Deiva Thai Explained

Deiva Thai
Director:P. Madhavan
Screenplay:R. M. Veerappan
T. N. Balu
K. Balachander (dialogues)
Story:Nanabhai Bhatt
Producer:R. M. Veerappan
Cinematography:Sundaram
Music:Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Studio:Sathya Movies
Distributor:Emgeeyaar Pictures
Runtime:175 minutes
Country:India
Language:Tamil

Deiva Thai is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language film, produced and co-written by R. M. Veerappan, directed by P. Madhavan and starring M. G. Ramachandran. It was released on 18 July 1964 and became one of the most successful Tamil films of the year.

Plot

Sivagami, a widow, brings up her only son Maran, in the worship of Karunagaran, as his father had died in tragic circumstances. She hides from him for a long time, the real version of the facts. Indeed, Karunagaran, inveterate player of poker, killed a player accidentally during a game in which the player beats him by cheating, shocked to realise that he is the reason for his death, Karunagaran escapes from that quickly. Maran becomes a C.I.D. officer and settles in the new mission to dismantle the traffickers' network. It turns out that the man who heads this terrorist organisation is none other than his father, Karunagaran. Maran and the one who is called up now, Baba (alias Karunagaran), ignore each other, their family ties, except Sivagami, are in the centre of a cornelian dilemma. To choose between her husband or his son? To assure his role of faithful wife or that of an affectionate mother?

Cast

Production

K. Balachander, while working in the Accountant General's office, was offered to write the dialogues for the film by its lead actor M. G. Ramachandran.[1] Balachander was initially reluctant, as he was more theatre-oriented, but on the insistence of his friends he decided to work on the film. The producer R. M. Veerappan convinced Balachander to write the dialogues and launched him in the silver screen business.[2] [3] During filming, director P. Madhavan threatened to quit due to Ramachandran's interference, but ultimately due to Veerappan's persuasion, Ramachandran continued acting in the film without interfering further.[4] The film remained the only collaboration between Madhavan and Ramachandran.[5]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy.[6] [7]

Song Singers Lyrics Length
"Kathalikkathe" 04:02
"Paruvam Ponapaathaiyele" P. Susheela 04:32
"Moondrezhuthil En" 03:08
"Indha Punnagai" T. M. Soundararajan & P. Susheela 05:14
"Vannakkili" T. M. Soundararajan & P. Susheela 03:40
"Oru Pennai Parthu" T. M. Soundararajan 04:37
"Unmaikku Veliyithu" 04:37

Release and reception

Deiva Thai was released on 18 July 1964,[8] and distributed by Emgeeyaar Pictures.[9] The Sunday Standard wrote "Indeed, it is all a twice-told tale. And yet, the picture enthrals a section of the audience for which it is intended, thanks to the fast tempo of surroundings and director Madhavan's success in wringing the best out of the few emotional sequences despite a weak and loose script".[10] T. M. Ramachandran wrote in Sport and Pastime, "The story may be ordinary but it is imaginatively treated".[11] Kanthan of Kalki praised the dialogues by Balachander.[12] It was one of the most successful Tamil films of the year.[13]

Notes and References

  1. News: 30 April 2011 . "பால்கே" விருது பெற்ற பாலச்சந்தருக்கு நடிகர்கள் வாழ்த்து . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140222101244/http://www.maalaimalar.com/2011/04/30112858/actors-wishes-to-balachander.html . 22 February 2014 . 25 September 2013 . . Tamil.
  2. Web site: 24 December 2013 . திரை உலகுக்கு வாருங்கள்: பாலசந்தருக்கு எம்.ஜி.ஆர். அழைப்பு . MGR invited Balachander to enter film industry . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140312173208/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2013/12/24231902/balachandhar-cinema-history.html . 12 March 2014 . 14 February 2014 . . ta.
  3. Web site: Magan . Tamil . 29 June 2003 . translated by Hari Krishnan . Balachander – the maverick and the master . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20030629111323/http://www.chennaionline.com/entertainment/filmplus/balachander.asp . 29 June 2003 . 19 January 2021 . Chennai Online.
  4. Web site: 8 July 2022 . எம்ஜிஆரின் கட்டளைக்கு அடிபணிய மறுத்த இயக்குநர் . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220709004356/https://tamil.news18.com/news/entertainment/cinema-the-director-refused-to-obey-mgrs-orders-768870.html . 9 July 2022 . 11 July 2022 . . ta.
  5. Web site: 16 November 2022 . பிரபல இயக்குநர் பி.மாதவனின் 100 நாள் ஓடிய முதல் திரைப்படம் எது தெரியுமா? . live . https://archive.today/20221206142946/https://tamil.news18.com/photogallery/entertainment/cinema-famous-director-p-madhavans-first-100-day-film-is-annai-illam-838430.html . 6 December 2022 . 9 July 2024 . . ta.
  6. Web site: Deiva Thai (1964) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120630224832/http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0001417 . 30 June 2012 . 14 June 2014 . Raaga.com.
  7. Web site: Deiva Thai (EP, 45 RPM) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211116113906/https://avdigital.in/products/deiva-thai-ep-45-rpm . 16 November 2021 . 16 November 2021 . AVDigital.
  8. News: 18 July 1964 . Deiva Thai . 19 January 2021 . . 10 . Google News Archive.
  9. News: 12 July 1964 . Deiva Thai . 16 November 2021 . . 3 . Google News Archive.
  10. News: 25 July 1964 . Deiva Thai . 11 February 2021 . . 3 . Google News Archive.
  11. Ramachandran . T. M. . 8 August 1964 . New Concern Hits Headlines . live . https://archive.today/20230203105548/https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.98085/page/n608/mode/2up . 3 February 2023 . 3 February 2023 . . 50 . . 18.
  12. காந்தன் . 16 August 1964 . தெய்வ தாய் . dead . https://archive.today/20220724051733/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1964/aug/16-08-1964/p25.jpg . 24 July 2022 . 16 November 2021 . . 25 . ta.
  13. News: Guy . Randor . Randor Guy . 2 April 2016 . Dheiva Thaai (1964) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170604094133/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/mgr-and-saroja-devi-in-dheiva-thaai-1964/article8426472.ece . 4 June 2017 . 7 April 2016 . The Hindu.