Kudiyirundha Koyil
Theatrical release poster
Directed byK. Shankar
Screenplay bySwornam
Based onChina Town
Produced byT. S. Raja Sunderasan
Starring
CinematographyV. Ramamoorthy
Edited byK. Shankar
K. Narayanan
Music byM. S. Viswanathan
Production
company
Saravana Screens
Release date
  • 15 March 1968 (1968-03-15)
Running time
166 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Kudiyirundha Koyil (transl. The Sacred Dwelling) is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language spy film directed by K. Shankar. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran, Jayalalithaa and Rajasree, with L. Vijayalakshmi, Pandari Bai, M. N. Nambiar, Sundarrajan, V. K. Ramasamy, S. V. Ramadas and Nagesh in supporting roles. A remake of the 1962 Hindi film China Town, it revolves around twins who become separated as children: one who grows up to be a criminal, and the other who is tasked with apprehending him.

Kudiyirundha Koyil was released on 15 March 1968. The film was a box office success, running for more than 100 days in theatres, and became a turning point in Ramachandran's career. For his performance, he won his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor.

Plot

Twins Sekhar and Anand, along with their mother Mangalam, witness their father Ramnadhan being murdered by Nagappan, an escaped convict who Ramnadhan had testified against. This prompts the family to leave to Madras to pursue a new life. But when Sekhar gets down from the train to fetch some water, it leaves without him. Nagappan arrives and kidnaps Sekhar, who is raised by him as a criminal. Sekhar remains unaware that the same man killed his father.

Years later, Sekhar who now calls himself "Babu", is an established criminal and is the most wanted man in the city. Meanwhile, Anand is a club-dancer and neither he nor Babu are aware of each other's existence. During a police encounter, Babu is grievously wounded and seeks shelter in Mangalam's house, although he does not recognise her as his mother. He develops a soft corner for her, but when Nagappan (now known as Boopathy, the owner of a cabaret and employer of Babu) learns about this, he tries to eradicate the kind-self out of Babu.

During another police encounter, Babu is again wounded, but becomes insane this time, also becoming amnesiac. D. I. G. Mogan comes across Anand, and after seeing the striking resemblance between him and Babu, advises him to act as Babu to get all the secrets of the gang and have them arrested. Anand agrees, but later realises Babu is his brother. Anand's girlfriend Jaya sees him having lot of money in a briefcase, and the police chase him. Unaware of the truth, she thinks he has turned into a criminal, and refuses to speak to him. Mangalam also learns of this, and becomes heartbroken. However, Mangalam and Jaya soon reconcile with Anand after learning of the truth, and they also learn that Babu is his brother.

Babu's girlfriend Asha discovers that Anand is impersonating Babu, but he surrenders to her and explains about Babu's medical condition, subsequently revealing himself as Babu's brother. Asha forgives him and the duo subsequently team up to defeat Nagappan and his men. Babu later escapes from the prison to kill Anand when learning about him, but is cornered by Jaya, who tells him that Anand is his brother. Babu does not believe this, and kidnaps Jaya. He is later stopped by Mangalam, who makes him realise that he is her son and Anand is his brother. Remembering that Nagappan killed his father, he teams up with Anand to defeat Nagappan, who is later arrested. Subsequently, Babu returns to being "Sekhar", and reunites with his family.

Cast

Production

Kudiyirundha Koyil is a remake of the 1962 Hindi film China Town.[7] It was the first Tamil film to feature a Bangra dance sequence in the song "Aadaludan Paadalai". Ramachandran had to practice for one month to dance in the song, which was shot over the course of three days.[8][9] In portraying Sekhar/Babu, Ramachandran applied make-up to give the character a dark complexion, while he kept his original fair-skinned complexion for portraying Anand.[10]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan.[11] The song "Thulluvadho Ilamai" belongs to Pasodoble, a Spanish musical genre,[12] and is also set to Mayamalavagowla, a Carnatic raga.[13] "Kunguma Pottin Mangalam" was the only film song written by Roshanara Begum in her life.[14] "Naan Yaar? Nee Yaar?" earned Pulamaipithan recognition as a lyricist.[15] The interlude from "Aadaludan Paadalai" was re-used in the song "Namma Kattula Mazhai Peiyuthu" from Pattiyal (2006).[16] The song "Ennai Theriyuma" was later remixed by Achu for a film with the same name,[17] and "Aadaludan Paadalai" was remixed by Mani Sharma for Sinam (2012) and by Amresh Ganesh for Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva (2017).[18][19]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Un Vizhiyum En Vaalum"VaaliT. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari3:17
2."Ennai Theriyuma"VaaliT. M. Soundararajan, Chorus3:38
3."Neeyethan Enakku"VaaliT. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela3:35
4."Naan Yaar? Nee Yaar?"PulamaipithanT. M. Soundararajan3:19
5."Thuluvadho Ilamai"VaaliT. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari, Chorus3:37
6."Aadaludan Paadalai"Alangudi SomuT. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela6:07
7."Kunguma Pottin Mangalam"Roshanara BegumT. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela3:42
8."Thaaiyai (Kovilum Deivam)" M. S. Viswanathan0:32
Total length:27:47

Release and reception

Kudiyirundha Koyil was released on 15 March 1968.[20] Kalki positively reviewed the film, comparing it favourably to earlier Ramachandran films featuring him in dual roles.[6] Dinamani praised Ramachandran's performance in Sekar's role.[21] The film was a box office success, and ran more than 100 days in theatres. Ramachandran considered it the tenth turning point in his career. For his performance, Ramachandran won his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor.[22][23] At the same ceremony, T. M. Soundararajan won the award for Best Male Playback Singer.[24]

References

  1. 1 2 "Jayalalithaa and MGR's best song-and-dance numbers in Tamil cinema: Throwback Thursday". Firstpost. 16 February 2017. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  2. ↑ "இரண்டாவது நாயகியாகவே நிலைத்தவர் ராஜஸ்ரீ". Kungumam (in Tamil). 1 May 2020. Archived from the original on 13 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  3. ↑ Krishnamachari, Suganthy (5 February 2015). "From Natya to numbers". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 "68 - ம் ஆண்டில் எம்ஜிஆருக்கு ஜோடி ஜெயலலிதா; ஒரே ஆண்டில் எட்டு படங்கள்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 17 November 2019. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Aravind, CV (18 March 2019). "Remembering MN Nambiar: From 'Anbe Vaa' to 'Thillana Mohanambal', the menacing villain". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  6. 1 2 "குடியிருந்த கோயில்". Kalki (in Tamil). 31 March 1968. p. 25. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  7. ↑ "Forever young". The Telegraph. 21 October 2010. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  8. ↑ Narasimhan, T.A. (24 December 2007). "MGR learnt Bangra for month to dance with L. Vijayalakshmi". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  9. ↑ Sri Kantha, Sachi (9 December 2018). "MGR Remembered – Part 47 | Comparison of Chaplin and MGR". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  10. ↑ Maderya, Kumuthan (2010). "Rage against the state: historicizing the "angry young man" in Tamil cinema". Jump Cut. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "Kudiyiruntha Kovil (1968)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  12. ↑ "இரண்டு பாதுஷாக்களும் இன்னிசை தான்சேனும் 03: குதூகலித்த துள்ளுவதோ இளமை!". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 4 October 2019. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  13. ↑ Sundararaman 2007, p. 163.
  14. ↑ Balasubramanian, V. (30 May 2013). "Man behind the golden voice". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  15. ↑ Parthasarathy, Anusha (28 December 2010). "Memories of Madras – The Sands of time". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "Pattiyal Music Review". IndiaGlitz. 3 March 2006. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  17. ↑ Srinivasan, Pavithra (17 September 2008). "Music Review: Yennai Theriyuma?". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  18. ↑ "Sathyaraj asks for Endhiran VCD!". Behindwoods. 3 August 2009. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  19. ↑ Pillai, Sreedhar (9 March 2017). "After Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva release, is Raghava Lawrence planning to enter politics?". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  20. ↑ "ஜெயலலிதா நடித்த திரைப்படங்களின் பட்டியல்". Dinamani (in Tamil). 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  21. ↑ "குடியிருந்த கோவில்". Kalki (in Tamil). 7 June 1981. p. 10. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  22. ↑ Sri Kantha, Sachi (16 January 2018). "MGR Remembered – Part 48 | 100 Movies and Beyond". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  23. ↑ நரசிம்மன், டி.ஏ. (27 January 2017). "என்னருமை தோழி..! 20: எம்.ஜி.ஆருக்கு ஆலோசனை!". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  24. ↑ "State film awards". The Indian Express. 1 March 1970. p. 5. Retrieved 15 May 2021.

Bibliography

  • Sundararaman (2007) [2005]. Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music (2nd ed.). Pichhamal Chintamani. OCLC 295034757.
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