''Poompuhar'' is a 1964 Indian

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

-language

epic film Epic films are a style of filmmaking with large-scale, sweeping scope, and spectacle. The usage of the term has shifted over time, sometimes designating a film genre and at other times simply synonymous with big-budget filmmaking. Like epics in ...

directed by

P. Neelakantan Palaniyaandi Neelakantan (2 October 1916 – 3 September 1992) was a Tamil film director, who was active for nearly four decades. Life He was born at Villupuram, Tamil Nadu. He graduated to movies from stage play. His play '' Naam Iruvar'' ...

and written by M. Karunanidhi. It is the second film based on the epic ''

Cilappatikaram ''Cilappatikāram'' ( ta, சிலப்பதிகாரம் ml, ചിലപ്പതികാരം,IPA: ʧiləppət̪ikɑːrəm, ''lit.'' "the Tale of an Anklet"), also referred to as ''Silappathikaram'' or ''Silappatikaram'', is the e ...

'' after ''Kannagi'' (1942). The film stars

S. S. Rajendran Sedapatti Suryanarayana Rajendran, also known by his initials SSR (January 1928 – 24 October 2014), was an Indian actor, director, producer and politician who worked in Tamil theatre and cinema. Film career Rajendran made his acting de ...

, C. R. Vijayakumari,

Rajasree Rajasree (Rajasree Thota Panchajanyam, Kusuma Kumari, born 31 August 1945), also known as Rajasri or Rajashri, is an Indian actress active from 1956 to 1979. She is particularly famous for her portrayal as a princess in several folklore Telug ...

and

K. B. Sundarambal Kodumudi Balambal Sundarambal (1908–1980) was an Indian actress and singer from Erode district, Tamil Nadu. She performed in Tamil cinema and was referred to as the "Queen of the Indian stage."

. It was released on 18 September 1964.

Plot

Kovalan Kovalan ( ta, கோவலன்) is a central character in Ilango Adigal's ''Silappatikaram,'' one of the ancient Tamil epics. Family Father : Machattuvan Wife : Kannagi Lover : Madhavi Daughter : Manimekalai (Mother: Madhavi) Narrativ ...

, the son of a wealthy merchant in the city of Kaveripattinam, marries

Kannagi Kannagi ( ta, கண்ணகி) sometimes spelled Kannaki, is a legendary Tamil woman who forms the central character of the Tamil epic ''Cilappatikaram''. Kannagi is described as the chaste woman who stays with her husband despite his unfai ...

, the daughter of another merchant. They live together happily in Kaveripattinam, until Kovalan met the courtesan Madhavi and fell in love with her. In his infatuation, he leaves his wife and gradually spends all his wealth on Madhavi. Eventually penniless, Kovalan realises his mistake, and returns to Kannagi after a year. Their only asset is a precious pair of anklets called

Silambu Silambu ( ta, சிலம்பு; ml, ചിലമ്പ് Help:IPA/Malayalam, /cil’əmpɨ̆/), or Gaggara (Tulu language, Tulu: ಗಗ್ಗರ), is an anklet worn and used in a variety of contexts on the Indian subcontinent. Etymology ...

, which Kannagi gave to him willingly. With these as their capital, they go to the city of

Madurai Madurai ( , also , ) is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District. As of the 2011 census, it was the third largest Urban agglomeration in ...

, where Kovalan hopes to recoup his fortunes by trade. Madurai is ruled by the Pandya king

Nedunjeliyan I Nedunjcheliyan I ( c. 270 BCE) (Tamil: நெடுஞ்செழியன்) was a Pandya king.He was also known as Arya Padai kadantha Nedunjezhiya Pandiyan Archaeological evidence His name is present in the Mangulam inscriptions of 3rd ...

. Upon arrival there, Kovalan sets out to sell Kannagi's anklets. While on his way to sell the anklet, he is held by the king's guards for the alleged theft of one of the queen's anklets. Upon the king's orders, he is beheaded without trial. When Kannagi is informed of this, she becomes furious, and set out to prove her husband's innocence to the king, by showing him the anklets. Kannagi comes to the king's court, breaks open the anklet seized from Kovalan and shows that it contained rubies, as opposed to the queen's anklets which contain pearls. Realising their fault, the king and the queen die of shame. Unsatisfied, Kannagi tears out a breast and flings it on the city, uttering a curse that the entire city be burnt. Due to her utmost chastity, her curse becomes a reality.

Cast

* C. R. Vijayakumari as

as Madhavi *

as Gavundhi Adigal *

Nagesh Nagesh (born Cheyur Krishnarao Nageshwaran; (27 September 1933 – 31 January 2009) was an Indian actor, mostly remembered for his roles as a comedian in Tamil films during the 1960s. Nagesh was born in Dharapuram. He acted in over 1,000 film ...

as Ganasabai * Manorama as Vasanthasena *

O. A. K. Thevar O. A. K. Thevar (1924–1973) was an Indian actor. He acted in over 200 films and stage plays. He is known for his antagonistic roles. In 1955 he acted his debut movie ''Maman Magal''. His notable movie are Mahadhevi, Thaikkupin Tharam, Utha ...

as King

* G. Sakunthala as Kopperundevi *

Senthamarai Senthamarai may refer to: * Senthamarai (actor) Senthamarai was an Indian actor who acted in Tamil cinema and theatre. Career Senthamarai was born on 13 April 1935 at Kancheepuram. His family included his father Thiruvenkadam, his mother Vedamm ...

as Minister of Pandyan kingdom

Soundtrack

Music was composed by R. Sudarsanam while the lyrics were penned by

Udumalai Narayana Kavi [https://idhatri.com/udumalai-narayana-kavi/ Udumalai Narayana KavUdumalai Narayana Kavi Udumalai Narayana Kavi (25 September 1899 – 23 May 1981) was an Indian poet and lyricist known for his work in Tamil films. Early life Udumalai Narayana wa ...

, Mayavanathan, Alangudi Somu, M. Karunanidhi and Radha Manikam.

Release and reception

''Poompuhar'' was released on 18 September 1964, and distributed by SSR Pictures in Madras. ''

The Indian Express ''The Indian Express'' is an English-language Indian daily newspaper founded in 1932. It is published in Mumbai by the Indian Express Group. In 1999, eight years after the group's founder Ramnath Goenka's death in 1991, the group was split betw ...

'' called it an "ambitious motion picture in the grand tradition of screen spectacle. It combines lavish and gigantic sets, good acting .and pleasing music by Sudharshanam". T. M. Ramachandran of ''

Sport and Pastime ''Sport and Pastime'' was a weekly sports magazine published by The Hindu Group from 1947 to 1968. Founded by S. K. Gurunathan, the magazine was eventually stopped in 1968. It was replaced with ''Sportstar ''Sportstar'' is an Indian monthly ...

'' wrote the story is "well-known, the film sustains the interest of the audience on account of imaginative treatment and deft touches by director P. Neelakantan" while praising the artistes and their performances.

References

External links

* {{P. Neelakantan 1960s Tamil-language films 1964 films Films based on poems Films directed by P. Neelakantan Films set in the Chola Empire Films scored by R. Sudarsanam Films set in the Pandyan Empire Films with screenplays by M. Karunanidhi Silappatikaram