| Thamarai Nenjam | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | K. Balachander |
| Written by | K. Balachander |
| Produced by | Annamalai–Arunachalam |
| Starring | Gemini Ganesan B. Saroja Devi Vanisri |
| Cinematography | N. Balakrishnan |
| Edited by | N. R. Kittu |
| Music by | M. S. Viswanathan |
Production company | Bama Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 143 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Thamarai Nenjam (/θɑːməraɪnɛŋdʒəm/transl. Lotus Heart) is a 1968 IndianTamil-languageromantic drama film written and directed byK. Balachander. The film starsGemini Ganesan,B. Saroja Devi andVanisri, withMajor Sundarrajan andNagesh playing supporting roles. It was released on 31 May 1968, and won twoTamil Nadu State Film Awards:Best Film (Third Prize) andBest Dialogue Writer (Balachander). The film was remade inTelugu asMooga Prema (1971), inHindi asHaar Jeet (1972) and inKannada asMugila Mallige (1985) by Balachander himself.[1][2]
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Two friends, Kamala and Radha, fall in love with Murali, only for Kamala ending up helping Radha and Murali get together. However, when Radha finds out about this, she feels guilty and starts pushing away Murali towards Kamala thereby turning all three lives into hell. In the end, Kamala, who serialises her story in a weekly magazine through which Radha figures it out, concludes that the only way to resolve this is to kill herself. Does she succeed?
C. R. Vijayakumari was offered to act in the film, but did not accept, resulting inB. Saroja Devi replacing her.[3]
The soundtrack was composed byM. S. Viswanathan and lyrics were written byKannadasan.[4]
| Song | Singer | Length |
|---|---|---|
| "Adipodi Paithiyakari" | L. R. Eswari,P. Susheela | 3:33 |
| "Mutrukai Porattam" | L. R. Eswari,T. M. Soundararajan | 2:53 |
| "Aalayam Enbathu" | P. Susheela | 4:29 |
| "Thithikkum Paaleduthu" | 3:33 | |
| "Vaanai Maranthu Nindra" | 3:23 |
Thamarai Nenjam was released on 31 May 1968,[5] and favourably reviewed byKalki.[6] The film won theTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film (Third Prize), and Balachander won theaward for Best Dialogue Writer.[7]