Sivagangai Seemai

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Sivagangai Seemai
File:Sivagangai Seemai.jpg
Poster
Directed byK. Shankar
Produced byK. S. Ranganathan
Written byKannadasan
StarringS. S. Rajendran
S. Varalakshmi
Kamala Lakshmanan
T. K. Bhagavathi
M. N. Rajam
Music byViswanathan–Ramamoorthy
CinematographyThambu
Edited byK. Shankar
K. Narayanan
Production
company
Kannadasan Productions
Release date
  • 19 May 1959 (1959-05-19)
Running time
173 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Sivagangai Seemai (transl. The Land of Sivagangai) is a 1959 Indian Tamil-language historical drama film directed by K. Shankar and written by Kannadasan. Based on the life of the Maruthu Pandiyars, the film stars S. S. Rajendran, S. Varalakshmi, Kamala Lakshmanan and M. N. Rajam. It was released on 19 May 1959.

Plot[edit]

After the execution of Veerapandiya Kattabomman on 16 October 1799 at Kayattar, Chinna Marudhu gave asylum to Kattabomman's brother 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 Pandiyars' rebellion.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

The film began production under the title Oomaiyan Kottai with M. G. Ramachandran starring, but it got shelved as Ramachandran was busy with politics. The same project was revived as Sivagangai Seemai.[2] This was Kannadasan's second home production and he wrote the film's script.[3][4]

Soundtrack[edit]

The soundtrack features 16 songs composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy.[5] Lyrics were by Kannadasan. The song "Kanavu Kanden" is set in Mukhari raga.[6]

Song Singers Length
"Saanthu Pottu Thala Thalanga" P. Leela & K. Jamuna Rani 03:48
"Veerargal Vaazhum Dravidar Naattai" T. M. Soundararajan 03:26
"Thendral Vandhu Veesaadho" S. Varalakshmi & T. S. Bagavathi 04:06
"Kannankaruthaa Kili Kattazhagan Thotta Kili" P. Leela 03:11
"Kanavu Kandaen Naan Kanavu Kandaen" (happy) T. M. Soundararajan & T. S. Bagavathi 03:32
"Maruvirukkum Koondhal" (traditional verse) V. N. Sundaram 00:28
"Kanavu Kandaen Naan Kanavu Kandaen" (Pathos) T. S. Bagavathi 03:02
"Vaigai Perugivara" C. S. Jayaraman & P. Leela 03:28
"Thanimai Naerndhadho" S. Varalakshmi
"Sivagangai Cheemai Sivagangai Cheemai" T. M. Soundararajan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan & A. P. Komala 03:27
"Kottu Melam Kottungadi Kummi Kotti Paadungadi" Jikki 03:28
"Chinna Chinna Chittu Sivagangaiyai Vittu" K. Jamuna Rani 03:12
"Muthu Pugazh Padaitthu" S. Varalakshmi & Radha Jayalakshmi 05:49
"Aalikkum Kaigal" (one verse) V. N. Sundaram 00:30
"Megam Kuvindhadhammaa...Imaiyum Vizhiyum" P. Susheela & dialogues by P. S. Veerappa 04:38
"Vidiyum Vidiyum Endrirundhoam" T. S. Bagavathi 04:24

Release and reception[edit]

Sivagangai Seemai was released on 19 May 1959,[7] delayed from April.[8] Because the majority of male characters in the film had thick moustaches, the Tamil magazine Kumudam called it "Sivagangai Meesai", with "Meesai" meaning "moustache".[9] Kanthan of Kalki said the film was not visually appealing, and overabundant with verbosity.[10] The film was not a success,[11] but because of its theme and historic content, it acquired cult status in later years.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 361.
  2. ↑ Sri Kantha, Sachi (9 December 2018). "MGR Remembered – Part 47 | Comparison of Chaplin and MGR". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  3. ↑ Dechamma C. C. & Prakash 2010, p. 152.
  4. ↑ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 118.
  5. ↑ "Sivagangai Seemai (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  6. ↑ Mani, Charulatha (4 January 2013). "Notes of peace". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2019. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch (help)
  7. ↑ Sri Kantha, Sachi (7 April 2015). "MGR Remembered – Part 26 | V.C. Ganesan: A reputable rival in Movies and Politics". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "Sivagangai Seemai". The Indian Express. 6 February 1959. p. 10. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Guy, Randor (4 February 2012). "Blast from the past – Sivagangai Seemai (1957)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2017. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch (help)
  10. ↑ காந்தன் (7 June 1959). "சிவகங்கைச் சீமை". Kalki (in தமிழ்). pp. 17–18. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  11. ↑ Raman, Mohan V. (16 May 2019). "'Veerapandiya Kattabomman' turns 60: the rebel who won many hearts". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2019. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch (help)

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

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