Petralthan Pillaiya

Petralthan Pillaiya^[a] is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Krishnan–Panju and written by Aaroor Dass. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran, B. Saroja Devi and Sowcar Janaki. Based on the 1921 American film, The Kid, it revolves around a tramp finding a homeless boy and raising him as his own son until five years later the boy's biological parents try to find him.

Petralthan Pillaiya
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Krishnan–Panju
Screenplay by	Aaroor Dass
Based on	The Kid by Charlie Chaplin
Produced by	K. K. Vasu
Starring	M. G. Ramachandran B. Saroja Devi Sowcar Janaki
Cinematography	P. N. Sundaram
Edited by	S. Panjabi
Music by	M. S. Viswanathan
Production company	Sri Muthukumaran Pictures
Release date	9 December 1966 (1966-12-09)
Running time	168 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Petralthan Pillaiya was released on 9 December 1966. The film emerged a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres. It was remade in Malayalam as Ashtamirohini (1975).^[4]

Plot

Jeeva is a mother unable to afford the cost of raising a young boy. She abandons him in a temple where a tramp, Anandhan, discovers him. Anandhan tries to get rid of the boy, but he eventually becomes attached to him. Anandhan names the boy Kannan and educates him, despite his poor financial condition. Five years later, Jeeva, her husband Sekhar and social services try to find her son.

Cast

• M. G. Ramachandran as Anandhan
• B. Saroja Devi as Mohini
• Sowcar Janaki as Jeeva
• M. R. Radha as Kabali
• S. A. Ashokan as Sekhar
• K. A. Thangavelu as Panjavarnam
• M. N. Nambiar as Mani
• T. S. Balaiah as the old policeman
• Baby Shakila as Kannan
• Indira Devi as Kala
• Mohana

Production

Petralthan Pillaiya is based on Charlie Chaplin's 1921 American film, The Kid.^[1] Writer Aaroor Dass initially narrated the story to Sivaji Ganesan, who seemed interested but "did not follow up"; he later gave it to M. G. Ramachandran.^[5] The duo Krishnan–Panju (R. Krishnan and S. Panju) directed the film, and Panju edited the film under the alias S. Panjabi. It was produced by K. K. Vasu under the banner Sri Muthukumaran Pictures, and photographed by P. N. Sundaram.^[6] M. R. Radha paid ₹100,000 (equivalent to ₹7.3 million or US$88,000 in 2023) to Vasu, and acted in the film without charging. Principal photography began in June 1964. Petralthan Pillaiya remains the only film produced by Vasu.^[7]

Soundtrack

M. S. Viswanathan composed the soundtrack, the lyrics were written by Vaali.^[8][9] The song "Nalla Nalla Pillaigalai" had to be modified after the censor board objected to the lyric "Arignar Annappol" (Like Anna, the scholar), a reference to the politician C. N. Annadurai. This was changed to "Thiru Vi Ka pol" (Like Thiru Vi Ka), a reference to the scholar and activist Thiru. V. Kalyanasundaram.^[10][11]

Track listing

No.	Title	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Chakkara Katti"	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	3:23
2.	"Chellakkiliye"	T. M. Soundararajan	3:15
3.	"Chellakkiliye" (Pathos)	P. Susheela	2:43
4.	"Kannan Piranthaan"	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	5:27
5.	"Nalla Nalla Pillaigalai"	P. Susheela, Sirkazhi Govindarajan	6:26
6.	"Nalla Nalla Pillaigalai" (Solo)	T. M. Soundararajan	3:26
Total length:			24:40

Release and reception

Petralthan Pillaiya was released on 9 December 1966.^[12][13] Kalki said the film was strictly for those who would prefer affection towards children over love.^[14] The film emerged a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.^[6]

Notes

1. There is no direct translation for the film's title in English; Sachi Sri Kantha's attempted translation is "Should one give birth to own a child?",^[1] writer R. Kannan says it means "Is only a biological child a child",^[2] and T. G. Vaidyanathan of the magazine Film World says it means that "somebody can be your son even if you haven't given birth to him".^[3]

References

1. Sri Kantha, Sachi (16 March 2016). "MGR Remembered – Part 34 | 1966 and Prelude to the M.R. Radha shooting incident". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 25 May 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
2. Kannan 2017, p. 91.
3. Vaidyanathan, T. G. (1974). "M. G. R. Charisma". Film World. Vol. 10. p. 87. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
4. "தமிழ் டூ மலையாளம் உண்டல்லோ?". Puthiya Thalaimurai (in Tamil). 16 July 2015. p. 12.
5. Krishnamachari, Suganthy (23 February 2012). "'Star' Wordsmith". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
6. Guy, Randor (7 May 2016). "Petraalthan Pillaiya (1966)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
7. Sri Kantha, Sachi (25 April 2017). "MGR Remembered – Part 38 | Testimony of producer K.N. Vasu". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
8. பெற்றால்தான் பிள்ளையா (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). Sri Muthukumaran Pictures. 1966. Retrieved 6 July 2022 – via Internet Archive.
9. "Petralthan Pillaya (1966)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 16 August 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
10. சுவாமிநாதன், ஸ்ரீதர் (7 April 2016). "எம்ஜிஆர் 100 | 38 - நினைத்ததை முடிப்பவர்!" [MGR 100 | 38 – The one who finishes what he thinks!]. Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 20 November 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
11. Kannan 2017, p. 99.
12. "Table: Chronological List of MGR's Movies released between 1960 and 1967" (PDF). Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
13. "எம்.ஜி.ஆர். நடித்த படங்களின் பட்டியல்". Ithayakkani (in Tamil). 2 April 2011. Archived from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
14. "பெற்றால்தான் பிள்ளையா?". Kalki (in Tamil). 25 December 1966. p. 17. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.

Bibliography

• Kannan, R. (28 June 2017). MGR: A Life. India: Penguin Random House. ISBN 978-93-86495-88-4.

External links

• Petralthan Pillaiya at IMDb