PAAR MAGALE PAAR review

Talk to anyone about the golden era of Tamil films and one title that is sure to come up is Paar Magalle Paar, the super hit film directed by one of the top directors of the time, A.Bheemsingh.

In my opinion, this is one of Sivaji Ganesan’s most outstanding performances and one of the most memorable protagonists of all of Bheemsingh’s films.

Sivaji Ganesan plays the role of Zamindar Sivalingam, a wealthy businessman, incredibly bigoted, stubborn, domineering and altogether quite an obnoxious person.

While he is away on business, his wife Lakshmi gives birth to a baby girl but when he rushes back, eager, excited and delighted, there are two babies in the cradle and he is told that Lakshmi had given birth to twins – both girls.

For how long can any wife keep a secret such as this from her husband? When the secret is revealed, all hell breaks loose – but this is only the beginning of the problems.

Sivaji Ganesan’s performance in this film is outstanding and must surely rate as one of the best of his career. Sowcar Janaki plays the hapless wife who has to contend with the tantrums and vicious temper of her unreasonable husband.

M.R.Radha (father of Radharavi and Radhika) plays a most unusual role in this film and displays once again that he was a very classy actor decades ahead of his time.

Vijayakumarie, Pushpalatha and R.Muthuraman also put on impressive performances.

Paar Magalle Paar was also the very first film of comedian Cho (who later became an insightful political and social analyst). His is a very impressive debut performance.

Also appearing in major roles in Paar Magalle Paar are V.K.Ramasamy, Manorama and comedian Karunanidhi.

Music by Mellisai Mannargall Visvanathan-Ramamoorthy is on par with excellence of the rest of the film, with every song a melodious hit. My favourites are the title song and Avall Parrandha Ponaalle.

Scripting by Aaroor Dhaas makes it a film that one can watch over and over.

Paar Magalle Paar was a major milestone in Director Bheemsingh’s career and it is easy to see why.