Sivagangai Seemai - Revision history

Victorhcm: brief improved details after review and added references based on references

2026-03-04T04:59:22Z

brief improved details after review and added references based on references

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:29, 4 March 2026
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	\| name = Sivagangai Seemai		\| name = Sivagangai Seemai
	\| image = Sivagangai Seemai.jpg		\| image = Sivagangai Seemai.jpg
	~~\| border = no~~
	\| caption = Poster		\| caption = Poster
	\| director = [[K. Shankar]]		\| director = [[K. Shankar]]
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	\| music = [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]]		\| music = [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]]
	\| studio = Kannadasan Productions		\| studio = Kannadasan Productions
	\| released = {{film date\|~~1959~~\|5\|19\|df=y}}		\| released = {{film date\|1957\|5\|19\|df=y}}
	\| runtime = 173 minutes{{Sfn\|Rajadhyaksha\|Willemen\|1998\|p=361}}		\| runtime = 173 minutes{{Sfn\|Rajadhyaksha\|Willemen\|1998\|p=361}}
	\| country = India		\| country = India
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	}}		}}

	'''''Sivagangai Seemai''''' ({{translation\|The Land of Sivagangai}}) is a ~~1959~~ Indian [[Tamil language\|Tamil]]-language [[historical drama]] film directed by [[K. Shankar]] and written by [[Kannadasan]]. Based on the life of the [[Maruthu Pandiyar]]s, the film stars [[S. S. Rajendran]], [[S. Varalakshmi]], [[Kumari Kamala\|Kamala Lakshmanan]] and [[M. N. Rajam]]. It was released on 19 May ~~1959~~.		'''''Sivagangai Seemai''''' ({{translation\|The Land of Sivagangai}}) is a 1957 Indian [[Tamil language\|Tamil]]-language [[historical drama]] film directed by [[K. Shankar]] and written by [[Kannadasan]]. Based on the life of the [[Maruthu Pandiyar]]s, the film stars [[S. S. Rajendran]], [[S. Varalakshmi]], [[Kumari Kamala\|Kamala Lakshmanan]] and [[M. N. Rajam]]. It was released on 19 May 1957.

	== Plot ==		== Plot ==
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	== Soundtrack ==		== Soundtrack ==
	The soundtrack features 16 songs composed by [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]].<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Sivagangai Seemai (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) \|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/sivagangai-seemai-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1368243124 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425082951/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/sivagangai-seemai-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1368243124 \|archive-date=25 April 2022 \|access-date=25 April 2022 \|website=[[Apple Music]]}}</ref> Lyrics were by Kannadasan. The song "Kanavu Kanden" is set in Mukhari raga.<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Mani \|first=Charulatha \|author-link=Charulatha Mani \|date=4 January 2013 \|title=Notes of peace \|work=[[The Hindu]] \|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/notes-of-peace/article4272618.ece \|url-status=live \|access-date=16 May 2019 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029112226/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/notes-of-peace/article4272618.ece \|archive-date=29 October ~~2022~~}}</ref>		The soundtrack features 16 songs composed by [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]].<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Sivagangai Seemai (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) \|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/sivagangai-seemai-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1368243124 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425082951/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/sivagangai-seemai-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1368243124 \|archive-date=25 April 2022 \|access-date=25 April 2022 \|website=[[Apple Music]]}}</ref> Lyrics were by Kannadasan. The song "Kanavu Kanden" is set in [[Mukhari]] raga.<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Mani \|first=Charulatha \|author-link=Charulatha Mani \|date=4 January 2013 \|title=Notes of peace \|work=[[The Hindu]] \|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/notes-of-peace/article4272618.ece \|url-status=live \|access-date=16 May 2019 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029112226/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/notes-of-peace/article4272618.ece \|archive-date=29 October 2018}}</ref>

	{\| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"		{\| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
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	== Release and reception ==		== Release and reception ==
	''Sivagangai Seemai'' was released on 19 May ~~1959~~,<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Sri Kantha \|first=Sachi \|author-link=Sachi Sri Kantha \|date=7 April 2015 \|title=MGR Remembered – Part 26 {{!}} V.C. Ganesan: A reputable rival in Movies and Politics \|url=https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-26/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803090549/https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-26/ \|archive-date=3 August 2020 \|access-date=25 April 2022 \|website=[[Ilankai Tamil Sangam]]}}</ref> delayed from April.<ref>{{Cite news \|date=6 February 1959 \|title=Sivagangai Seemai ~~\|pages=10 \|work=[[The Indian Express]]~~ \|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19590206&printsec=frontpage&hl=en \|access-date=7 April ~~2022~~}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Because the majority of male characters in the film had thick moustaches, the Tamil magazine ''[[Kumudam]]'' called it "''Sivagangai Meesai''", with "''Meesai''" meaning "moustache".<ref name="guy">{{Cite news \|last=Guy \|first=Randor \|author-link=Randor Guy \|date=4 February 2012 \|title=Blast from the past – Sivagangai Seemai (1957) \|work=[[The Hindu]] \|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/blast-from-the-past-sivagangai-seemai-1957/article2860439.ece \|access-date=14 January 2017 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730075926/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/blast-from-the-past-sivagangai-seemai-1957/article2860439.ece \|archive-date=30 July ~~2022~~}}</ref> Kanthan of ''[[Kalki (magazine)\|Kalki]]'' said the film was not visually appealing, and overabundant with verbosity.<ref>{{Cite magazine \|last=காந்தன் \|date=7 June 1959 \|title=சிவகங்கைச் சீமை \|url=https://~~ibb~~.co/~~Ws9m36P~~ \|~~url~~-~~status~~=~~dead~~ \|magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)\|Kalki]] ~~\|language=ta~~ \|pages=17–18 \|~~archive-url~~=~~https://web.archive.org/web/20220904060656/https://ibb.co/Ws9m36P~~ \|~~archive-date~~=~~4 September 2022 \|access-date=4 September 2022~~}}</ref> The film was not a success,<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Raman \|first=Mohan V. \|author-link=Mohan Raman \|date=16 May 2019 \|title='Veerapandiya Kattabomman' turns 60: the rebel who won many hearts \|work=[[The Hindu]] \|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/veerapandiya-kattabomman-turns-60-years/article27146036.ece \|url-status=live \|access-date=16 May 2019 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715092352/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/veerapandiya-kattabomman-turns-60-years/article27146036.ece \|archive-date=15 July ~~2022~~}}</ref> but because of its theme and historic content, it acquired [[cult film\|cult]] status in later years.<ref name="guy" />		''Sivagangai Seemai'' was released on 19 May 1957,<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Sri Kantha \|first=Sachi \|author-link=Sachi Sri Kantha \|date=7 April 2015 \|title=MGR Remembered – Part 26 {{!}} V.C. Ganesan: A reputable rival in Movies and Politics \|url=https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-26/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803090549/https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-26/ \|archive-date=3 August 2020 \|access-date=25 April 2022 \|website=[[Ilankai Tamil Sangam]]}}</ref> delayed from April.<ref>{{Cite news \|date=6 February 1959 \|title=Sivagangai Seemai \|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19590206&printsec=frontpage&hl=en \|access-date=7 April 2018 \|work=[[The Indian Express]] \|pages=10 \|via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Because the majority of male characters in the film had thick moustaches, the Tamil magazine ''[[Kumudam]]'' called it "''Sivagangai Meesai''", with "''Meesai''" meaning "moustache".<ref name="guy">{{Cite news \|last=Guy \|first=Randor \|author-link=Randor Guy \|date=4 February 2012 \|title=Blast from the past – Sivagangai Seemai (1957) \|work=[[The Hindu]] \|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/blast-from-the-past-sivagangai-seemai-1957/article2860439.ece \|access-date=14 January 2017 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730075926/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/blast-from-the-past-sivagangai-seemai-1957/article2860439.ece \|archive-date=30 July 2013}}</ref> Kanthan of ''[[Kalki (magazine)\|Kalki]]'' said the film was not visually appealing, and overabundant with verbosity.<ref>{{Cite magazine \|last=காந்தன் \|date=7 June 1959 \|title=சிவகங்கைச் சீமை \|url=https://archive.org/download/kalki1959-06-07/kalki1959-06-07.pdf \|access-date=6 October 2024 \|magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)\|Kalki]] \|pages=17–18 \|language=ta \|via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> The film was not a success,<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Raman \|first=Mohan V. \|author-link=Mohan Raman \|date=16 May 2019 \|title='Veerapandiya Kattabomman' turns 60: the rebel who won many hearts \|work=[[The Hindu]] \|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/veerapandiya-kattabomman-turns-60-years/article27146036.ece \|url-status=live \|access-date=16 May 2019 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715092352/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/veerapandiya-kattabomman-turns-60-years/article27146036.ece \|archive-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> but because of its theme and historic content, it acquired [[cult film\|cult]] status in later years.<ref name="guy" />

	== References ==		== References ==
	{{Reflist}}		{{Reflist}}

	== Bibliography ==		== Bibliography ==
	* {{Cite book \|~~last~~=Dechamma C. C. \|~~first~~=Sowmya \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XgrKSAAACAAJ \|title=Cinemas of South India: Culture, Resistance, and Ideology \|last2=Prakash \|first2=Elavarthi Sathya \|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] \|year=2010 \|isbn=978-0-19-806795-5}}		* {{Cite book \|last1=Dechamma C. C. \|first1=Sowmya \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XgrKSAAACAAJ \|title=Cinemas of South India: Culture, Resistance, and Ideology \|last2=Prakash \|first2=Elavarthi Sathya \|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] \|year=2010 \|isbn=978-0-19-806795-5}}
	* {{Cite book \|last1=Rajadhyaksha \|first1=Ashish \|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema \|last2=Willemen \|first2=Paul \|publisher=[[British Film Institute]] and [[Oxford University Press]] \|year=1998 \|isbn=0-19-563579-5 \|author-link=Ashish Rajadhyaksha \|author-link2=Paul Willemen \|orig-date=1994}}		* {{Cite book \|last1=Rajadhyaksha \|first1=Ashish \|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema \|last2=Willemen \|first2=Paul \|publisher=[[British Film Institute]] and [[Oxford University Press]] \|year=1998 \|isbn=0-19-563579-5 \|author-link=Ashish Rajadhyaksha \|author-link2=Paul Willemen \|orig-date=1994}}

	== External links ==		== External links ==
	* {{IMDb title~~\|0323987~~}}		* {{IMDb title}}
	{{K. Shankar}}		{{K. Shankar}}

	[[Category:1950s historical drama films]]		[[Category:1950s historical drama films]]
	[[Category:~~1950s~~ Tamil-language films]]		[[Category:1957 Indian films]]
			[[Category:1957 Tamil-language films]]
	[[Category:1950s war drama films]]		[[Category:1950s war drama films]]
	~~[[Category:1959 drama films]]~~
	[[Category:1959 films]]		[[Category:1959 films]]
	[[Category:Epic films based on actual events]]		[[Category:Epic films based on actual events]]
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	[[Category:Indian historical drama films]]		[[Category:Indian historical drama films]]
	[[Category:Indian war drama films]]		[[Category:Indian war drama films]]
			[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Sivagangai Seemai
| image = Sivagangai Seemai.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[K. Shankar]]
| producer = K. S. Ranganathan
| story = [[Kannadasan]]
| starring = [[S. S. Rajendran]] [[S. Varalakshmi]] [[Kumari Kamala|Kamala Lakshmanan]] T. K. Bhagavathi [[M. N. Rajam]]
| music = [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]]
| cinematography = Thambu
| editing = [[K. Shankar]] [[K. Narayanan]]
| studio = Kannadasan Productions
| distributor = Kannadasan Productions
| released = 19 May 1959<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-26/ | title=MGR Remembered – Part 26 | publisher=Ilankai Tamil Sangam | access-date=23 October 2015 | author=Sachi Sri Kantha | author-link=Sachi Sri Kantha }}</ref>
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Sivagangai Seemai''''' ({{translation|The Land of Sivagangai}}) is a 1959 [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[historical drama]] film directed by [[K. Shankar]]. This was [[Kannadasan]]’s second home production and he wrote the script and lyrics for the movie. It is based on the life of Maruthu Brothers.{{Sfn|Dechamma C. C.|Prakash|2010|p=152}} The movie's cast is [[S. S. Rajendran]], [[S. Varalakshmi]], [[Kumari Kamala|Kamala Lakshmanan]] and [[M. N. Rajam]] in lead roles.<ref name="guy">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/blast-from-the-past-sivagangai-seemai-1957/article2860439.ece|title=Blast from the past – Sivagangai Seemai (1957)|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=4 February 2012| access-date=14 January 2017|author=Randor Guy|author-link=Randor Guy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730075926/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/blast-from-the-past-sivagangai-seemai-1957/article2860439.ece|archive-date=30 July 2013}}</ref>

== Plot ==
After the execution of [[Kattabomman]] on 16 October 1799 at [[Kayatharu|Kayattar]], Chinna Marudhu gave asylum to Kattabomman's brother [[Oomaithurai|Oomadurai]]. The British used this reason to invade and attack [[Sivaganga]] in 1801 with a powerful army. The Maruthu Pandiyars and their allies were quite successful and captured three districts from the British. The British considered it as a serious threat to their future in India that they rushed additional troops from Britain to put down the [[Maruthu Pandiyar]]s' rebellion.

== Cast ==
{{Col-begin|width=60%}}
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Male cast
* [[S. S. Rajendran]] as Matchiya Nadigar<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19590206&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Sivagangai Seemai |date=6 February 1959 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |page=10}}</ref>
* [[P. S. Veerappa]]
* [[T. K. Bhagavathi]]
* M. K. Mustafa
* D. V. Narayanasami
* G. Muthukrishnan
* P. S. Venkatachalam
* Raja Wahab Kashmiri as Colonel Welsh
* K. M. Nambirajan
* Dakshinamurthi
* Rathnam
* [[Karikol Raju|Karikol Raj]]
* S. P. Veerasami
* S. A. G. Sami
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Female cast
* [[S. Varalakshmi]]
* [[M. N. Rajam]]
* [[Kumari Kamala|Kamala Lakshmanan]] as Chittu
* [[Tambaram Lalitha|N. Lalitha]]
* Kumari Radha
* Jaya
* Sakunthala
;Dance
*[[Sayee Subbulakshmi]]
{{col-end}}

==Production==
The film started production under the title ''Oomaiyan Kottai'' with [[M. G. Ramachandran|M.G.Ramachandran]] but it got shelved as Ramachandran was busy with politics. The same project was revived as ''Sivagangai Seemai''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-47/|title=MGR Remembered – Part 47 – Ilankai Tamil Sangam|website=sangam.org|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack features 16 songs composed by [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/sivagangai-seemai-original/id850796062 | title=Sivagangai Seemai (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | publisher=[[iTunes]] | access-date=23 October 2015}}</ref> Lyrics were by [[Kannadasan]]. The song "Kanavu Kanden" is set in Mukhari raga.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/notes-of-peace/article4272618.ece|title=Notes of peace|last=Mani|first=Charulatha|date=2013-01-04|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-05-16|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! No. !! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length (m:ss)
|-
| 1 || "Saanthu Pottu Thala Thalanga" || [[P. Leela]] & [[K. Jamuna Rani]] || rowspan=16|[[Kannadasan]] || 03:48
|-
| 2 || "Veerargal Vaazhum Dravidar Naattai" || [[T. M. Soundararajan]] || 03:26
|-
| 3 || "Thendral Vandhu Veesaadho" || [[S. Varalakshmi]] & [[T. S. Bagavathi]] || 04:06
|-
| 4 || "Kannankaruthaa Kili Kattazhagan Thotta Kili" || [[P. Leela]] || 03:11
|-
| 5 || "Kanavu Kandaen Naan Kanavu Kandaen" (happy) || T. M. Soundararajan & T. S. Bagavathi || 03:32
|-
| 6 || "Maruvirukkum Koondhal" (traditional verse) || [[V. N. Sundaram]] || 00:28
|-
| 7 || "Kanavu Kandaen Naan Kanavu Kandaen" (Pathos) || T. S. Bagavathi || 03:02
|-
| 8 || "Vaigai Perugivara" || [[C. S. Jayaraman]] & P. Leela || 03:28
|-
| 9 || "Thanimai Naerndhadho" || S. Varalakshmi ||
|-
| 10 || "Sivagangai Cheemai Sivagangai Cheemai" || T. M. Soundararajan, [[Seerkazhi Govindarajan]] & [[A. P. Komala]] || 03:27
|-
| 11 || "Kottu Melam Kottungadi Kummi Kotti Paadungadi" || [[Jikki]] || 03:28
|-
| 12 || "Chinna Chinna Chittu Sivagangaiyai Vittu" || K. Jamuna Rani || 03:12
|-
| 13 || "Muthu Pugazh Padaitthu" || S. Varalakshmi & [[Radha Jayalakshmi]] || 05:49
|-
| 14 || "Aalikkum Kaigal" (one verse) || V. N. Sundaram || 00:30
|-
| 15 || "Megam Kuvindhadhammaa...Imaiyum Vizhiyum" || [[P. Susheela]] & dialogues by [[P. S. Veerappa]] || 04:38
|-
| 16 || "Vidiyum Vidiyum Endrirundhoam" || T. S. Bagavathi || 04:24
|}

== Reception ==
Because the majority of male characters in the film had thick moustaches, the Tamil magazine ''[[Kumudam]]'' called it "''Sivagangai Meesai''", with "''Meesai''" meaning "moustache". The film was not a success,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/veerapandiya-kattabomman-turns-60-years/article27146036.ece|title='Veerapandiya Kattabomman' turns 60: the rebel who won many hearts|last=Raman|first=Mohan V.|date=2019-05-16|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-05-16|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> but because of its theme and historic content, it acquired [[cult film|cult]] status in later years.<ref name="guy" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0323987}}
* {{YouTube|HXwCn830VeM|Sivagangai Seemai Titles}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XgrKSAAACAAJ |title=Cinemas of South India: Culture, Resistance, and Ideology |last1=Dechamma C. C. |first1=Sowmya |last2=Prakash |first2=Elavarthi Sathya |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-19-806795-5 }}
{{K. Shankar}}

[[Category:1959 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:1950s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. Shankar]]
[[Category:Indian historical drama films]]
[[Category:Indian war drama films]]
[[Category:Epic films based on actual events]]
[[Category:1950s historical drama films]]
[[Category:1950s war drama films]]
[[Category:Films set in the British Raj]]
[[Category:Indian epic films]]
[[Category:1959 drama films]]