Sumaithaangi
Theatrical release poster
Directed byC. V. Sridhar
Screenplay byC. V. Sridhar
Based onSumaithaangi
by Ra. Ki. Rangarajan
Produced byKovai Chezhiyan
StarringGemini Ganesan
Devika
R. Muthuraman
CinematographyA. Vincent
Edited byN. M. Shankar
Music byViswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Production
company
Visalakshi Films
Release date
  • 7 December 1962 (1962-12-07)
Running time
160 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Sumaithaangi (transl. Bearer of Burdens)[1] is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language drama film, written and directed by C. V. Sridhar. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Devika and R. Muthuraman. Based on Ra. Ki. Rangarajan's novel of the same name that was serialised in Kumudam, it revolves around a man who could not lead his life the way he wanted, and gets forced to undergo many sacrifices. The film, produced by Kovai Chezhiyan, was released on 7 December 1962. Ganesan won the Film Fans Association Award for Best Actor

Plot

The movie starts with a typical middle-class family supported by Muthuraman, as he goes to each member comprising retired father Sarangapani, younger brother Gemini Ganesan (GG) and younger sister L. Vijayalakshmi, giving their monthly quota.

GG is a collegian, who is challenged by his friends, Nagesh and others to try his youthful exuberance against Devika, their former school teacher, V. S. Raghavan's only daughter. He accepts the challenge and enters their household as a student trying to learn English literature. As days pass by, GG successfully makes Devika fall in love with him.

Muthuraman is the lead member and the family thrives purely on his earnings. One day, a dejected Muthuraman informs everyone that he has lost his job. His sick company is wound up. Consequently, the family is left with the bare minimum. Pressure mounts on GG to leave his college and take up a job. GG gets a job for Rs. 150. Gemini happily owns the family's responsibility. Meanwhile, L. Vijayalakshmi is in love with GG's friend and has to get married. It so happens that while walking on the beach, GG identifies a purse, which belongs to a retired judge. He hands it over to the retired judge, who soon visits GG's house, meets Sarangapani, mentions GG's noble deed and expresses his desire to offer his daughter in marriage to GG. He also promises a decent job for Muthuraman and also Rs. 20,000 as additional sum to support the family. The judge's daughter is Indira Devi, a friend of Devika and a chronic fits patient. This nervous weakness of his daughter was duly conveyed to Sarangapani, but he decides not to inform GG in the larger interests of the family. The enduring double benefit makes Sarangapani conceal the shortcoming.

Meanwhile, V. S. Raghavan aware of the love, meets Sarangapani and proposes for Devika, but Sarangapani rejects it outright, saying that this alliance will do no good to both the families. GG reluctantly had to yield out of family pressure and decides to sacrifice his love. Devika is shocked by this development and so is V. S. Raghavan. L. Vijayalakshmi happily marries her lover.

However, on the wedding day, Indira Devi realises the love between GG and Devika. She gets nervous weakness followed by fits and falls unconscious. Gemini is shell-shocked and the marriage is cancelled as the judge feels it as inauspicious.

L. Vijayalakshmi's husband gets a good job but has to give a deposit of Rs. 1000. At this moment, GG gets a bonus money, which he is forced to give it to his sister, L. Vijayalakshmi for her husband to get the job secured. So, the sacrifice continues.

Balaji, a good friend of Nagesh and V. S. Raghavan's relative enters now. He is foreign returned and has his own flourishing business. He meets V. S. Raghavan and Devika. Raghavan is very much impressed by Balaji and even proposes Devika to him. Balaji is extremely happy with this and accepts.

One day, Nagesh and Balaji come across GG in a vague disturbed mood. Nagesh explains his background to Balaji and his continuing sacrifices. Balaji, who is pitied by GG's plight offers to give a job, which Nagesh conveys to GG. Muthuraman overhears this conversation. Muthu insists that GG pass that offer to him so that he will resume his role as a lead member and adds that this may enable GG to get back to his studies. Another sacrifice one had to make it here and GG requests Balaji to exercise the option to his brother.

Now, GG thinks about restoring his love life with Devika. He expresses his renewed love, but Raghavan is not happy. Devika too regrets about her love life and advises GG to forget the past. Raghavan tells GG that he has already fixed an alliance for his daughter with a rich man and requests GG not to spoil this prospect. A dejected GG walks away.

A frustrated GG, having lost interest in life, feels there is no purpose in life, resigns his job and comes home. Muthuraman hears this news and rushes home. He sees GG about to have his dinner. He screams at GG for having resigned suddenly and adds a strong remark "It's a curse, somebody in our family is always jobless. I don't know how long someone of us will have to eat free food always." This comment hurts GG so deeply that he immediately walks out of the house and through his friend's request, he lives in an isolated place. Despite repeated requests from Muthuraman, Vijayalakshmi and others, GG refuses to come back. He looks for solace and peace of mind.

As Devika's wedding with Balaji is nearing, Vijayalakshmi pleads with Devika to reconsider her past love and requests her to marry GG. Devika expresses to Balaji about her past love. Balaji gracefully agrees to her request and cancels the marriage. But GG is unaware of all these developments and as days pass by, his bitter past and continuous sufferings haunt him so badly that he writes a lengthy letter to Muthuraman on what made him to reach such an isolated mood now. He wishes the family all the best and ends with a note that he is moving away from everyone to seek his final path in life. Muthuraman tracks the destination of GG through the cover of the letter which shows the seal of Kodaikanal postal department. A stunned Muthuraman, sensing disaster, rushes to V. S. Raghavan and pleads him to reconsider marrying Devika with GG. Raghavan agrees finally and all the three rush to Kodaikanal. Desperate in search, V. S. Raghavan, Devika and Muthuraman all rush to meet GG, only to witness the inevitable.

Unable to withstand continuing challenges, sacrifices and compromises in life, GG finally converts to Christianity and becomes a cleric. Dressed in conventional Christian priest attire, GG stops for a moment and slowly walks past a stunned Devika/Muthuraman/V. S. Raghavan chanting sacred quotes from the Bible.

Cast

Production

Sumaithaangi is based on Ra. Ki. Rangarajan's novel of the same name that was serialised in Kumudam. Mid-way through production it was retitled Aayiram Vaasal Idhayam (transl. A heart with a thousand entrances), but this was reversed.[2] The song "Manithan Enbavan" was shot at Marina Beach.[3][4]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, with lyrics by Kannadasan.[5]

SongSingersLength
"En Annai Seitha"S. Janaki03:37
"Endhan Paarvaiyin"P. B. Sreenivas, S. Janaki03:24
"Mambazhathu Vandu"P. B. Sreenivas, S. Janaki03:30
"Manithan Enbavan"P. B. Sreenivas03:25
"Mayakkamma"P. B. Sreenivas02:39
"Puriyadhu"P. B. Sreenivas04:41
"Radhaiketra Kannano"S. Janaki03:26
"Malaiyai Padaithavan"S. Janaki06:14

Release and reception

Sumaithaangi was released on 7 December 1962.[6][7] Kanthan of Kalki positively reviewed the film for the cast performances, particularly Devika.[8] Ganesan won the Film Fans Association Award for Best Actor.[9]

Legacy

Director Vasanth said, "Sumaithangi made a huge impact on me. I cried watching it and emerged from the cinema hall as a different person. I think a film should teach you something and bring about a change".[10]

References

  1. ↑ Sivakumaran, K S (11 July 2012). "Mani Oasai and Sumai Thaangi". Daily News Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  2. ↑ "வந்த துன்பம் எதுவென்றாலும் வாடி நின்றால் ஓடுவதில்லை... - கலாப்ரியாவின் 'நினைவின் தாழ்வாரங்கள்'28". Andhimazhai (in Tamil). 23 March 2009. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  3. ↑ Raman, Sruthi Ganapathy (22 August 2017). "Madras Day: The film songs that best capture the city's diverse spirit". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  4. ↑ Ramanujam, Srinivasa (4 June 2014). "From Madras to Chennai, the shoot continues..." The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "Policekaran Magal- Sumaithangi Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by MS Viswanathan". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  6. ↑ "Sumaithangi". The Indian Express. 7 December 1962. p. 10. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  7. ↑ "Sumaithangi". The Indian Express. 14 December 1962. p. 3. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  8. ↑ காந்தன் (30 December 1963). "சுமைத்தாங்கி". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 63. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  9. ↑ "Tit-Bit". Sport and Pastime. Vol. 17. 5 October 1963. p. 50. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "Director's cut". The Hindu. 18 August 2016. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
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