THANGA PATHAKKAM review
One of the biggest blockbusters of 1974 was a film from Sivaji Ganesan’s own production company, Sivaji Films. The film was the multi-award winner, Thanga Pathakkam, a tense family drama from master story teller Mahendran. Thanga Pathakkam starred Sivaji Ganesan, K.R.Vijaya, Shrikanth, Premilla, Major Sunderrajan, Cho, V.K. Ramasamy and others. Constable S.P. Choudhry (Sivaji Ganesan) […]
KAADHALIKKA NERAMILLAI review
Shridhar’s home production company, Chithraalaya is behind the landmark movie, Kaadhalikka Neramillai – the first Indian movie about young love, played by young actors and written and directed by a youngster. R.Muthuraamanm shares the lead role with a very young Ravichandhran, making his acting debut. They are supported by Nagesh, Raajashri and another debutante, actress […]
PILOT PREMNATH review
Pilot Premnath is a lavish Indo-Sri Lanka co-production with Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan in the lead role opposite Sri Lankan actress, Malini Fonseka. They are supported by Sri Devi, Vijayakumar, Jai Ganesh, Jayachithra, Thengaai Srinivassan, Major Sunderarajan and Prem Anand. Others in the cast are Manorama, Sathyapriya and Sri Lankan stars Manimegalai, Abraham, Maaraa Sinsaa, […]
NENJIL OR AALAYAM review
Kalyankumar, R.Muthuraman, Devika, Nagesh, Manorama and Baby Padmini star in Nenjil Ohr Aalayam, a black-and-white production of 1962 from Shridhar’s own production company, Chithralaya. Shridhar, the director of films like Kaadhalikka Neramillai and Vennira Aadai, was a top director of his time. His films were fresh, innovative, thought-provoking and – above all – entertaining. When […]
PADAGOTTI review
Padagotti is set in a fishing village and deals with a myriad of important issues that are still relevant today.. Maanickam (MGR) is the leader of a small fishing community. In the same area, Alaiyappan (S.V.Ramadhaas) is the leader of a second group in opposition to Manickam’s group. The enmity between the two groups goes […]
ANBALIPPU review
Master director A.C.Thirulokachander, who delighted cinema audiences with hit films like Anbe Vaa, Athey Kanngall and Babu was the first director to bring together on screen Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan and Makkall Kalainyar Jaishankar. Titled Anbalippu, this film also stars B.Saroja Devi, M.N.Nambiar, Nagesh, Pandaribhai, V.K.Ramasamy and Senthaamarai. Sivaji Ganesan plays the rural youngster Velu […]
NEEDHIKKU PIN PAASAM review
Saando M.M.A.Chinnappa Devar’s Devar Films is behind the film Needhikku Pin Paasan, a film with Makkall Thilagam M.G.Ramachandhran and Abinaya Sarasvathi B.Saroja Devi in the lead roles. Others in the cast are Nadigavel M.R.Radha, S.V.Rungarao, M.N.Nambiar, S.A.Asogan, Saando M.M.A.Chinnappa Devar, S.M.Thirupathisamy, P.Kanaambaa, G.Sakunthala, Radha, Senthaamarai, Gemini Balu and P.K.Mohan. MGR plays the talented advocate, Gopal. […]
OOTYVARAI URAVU review
I have, on numerous occasions, sung the praises of veteran director Shridhar. I have always believed that Shridhar was much too advanced for his time and this film, Ootyvarai Uravu has only served to strengthen that view. Having cast Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan and Punnagai Arasi K.R.Vijaya in the lead roles, one would expect Shridhar […]
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 […]
VASANTHA MALIGAI review
Once a drunk, always a drunk : How true is that? That is the central issue handled by the blockbuster movie, Vasantha Maaligai, which starred Sivaji Ganesan, Vanishree, K.Balaji, Nagesh, Major Sunderrajan, V.S.Raagavan, Pandaribhai, Shrikanth, Senthaamarai and Sri Devi who was only a child star at the time. Sivaji Ganesan plays a wealthy but hopeless […]