Padikkadha Medhai


Padikkadha Medhai is a 1960 Tamil-language drama film starring Sivaji Ganesan and Sowcar Janaki. The film, directed by A. Bhimsingh, had musical score by K. V. Mahadevan and was released on 25 June 1960. It is a remake of 1953 Bengali film Jog Biyog based on the novel of same name by Ashapoorna Devi which was also remade in Telugu in 1962 as Aatma Bandhuvu, in Kannada in 1971 as Baala Bandana, and in Hindi in 1967 as Meherbaan and an inspiration for the 1987 Tamil movie Per Sollum Pillai and the 1990 Hindi movie Swarg.

Plot

Chandrasekaran, an industrialist, is very successful in his business and has a loving family. His three sons and two daughters live happily as one family. He brings up an orphan, Rangan, who is utterly devoted to the family. Calamity strikes the family in the form of loss in business. The last daughter's marriage gets cancelled. The brothers and their wives ill-treat their parents and Rangan and his wife. Seeing this, Chandrasekaran has no choice to ask Rangan and his wife leave their house. In the aftermath, Chandrasekaran dies a broken-hearted man leaving his wife and youngest daughter at their children's mercy. Rangan, with his simplicity and pure-hardheartedness, takes it upon himself to look after the mother and sister. In the end, he proves that love and affection is the greatest wealth.

Cast

The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, while lyrics were written by Mahakavi Bharathiyar, Kannadasan and A. Maruthakasi.Playback singers are T. M. Soundararajan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, A. L. Raghavan, P. Leela, P. Suseela, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, M. S. Rajeswari, K. Jamuna Rani & L. R. Eswari

Reception

The Indian Express positively reviewed the film, particularly for Ganesan's performance.