| Motor Sundaram Pillai | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | S. S. Balan |
| Screenplay by | Veppatthur Kittu |
| Based on | Grahasti |
| Produced by | S. S. Vasan |
| Starring | Sivaji Ganesan Ravichandran Sowcar Janaki Jayalalithaa |
| Cinematography | P. Ellappa |
| Edited by | M. Umanath |
| Music by | M. S. Viswanathan |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 160 minutes[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Motor Sundaram Pillai is a 1966 IndianTamil-languagedrama film directed byS. S. Balan and written by Veppathur Kittoo. A remake of theHindi filmGrahasti (1963), itself based on the American filmThe Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959), the film starsSivaji Ganesan,Ravichandran,Sowcar Janaki andJayalalithaa. It revolves around a man who leads a double life, having two sets of families.
Motor Sundaram Pillai is the directorial debut of Balan, whose fatherVasan produced the film underGemini Studios. After Kittoo completed the screenplay, Ganesan was approached to star but declined; Vasan then produced Kittu's screenplay asGrahasti. When Ganesan saw this film, he offered to act if Kittu made a Tamil version, and was cast.
Motor Sundaram Pillai was released on 26 January 1966. The film was commercially successful, running for over 100 days in theatres.
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Motor Sundaram Pillai, a man known for being virtuous, leads a double life, having two sets of families.
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The 1959 American filmThe Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker, adapted from a play written byLiam O'Brien, which was inspired by a real life incident, was a global success, especially in Madras (nowChennai). Veppatthur Kittu ofGemini Studios wrote a screenplay based on this film (with changes made to suit regional tastes) and approachedSivaji Ganesan to act. He refused, and Gemini Studios proprietorS. S. Vasan produced Kittu's screenplay inHindi asGrahasti (1963). When Ganesan saw this film, he offered to act if Kittu made a Tamil version. Vasan later announced the Tamil version, titledMotor Sundaram Pillai. LikeGrahasti, this too featured some changes from the American film.[4] It marked the directorial debut of Vasan's sonBalan.[2][5] Cinematography was handled by P. Ellappa.[1]
The soundtrack album was composed byM. S. Viswanathan.[6][7] In the song "Gubu Gubu Naan Engine", singerL. R. Eswari imitated engine sounds whileA. L. Raghavan imitated train car sounds.[8][9] The song "Maname Muruganin" is set in theCarnatic raga known asHindolam.[10] LyricistKothamangalam Subbu initially wanted it to be inAtana, but as Viswanathan wanted it to be in Hindolam, Subbu assented.[11] The song was re-used in theTelugu filmManchi Kutumbam (1968) as "Manase Andhala Brindavanam".[12]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kathiruntha Kangale" | Vaali | P. B. Sreenivas,P. Susheela | 03:58 |
| 2. | "Kathal Endral Enna" | Kothamangalam Subbu | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | 07:38 |
| 3. | "Gubu Gubu Naan Engine" | Kothamangalam Subbu | A. L. Raghavan,L. R. Eswari | 03:22 |
| 4. | "Maname Muruganin" | Kothamangalam Subbu | (Radha) Jayalakshmi | 01:50 |
| 5. | "Penne Maanthartham (Penmai Endra)" | Kothamangalam Subbu | Sirkazhi Govindarajan | 02:17 |
| 6. | "Thulli Thulli Vilaiyada" | Vaali | P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari,Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi | 02:55 |
| Total length: | 22:00 | |||
Motor Sundaram Pillai was released on 26 January 1966.[13] T. M. Ramachandran ofSport and Pastime wrote, "Though, up to the interval, it contains the usual quota of songs, dances, romantic chases of the young lovers and comedy [...] it grips the audience with a clever and logical twist in the story."[2] The film was commercially successful, running for over 100 days in theatres.[14]