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Thodarum

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Thodarum
Poster
Directed byRamesh Khanna
Story byS. V. Krishna Reddy
Based onMaavichiguru (Telugu)
StarringAjith Kumar
Devayani
Heera
CinematographyS. Moorthy
Edited byK. Thanigachalam
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Sri Devi Movie Makers
Release date
  • 14 January 1999 (1999-01-14)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Thodarum (transl. Will continue) is a 1999 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Ramesh Khanna, starring Ajith Kumar, Devayani and Heera. The supporting cast includes Manivannan, Vadivelu and Gemini Ganesan. It is a remake of the 1996 Telugu film Maavichiguru, and was released on 14 January 1999.

Plot

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Seetha is a possessive wife who suspects that all the women are throwing themselves at her husband Jayaram. Things get a little interesting after Meera enters the picture and ends up hugging Jayaram right in front of Seetha's eyes. Seetha is diagnosed with a deadly heart condition and decides to have and Meera tie the knot for the sake of a good life for Jayaram and their young son. She even goes as far as getting a divorce from Jayaram to make him hate her. In the end, Seetha dies, Jayaram and Meera get married, and they name their baby Seetha.

Cast

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Uncredited
  • Kumar Natarajan as Vinayagam's friend[1]: 18:07 
  • Bayilvan Ranganathan as Seetha's neighbour[1]: 1:38:34 

Production

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Actor Ramesh Khanna made his debut as a director with the film after working as an apprentice to K. S. Ravikumar.[2][3] Ravikumar was meant to remake the Telugu film Maavichiguru (1996) into Tamil for Sridevi Movie Makers, but his busy schedule meant that he recommended Ramesh Khanna to the producers.[4] The remake was initially titled as Maa Vilakku and was supposed to star Jayaram and Meena, but went through cast changes.[5] Jayaram's falling popularity meant that Ajith Kumar was signed to replace him, while the actor requested that a change of lead actress.[6] The film was revived under new title Thodarum with new cast involving Ajith, Heera and Devayani.[7]

Soundtrack

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The soundtrack is composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[8] The song "Oru Thulir" is set to the Carnatic raga Keeravani,[9] and "Sernthu Vaazhum" is set to Sindhu Bhairavi.[10]

Song Singers Lyrics Length
"Shock Adikkum" Hariharan, Gopika Poornima Palani Bharathi 05:00
"Naanthaan" Arunmozhi, Gangai Amaran, Malaysia Vasudevan, Sunandha Gangai Amaran 07:22
"Oru Thulir" Bhavatharini, P. Unnikrishnan Kamakodiyan 05:03
"Yamma Yamma" K. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Mu. Metha 05:01
"Sernthu Vaazhum" Ilaiyaraaja Arivumathi 04:48
"Kanavanukkaga" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Pulamaipithan 05:03

Release and reception

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The film released on 14 January 1999.[11] The New Indian Express gave the film a critical review citing that "the director tries hard to avoid small puddles of cliches, but unfortunately falls into an ocean instead" but claims that Devayani gives a "wonderfully controlled performance", while Heera and Ajith are just "adequate".[12] Deccan Herald wrote "Thodarum is a family melodrama, which on its own is not too bad, but [..] it falls completely flat."[13] Dinakaran wrote, "The storyline of the picture starts as a mirthful family comedy. But in the end it turns out to be a harsh affair with such developments like sudden sacrifice and deadly disease and so on".[14] D. S. Ramanujam of The Hindu gave the film a positive review, praising the cast performances, the comedy and cinematography.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b Thodarum (Motion picture) (in Tamil). Sri Devi Movie Makers. 1999.
  2. ^ Kumar, S. R. Ashok (17 October 2008). "My first break". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  3. ^ Ramanujam, D. S. (13 November 1998). "Domestic theme". The Hindu. p. 26. Archived from the original on 15 December 2000. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  4. ^ Prasad, Ayyappa. "Ajith, Heera, Devyani teamed". Screen. Archived from the original on 3 March 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  5. ^ "I want to be like Sridevi". Screen. 14 November 1997. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Meena's losing spree". Minnoviyam. July 1998. Archived from the original on 31 January 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Ajith--Devayaani--Hera". Dinakaran. 31 May 1998. Archived from the original on 20 February 1999. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Thodarum (1998)". Raaga.com (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  9. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 151.
  10. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 158.
  11. ^ "Thodarum ( 1999 )". Cinesouth. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  12. ^ S, Arul (25 April 1999). "Film Review". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  13. ^ "Reviews". Deccan Herald. 18 April 1999. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Review: "Thodarum"". Dinakaran. 21 January 1999. Archived from the original on 1 May 1999. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  15. ^ Ramanujam, D. S. (15 January 1999). "Film reviews: Thodarum/Maya". The Hindu. p. 26. Archived from the original on 14 December 2000. Retrieved 12 March 2024.

Bibliography

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  • Sundararaman (2007) [2005]. Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music (2nd ed.). Pichhamal Chintamani. OCLC 295034757.
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