Ratha Thilagam
Ratha Thilagam (transl. Tilaka of Blood) is a 1963 Indian Tamil language romantic war film directed by Dada Mirasi. The film features Sivaji Ganesan and Savitri in lead roles. The film, produced by National Movies, had musical score by K. V. Mahadevan and was released on 14 September 1963.
| Ratha Thilagam | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Dada Mirasi |
| Produced by | Panchu Arunachalam P. V. Krishnan |
| Written by | Kannadasan P. C. Ganesan Thyagan |
| Screenplay by | Dada Mirasi |
| Starring | Sivaji Ganesan Savitri |
| Music by | K. V. Mahadevan |
| Cinematography | Jagirdhar |
| Edited by | R. Devarajan |
Production company | National Movies |
Release date |
|
Running time | 142 mins |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
Kumar is a graduate who decides to enlist in the Indian Army, following news of Chinese invasion in the country during the midst of the Sino-Indian War, only to find out that his love interest Kamala was working against the Indian Army.
Cast
- Sivaji Ganesan as Major Kumar
- Savitri as Kamala
- Pushpalatha
- Nagesh as Madhurai
- Manorama as Poonkuyil
- Ennatha Kannaiya as Poonkuyil's father
- Shanmuga Sundaram as Chinese Military Officer
- Javar Seetharaman as (Kumar Father Military Soldier Died Photo's)
- Kannadasan as Muthaiya
- Senthamarai
- Thuli Bala as Kamala's husband
- Kannappa
- S. R. Janaki
- Gundu Karuppaya
Production
Ratha Thilagam was directed by Dada Mirasi who also wrote the screenplay. It was produced by Panju Arunachalam under National Movies, while Kannadasan, P.C. Ganesan and Thyagan wrote the dialogue.[2][1]
Themes
Critic Baradwaj Rangan noted Ratha Thilagam's similarities to the Bengali film Saptapadi (1961) in that both films had "the backdrop of war, the star-crossed lovers, and, of course, the staging of Othello, which, in both films, appears to have been dubbed by the same voices (Jennifer Kapoor, Utpal Dutt)."[3] Writing for The Times of India, Ganesh Krishnamoorthy felt that, as the film was set in the backdrop of the Sino-Indian War, "this scene, used as a play enacted by the characters, provides a structural unity to the main plot."[4]
Soundtrack
The music composed by K. V. Mahadevan.[5] The songs "Oru Koppaiyila", "Pasumai Niraintha" were well received.[2] Manorama sang the song "Pogathe Pogathe" which was picturised on her character.[6]
| No. | Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Buddhan Vanthan" | T. M. Soundararajan | Kannadasan | 02:55 |
| 2 | "Happy Birthday" | L. R. Eswari | 03:22 | |
| 3 | "Oru Koppaiyile" | T. M. Soundararajan | 02:33 | |
| 4 | "Pani Padarntha" | T. M. Soundararajan | 06:06 | |
| 5 | "Pasumai Niraintha" | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | 03:49 | |
| 6 | "Pogathe Pogathe" | Manorama | 01:56 | |
| 7 | "Thazhampoove" | T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari | 05:53 | |
| 8 | "Vaadai Kaatramma" | L. R. Eswari | 03:27 | |
Reception
Randor Guy of The Hindu noted that the film is remembered for "Outstanding performances by Sivaji Ganesan and Savithri, the comedy track of Manorama and Nagesh, the pleasing music and impressive cinematography of the battle scenes".[2]
References
- "Ratha Thilagam". nadigarthilagam.com. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- Guy, Randor (17 October 2015). "Rattha Thilakam (1963)". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- Rangan, Baradwaj (12 September 2014). "Lights, Camera, Conversation... "All the world's a screen..."". Baradwaj Rangan. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
- Krishnamoorthy, Ganesh (9 May 2016). "All the world's a stage, Tamil Nadu too". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
- "Ratha Thilagam Songs". raaga. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- Kanthan (6 October 1963). "இரத்த திலகம்". Kalki (in Tamil).
