Veera Thirumagan is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language historical action film, directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar and produced by Murugan Brothers, a subsidiary of AVM Productions. This was the directorial debut for Tirulokchandar. The film stars C. L. Anandan, Sachu, E. V. Saroja and S. A. Ashokan. It was released on 3 May 1962 and emerged a moderate success.

Veera Thirumagan
Theatrical release poster
Directed byA. C. Tirulokchandar
Written byA. C. Tirulokchandar
Produced byA. V. Meiyappan
StarringC. L. Anandan
Sachu
E. V. Saroja
Music byViswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Production
company
Release date
  • 3 May 1962 (1962-05-03)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil
Budget13,00,000

Cast

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Production

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A. C. Tirulokchandar earlier wrote the screenplay for the hit film, Vijayapuri Veeran, an adaptation of The Three Musketeers. He was introduced by actor S. A. Ashokan to M. Saravanan of AVM Productions, and became very close to the AVM clan, he made his directorial debut with Veera Thirumagan.[1][2] Former child artist Sachu made her debut as lead actress with this film.[3] While AVM was generally known for producing drama films with contemporary settings, Veera Thirumagan differed from them by being an "action oriented costume drama".[4] Saravanan and Kumaran wanted to make an historical film on the lines of Vijayapuri Veeran and Hollywood films.[5] Meiyappan refused to produce a historical film on their banner as he felt they need to learn a lot; however after his wife persuaded him to encourage them, he agreed but on the condition that they should produce the film on a new banner called "Murugan Brothers".[6] The budget of the film was 1,300,000 (equivalent to 110 million or US$1.3 million in 2023).[7] According to Saravanan, it was the first film using zoom lens.[8] The song "Roja Magale Rajakumari" was the first song to be recorded before the team went to shoot. That song was shot at Hogenakkal Falls.[9] For the song "Neela Pattadai Katti", Tirulokachander wanted a large lotus flower in the middle of the water surrounded by twenty four lotus leaves with heroine standing in the flower. Aarumuga Aasari, who worked as a carpenter for AVM Studios, spotted a place with backwaters where he built a set with the film's art director Shantaram with two barrels to fill leaves and four barrels with lotus flowers then filling it with water and was shot for 10 days.[10][11][a] After seeing the song, Meiyappan felt the same song can be shot in colour too hence it was reshot in colour.[11] The outdoor shoot was held at Chandragiri Fort at Andhra Pradesh.[11]

Soundtrack

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The music was composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and lyrics were written by Kannadasan.[12][13] The songs "Roja Magale Rajakumari" and "Paadatha Paattellam" were well received.[8][4] The latter song was remixed by Dharan Kumar for Rudhran (2023).[14][15]

Song Singers Length
"Azhagukku Azhagu" P. Susheela 03:35
"Kettadhu Kidaikkum" L. R. Eswari 04:20
"Neelapattadai Katti" P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari 04:32
"Paadatha Pattellam" P. B. Sreenivas, S. Janaki 03:12
"Roja Malarae" P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela 03:00
"Vethala Potta" T. M. Soundararajan, Sadan 03:56
"Etruga Dheebam" P. Susheela 04:58
"Ontodu Ondrai Vaitthaan" T. M. Soundararajan, P. Leela & M. S. Viswanathan 05:40
"Azhivadhu Pol Thondrum" G. K. Venkatesh 01:07

Marketing

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To promote the film, S. S. Balan of the magazine Ananda Vikatan suggested the makers to promote the film in the magazine as a four-half page advertisement to which they agreed. Similarly, they published six advertisements and four-page advertisements in the form of check at the same time in the magazine Kumudam. It became the first Tamil film whose banner was put up in Mount Road, Madras using neon sign.[8]

Release and reception

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Veera Thirumagan was released on 3 May 1962.[4] Kanthan of Kalki said Ashokan was the only actor who performed well, and criticised the film's other aspects, including the cinematography, art direction and music.[16] According to Saravanan, the film was a moderate success.[8]

Notes

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  1. ^ S. P. Muthuraman claimed the song was shot at Thuraipakkam[9] while A. V. M. Kumaran claimed it was shot around Mahabalipuram[11]

References

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  1. ^ Guy, Randor (27 June 2015). "Athey Kangal 1967". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  2. ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (25 March 2011). "Moorings and musings". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  3. ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (16 November 2007). "Yours sincerely, Sachu". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (3 March 2018). "✿ "Roja Malarae Rajakumari" ♛ ♥ ~ Popular Song by PB Sreenivas – P.Susheela Duo ♫". DBSJeyaraj.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  5. ^ "ஏவி.எம்.சகாப்தம் (12)". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 24 February 2019. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  6. ^ "ஏவி.எம்., சகாப்தம் (13)". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 3 March 2019. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  7. ^ Sri Kantha, Sachi (7 May 2015). "MGR Remembered – Part 27 | 1962 Elections and Aftermath". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d சரவணன், ஏவி.எம். (13 February 2005). "ரோஜா மகளே ராஜகுமாரி..!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 44–47. Retrieved 17 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  9. ^ a b Muthuraman 2017, p. 73.
  10. ^ Muthuraman 2017, pp. 75–77.
  11. ^ a b c d "ஏவி.எம்., சகாப்தம்! (14)". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 10 March 2019. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Veera Thirumagan (1962)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  13. ^ விரத்திருமகன் (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). Murugan Brothers. 1962. Retrieved 21 December 2021 – via Internet Archive.
  14. ^ "Raghava Lawrence's Rudhran to feature a remastered version of Padatha Patellam". Indulge Express. 20 October 2021. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  15. ^ R, Chandhini (11 February 2023). "Paadatha Pattellam song from Raghava Lawrence's Rudhran is out". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  16. ^ காந்தன் (20 May 1962). "வீரத் திருமகன்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 49. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2021.

Bibliography

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