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Vettaikkaran (1964 film)

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Vettaikkaran
Theatrical release poster
Directed byM. A. Thirumugam
Story byAaroor Dass
Produced bySandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar
Starring
CinematographyN. S. Varma
Edited by
  • M. A. Thirumugam
  • M. G. Balu Rao
  • M. A. Mariappan
Music byK. V. Mahadevan
Production
company
Distributed byEmgeeyar Pictures
Release date
  • 14 January 1964 (1964-01-14)
Running time
157 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Vettaikkaran (transl. Hunter) is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by M. A. Thirumugam and produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran and Savitri Ganesh, with M. R. Radha, M. N. Nambiar, S. A. Ashokan, Thai Nagesh, M. V. Rajamma, Manorama and Baby Shakila in supporting roles. It revolves around an estate hunter whose penchant for hunting displeases his family, and a plunderer who lusts for his wealth.

Vettaikkaran was released on 14 January 1964, Pongal day. The film was a commercial success, running for 25 weeks in theatres.

Plot

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Babu is a wealthy estate owner, who lives with his single mother. He is also a carefree hunter, whose passion for killing animals often displeases his mother. Mayavan, a plunderer who leads a double life himself as Babu's estate manager, lusts for his wealth. Babu meets a woman named Latha, while roaming the forests as per his usual. The duo later fall in love and get married. Eventually Latha gives birth to their son Raja. Much to her dismay, she finds out that she is diagnosed with tuberculosis. She is heartbroken as she is unable nurture her baby until she completely recovers. Babu tries to manage the situation by taking care of both the ill wife and the baby. Due to this, Raja develops a deeply affectionate attachment with his father, but refuses to acknowledge his mother's love. He also shares his father's passion for hunting, which Latha disapproves of. Meanwhile, Mayavan plots miseries to the family. He tricks Raja and Latha into the forest and threatens their lives, demanding the estate papers. Babu arrives at the right time to kill Mayavan, rescuing his wife and son. The film ends with Raja expressing that he now loves both his parents equally.

Cast

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Production

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Vettaikkaran was directed by M. A. Thirumugam and produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar under Devar Films.[4] A real leopard was brought for filming.[5]

Soundtrack

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The soundtrack is composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics by Kannadasan.[6][7] According to Sachi Sri Kantha, the song "Unnai Arinthaal", through its lyrics which go "Unnai arinthaal – Nee unnai arinthaal, Ulagathil pooradalam" (Know yourself – You, know yourself, then you can fight the world) serves as an "MGR self-praise song, equating his 'good traits' to that of a living God" and Kannadasan "incorporates the Socratic wisdom of 'Know thyself' in the beginning lines".[8]

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Manjal Mugame"T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela3:18
2."Katha Naayagan"P. Susheela3:04
3."En Kannanukkethani"P. Susheela3:18
4."Seettu Kattu Raja"L. R. Eswari, A. L. Raghavan3:26
5."Velli Nila"T. M. Soundararajan3:18
6."Methuva Methuva"T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela3:32
7."Unnai Arinthaal"T. M. Soundararajan5:13
Total length:25:09

Release

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Vettaikkaran was released on 14 January 1964, Pongal day,[9][10] and distributed by Ramachandran's Emgeeyar Pictures.[11] To promote the film, the Madras-based Chitra theatre had a jungle set to welcome audiences. After much deliberation, they also managed to get a caged tiger inside the theatre premises.[12][13] Despite facing competition from another Pongal release Karnan,[14] the film became a box office success, running for 25 weeks in theatres.[3] It was dubbed Telugu-language as Inti Donga and released on 4 September 1964.[15]

Reception

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The Indian Express wrote on 17 January 1964, "Loaded with fun and frolic with a substantial sprinkling of spicy scenes and intriguing drama told in a fascinating manner, [Vettaikkaran] is designed to please the filmgoer."[16] T. M. Ramachandran of Sport and Pastime wrote on 22 February, "One would presume that Vettaikkaran, to justify the title, would provide all the thrills and excitement of big game hunting. But there is nothing of that sort in the film [...] The story is of course a hotchpotch of various ideas and punches freely borrowed from foreign films. The swift tempo with which the latter half of the film moves covers up a major portion of its deficiencies".[2] On 26 January, Kanthan of Kalki said the film could be watched for the leopard, the scenery and the acting of Shakila.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b காந்தன் (26 January 1964). "வேட்டைக்காரன்" [Hunter]. Kalki (in Tamil). p. 28. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Ramachandran, T. M. (22 February 1964). "Another in the Thevar Tradition". Sport and Pastime. Vol. 18. p. 50. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ a b c Guy, Randor (20 February 2016). "Vettaikaaran (1964)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  4. ^ "1964 – வேட்டைக்காரன் – தேவர் பிலிம்ஸ்" [1964 – Vettaikkaran – Devar Films]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 8 February 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  5. ^ "படம் பேசும்" [The film speaks for itself]. Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 19 September 2014. Archived from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  6. ^ வேட்டைக்காரன் (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). Devar Films. 1964. Retrieved 4 July 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ^ "Vettaikkaran (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. 1 December 1964. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  8. ^ Sri Kantha, Sachi (28 March 2019). "MGR Remembered – Part 50 | Teaching with Songs". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  9. ^ Kannan 2017, p. 122.
  10. ^ "Vettaikkaran". The Indian Express. 14 January 1964. p. 3. Retrieved 8 February 2019 – via Google News Archive.
  11. ^ "Vettaikkaran". The Indian Express. 8 January 1964. p. 3. Retrieved 5 August 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  12. ^ "Did you know?". The Times of India. 22 August 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  13. ^ Viswanathan, Lakshmi (2 September 2012). "Growing up with the talkies". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  14. ^ Dheenadhayalan, Pa. (31 July 2015). "சாவித்ரி-13. நூறு நூறு பெருமைகள்!". Dinamani (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  15. ^ "ఇంటి దొంగ" (PDF). Andhra Patrika (in Telugu). 4 September 1964. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  16. ^ "'Vettaikkaran' is a good action drama". The Indian Express. 17 January 1964. p. 3. Retrieved 8 February 2019 – via Google News Archive.

Bibliography

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