Thangapadumai 1959

Thangapadhumai, A 1959 jupiter pictures production, directed by A S A Sami was a huge box office hit. The film was a showcase of Padmini’s rare talents.I t stars Padmini, sivaji Ganeshan, T R Rajakumari, M N Nambiar, M N Rajam etc.

A S A Sami, the director of the film respected Padmini’s devotion to work. He mentioned that during breaks for lunch and brunch, she would eat nothing and would walk up and down the shooting floor with the script in her hand studying the dialogues over and over and delivering it, giving different shades of meaning.

Song booklet of Thangapadumai

Sivaji Ganeshan told in an interview that while shooting the climax of the film, he was amazed by the wonderful screaming made by Padmini, after she saw Sivaji’s eyes being taken out by the queen.

M N Rajam, in a recent interview told about Padmini’s devotion to work. Since Padmini hadn’t taken any food and water during the breaks, she fainted while shooting the climax. Sivaji asked Padmini, shooting can be postponed. But Padmini disagreed and told the director to shoot the film in that condition, so that the output would be perfect.

The film won National award for best feature film in tamil. The climax of the film, especially Padminis dialougue delivery was wonderful. The film was dubbed to telugu, titled ‘Kanyakaparameswari Mahatmyam’ (1961).

Booklet of telugu dubbed version- Kanyakaparameswari Mahatmyam

 Story:

 

This is a story depicting the unqualified devotion that Indian woman have for their husbands. Selvi (Padmini) the daughter of a very rich merchant in worrior, was celebrating the memory of goddess Kannagi in form of dance drama. During this dance she faints and Mannivannan (Sivaji Ganeshan), a young physician, is sent for to attend on her. They fall in love with each other. The father of Selvi, Mathuvelar, first opposes their marriage but ultimately permits it.

In the adjoining region of Kapalpuri, there was a very aged ruler. His young sister, Raj Vadana (M N Rajam) was an ambitious woman, and had an eye on his throne. She, with her commander-in-chief,villavan (M N Nambiar), was plotting to capture the throne somehow. Raj vadana also had a desire to secure two precious stones that had been embedded as the two eyes of goddess Kannaki, which were gifted by Madhuvelar. So Villavan demands those stones from Mathuvelar, who refuses. Villavan, thereafter, asks his soldiers to remove those stones forcibly but when a soldier attempts to do this, he becomes blind. So threatening revenge, he sends a court dancer, Maya Mohini (T R Rajakumari) to destroy the house of Mathuvelar and his son in law Mannivanan. They were cleverly managed to get Mannivanan to sign a document that he would perpetually be a slave to the kingdom of Raj vadana. Seeing that Maya Mohini has developed some affection for Mannivanan, Villavan arrested her and brought her before Raj vadana. Raj vadana orders her beauty to be destroyed by fire.

In the meanwhile, Mannivanan with his wife has come to Kapalapuri and was sent for by the king as a physician. Raj vadana cunningly puts poison in the medicine given to the king by him and when he dies, he is arrested for murder. She assures him to let him off provided he agrees to become her lover. He refuses and she throws him in jail for murder. On learning this Selvi rushes to the place, where she is ordered to bring the two precious stones from the statue of Goddess Kannagi.

In order to save her husband and son she agrees to bring the precious stones. After bringing these precious stones she rushes towards her husband, who is being lead away for trial and finds that his eyes had been removed. She asks Raj vadana as to how Mannivanan lost his eyes to which she did not answer. Raj vadana conducts a mock trial in which she accuses Mannivanan of murder and attempts to molest her. Selvi breaks into rage and speaks some hot words against the queen. Villavan, who could not tolerate this, strikes her on the head. She falls down unconscious and Mannivanan, thinking his wife to be dead, tells the entire story of what has transpired between him and Raj vadana. Selvi who had regained consciousness, hears this and embrasses her husband and defies the queen.

Sivaji Ganeshan, M N Rajam, Padmini and M N Nambiar in court scene

Selvi challenges the queen to touch the two precious stones. As soon as Raj vadana touches the stones, there is an earthquake and the entire place and evil doers are destroyed. Selvi rushes with her blind husband and child to the kannagi temple and puts back the two eyes she had removed from the diety. Answering her prayers,goddess Kannagi restores the eyes to Mannivanan and they are reunited.