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{{for|the 1955 film|Needhipathi}}
{{for|the 1955 film|Needhipathi}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name          = Neethibathi
| image          = Neethibathi 1983.jpg
| image          = Neethibathi 1983.jpg
| image_size    =
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| caption        = Poster
| director      = [[R. Krishnamoorthy]]
| director      = R. Krishnamoorthy
| story          = Satyanand
| producer      = Suresh Balaji
| producer      = Suresh Balaji
| story          = Satyanand
| starring      = [[Sivaji Ganesan]]<br />[[K. R. Vijaya]]
| screenplay    =  
| cinematography = K. S. Prasad
| editing        = V.Chakkarapani
| music          = [[Gangai Amaran]]
| music          = [[Gangai Amaran]]
| cinematography = K.S.prasad
| editing        = V.Chakkarapani
| studio        = Suresh Arts
| studio        = Suresh Arts
| distributor    =
| released      = {{Film date|1983|01|26|df=y|ref1=}}
| released      = {{Film date|1983|01|26|df=y}}<ref>https://www.kamadenu.in/news/cinema/15882-sivaji-jan-26-2.html</ref>
| country        = India
| country        = [[India]]
| language      = Tamil
| language      = Tamil
}}
}}


'''''Neethibathi''''' ({{lit|Judge}}) is a [[Tamil films of 1983|1983]] [[Cinema of India|Indian]] [[Tamil language|Tamil]] film,  directed by  Krishnamoorthy and produced by Suresh Balaji. The film stars [[Sivaji Ganesan]], [[K. R. Vijaya]], [[Prabhu (actor)|Prabhu]] and [[V. K. Ramasamy (actor)|V. K. Ramasamy]] in lead roles. The film had musical score by [[Gangai Amaran]]. The film was a remake of Telugu film ''[[Justice Chowdary]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mayyam.com/talk/showthread.php?6859-Prabhu-Ganesan-Charismatic-Affable-and-Underrated%2Fpage20 |title=Archived copy |access-date=28 April 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180428095918/http://www.mayyam.com/talk/showthread.php?6859-Prabhu-Ganesan-Charismatic-Affable-and-Underrated/page20 |archive-date=28 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
'''''Neethibathi''''' ({{translation|Judge}}) is a 1983 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[legal drama]] film<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 August 2019 |title=Movie Recos: 15 courtroom dramas in Tamil you might want to watch |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/photos/slideshows/2019/aug/07/movie-recos-15-courtroom-dramas-in-tamil-you-might-want-to-watch-419--11.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019072108/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/photos/slideshows/2019/aug/07/movie-recos-15-courtroom-dramas-in-tamil-you-might-want-to-watch-419--11.html |archive-date=19 October 2021 |access-date=19 October 2021 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |at=slide 11}}</ref> directed by  [[R. Krishnamoorthy]] and produced by Suresh Balaji. The film stars [[Sivaji Ganesan]] and [[K. R. Vijaya]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=231-240 |url=http://nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp24.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023425/http://nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp24.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=12 June 2021 |website=nadigarthilagam.com}}</ref> It is a remake of the 1982 [[Telugu language|Telugu]] film ''[[Justice Chowdary]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Arunachalam |first=Param |title=BollySwar: 1981–1990 |publisher=Mavrix Infotech |year=2020 |isbn=9788193848227 |pages=298–299}}</ref> The film was released on 26 January 1983.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ராம்ஜி |first=வி. |date=26 January 2019 |title=சிவாஜி... ஜனவரி 26... ரிலீஸ்! |url=https://www.kamadenu.in/news/cinema/15882-sivaji-jan-26-2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401163256/https://www.kamadenu.in/news/cinema/15882-sivaji-jan-26-2.html |archive-date=1 April 2019 |access-date=1 April 2019 |website=[[Kamadenu (magazine)|Kamadenu]] |language=ta}}</ref>


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
Rajasekar is a talented prosecutor with a loving wife Radha ([[K. R. Vijaya]]), police inspector son Shankar (Natarajan Ramji) and mute daughter Geetha ([[Menaka (actress)|Menaka]]). Sattanathan ([[V. K. Ramasamy (actor)|V. K. Ramasamy]]) is a defense attorney and a bitter professional rival to Rajasekar. He offers advice and guidance to Kalidas ([[R. N. Sudarshan]]), the leader of diamond smuggling gang. Rajasekar earlier successfully argued for Ranjith ([[R. N. Sudarshan]]) to be hanged for his crimes. Kalidas has his own ax to grind with Rajasekar as Ranjith was his twin brother. Rajasekar is appointed as a judge bypassing Sattanathan. As judge, he sentences Kalidas' other brother Jagan to life imprisonment. This propels Sattanathan and Kalidas to plan to bring Rajasekar down.
{{More plot|date=April 2023}}
Rajasekar is a skilled prosecutor with a wife named Radha, a police inspector son named Shankar, and a mute daughter named Geetha. Sattanathan is a defense attorney and a bitter professional rival of Rajasekar. He offers advice and guidance to Kalidas, the leader of a diamond smuggling gang. Rajasekar had earlier successfully argued for Kalidas's twin brother Ranjith to be hanged for his crimes, which had created animosity between them. Despite this, Rajasekar is appointed as a judge, bypassing Sattanathan. As a judge, Rajasekar sentences Kalidas's other brother Jagan to life imprisonment. This event triggers Sattanathan and Kalidas to plan to bring Rajasekar down.


Thyagu ([[Prabhu (actor)|Prabhu]]) is a mechanic and car racer that is determined to build a large house for his imprisoned mother Janaki ([[Sujatha (actress)|Sujatha]]). Janaki was a single mother that took the blame for a murder Thyagu committed as a child trying to protect her. Thyagu begins to work for Kalidas driving getaway vehicles. He also falls in love with Devi ([[Raadhika]]), Sattanathan's daughter. When Devi learns of Thyagu's work, she convinces him to turn a new leaf and give up crime. Just as he's ready to walk away from crime, he learns that his father and the man he believes abandoned Janaki is Rajasekar. Enraged, he teams up with Kalidas and Sattanathan to destroy Rajasekar. They conspire to make Geetha's husband abandon her and have Shankar arrested on false charges. Janaki is released from prison and Rajasekar also learns the truth about those conspiring against him. He must now uncover some deeply buried truths about his family and outsmart those against him.
Thyagu is a mechanic and car racer who is determined to build a large house for his imprisoned mother, Janaki. Janaki was a single mother who took the blame for a murder Thyagu committed as a child trying to protect her. Thyagu begins to work for Kalidas by driving getaway vehicles. He also falls in love with Devi, Sattanathan's daughter. When Devi learns of Thyagu's criminal activities, she convinces him to give up crime and start anew. However, just as he is ready to walk away from crime, Thyagu learns that his father, whom he believes abandoned Janaki, is none other than Rajasekar. This discovery enrages him, and he teams up with Kalidas and Sattanathan to destroy Rajasekar. Together, they plot to make Geetha's husband abandon her and have Shankar arrested on false charges. Meanwhile, Janaki is released from prison, and Rajasekar learns about the conspirators against him. He must now uncover deeply buried truths about his family and outsmart those against him.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* [[Sivaji Ganesan]] as Justice Rajasekar  
{{cast listing|
* [[K. R. Vijaya]] as Radha  
* [[Sivaji Ganesan]] as Justice Rajasekar
* [[Sujatha (actress)|Sujatha]] as Janaki  
* [[K. R. Vijaya]] as Radha
* [[Sujatha (actress)|Sujatha]] as Janaki
* [[V. K. Ramasamy (actor)|V. K. Ramasamy]] as Lawyer Sattanathan
* [[V. K. Ramasamy (actor)|V. K. Ramasamy]] as Lawyer Sattanathan
* [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] as Arogyamary a. k. a Lucy
* [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] as Arogyamary a. k. a Lucy
* [[Raadhika]] as Devi
* [[Radhika Sarathkumar|Radhika]] as Devi
* [[Prabhu (actor)|Prabhu]] as Thyagu
* [[Prabhu (actor)|Prabhu]] as Thyagu
* [[R. N. Sudarshan]] as Kalidas and Ranjith
* [[R. N. Sudarshan]] as Kalidas and Ranjith
* [[Menaka (actress)|Menaka]] as Geetha
* [[Menaka (actress)|Menaka]] as Geetha
* [[Sathyakala]] as Uma
* [[Sathyakala]] as Uma
* [[Vijayakumar (Tamil actor)|Vijayakumar]] as Ramesh (Guest Role)
* [[Vijayakumar (Tamil actor)|Vijayakumar]] as Ramesh (guest role)
* [[Ceylon Manohar]] as Mano
* [[Ceylon Manohar]] as Mano
* [[Y. G. Mahendra]] as Anthony  
* [[Y. G. Mahendran]] as Anthony
* [[V. Gopalakrishnan (actor)|V. Gopalakrishnan]] as Boopathy
* [[V. Gopalakrishnan (actor)|V. Gopalakrishnan]] as Boopathy
* [[Poornam Viswanathan]] as Radha's father
* [[Poornam Viswanathan]] as Radha's father
* Natarajan Ramji as Raja's Son
* Natarajan Ramji as Raja's Son
* [[Silk Smitha]] dancer in the Muthedukkum Aasaiyile song
* [[Silk Smitha]] dancer in the song "Muthedukkum Aasaiyile"
}}
 
== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by [[Gangai Amaran]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neethipathi Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by Gangai Amaren |url=https://mossymart.com/product/neethipathi-tamil-film-lp-vinyl-record-by-gangai-amaren/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019072109/https://mossymart.com/product/neethipathi-tamil-film-lp-vinyl-record-by-gangai-amaren/ |archive-date=19 October 2021 |access-date=19 October 2021 |website=Mossymart}}</ref>


==Soundtrack==
{{Track listing
Soundtrack was composed by Gangai Amaran.<ref>https://bollywoodvinyl.in/collections/kannada-malayalam-telugu-tamil-lps/products/neethipathi-1982-tamil-bollywood-vinyl-lp-3</ref>
| headline = Track listing
* "Pasamalare" - [[T. M. Soundararajan|TMS]], [[P. Susheela]]
| extra_column = Singer(s)
* "Muthedukkum Aasaiyile" - [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam|SPB]], [[S. Janaki]]
| title1 = Muthedukkum Aasaiyile
* "Thanthai Naan" - TMS
| lyrics1 = [[Gangai Amaran]]
* "Police Namakku" - [[Malaysia Vasudevan]], [[Vani Jairam]]
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], [[S. Janaki]]
* "Oru Devathai" - SPB, Vani Jairam
| length1 =
| title2 = Thanthai Naan
| lyrics2 = [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]]
| extra2 = [[T. M. Soundararajan]]
| length2 =
| title3 = Police Namakku
| lyrics3 = Vaali
| extra3 = [[Malaysia Vasudevan]], [[Vani Jairam]]
| length3 =
| title4 = Pasamalare
| lyrics4 = Vaali
| extra4 = T. M. Soundararajan, [[P. Susheela]], [[S. P. Sailaja]]
| length4 =
| title5 = Oru Devathai
| lyrics5 = Vaali
| extra5 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
| length5 =
}}
 
== Critical reception ==
''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'' called it yet another Ganesan film to be watched, enjoyed and disliked.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1983 |title=நீதிபதி |url=https://issuu.com/sudalai/docs/____________________________________da8c38a10b2861 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227040831/https://issuu.com/sudalai/docs/____________________________________da8c38a10b2861 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |access-date=11 May 2022 |magazine=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |page=9 |language=ta |via=[[Issuu]]}}</ref> Thiraignani of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' praised the acting of Ganesan but felt the film is not that flashy as much as the list of actors is flashy.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=திரைஞானி |date=13 February 1983 |title=நீதிபதி |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1983-02-13/page/n61/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230417132940/https://archive.org/details/kalki1983-02-13/page/n61/mode/2up |archive-date=17 April 2023 |access-date=17 April 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=62 |language=Ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> Balumani of ''Anna'' praised the acting, dialogues, music and humour but criticised the inclusion of an item number.<ref>{{cite news |last=பாலுமணி |date=30 January 1983 |title=நீதிபதி |url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_7_102/4.jp2/full/1000%2C1354/0/default.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250614072035/https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_7_102/4.jp2/full/1000,1354/0/default.jpg |archive-date=14 June 2025 |access-date=14 June 2025 |newspaper=Anna |pages=4 |language=ta |via=[[Endangered Archives Programme]]}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|1445695}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}


[[Category:1983 Indian films]]
[[Category:1980s legal drama films]]
[[Category:1983 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1983 films]]
[[Category:1983 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Films directed by R. Krishnamoorthy]]
[[Category:Films scored by Gangai Amaran]]
[[Category:Indian legal drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil remakes of Telugu films]]
[[Category:Tamil remakes of Telugu films]]
[[Category:1980s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
 
 
{{1980s-Tamil-film-stub}}

Latest revision as of 10:46, 3 March 2026

Neethibathi
File:Neethibathi 1983.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byR. Krishnamoorthy
Produced bySuresh Balaji
Story bySatyanand
StarringSivaji Ganesan
K. R. Vijaya
Music byGangai Amaran
CinematographyK. S. Prasad
Edited byV.Chakkarapani
Production
company
Suresh Arts
Release date
  • 26 January 1983 (1983-01-26)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Neethibathi (transl. Judge) is a 1983 Indian Tamil-language legal drama film[1] directed by R. Krishnamoorthy and produced by Suresh Balaji. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya.[2] It is a remake of the 1982 Telugu film Justice Chowdary.[3] The film was released on 26 January 1983.[4]

Plot[edit | edit source]

Rajasekar is a skilled prosecutor with a wife named Radha, a police inspector son named Shankar, and a mute daughter named Geetha. Sattanathan is a defense attorney and a bitter professional rival of Rajasekar. He offers advice and guidance to Kalidas, the leader of a diamond smuggling gang. Rajasekar had earlier successfully argued for Kalidas's twin brother Ranjith to be hanged for his crimes, which had created animosity between them. Despite this, Rajasekar is appointed as a judge, bypassing Sattanathan. As a judge, Rajasekar sentences Kalidas's other brother Jagan to life imprisonment. This event triggers Sattanathan and Kalidas to plan to bring Rajasekar down.

Thyagu is a mechanic and car racer who is determined to build a large house for his imprisoned mother, Janaki. Janaki was a single mother who took the blame for a murder Thyagu committed as a child trying to protect her. Thyagu begins to work for Kalidas by driving getaway vehicles. He also falls in love with Devi, Sattanathan's daughter. When Devi learns of Thyagu's criminal activities, she convinces him to give up crime and start anew. However, just as he is ready to walk away from crime, Thyagu learns that his father, whom he believes abandoned Janaki, is none other than Rajasekar. This discovery enrages him, and he teams up with Kalidas and Sattanathan to destroy Rajasekar. Together, they plot to make Geetha's husband abandon her and have Shankar arrested on false charges. Meanwhile, Janaki is released from prison, and Rajasekar learns about the conspirators against him. He must now uncover deeply buried truths about his family and outsmart those against him.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Soundtrack[edit | edit source]

The soundtrack was composed by Gangai Amaran.[5]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Muthedukkum Aasaiyile"Gangai AmaranS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki 
2."Thanthai Naan"VaaliT. M. Soundararajan 
3."Police Namakku"VaaliMalaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam 
4."Pasamalare"VaaliT. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela, S. P. Sailaja 
5."Oru Devathai"VaaliS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam 

Critical reception[edit | edit source]

Ananda Vikatan called it yet another Ganesan film to be watched, enjoyed and disliked.[6] Thiraignani of Kalki praised the acting of Ganesan but felt the film is not that flashy as much as the list of actors is flashy.[7] Balumani of Anna praised the acting, dialogues, music and humour but criticised the inclusion of an item number.[8]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Movie Recos: 15 courtroom dramas in Tamil you might want to watch". Cinema Express. 7 August 2019. slide 11. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  2. "231-240". nadigarthilagam.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  3. Arunachalam, Param (2020). BollySwar: 1981–1990. Mavrix Infotech. pp. 298–299. ISBN 9788193848227.
  4. ராம்ஜி, வி. (26 January 2019). "சிவாஜி... ஜனவரி 26... ரிலீஸ்!". Kamadenu (in தமிழ்). Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  5. "Neethipathi Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by Gangai Amaren". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  6. "நீதிபதி". Ananda Vikatan (in தமிழ்). 1983. p. 9. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2022 – via Issuu.
  7. திரைஞானி (13 February 1983). "நீதிபதி". Kalki (in தமிழ்). p. 62. Retrieved 17 April 2023 – via Internet Archive.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. பாலுமணி (30 January 1983). "நீதிபதி". Anna (in தமிழ்). p. 4. Archived from the original on 14 June 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025 – via Endangered Archives Programme.

External links[edit | edit source]