Punar Janmam

Shankar (Sivaji Ganesan) is a successful artist and lives with his mother (Kannamba). He takes to alcohol, and as a result, messes up his life. A woman in his village, Parvathi (Padmini), is in love with him, but she is unable to make him quit alcohol. Her brother’s wife Kamakshi (Sundari Bai), however, hates Parvathi, and when she wins ₹1 lakh (equivalent to ₹71 lakh or US$100,000 in 2019) in a lottery, it only makes her headstrong. Parvathi suffers the brunt of her ill-treatment. Kamakshi’s daughter, Pushpa (Ragini), meanwhile, falls in love with her music teacher. The mother decides to get them married even though her son does not approve.

To change himself, Shankar goes to Madras, leads a reformed life, and earns well with his artistic skills. Kamakshi, meanwhile, brings his family house to auction. Shankar’s mother is shocked and later passes away. However, just in time, Shankar comes with his earnings and stops the auction. He leaves his village once more. Parvathi, who is engaged to marry someone, is heartbroken and consumes poison. Shankar rushes to save her and gives her a new lease of life and the lovers are united.

• Sivaji Ganesan as Shankar
• Padmini as Parvathi
• Ragini as Pushpa
• Kannamba as Shankar's mother
• Sundari Bai as Kamakshi
• K. A. Thangavelu as Jagannathan
• T. R. Ramachandran as Nithyanantham

• Producer: N. S. Diraviyam
• Production Company: Vijaya Films
• Director: R. S. Mani
• Music: T. Chalapathi Rao
• Lyrics: Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, Kannadasan & A. Maruthakasi
• Story: Amiya Chakraborthy
• Screenplay: C. V. Sridhar
• Dialogues: C. V. Sridhar
• Art Direction: Ganga
• Editing: P. V. Narayanan
• Choreography: B. Hiralal, Madhavan & B. Sohanlal
• Cinematography: A. Vincent
• Stunt: None
• Audiography: A. Krishnan, V. Sivaram, T. S. Rangasamy, P. V. Koteswara Rao & E. I. Jeeva
• Dance: None

The film was produced by N. S. Draviam (N. S. Krishnan’s brother), under the banner of Vijaya Films. The film was directed by R. S. Mani, who trained under the American Tamil filmmaker, Ellis R. Dungan. This film was written by C. V. Sridhar. Aloysius Vincent was the cinematographer while the choreography was handled by Madhavan, Hiralal and Sohanlal.[2]

Punar Janmam highlights the dangers of alcoholism. Film historian Randor Guy notes that the scene where Shankar saves Parvathi and gives her "a new lease of life" reflects the film's title, which means "rebirth".[2]

The soundtrack was composed by T. Chalapathi Rao, with lyrics by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, Kannadasan, A. Maruthakasi and Subbu Arumugam. Playback singers are T. M. Soundararajan, A. M. Rajah, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Thiruchi Loganathan, P. Suseela, Jikki, S. Janaki & Saraswathi.

A song, Paadam Sariyaa Master sung by Trichi Loganathan and Jikki was objected to by the censor board on the grounds that it undermines the relationship between teacher and student. However, the gramophone record has already been released. The song was altered in the film as Podhum Saridhaan Mister and was sung by P. B. Srinivas and Jikki.[3]

According to Randor Guy, the film did not do well "as the story line was familiar", but he noted that the film would be remembered for "The brilliant performances by Padmini and Sivaji Ganesan, its interesting screenplay, the dialogue of Sridhar and the deft direction of the experienced filmmaker, R.S. Mani".[2]