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{{short description|1969 film by K. Balachander}}
{{short description|1969 film by K. Balachander}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name          = Iru Kodugal
| name          = Iru Kodugal
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| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director      = [[K. Balachander]]
| director      = [[K. Balachander]]
| screenplay = K. Balachander
| based_on    = {{based on|''Iru Kodugal''|Joseph Anandan}}
| based_on    = {{based on|''Iru Kodugal''|Joseph Anandan}}
| screenplay = K. Balachander
| producer      = N. Selvaraj<br />B. Duraisamy<br />N. Krishnan<br />V. Govindarajan
| starring      = [[Gemini Ganesan]]<br />[[Sowcar Janaki]]<br />[[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]]
| starring      = [[Gemini Ganesan]]<br />[[Sowcar Janaki]]<br />[[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]]
| producer      = N. Selvaraj<br />B. Duraisamy<br />N. Krishnan<br />V. Govindarajan
| music          = [[V. Kumar]]
| cinematography = N. Balakrishnan
| cinematography = N. Balakrishnan
| editing        = N. R. Kittu
| editing        = N. R. Kittu
| music          = [[V. Kumar]]
| studio        = Kalakendra Movies
| studio        = Kalakendra Movies
| distributor    =  
| distributor    =  
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| runtime        = 176 minutes
| runtime        = 176 minutes
}}
}}
'''''Iru Kodugal''''' ({{trans|Two lines}}) is a 1969 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] directed by [[K. Balachander]]. The film stars [[Gemini Ganesan]], [[Sowcar Janaki]], [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]], [[Nagesh]], [[V. S. Raghavan]], [[S. N. Lakshmi]] and others. The story revolves around one man who was [[Bigamy|married to two women]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAxMS8wNC8yMyNBcjAzMzAw&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom |title=Trois |last=Murugesan |first=Deepauk |date=23 April 2011 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=11 December 2013 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6c0Hce20J?url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAxMS8wNC8yMyNBcjAzMzAw&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom |archive-date=3 October 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Iru Kodugal'' won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]], the first film by Balachander to win the award.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-granddaddy-of-tamil-films/article1985465.ece |title=The granddaddy of Tamil films |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=2 May 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 December 2013 |archive-date=14 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214155455/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-granddaddy-of-tamil-films/article1985465.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> The film which was based on a stage play of same name became a superhit. It was remade in [[Kannada]] as ''[[Eradu Rekhegalu]]'', in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''Collector Janaki'' and in [[Hindi]] as ''[[Sanjog (1972 film)|Sanjog]]''.
'''''Iru Kodugal''''' ({{translation|Two lines}}) is a 1969 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] directed by [[K. Balachander]]. The film stars [[Gemini Ganesan]], [[Sowcar Janaki]], [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]], [[Nagesh]], [[V. S. Raghavan]], [[S. N. Lakshmi]] and others. The story revolves around one man who was [[Bigamy|married to two women]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murugesan |first=Deepauk |date=23 April 2011 |title=Trois |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAxMS8wNC8yMyNBcjAzMzAw&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom |url-status=dead |access-date=11 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121846/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAxMS8wNC8yMyNBcjAzMzAw&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> ''Iru Kodugal'' won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]], the first film by Balachander to win the award.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=2 May 2011 |title=The granddaddy of Tamil films |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-granddaddy-of-tamil-films/article1985465.ece |url-status=live |access-date=11 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214155455/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-granddaddy-of-tamil-films/article1985465.ece |archive-date=14 December 2013}}</ref> The film, which was based on a stage play of same name, was remade in [[Kannada]] as ''[[Eradu Rekhegalu]]'', in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''Collector Janaki'' and in [[Hindi]] as ''[[Sanjog (1971 film)|Sanjog]]''.


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
Gopinath (Gemini Ganesan) falls in love with Janaki (Sowcar Janaki) and they get married in [[Varanasi|Kasi]]. The marriage is not accepted by Gopinath's mother and the couple gets separated. Janaki is pregnant and her father (V. S. Raghavan), realising that no man will marry Janaki a second time, decides to make her a collector. Gopinath meanwhile had moved to South India, where he later married Jaya (Jayanthi) by hiding his previous marriage. They live a happy life with their three children and Jaya's father. Gopinath works as a clerk in the collector's office. A new collector arrives at the office, and it turns out to be Janaki. They tend to work together, until one of the employees in Janaki's office, Babu (Nagesh), spreads a rumour stating that there is an affair between Janaki and Gopinath. This rumour reaches Jaya and she is completely disturbed. Jaya discovers the secret of Gopinath's affair with Janaki. Meanwhile, the sons of both Janaki and Jaya, Ramu and Prabhakar drowned in water and have been admitted to Hospital. Somehow Jaya manages the disturbance of the secret and accepts Janaki as her sister. But Ramu dies in hospital while Prabhakar survives. Jaya gives Janaki her son as a gift. Janaki and Prabhakar leave for abroad as Janaki received her duty abroad.
Gopinath falls in love with Janaki and they get married in [[Varanasi|Kasi]]. The marriage is not accepted by Gopinath's mother and the couple gets separated. Janaki is pregnant and her father, realising that no man will marry Janaki a second time, decides to make her a collector. Gopinath meanwhile had moved to South India, where he later married Jaya by hiding his previous marriage. They live a happy life with their three children and Jaya's father. Gopinath works as a clerk in the collector's office. A new collector arrives at the office, and it turns out to be Janaki. They tend to work together, until one of the employees in Janaki's office, Babu, spreads a rumour stating that there is an affair between Janaki and Gopinath. This rumour reaches Jaya and she is completely disturbed. Jaya discovers the secret of Gopinath's affair with Janaki. Meanwhile, the sons of both Janaki and Jaya, Ramu and Prabhakar drowned in water and have been admitted to Hospital. Somehow Jaya manages the disturbance of the secret and accepts Janaki as her sister. But Ramu dies in hospital while Prabhakar survives. Jaya gives Janaki her son as a gift. Janaki and Prabhakar leave for abroad as Janaki received her duty abroad.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* [[Gemini Ganesan]] as Gopinath
* [[Gemini Ganesan]] as Gopinath
* [[Sowcar Janaki]] as Janaki<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.filmcompanion.in/aramm-movie-review/ |title=Aramm Movie Review |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |authorlink=Baradwaj Rangan |date=10 November 2017 |website=[[Film Companion]] |access-date=6 March 2018 |archive-date=6 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306203318/http://www.filmcompanion.in/aramm-movie-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Sowcar Janaki]] as Janaki<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |date=10 November 2017 |title=Aramm Movie Review |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/aramm-movie-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024121918/https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/aramm-movie-review |archive-date=24 October 2022 |access-date=6 March 2018 |website=[[Film Companion]] |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan}}</ref>
* [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]] as Jaya
* [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]] as Jaya
* [[Nagesh]] as Babu
* [[Nagesh]] as Babu
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* Seshadri as Gopinath's father
* Seshadri as Gopinath's father
* [[C. K. Saraswathi]] as Gopinath's mother
* [[C. K. Saraswathi]] as Gopinath's mother
* Shoba as Shoba
* [[Shoba]] as Shoba
* Master Prabhakar as Prabhakar
* Sumathi as Sumathi
* [[Master Prabhakar]] as Prabhakar
* Master Adhinarayan as Ramu
* Master Adhinarayan as Ramu


== Production ==
== Production ==
''Iru Kodugal'' was based on the stage play of same name written by Joseph Anandan.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.vpmthane.com/Publications/Indian%20Cinema-Past,%20Present%20&%20Future.pdf |title=Crossing Linguistic Borders: K. Balachander's Multilingual Filmography |last=Vijaykumar |first=Sushila |page=127 |isbn=978-81-922741-5-7 |access-date=6 May 2019 |archive-date=21 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821072704/http://www.vpmthane.com/Publications/Indian%20Cinema-Past%2C%20Present%20%26%20Future.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In a scene in the film Sowcar Janaki's character meets the Chief Minister. Balachander wanted to bring in former Chief Minister [[C. N. Annadurai]] (he died 1969) for the scene but did not want to use a [[body double]] in his place. The Chief Minister is not seen in the scene, only a voice sounding like Annadurai's is heard and a pair of glasses on the table and a pen in the foreground are seen.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/significant-contribution-to-tamil-theatre-cinema/article20358.ece |title=Significant contribution to Tamil theatre, cinema |last=Srinivasan |first=Meera |date=15 September 2009 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 December 2013 |archive-date=14 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214155445/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/significant-contribution-to-tamil-theatre-cinema/article20358.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>
''Iru Kodugal'' was based on the stage play of same name written by Joseph Anandan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-13 |title=IFFI 2019 to screen K Balachander's Iru Kodugal |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/iffi-2019-to-screen-k-balachanders-iru-kodugal-6118044/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107101150/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/iffi-2019-to-screen-k-balachanders-iru-kodugal-6118044/ |archive-date=7 January 2022 |access-date=2022-01-07 |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> It is the first collaboration between Balachander and Ganesan.{{sfn|Ganesh|2011|pages=61–62}} Though uncharacteristic of Janaki to ask for roles, she asked Balachander for a role and got it.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shiva Kumar |first=S. |date=23 October 1983 |title=I never failed as an actress&nbsp;– Janaki |url=https://mobile.twitter.com/sshivu/status/1486294918997762048 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126150501/https://mobile.twitter.com/sshivu/status/1486294918997762048 |archive-date=26 January 2022 |access-date=26 January 2022 |work=[[Sunday Mid-Day]] |pages=36 |via=[[Twitter]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=ஜானகி |first=சௌகார் |author-link=Sowcar Janaki |date=30 May 1993 |title=முத்திரை படம்; விசித்திர அனுபவம்! |trans-title=Identity film, weird experience |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1993-05-30/page/n64/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230805051408/https://archive.org/details/kalki1993-05-30/page/n63/mode/2up |archive-date=5 August 2023 |access-date=5 August 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=62–63 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> In a scene in the film Janaki's character meets the Chief Minister. Balachander wanted to bring in former Chief Minister [[C. N. Annadurai]] (he died 1969) for the scene but did not want to use a [[Double (occupation)|body double]] in his place. Instead, Annadurai's voice was [[Impressionist (entertainment)|imitated]] by Sivagangai Sethurajan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-02 |title=இரு கோடுகள்: புன்னகை மன்னன் பூவிழிக் கண்ணன் ருக்மணிக்காக... |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1132211-iru-kodugal-movie.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121131728/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1132211-iru-kodugal-movie.html |archive-date=21 November 2023 |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref> Also, a pair of glasses on the table and a pen in the foreground are seen, implying that Annadurai is the intended character.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=Meera |date=15 September 2009 |title=Significant contribution to Tamil theatre, cinema |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/significant-contribution-to-tamil-theatre-cinema/article20358.ece |url-status=live |access-date=11 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214155445/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/significant-contribution-to-tamil-theatre-cinema/article20358.ece |archive-date=14 December 2013}}</ref>


== Soundtrack ==
== Soundtrack ==
The music was scored by [[V. Kumar]], who composed four songs for the film. [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]] wrote the lyrics.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=t0001606 |title=Iru Kodugal (1969) |website=[[Raaga.com]] |access-date=20 June 2014 |archive-date=18 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618135407/http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0001606 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/iru-kodugal/7tFs-dnPabM_ |title=Iru Kodugal |website=[[JioSaavn]] |access-date=6 May 2019 |archive-date=6 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506034235/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/iru-kodugal/7tFs-dnPabM_ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The music was scored by [[V. Kumar]], and [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]] wrote the lyrics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iru Kodugal (1969) |url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=t0001606 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618135407/http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0001606 |archive-date=18 June 2009 |access-date=20 June 2014 |website=[[Raaga.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Iru Kodugal |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/iru-kodugal/7tFs-dnPabM_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506034235/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/iru-kodugal/7tFs-dnPabM_ |archive-date=6 May 2019 |access-date=6 May 2019 |website=[[JioSaavn]]}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! No. !! Song !! Singers !! Length
! Song !! Singers !! Length
|-
|-
| 1 || "Moondru Thamizh Thoondri" || [[T. M. Soundararajan]], [[A. L. Raghavan]], K. Suvarna || 04:58
| "Moondru Thamizh Thoondri" || [[T. M. Soundararajan]], [[A. L. Raghavan]], K. Suvarna || 04:58
|-
|-
| 2 || "Naan Oru Gumastha" || T. M. Soundararajan || 02:50
| "Naan Oru Gumastha" || T. M. Soundararajan || 02:50
|-
|-
| 3 || "Punnagai Mannan" || [[Jamuna Rani]], [[P. Susheela]] || 05:04
| "Punnagai Mannan" || [[K. Jamuna Rani]], [[P. Susheela]] || 05:04
|-
|-
| 4 || "Kavidhai Ezhudhiya" || [[P. Leela]], P. Susheela || 02:37
| "Kavidhai Ezhudhiya" || [[P. Leela]], P. Susheela || 02:37
|-
| "Pappa paatu paadiya " || T. M. Soundararajan || 03:37
|}
|}
== Awards ==
* [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]] – President's Silver Medal in 1970
* [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress]] – Sowcar Janaki<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/25/stories/2006122502790200.htm |title=Still ready to act: Sowcar Janaki |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R. |date=25 December 2006 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105184139/http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/25/stories/2006122502790200.htm |archive-date=5 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6TU9AAAAYAAJ&q=kodugal |title=India Who's who |publisher=INFA Publications |year=2000 |pages=282, 286 |access-date=21 August 2020 |archive-date=21 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821072635/https://books.google.com/books?redir_esc=y&id=6TU9AAAAYAAJ&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=kodugal |url-status=live }}</ref>


== Release and reception ==
== Release and reception ==
''Iru Kodugal'' was released on 2 October 1969.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19691002&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Iru Kodugal |date=2 October 1969 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |page=5 |access-date=21 August 2020 |archive-date=21 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821072635/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19691002&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> The film was a commercial success.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/362729/celebrating-big-screen-beauty.html |title=Celebrating a big screen beauty |last=Bharathi |first=Veena |date=13 October 2013 |work=[[Deccan Herald]] |access-date=11 December 2013 |archive-date=7 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307022628/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/362729/celebrating-big-screen-beauty.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It was remade in [[Kannada]] as ''[[Eradu Rekhegalu]]'', in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''Collector Janaki'' and in [[Hindi]] as ''[[Sanjog (1972 film)|Sanjog]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/photos/entertainment/remembering-the-prodigy-10-most-memorable-films-of-k-balachander/photo-6k5EXh8cKOoan0pqY51bpL.html |title=Remembering the prodigy: 10 most memorable films of K Balachander |date=2 January 2015 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=1 June 2018 |archive-date=5 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405025157/https://www.hindustantimes.com/photos/entertainment/remembering-the-prodigy-10-most-memorable-films-of-k-balachander/photo-6k5EXh8cKOoan0pqY51bpL.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
''Iru Kodugal'' was released on 2 October 1969.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 October 1969 |title=Iru Kodugal |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19691002&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=1 June 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=5 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''[[The Indian Express]]'' praised Balachander for adapting the play very well: "No doubt they are very good dramatic moments but there is tendency to overdo the symbolism" and went on to praise the performances of the lead actors.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 October 1969 |title=Cinema |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19691004&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=1 May 2019 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=12 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The film was a commercial success,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bharathi |first=Veena |date=13 October 2013 |title=Celebrating a big screen beauty |work=[[Deccan Herald]] |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/362729/celebrating-big-screen-beauty.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307022628/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/362729/celebrating-big-screen-beauty.html |archive-date=7 March 2018}}</ref> and won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]] – President's silver medal in 1970, while Janaki won the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ashok Kumar|first=S. R.|date=25 December 2006|title=Still ready to act: Sowcar Janaki|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/25/stories/2006122502790200.htm|url-status=dead|access-date=11 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105184139/http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/25/stories/2006122502790200.htm|archive-date=5 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6TU9AAAAYAAJ&q=kodugal|title=India Who's who|publisher=INFA Publications|year=2000|pages=282, 286}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
 
''The Indian Express'' praised Balachander for adapting the play very well: "No doubt they are very good dramatic moments but there is tendency to overdo the symbolism" and went on to praise the performances of the lead actors.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19691004&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Cinema |date=4 October 1969 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=12 |access-date=21 August 2020 |archive-date=21 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821072636/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19691004&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Malathi Rangarajan appreciated Janaki's performance "stomped the screen and stole our hearts [..] came up with a stellar performance".<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/women-of-steel/article5761759.ece |title=Women of Steel |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=8 March 2014 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=12 September 2015 }}</ref>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==
Clips from ''Iru Kodugal'' were screened along with clips from other films such as ''[[Server Sundaram]]'' (1964), ''[[Arangetram]]'' (1973), ''[[Aval Oru Thodar Kathai]]'' (1974), ''[[Avargal]]'' (1977) and ''[[Azhagan]]'' (1991) at a function held in Balachander's honour at [[Tiruchirappalli]] in January 2015,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/rich-tributes-paid-to-balachander/article6810307.ece |title=Rich tributes paid to Balachander |last=Srinivasan |first=G. |date=22 January 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502054539/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/rich-tributes-paid-to-balachander/article6810307.ece |archive-date=2 May 2015}}</ref> a month after his death.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/k-balachander-the-man-who-gave-us-rajinikanth-kamal-hassan-dies/articleshow/45622244.cms |title=K Balachander: The man who gave us Rajinikanth, Kamal Hassan dies |date=23 December 2014 |work=[[The Economic Times]] |access-date=2 May 2015 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |archive-date=26 March 2016 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6gHm9zKAe?url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/k-balachander-the-man-who-gave-us-rajinikanth-kamal-hassan-dies/articleshow/45622244.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> Balachander later used the song "Punnagai Mannan" as the title for his 1986 film [[Punnagai Mannan|of the same name]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/at-100-going-strong/article3217145.ece |title=At 100, going strong |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R. |date=10 February 2006 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=6 May 2019 |archive-date=27 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227043754/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/at-100-going-strong/article3217145.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>
''Iru Kodugal'' was remade in [[Kannada]] as ''[[Eradu Rekhegalu]]'', in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''Collector Janaki'' and in [[Hindi]] as ''[[Sanjog (1971 film)|Sanjog]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 January 2015|title=Remembering the prodigy: 10 most memorable films of K Balachander|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/photos/entertainment/remembering-the-prodigy-10-most-memorable-films-of-k-balachander/photo-6k5EXh8cKOoan0pqY51bpL.html|url-status=live|access-date=1 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405025157/https://www.hindustantimes.com/photos/entertainment/remembering-the-prodigy-10-most-memorable-films-of-k-balachander/photo-6k5EXh8cKOoan0pqY51bpL.html|archive-date=5 April 2018}}</ref> Malathi Rangarajan said Janaki "stomped the screen and stole our hearts [..] came up with a stellar performance".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=8 March 2014 |title=Women of Steel |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/women-of-steel/article5761759.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220093042/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/women-of-steel/article5761759.ece |archive-date=20 December 2021 |access-date=20 December 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Clips from the film were screened along with clips from other films such as ''[[Server Sundaram]]'' (1964), ''[[Arangetram (1973 film)|Arangetram]]'' (1973), ''[[Aval Oru Thodar Kathai]]'' (1974), ''[[Avargal]]'' (1977) and ''[[Azhagan]]'' (1991) at a function held in Balachander's honour at [[Tiruchirappalli]] in January 2015,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=G. |date=22 January 2015 |title=Rich tributes paid to Balachander |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/rich-tributes-paid-to-balachander/article6810307.ece |access-date=2 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502054539/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/rich-tributes-paid-to-balachander/article6810307.ece |archive-date=2 May 2015}}</ref> a month after his death.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 December 2014 |title=K Balachander: The man who gave us Rajinikanth, Kamal Hassan dies |work=[[The Economic Times]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/k-balachander-the-man-who-gave-us-rajinikanth-kamal-hassan-dies/articleshow/45622244.cms |url-status=live |access-date=2 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326020550/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/k-balachander-the-man-who-gave-us-rajinikanth-kamal-hassan-dies/articleshow/45622244.cms |archive-date=26 March 2016}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Ganesh |first=Narayani |title=Eternal Romantic: My Father, Gemini Ganesan |publisher=[[Roli Books]] |year=2011 |isbn=978-81-7436-578-1}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
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{{TamilNaduStateFilmAwardBestActress|state=collapsed}}
{{TamilNaduStateFilmAwardBestActress|state=collapsed}}
 
[[Category:1969 Indian films]]
[[Category:1960s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1969 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1969 drama films]]
[[Category:1969 films]]
[[Category:1969 films]]
[[Category:Best Tamil Feature Film National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Tamil Feature Film National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Fiction about polygamy]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. Balachander]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. Balachander]]
[[Category:Films scored by V. Kumar]]
[[Category:Films scored by V. Kumar]]
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[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:Indian films based on plays]]
[[Category:Indian films based on plays]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Polygamy in fiction]]
[[Category:Tamil films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Tamil films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Latest revision as of 20:04, 8 March 2026


Iru Kodugal
Theatrical release poster
Directed byK. Balachander
Produced byN. Selvaraj
B. Duraisamy
N. Krishnan
V. Govindarajan
Screenplay byK. Balachander
Based onIru Kodugal
by Joseph Anandan
StarringGemini Ganesan
Sowcar Janaki
Jayanthi
Music byV. Kumar
CinematographyN. Balakrishnan
Edited byN. R. Kittu
Production
company
Kalakendra Movies
Release date
  • 2 October 1969 (1969-10-02)
Running time
176 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Iru Kodugal (transl. Two lines) is a 1969 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Balachander. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, Jayanthi, Nagesh, V. S. Raghavan, S. N. Lakshmi and others. The story revolves around one man who was married to two women.[1] Iru Kodugal won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, the first film by Balachander to win the award.[2] The film, which was based on a stage play of same name, was remade in Kannada as Eradu Rekhegalu, in Telugu as Collector Janaki and in Hindi as Sanjog.

Plot[edit | edit source]

Gopinath falls in love with Janaki and they get married in Kasi. The marriage is not accepted by Gopinath's mother and the couple gets separated. Janaki is pregnant and her father, realising that no man will marry Janaki a second time, decides to make her a collector. Gopinath meanwhile had moved to South India, where he later married Jaya by hiding his previous marriage. They live a happy life with their three children and Jaya's father. Gopinath works as a clerk in the collector's office. A new collector arrives at the office, and it turns out to be Janaki. They tend to work together, until one of the employees in Janaki's office, Babu, spreads a rumour stating that there is an affair between Janaki and Gopinath. This rumour reaches Jaya and she is completely disturbed. Jaya discovers the secret of Gopinath's affair with Janaki. Meanwhile, the sons of both Janaki and Jaya, Ramu and Prabhakar drowned in water and have been admitted to Hospital. Somehow Jaya manages the disturbance of the secret and accepts Janaki as her sister. But Ramu dies in hospital while Prabhakar survives. Jaya gives Janaki her son as a gift. Janaki and Prabhakar leave for abroad as Janaki received her duty abroad.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Production[edit | edit source]

Iru Kodugal was based on the stage play of same name written by Joseph Anandan.[4] It is the first collaboration between Balachander and Ganesan.[5] Though uncharacteristic of Janaki to ask for roles, she asked Balachander for a role and got it.[6][7] In a scene in the film Janaki's character meets the Chief Minister. Balachander wanted to bring in former Chief Minister C. N. Annadurai (he died 1969) for the scene but did not want to use a body double in his place. Instead, Annadurai's voice was imitated by Sivagangai Sethurajan.[8] Also, a pair of glasses on the table and a pen in the foreground are seen, implying that Annadurai is the intended character.[9]

Soundtrack[edit | edit source]

The music was scored by V. Kumar, and Vaali wrote the lyrics.[10][11]

Song Singers Length
"Moondru Thamizh Thoondri" T. M. Soundararajan, A. L. Raghavan, K. Suvarna 04:58
"Naan Oru Gumastha" T. M. Soundararajan 02:50
"Punnagai Mannan" K. Jamuna Rani, P. Susheela 05:04
"Kavidhai Ezhudhiya" P. Leela, P. Susheela 02:37
"Pappa paatu paadiya " T. M. Soundararajan 03:37

Release and reception[edit | edit source]

Iru Kodugal was released on 2 October 1969.[12] The Indian Express praised Balachander for adapting the play very well: "No doubt they are very good dramatic moments but there is tendency to overdo the symbolism" and went on to praise the performances of the lead actors.[13] The film was a commercial success,[14] and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil – President's silver medal in 1970, while Janaki won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress.[15][16]

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Iru Kodugal was remade in Kannada as Eradu Rekhegalu, in Telugu as Collector Janaki and in Hindi as Sanjog.[17] Malathi Rangarajan said Janaki "stomped the screen and stole our hearts [..] came up with a stellar performance".[18] Clips from the film were screened along with clips from other films such as Server Sundaram (1964), Arangetram (1973), Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974), Avargal (1977) and Azhagan (1991) at a function held in Balachander's honour at Tiruchirappalli in January 2015,[19] a month after his death.[20]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Murugesan, Deepauk (23 April 2011). "Trois". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  2. Rangarajan, Malathi (2 May 2011). "The granddaddy of Tamil films". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  3. Rangan, Baradwaj (10 November 2017). "Aramm Movie Review". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  4. "IFFI 2019 to screen K Balachander's Iru Kodugal". The Indian Express. 13 November 2019. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  5. Ganesh 2011, pp. 61–62.
  6. Shiva Kumar, S. (23 October 1983). "I never failed as an actress – Janaki". Sunday Mid-Day. p. 36. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022 – via Twitter.
  7. ஜானகி, சௌகார் (30 May 1993). "முத்திரை படம்; விசித்திர அனுபவம்!" [Identity film, weird experience]. Kalki (in தமிழ்). pp. 62–63. Retrieved 5 August 2023 – via Internet Archive.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. "இரு கோடுகள்: புன்னகை மன்னன் பூவிழிக் கண்ணன் ருக்மணிக்காக..." Hindu Tamil Thisai (in தமிழ்). 2 October 2023. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  9. Srinivasan, Meera (15 September 2009). "Significant contribution to Tamil theatre, cinema". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  10. "Iru Kodugal (1969)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  11. "Iru Kodugal". JioSaavn. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  12. "Iru Kodugal". The Indian Express. 2 October 1969. p. 5. Retrieved 1 June 2018 – via Google News Archive.
  13. "Cinema". The Indian Express. 4 October 1969. p. 12. Retrieved 1 May 2019 – via Google News Archive.
  14. Bharathi, Veena (13 October 2013). "Celebrating a big screen beauty". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  15. Ashok Kumar, S. R. (25 December 2006). "Still ready to act: Sowcar Janaki". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  16. India Who's who. INFA Publications. 2000. pp. 282, 286.
  17. "Remembering the prodigy: 10 most memorable films of K Balachander". Hindustan Times. 2 January 2015. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  18. Rangarajan, Malathi (8 March 2014). "Women of Steel". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  19. Srinivasan, G. (22 January 2015). "Rich tributes paid to Balachander". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  20. "K Balachander: The man who gave us Rajinikanth, Kamal Hassan dies". The Economic Times. Press Trust of India. 23 December 2014. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2015.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]