Thaaikkuppin Thaaram is a Tamil language film starring M. G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi in the lead roles. The film was released on 21 September 1956. It is most notable for Ramachandran using an older film as a flashback in the film. The story was a simple rural tale of love and valour. One of the box office hits of the year 1956 and ran 100 days in major cities. The film was dubbed in Telugu as Mathru Sabatham.
Plot
Muthaiyan is the brave son of Ratnam Pillai and Meenakshi. They are landed gentry and are highly respected in the village for their noble qualities. Meenakshi's brother Doraiswami, on the other hand, is despised by all for his arrogance, cruelty and dishonourable ways. The two families are not in speaking terms ever since Doraiswami tried to usurp Ratnam Pillai's traditional rights at the temple festival. Doraiswami's daughter, Sivakami, however, is a good-natured girl who is in love with Muthaiyan. Muthaiyan too reciprocates her love and they are determined to surmount all hurdles and get married. When Doraiswami's men capture Muthaiyan and keep him a prisoner on the pretext that he had hurled stones at Doraiswami's prized bull when he had caught it grazing on his crops, Sivakami comes to his rescue. Meanwhile, accosting Doraiswami demanding his son's release, Ratnam Pillai declares bravely that he would overpower the touted bull. But the bull gores him to death. In his dying breath, he elicits a promise from Meenakshi that she would ensure that their son sets right this slur on their honour. Muthaiyan's mother makes him promise that he would not even think of Sivakami anymore. Sivakami's father too has isolated her in house arrest and has started looking out for a suitable husband for her. At a bullock cart race for Sivakami's hand, Doraiswami sabotages Muthaiyan's cart, and although he is first, he injures right after crossing the finish line. Doraiswami tells off Sivakami for her support of Muthaiyan and Meenakshi, while tending to Muthaiyan's injuries, tells him to not talk to Sivakami. The two meet each other that night anyway but are seen by a servant of Doraiswami, as well as Meenakshi. How Muthaiyan wins the hand of Sivakami after overpowering the mighty bull Senkodan and reforming his wily uncle forms rest of the tale.
Cast
Cast according to the opening credits of the film and the song book: ;Male cast
Editing: M. A. Thirumugam, M. A. Mariappan & M. G. Balurao.
Choreograph: T. C. Thangaraj
Cinematograph: R. R. Chandran
Stunt: R. N. Nambiar
Production
The movie was directed by M. A. Thirumugam, the younger brother of Sandow M.M.A.Chinnappa Devar. Thirumugam had already been as an editor while working for Jupiter Pictures, and Thaaikkuppin Thaaram was the first movie he directed. Devar took Thirumugam to famous directors like K. Ramnoth and L. V. Prasad and sought their blessings and guidance. The shooting commenced on 5 July 1955 in the sets put up at the Vauhini Studios, with Nagi Reddy cranking the camera for the first shot. As the story needed an imposing bull, Devar searched far and wide for a fine specimen. His men came back with reports of a landowner in Periakulam having a majestic bull in his farm. Devar approached the landowner, and managed to buy the bull after much persuasion, paying Rs. 1000 for it.
Soundtrack
The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan. Lyrics were by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, A. Maruthakasi, Kavi Lakshmanadas, T. A. Natarajan and M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar. Singer is P. Bhanumathi. Playback singers are T. M. Soundararajan, A. M. Rajah, S. C. Krishnan, M. L. Vasanthakumari, Jikki & A. G. Rathnamala.
Trivia
The movie was a runaway hit, and proved an auspicious launch vehicle for Devar Films. After a brief misunderstanding with MGR immediately after Thaaikkuppin Thaaram, Devar went on produce 15 movies with MGR as the hero. All the 16 movies that Devar produced with MGR as the hero, with music scored by K. V. Mahadevan and under the direction of M.A.Thirumugham, "Sandow" M.M.A.Chinnappa Devar 's young brother, 1956-1972. Under the poster of the movie, one perceives MGR confronting a bull. one can allude this to the confrontation of the D.M.K. party against the Congress. The same allusion in the song "Manushanai Manushan Saapiduraandaa...", when MGR strokes the bull he was riding with an innuendo, "Ennada Nelinjikittu Pora, Nayra Podaa..."
