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Thirumbi Paar
File:Thirumbi Paar 1953 poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byT. R. Sundaram
Produced byT. R. Sundaram
Written byM. Karunanidhi
StarringSivaji Ganesan
Pandari Bai
Music byG. Ramanathan
CinematographyW. R. Subba Rao
Edited byL. Balu
Production
company
Release date
  • 10 July 1953 (1953-07-10)
Running time
15616 ft
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Thirumbi Paar (transl. Look Back!) is a 1953 Indian Tamil-language film starring Sivaji Ganesan, P. V. Narasimha Bharathi, Pandari Bai, Krishna Kumari and Girija. Produced and directed by T. R. Sundaram of Modern Theatres, the film was written by M. Karunanidhi, who would later become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Thirumbi Paar was one of the earliest Tamil films whose dialogues were known to be a political satire on the Indian National Congress, the ruling party then. Sivaji Ganesan played a negative role in the film and received wide acclaim.

Plot[edit | edit source]

Parandhaman is a womaniser. A mute girl is married to the much older Punyakodi. Parandhaman seduces the mute girl in the absence of her husband and continues this act with other women. Poomalai is Parandhaman's sister.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Production[edit | edit source]

Thirumbi Paar was produced and directed by T. R. Sundaram.[2] M. Karunanidhi, the screenwriter,[3] was then a prominent member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The story of the film was inspired from the story of Ahalya.[2] Sivaji Ganesan, who made his debut through Parasakthi (1952) played antihero roles in most of the films during this period.[4][5] He continued to act in such roles in films such as Rangoon Radha and Andha Naal, both in 1954.[2][5] Thirumbi Paar was one of the earliest films written by M. Karunanidhi who belonged to the DMK. The film's dialogues were perceived as a political satire on Indian National Congress, the ruling party then.[6]

Soundtrack[edit | edit source]

The music was composed by G. Ramanathan.[1]

Song Singers Lyrics Length
"Aavanna Doonaa Aadu" Jikki Kannadasan 02:13
"Kanniyargal Vellai Manam Pol" A. M. Rajah & Swarnalatha 03:17
"Kalappadam Kalappadam" S. C. Krishnan 01:28
"Kaadhalar Vaazhndha Ullaasa Vaazhvil" Jikki 02:48
"Kannaale Panpaadum" Thiruchi Loganathan & P. Leela 02:55
"Nallavaraam Oru Aanodu Pennum" T. S. Bagavathi 02:50
"Kannalla Thoongamma" P. Leela 02:57
"Vaazhkai Vaazhvadharkke" S. C. Krishnan 02:18
"Pozhudhu Vidindhaal Thirumamam" A. M. Rajah & T. S. Bagavathi 02:37
"Kaanagatthil Kaadhaliyai" D. B. Ramachandra 00:43
"Paandiyan En Sollai" P. Leela Bharathidasan 02:19
"Ponndutthu Padaitthaano" A. M. Rajah, K. Rani & T. S. Bagavathi 02:58

Reception[edit | edit source]

The film was a success at the box office.[7] It was lauded mainly for its witty dialogues and political satire. It had a 100-day run in theatres.[4] Sivaji Ganesan's character in—negative role—the film was well received.[2][4] Years later, in an interview he mentioned Thirumbi Paar was one of the best films that he had acted in his career.[2] S. Viswanathan in his Industrial Economist described the film as "one of the powerful movies M Karunanidhi [MK] scripted".[8]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 திரும்பிப்பார்! (PDF) (song book) (in தமிழ்). Modern Theatres. 1953. Retrieved 3 November 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Guy, Randor (13 March 2009). "Thirumbi Paar 1953". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 March 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  3. Rathinagiri 2007, p. 65.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "சிவாஜி, பத்மினி ஜோடியாக நடித்த முதல் படம் பணம்". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 7 January 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  5. 5.0 5.1 Hoiberg & Ramchandani 2000, p. 152.
  6. The Illustrated Weekly of India 1975, p. 36.
  7. "மாடர்ன் தியேட்டர்ஸ் தயாரிப்பில் சிவாஜி கணேசன் நடித்த திரும்பிப்பார்". Maalai Malar. 28 October 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. Viswanathan, S. (1998). "?". Industrial Economist. Vol. 31. p. 16. Retrieved 3 September 2024.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

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