| Motor Sundaram Pillai | |
| Director: | S. S. Balan |
| Screenplay: | Veppatthur Kittu |
| Producer: | S. S. Vasan |
| Starring: | Sivaji Ganesan Ravichandran Sowcar Janaki Jayalalithaa |
| Cinematography: | P. Ellappa |
| Editing: | M. Umanath |
| Music: | M. S. Viswanathan |
| Studio: | Gemini Studios |
| Runtime: | 160 minutes |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Tamil |
Motor Sundaram Pillai is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by S. S. Balan and written by Veppathur Kittoo. A remake of the Hindi film Grahasti (1963), itself based on the American film The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959), the film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Ravichandran, Sowcar Janaki and Jayalalithaa. It revolves around a man who leads a double life, having two sets of families.
Motor Sundaram Pillai is the directorial debut of Balan, whose father Vasan produced the film under Gemini Studios. After Kittoo completed the screenplay, Ganesan was approached to star but declined; Vasan then produced Kittu's screenplay as Grahasti. When Ganesan saw this film, he offered to act if Kittu made a Tamil version, and was cast.
Motor Sundaram Pillai was released on 26 January 1966. The film was commercially successful, running for over 100 days in theatres.
Motor Sundaram Pillai, a man known for being virtuous, leads a double life, having two sets of families.
The 1959 American film The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker, adapted from a play written by Liam O'Brien, which was inspired by a real life incident, was a global success, especially in Madras (now Chennai). Veppatthur Kittu of Gemini Studios wrote a screenplay based on this film (with changes made to suit regional tastes) and approached Sivaji Ganesan to act. He refused, and Gemini Studios proprietor S. S. Vasan produced Kittu's screenplay in Hindi as Grahasti (1963). When Ganesan saw this film, he offered to act if Kittu made a Tamil version. Vasan later announced the Tamil version, titled Motor Sundaram Pillai. Like Grahasti, this too featured some changes from the American film.[2] It marked the directorial debut of Vasan's son Balan.[3] Cinematography was handled by P. Ellappa.
The soundtrack album was composed by M. S. Viswanathan.[4] [5] In the song "Gubu Gubu Naan Engine", singer L. R. Eswari imitated engine sounds while A. L. Raghavan imitated train car sounds.[6] [7] The song "Maname Muruganin" is set in the Carnatic raga known as Hindolam.[8] Lyricist Kothamangalam Subbu initially wanted it to be in Atana, but as Viswanathan wanted it to be in Hindolam, Subbu assented.[9] The song was re-used in the Telugu film Manchi Kutumbam (1968) as "Manase Andhala Brindavanam".[10]
Motor Sundaram Pillai was released on 26 January 1966.[11] T. M. Ramachandran of Sport and Pastime wrote, "Though, up to the interval, it contains the usual quota of songs, dances, romantic chases of the young lovers and comedy [...] it grips the audience with a clever and logical twist in the story." The film was commercially successful, running for over 100 days in theatres.[12]