]'', [[Ajith Kumar|Ajith]]'s ''[[Anjaneya (film)|Anjaneya]]'' and [[Arjun Sarja|Arjun]]'s ''[[Ottran]]''.<ref name="Crew" />

=== Critical reception ===
The film received unanimous critical acclaim particularly for Vikram and Surya's performances. Malathi Rangarajan of ''[[The Hindu]]'' praised Vikram as "Without any dialogue to support him he carves a niche for himself in the viewer's mind with his expressions and excellent body language" and Suriya as "Who would have thought that this young man, pitted against the serious Chithan, would prove so perfect a foil?" going on to declare the movie as "..a symphony on celluloid".<ref name="The Hindu">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/10/31/stories/2003103101210200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031116014127/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/10/31/stories/2003103101210200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 November 2003 |work=[[The Hindu]] |title=Pithamagan |date=31 October 2003 }}</ref> Balaji Balasubramaniam of ''Thiraipadam.com'' reviewed as "With unique characterization, tremendous performances and a smooth screenplay, the movie offers a satisfying experience to the discerning viewer..." and noted "Vikram pretty much lives the role of the undertaker. With dry and streaked hair, dirty teeth and torn clothes, he looks the part and though he doesn't utter a word, he conveys everything through his expressions and body language".<ref name="Thiraipadam">{{Cite web |url=http://www.thiraipadam.com/cgi-bin/movie_review.pl?id=430&user_name=bbalaji&review_lang=english&lang=english |title=Pithamagan – Tamil Movie Review |publisher=thiraipadam.com}}</ref> A reviewer at Sify.com noted, "..it is the expert performance of the lead actors that elevate the film above the commonplace".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/pitamagan-review-tamil-13291501.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818095134/http://www.sify.com/movies/pitamagan-review-tamil-13291501.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-08-18 |title=Pithamagan – Sify Review}}</ref>

Film critic [[Baradwaj Rangan]] remarked, "Bala's ingeniousness is evident everywhere .... And he gets tremendous support from his leads...It all adds up to a first-rate film that excoriates as much as it entertains".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2003/11/08/review-pithamagan/ |title=Review: Pithamagan |last=Baradwaj Rangan |date=8 November 2003}}</ref> Ilaiyaraja also received praise for his musical score, "Ilaiyaraja adds unmeasurable strength to many of the scenes with his background music".<ref name="Thiraipadam" /> "The captivating numbers vouch for the fact that the Raja reigns supreme".<ref name="The Hindu" />

== Awards ==
The film has won the following awards since its release:

'''[[51st National Film Awards|National Film Awards 2003]]'''
* Won – [[National Film Award for Best Actor|Silver Lotus Award for Best Actor]] – [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]]

'''[[Filmfare Awards South]]'''
* Won – [[Filmfare Best Film Award (Tamil)]]
* Won – [[Filmfare Best Director Award (Tamil)|Filmfare Best Director Award]] – [[Bala (director)|Bala]]
* Won – [[Filmfare Best Actor Award (Tamil)|Filmfare Best Actor]] – Vikram
* Won – [[Filmfare Best Actress Award (Tamil)|Filmfare Best Actress]] – [[Laila (actress)|Laila]]
* Won – [[Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award]] – [[Suriya]]
* Won – [[Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award]] – [[Sangeetha Krish|Sangeetha]]

'''[[Tamil Nadu State Film Awards]]'''
* Won – [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] – Vikram
* Won – [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] – [[Laila (actress)|Laila]]
* Won – [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actress]] – Sangeetha

'''[[CineMAA Awards]]'''
* Won – South India's Best Actor – Vikram<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/cinemaaawards2003.html |title=Telugu CineMaa Awards 2003 |publisher=Idlebrain.com |access-date=14 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525025405/http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/cinemaaawards2003.html |archive-date=25 May 2015 }}</ref>

== Remakes ==
The film was remade in [[Kannada]] as ''[[Anatharu]]'' with [[Upendra (actor)|Upendra]] and [[Darshan (actor)|Darshan]] in the lead and released on 14 September 2007. Repeating the success of the original, the film received favourable reviews and applause for Upendra's performance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/review/9194.html |title=Archived copy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152000/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/review/9194.html |archive-date=5 September 2015 |access-date=5 December 2014 |df=dmy}}</ref>

The film is also to be remade in [[Hindi]]. Director [[Satish Kaushik]] has bought the remake rights of the film.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-11/news-interviews/30263578_1_hindi-version-pithamagan-indian-films |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615191439/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-11/news-interviews/30263578_1_hindi-version-pithamagan-indian-films |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 June 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Pithamagan is B-town bound |date=11 October 2011 }}</ref> Incidentally, Satish had earlier directed [[Salman Khan]] in [[Tere Naam]], the Hindi remake of the Bala-Vikram film [[Sethu (film)|Sethu]]. Once again, Satish has approached Salman Khan to reprise Vikram's role.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://m.ibnlive.com/news/satish-wants-salman-for-pithamagan-hindi-remake/258412-13.html |title=Satish wants Salman for 'Pithamagan' Hindi remake |date=30 May 2013 |publisher=ibnlive.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kollyinsider.com/2012/05/pithamagan-hindi-remake-salman-khan.html |title='Pithamagan' Hindi remake – Salman Khan plays Vikram role |date=18 May 2012}}</ref> However the project failed to materialise.

== Legacy ==
Karunas who acted in the film did a spoof on Vikram's character in a film called ''[[Ennavo Pudichirukku]]'' (2004).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bbthots.com/reviews/2004/epudichirukku.html |title=Archived copy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221450/http://www.bbthots.com/reviews/2004/epudichirukku.html |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=5 December 2014 |df=dmy}}</ref> Surya's character as petty thief from ''[[Maayavi]]'' (2005) was compared with character from Pithamagan.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thiraipadam.com/cgi-bin/movie_review.pl?id%3D453%26user_name%3Dbbalaji%26review_lang%3Denglish%26lang%3Denglish |title=Archived copy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210184942/http://www.thiraipadam.com/cgi-bin/movie_review.pl?id=453&user_name=bbalaji&review_lang=english&lang=english |archive-date=10 December 2014 |access-date=5 December 2014 |df=dmy}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=0376076|title=Pithamagan}}

{{Bala (director)}}
{{FilmfareAwardBestTamilMovie}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2003 films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Actor National Award-winning performance]]
[[Category:Films about disability in India]]
[[Category:Tamil films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja]]
[[Category:Films directed by Bala (director)]]
[[Category:2000s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2003 action drama films]]
[[Category:2003 crime drama films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian action drama films]]
[[Category:Indian crime drama films]]

Pithamagan - Revision history

imported>WikiPedant: Reverted edits by 106.203.213.209 (talk) to last version by Radartooth