Pudhumai Pithan (1998 film)

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Pudhumai Pithan
Pudhumai Pithan 1998.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byS. K. Jeeva
Written by R. N. R. Manohar (dialogues)
Screenplay byS. K. Jeeva
Story byMohandass
Produced by Henry
Starring
CinematographySiva Manohar
Edited byPeter Bhabiyaa
Music by Deva
Production
company
Pangaj Productions
Release date
  • 20 October 1998 (1998-10-20)
Running time
145 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Pudhumai Pithan is a 1998 Indian Tamil-language political satire film directed by S. K. Jeeva. The film stars Parthiban, Roja, Devayani and Priya Raman, while Anandaraj and Ranjith play key roles. It was released on 20 October 1998, during Diwali. [1] The film was later dubbed into Telugu as Oka Votu. [2]

Contents

Plot

Jeeva, a social activist, ends up in a police lock-up. Mahesh, a police officer, is surprised to see his best friend Jeeva in this condition and brings him to his home. Mahesh lives happily with his wife Aarthi and his daughter.

Aarthi and Jeeva were in love in the past. Ramadass, Aarthi's father, hated Jeeva and his activism. As an honest police officer, Ramadass protected a corrupted politician and was beaten by Jeeva's supporters. Later, Aarthi and Jeeva split up. Jeeva clashes with the same politician, his whole family dies due to his orders and Jeeva was sent to a mental hospital. Gayathri, a nurse, helps him to escape from the hospital and then she accommodates him in her house from where he later fled.

Now, Jeeva changes his name and is determined to clean up the society. He also falls in love with the prostitute Shenbagam. Jeeva as Bharath becomes popular among the poor and subsequently becomes a minister.

Cast

Production

Gautami was originally chosen as one of the actresses but due to her marriage she was replaced by Priya Raman. [3]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Deva. [4] [5]

SongSinger(s)LyricsDuration
"Namma Kuppamellam" Deva Nandalala4:39
"Odudhada Namma" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Pulamaipithan 5:25
"Onnu Rendu" (male) Hariharan Thamarai 5:12
"Onnu Rendu" (female) K. S. Chithra 5:14
"Sirikkathae Ennai"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha Mohan Palani Bharathi 3:53
"Unnai Kandaen" Swarnalatha Nandalala5:19

Reception

A critic from Dinakaran noted "The film has tried to establish how a politician could be a good leader too! But it's rather surprising to note how so experienced an artiste like Parthiban forgot the fact that such a subject when dealt with in cinema medium has to be told in an uniformly interesting manner from the beginning till the end". [6] Kala Krishnan Ramesh from Deccan Herald wrote, "the film is often downright silly, when not crass, but it has a kind of senseless appeal. To be honest, it hasn’t gone as far overboard as it could have with its masala mix. It, commendably, has no scenes of communal violence, no religious chauvinism, and its single rape scene is cut short by the mother shooting dead her about-to-be-raped daughter". [7]

K. N. Vijiyan of New Straits Times called it "one of the best movies of the year. See it if you appreciate meaningful movies". [8] Ji of Kalki wrote that despite the three heroines, the film has a documentary feel to it, and congratulated director Jeeva himself for taking on an otherwise responsible venture. [9] D. S. Ramanujam of The Hindu wrote, "No doubt, debutant director, Jeeva, has adopted cinematic solutions to a few issues but overall, he generates an atmosphere suggesting that everything is not lost, if the electorate uses its vote weapon properly to choose the right person". [10]

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References

  1. ↑ Kummar, S. R. Ashok (16 October 1998). "Varied fare for Deepavali". The Hindu . p. 27. Archived from the original on 18 August 2001. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  2. ↑ Rajitha (19 June 1999). "No laughing matter". Rediff.com . Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Instead of Gouthami..." Dinakaran . 15 July 1998. Archived from the original on 18 February 1999. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "Pudhumaipithan". JioSaavn . 1 January 1998. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "MR. Romeo / Pudhumai Pithan / Aravindan". AVDigital. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "Cinema Reviews: "Puthumaippiththan"". Dinakaran . 6 November 1998. Archived from the original on 14 August 2003. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  7. ↑ "Cinema Reviews". Deccan Herald . 3 January 1999. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  8. ↑ Vijiyan, K. N. (16 November 1998). "One of the year's best movies". New Straits Times . pp. Arts 4. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024– via Google News Archive.
  9. ↑ ஜி (1 November 1998). "புதுமைப்பித்தன்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 96. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023– via Internet Archive.
  10. ↑ Ramanujam, D. S. (30 October 1998). "Film Reviews: Veeram Velanja Mannu/Puthumaippithan/Desiya Geetham". The Hindu . p. 27. Archived from the original on 17 January 1999. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
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