KarenCharley004: Creating First Details Nd Citations

2026-03-04T05:15:51Z

Creating First Details Nd Citations

New page

{{short description|1961 film by L. V. Prasad}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Thayilla Pillai
| image = Thayilla Pillai poster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[L. V. Prasad]]
| screenplay = [[M. Karunanidhi]]
| story = S. R. Pinisetty
| producer = A. Anand<br />L. V. Prasad
| starring = [[T. S. Balaiah]]<br />[[M. V. Rajamma]]
| cinematography = K. S. Prasad
| editing = A. Sanjeevi
| music = [[K. V. Mahadevan]]
| studio = Prasad Movies
| distributor = [[Gemini Studios]]
| released = {{film date|1961|08|18|df=y}}
| runtime = 173 minutes{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=371}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Thayilla Pillai''''' ({{translation|The Motherless Child}}){{sfn|Narwekar|1994|p=242}} is 1961 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] directed and co-produced by [[L. V. Prasad]] and written by [[M. Karunanidhi]] from a story by S. R. Pinisetty. The film stars [[T. S. Balaiah]] and [[M. V. Rajamma]], with G. Muthukrishnan, [[Kalyan Kumar]], S. Rama Rao, [[R. S. Manohar|Manohar]], [[L. Vijayalakshmi]], Madhuri Roy, Sandhya and [[T. P. Muthulakshmi]] in supporting roles. It revolves around a mother torn between her love for her orthodox [[Brahmin]] husband and her son.

''Thayilla Pillai'' speaks against the [[caste system in India]]. It was co-produced by A. Anand, photographed by K. S. Prasad, and edited by A. Sanjeevi. The film was released on 18 August 1961 and became a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres. It was remade in [[Malayalam]] as ''[[Pravaham]]'' (1975).

== Plot ==
{{more plot|date=June 2021}}
The conservative [[Brahmin]] Pathanjali Sasthri severs relations with his modern brother-in-law Bharathi, a doctor. When Sasthri's wife Parvathi, who had two miscarriages, finds herself pregnant, she goes to her brother to get medical aid and incurs the displeasure of her husband. The wife gives birth to a son but simultaneously adopts the son of a lower-caste woman who [[Maternal death|died in childbirth]], creating some confusion for Sasthri as to which baby is his son. Eventually the couple raise the adopted child while their biological son becomes a [[rickshaw]]-puller. The two boys grow up and become friends. In the end, the family reunites.

== Cast ==
{{Col-begin|width=60%}}
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Male cast<ref name="songbook" />
* [[T. S. Balaiah]] as Pathanjali Sasthri
* G. Muthukrishnan as Shankar
* [[Kalyan Kumar]] as Somu
* S. Rama Rao as Rangu
* [[R. S. Manohar|Manohar]] as Doctor Bharathi
*[[Nagesh]] as Mohan
* Dhakshinamoorthi
* Rajamohan
* C. V. V. Panthulu as Gurumoorthi Pillai
*[[Senthamarai (actor)|Senthamarai]] as Ponnan
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Female cast<ref name="songbook" />
* [[M. V. Rajamma]] as Parvathi
* [[L. Vijayalakshmi]] as Suguna
* Madhuri Roy as Chandra
* Sandhya as Sushila
* [[T. P. Muthulakshmi]] as Gangamma

{{col-end}}

== Production ==
''Thayilla Pillai'' was directed by [[L. V. Prasad]] and produced by A. Anand under Prasad Movies.<ref name="songbook" /> Although Prasad was the co-producer, he was not listed as such in the opening credits.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prasad |first=L. V. |author-link=L. V. Prasad |title=My 55 years experience |url=http://prasadgroup.org/lvprasad-autobiography.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190219102141/http://prasadgroup.org/lvprasad-autobiography.html |archive-date=19 February 2019 |access-date=19 February 2019 |website=Prasad Group}}</ref> The screenplay was written by [[M. Karunanidhi]],<ref name="songbook" /> based on a story by S. R. Pinisetty.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Thai Illa Pillai |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=Prasad Movies |year=1961 |time=0:00 to 2:23 |time-caption=Opening credits, from}}</ref> Cinematography was handled by K. S. Prasad, art direction by Thotta, and the editing by A. Sanjeevi.<ref name="songbook" /> The final length of the film was {{convert|15567|feet|metres}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1961 – தாயில்லா பிள்ளை – பிரசாத் மூவிஸ் |trans-title=1961 – Thayilla Pillai – Prasad Movies |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1961-cinedetails11.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190219101243/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1961-cinedetails11.asp |archive-date=19 February 2019 |access-date=6 May 2022 |website=[[Lakshman Sruthi]] |language=Tamil}}</ref>

== Themes ==
Like many films Karunanidhi wrote, ''Thayilla Pillai'' reflects his political ideology.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 August 2018 |title=Life of Kalaignar M Karunanidhi in cinema |at=slide 11 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/entertainment/2018/aug/07/life-of-kalaignar-m-karunanidhi-in-cinema-101700.html |url-status=live |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219114645/http://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/entertainment/2018/aug/07/life-of-kalaignar-m-karunanidhi-in-cinema-101700--11.html |archive-date=19 February 2019}}</ref> It speaks against the [[caste system in India]],{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=371}}{{sfn|Thoraval|2000|p=324}} and the problem of "orphan children".<ref name="IE review" /> Karunanidhi said that, through the character of Pathanjali Sasthri, he portrayed "how casteist feelings, age-old customs and rituals and [[Superstition in India|superstitious beliefs]] had been deeply entrenched in the human psyche for generations."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Karunanidhi |first=M. |author-link=M. Karunanidhi |date=9 August 2018 |title=Excerpts from a special article written by Karunanidhi |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/cinema-for-a-cause/article24639454.ece |url-status=live |access-date=29 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219114645/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/cinema-for-a-cause/article24639454.ece |archive-date=19 February 2019}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by [[K. V. Mahadevan]].{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=371}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thaayilla Pillai |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/thaayilla-pillai/GSbvC18UR,o_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219120705/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/thaayilla-pillai/GSbvC18UR,o_ |archive-date=19 February 2019 |access-date=19 February 2019 |website=[[JioSaavn]]|date=31 December 1961 }}</ref> The songs "Chinna Chinna Ooraniyam", "Kaalam Maruthu Karuthu Maruthu" and "Kadavulum Naanum Oru Jaathi" attained popularity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swathi |date=25 August 2018 |title=கலைஞர் என்னும் கலைஞன் – 14 : தாயில்லாப் பிள்ளை |trans-title=Kalaignar alias the artist – 14: Thayilla Pillai |url=http://www.valaitamil.com/kalaignar-enum-kalaignan-14_17788.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190219090651/http://www.valaitamil.com/kalaignar-enum-kalaignan-14_17788.html |archive-date=19 February 2019 |access-date=21 February 2019 |website=Valai Tamil}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Songs !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length
|-
| "Cheeradum Painkiliyae" || [[R. Balasaraswathi Devi]]||[[Kothamangalam Subbu]]
| 04:16
|-
| "Chinna Chinna Ooraniyam" || [[Soolamangalam Sisters|Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi]] ||[[Kannadasan]]
| 03:47
|-
| "Vaamma Vaamma Chinnamma" ||[[Sirkazhi Govindarajan]], [[P. Susheela]]||Kannadasan
| 04:30
|-
| "Kaalam Maruthu Karuthu Maruthu" || [[A. L. Raghavan]], [[L. R. Eswari]]||Kannadasan
| 04:16
|-
| "Kadavulum Naanum Oru Jaathi" || A. L. Raghavan ||Kannadasan
| 04:10
|-
| "Padikka Vendum Pudhiya Paadam" ||[[P. B. Sreenivas]], [[K. Jamuna Rani]]||[[A. Maruthakasi]]
| 04:25
|-
| "Oorar Aadithuvittar" || [[T. M. Soundararajan]] ||Kannadasan
| 03:57
|-
| "Thotta Kaigal" || P. Susheela ||Kannadasan
| 03:32
|-
| "Chinna Chinna Ooraniyam" – 2 || R. Balasaraswathi Devi ||Kannadasan
| 02:02
|}

== Release and reception ==

''Thayilla Pillai'' was released on 18 August 1961,{{sfn|Rathinagiri|2007|p=66}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 July 2018 |title=திரையுலகில் கலைஞர் |trans-title=Artist in the world of films |url=https://www.dinamalar.com/karunanidhi/newsdetail.asp?id=8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181026111453/http://www.dinamalar.com/karunanidhi/newsdetail.asp?id=8 |archive-date=26 October 2018 |access-date=19 February 2019 |website=[[Dinamalar]] |language=ta}}</ref> and distributed by [[Gemini Studios]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 September 1961 |title=தாயில்லா பிள்ளை |language=ta |trans-title=The Motherless Child |pages=4 |work=[[Dinamani]] |url=http://centuryflourmills.com/images/events/din2.pdf |url-status=dead |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722060314/http://centuryflourmills.com/images/events/din2.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2017}}</ref> ''[[The Indian Express]]'' applauded the film, particularly Balaiah's performance, saying he "outshines all others in the cast". The reviewer also praised Rama Rao and Muthulakshmi for providing "good comic relief", and director Prasad for being able to "blend comedy and emotion so well".<ref name="IE review" /> The film was commercially successful, running for over 100 days in theatres,<ref>{{Cite news |last=தீனதயாளன் |first=பா |date=28 August 2015 |title=தாய்மையின் ராணி!- எம்.வி. ராஜம்மா |trans-title=The Queen of Motherhood! – M. V. Rajamma |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/55230-.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130070110/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/55230-.html |archive-date=30 November 2019 |access-date=30 November 2019 |work=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref> and became a milestone for "touch[ing] on caste" in that period.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ezhilarasan |first=K |date=20 October 2019 |title=Caste in Tamil cinema, a story in four acts |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2019/oct/20/caste-in-tamil-cinema-a-story-in-four-acts-2050211.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021120351/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2019/oct/20/caste-in-tamil-cinema-a-story-in-four-acts-2050211.html |archive-date=21 October 2021}}</ref> It was later remade in [[Malayalam]] as ''[[Pravaham]]'' (1975).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vijayakumar |first=B. |date=3 December 2010 |title=Tamil Movies made in Malayalam |url=http://oldmalayalam.blogspot.com/2010/12/original-tamil-malayalam-remake-nalla.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190208032430/http://oldmalayalam.blogspot.com/2010/12/original-tamil-malayalam-remake-nalla.html |archive-date=8 February 2019 |access-date=9 February 2019 |website=Old is Gold}}</ref>

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="songbook">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/download/sok.ThaaiIllaaPillai_L.V.Prasad_1961/80.%20ThaaiIllaaPillai_L.V.Prasad_1961.pdf |title=தாயில்லப் பிள்ளை |publisher=Prasad Movies |year=1961 |language=ta |trans-title=The Motherless Child |type=[[song book]] |access-date=1 July 2022 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
<ref name="IE review">{{Cite news |date=18 August 1961 |title=Baliah steals the show in "Thai Illa Pillai" |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19610818&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=19 February 2019 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=3 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Narwekar |first=Sanjit |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UYUjAQAAIAAJ&q=%22thayilla+pillai%22 |title=Directory of Indian Film-makers and Films |date=1994 |publisher=Flicks Books |isbn=978-0-948911-40-8 |oclc=924860434 |author-link=Sanjit Narwekar}}
* {{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 |last=Rathinagiri |first=R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=64kMAQAAMAAJ&q=thaayilla |title=Time capsule of Kalaignar |publisher=[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] |year=2007 |oclc=233030854}}
* {{Cite book |last=Thoraval |first=Yves |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-OpkAAAAMAAJ |title=The cinemas of India |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]] |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-333-93410-4 |location=India |oclc=315628673}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0255642}}

{{L. V. Prasad}}
[[Category:1961 Indian films]]
[[Category:1960s satirical films]]
[[Category:1961 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1961 drama films]]
[[Category:1961 films]]
[[Category:Films about social issues in India]]
[[Category:Films about the caste system in India]]
[[Category:Films directed by L. V. Prasad]]
[[Category:Films scored by K. V. Mahadevan]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by M. Karunanidhi]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:Indian satirical films]]
[[Category:Tamil films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Thayilla Pillai - Revision history

KarenCharley004: Creating First Details Nd Citations