| Kanthan Karunai | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | A. P. Nagarajan |
| Screenplay by | A. P. Nagarajan |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | A. L. Srinivasan |
| Starring | See cast |
| Cinematography | K. S. Prasanth |
| Edited by | R. Devarajan |
| Music by | K. V. Mahadevan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan (1 song) |
Production company | A. L. S. Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 150 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Kanthan Karunai (transl. By the mercy of Kanthan) is a 1967 Indian Tamil-language Hindu mythological film, written and directed by A. P. Nagarajan. It features an ensemble cast including Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, K. B. Sundarambal, Savitri, Jayalalithaa, K. R. Vijaya and Sivakumar. This was the debut film for Sridevi, who starred as Hindu god Murugan at the age of 3.
Plot
The film revolves around Murugan, his birth, marriage, and acceptance of the post of head of the army of heaven. In Hinduism, there are six abodes of Muruga, known as the "Arupadaiveedu". The story behind each of the abodes is portrayed chronologically in the film. It starts with Swamimalai, where Muruga teaches the meaning of the word 'OM' to his father, Shiva. He goes to Palani Hills, his second abode, after a fight over a sacred fruit. Then he wins over the demon king Surapadman in Thiruchendur and that is his third abode. The King of Heaven, Indra offers his daughter's hand in appreciation of Muruga's victory, and he marries her in Thirupparamkunram, his fourth abode. He later marries Valli in his fifth abode of Thiruthani, and after a short dispute between both his wives, they amicably settle in Pazhamudircholai, his sixth abode. All the events are summarized by Nakkeerar, a Tamil poet portrayed by Sirkazhi Govindarajan at the end of the film.
Cast
- Sivakumar as Lord Murugan
- Master Sridhar as Adolescent Murugan
- Sridevi as Child Murugan
- Sivaji Ganesan as Veerabahu Devar, Murugan's Soldging commander
- Gemini Ganesan as Shiva Parvathi's husband, Vinayagan and Murugan's father
- Savithiri as Parvathi, Shiva's wife, Vinayagan and Murugan's mother
- K. R. Vijaya as Deivanai, Murugan's first wife.
- Jayalalithaa as Valli, Murugan's second wife.[1]
- V. Gopalakrishnan as Jayanthan, Indra's son who was kidnapped by Soorapadman
- S. Varalakshmi as Shachi, Indra's wife, Jayantha's mother
- S. A. Ashokan as Soorapadman, the demon king, Banukopan's father
- K. Balaji as Banugopan, Soorapadman's son
- S. V. Ramadas as Soorapadman's assistant
- E. R. Sahadevan as Singamugasuran, a demon, Soorapadman's brother
- G. Sakunthala as Ajamukhi
- Ambika as Paduma Komalai
- Manimala as Banugopan's wife
- K. B. Sundarambal as Avvaiyar
- Sirkazhi Govindarajan as Nakkeerar (cameo)
- Nagesh as Nageswaran
- Manorama as Valli's friend
- B. V. Radha as Ajamukhi's assistant
Production
Vijayakumar was supposed to play Lord Murugan in the film, but he was replaced by Sivakumar. Vijayakumar instead appeared as one of the lords who was in the jail.[2][3] Kannadasan recommended Sridevi for her role. This was the debut film for actress Sridevi.[4]
Soundtrack
The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, for which he received the National Film Award for Best Music Direction.[5][6] The song "Thiruparankundrathil Nee" was composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan.[7][8] The song "Arupadai Veedu" is a ragamalika; it starts off with Kambodhi followed by Hindolam, Chakravakam, Kaanada, Hamsanandhi, Natakurinji and Kapi. "Solla Solla inikkudhadaa" song is set to Kundhalavarali raaga."Thiruparankundrathil Nee" song set in Suddha Dhanyasi ragam and "Arumugamana Porul" song set in Mohanam ragam."Vellimalai Mannava" song set in Charukesi ragam.[9][10]
| Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Aarumugamana Porul" | Renuka, S. Janaki. Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi | Kannadasan | 03:24 |
| "Aarumuga Saravana" | P. Susheela | Sankaradas Swamigal | 00:54 |
| "Arupadai Veedu Konda" | Sirkazhi Govindarajan | Kannadasan | 06:41 |
| "Ariyathu Ketkum" | K. B. Sundarambal | 06:06 | |
| "Konjum Kili" | S. V. Ponnusamy | Sankaradas Swamigal | 01:11 |
| "Kurinjiyile Poo Malarnthu" | P. Susheela | Kannadasan | 03:44 |
| "Manam Padaithen" | P. Susheela | 04:01 | |
| "Murugane Senthil" | Sirkazhi Govindarajan | 00.58 | |
| "Munthum Thamizh" | S. C. Krishnan, A. L. Raghavan, K. Jamuna Rani, A. P. Komala | 01:51 | |
| "Muruga Muruga Muruga" | K. B. Sundarambal | 01:43 | |
| "Solla Solla" (Film Version) | P. Susheela | 02:22 | |
| "Solla Solla" (Full Version) | P. Susheela | 03:21 | |
| "Thirupparang Kundrathil" | Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, P. Susheela | Poovai Senguttavan | 03:23 |
| "Vallimalai Pothigaimalai" | P. Susheela | Kannadasan | |
| "Vellimalai Mannava" | S. Varalakshmi | 01:54 | |
| "Vetrivel Veeravel" | T. M. Soundararajan | 02:41 |
Reception
Kalki appreciated Nagarajan for taking an old story and reinventing it.[11]
References
- Mishra, Nivedita (27 September 2014). "Jayalalithaa, the golden girl of Tamil cinema". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 27 July 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
- ""கந்தன் கருணை" படத்தில் முருகனாக நடிப்பது யார்? சிவகுமாருடன் விஜயகுமார் போட்டி". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- "ஏ.எல்.எஸ். தயாரித்த கந்தன் கருணை: முருகன் வேடத்தில் சிவகுமார்". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- "'You're the best baby in the world.' On Sridevi's 3rd death anniversary, daughter Janhvi Kapoor mourns actress and shares handwritten note". The Economic Times. 24 February 2021. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- "Kandan Karunai (1967)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 16 August 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- "National Awards 1967 Winners". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- "'திருப்பரங்குன்றத்தில் நீ சிரித்தால்...' இசைத்தட்டுக்காக குன்னக்குடி இசை அமைத்த பாடல் 'கந்தன் கருணை'யில் இடம் பெற்றது". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- Balasubramanian, V. (12 September 2008). "His music touched the masses". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - "Devotional Kambhoji". The Hindu. 18 August 2012. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- Saregama Tamil (10 January 2017). Kandhan Karunai | Tamil Movie Songs | Audio Jukebox | கந்தன் கருணை பாடல்கள். Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2017 – via YouTube.
- "கந்தன் கருணை". Kalki (in Tamil). 5 February 1967. p. 17. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)