Shanti Nilayam

Last updated

Shanti Nilayam
Shanti Nilayam.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byG. S. Mani
Written by Chithralaya Gopu
Produced by S. S. Vasan
Starring Gemini Ganesan
Kanchana
Cinematography Marcus Bartley
Edited byUmanath
Music by M. S. Viswanathan
Production
company
Release date
  • 23 May 1969 (1969-05-23)
Running time
149 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Shanti Nilayam (transl. Peaceful House) is a 1969 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by G. S. Mani in his debut. The film stars Gemini Ganesan and Kanchana, with Nagesh, Vijaya Lalitha, Pandari Bai, K. Balaji and V. S. Raghavan in supporting roles. It is a remake of the 1965 American film The Sound of Music and also adapts from the 1847 novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. The film was released on 23 May 1969, and ran for over 100 days in theatres. Marcus Bartley won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography.

Contents

Plot

Malathi, after losing her parents, lives with her aunt who tortures and treats her like a servant. One day she is dumped in a waste materials facility and she falls sick. Doctor Vijayan, who comes to treat her, sympathises and admits her in a private school-cum-hostel for orphans. Malathi grows up into a young lady and becomes a teacher in the same school.

Baskar, a rich estate owner, lives in Shanthi Nilayam with his older brother Sekar's children (four daughters and a son) and is finding it difficult to bring them up as they are very naughty and the hired governess runs away every time. His cousin Ramu and his mother live in the estate too. Baskar conveys his need to Dr. Vijayan who convinces Malathi to accept the governess job. Initially, the children do not accept Malathi, but her understanding and matured nature soon wins them over. Baskar appreciates her work.

Strange things happen in the house: Pappamma, the servant maid laughs and walks at midnight with a candle, Balu visits Baskar regularly for money. Malathi suspects something wrong in the house. She learns that one of the children, Geetha, an innocent loves Ramu. One night Baskar's coat catches fire and Malathi douses it. She demands to know why Baskar looks like he has lost something, but he does not reply. Balu comes again and Baskar gives him money and tells him that he will not give him any more.

Baskar's family friend, Parvatham arrives with her husband and daughter Sheela. Parvatham suggests the marriage of Baskar and Sheela and Malathi is upset hearing this. Malathi's aunt, with her daughters Saradha and Sumathi, arrives there after having fallen in their lives. Ramu's mother accepts them and they stay with Malathi. Sheela and her mother treat Malathi and her relatives badly. They spread rumours about Malathi, and Baskar shouts at Malathi to behave properly like an educated person. Malathi feels that even Baskar is treating her like a servant and decides to leave the house. However, Ramu stops her and states the children's needs and she stays back. Baskar understands Malathi's commitment to the family and expresses his love for her. Sheela overhears this and shouts at Malathi for snatching away Baskar. Baskar asks Sheela and her family to leave. The children are happy about Malathi and Baskar uniting. Baskar schedules their wedding for the following Friday. One day, Malathi sees Balu with bloodstains and demands an explanation from Baskar who promises to reveal everything soon.

During the marriage proceeding, Balu arrives and states that Baskar has already married his sister. Baskar accepts and reveals that he indeed married Janaki, a mad woman and explains the circumstances of the marriage. Baskar's father in an altercation, hit Singaram, Balu's father, leading to his death. Balu blackmails Baskar's father to marry his sister to Bhaskar and give a part of the wealth to her. Baskar's father refuses, but Baskar, to save the family's prestige, agrees and marries Janaki, but finds her totally mad. He gives her the best medical treatment, but there is no improvement in Janaki. Pappamma cares for her. Baskar's brother Sekar was killed in a fire lit by Janaki. Ramu's mother confirms the facts and Malathi is shocked and leaves home. The children cry for her to stay and Kavitha, one of them, follows her. Kavitha falls down unconscious and Malathi stops and returns home along with Dr. Vijayan, who arrives there.

Meanwhile, Balu demands Baskar to transfer the wealth belonging to Janaki to him and threatens to kill him otherwise. Baskar takes him on and beats him. At the same time, Janaki comes out of her room and puts the house on fire. Balu, Janaki and Pappamma die in the fire. Malathi, Ramu and Dr. Vijayan arrive and save everybody. Baskar and Malathi marry. [1]

Cast

Production

Producer S. S. Vasan's son-in-law G. S. Mani sought to remake the American film The Sound of Music (1965) in Tamil and asked Chithralaya Gopu to write the screenplay for the Tamil version, then present it to Vasan as a surprise. Although Vasan liked the screenplay, he felt that the film would not cater to the rural audience, so the film was rewritten to be closer to the Charlotte Brontë novel Jane Eyre (1847). The film was Mani's directorial debut. [2] [3] Gopu's recommendation of Kanchana for the lead role was agreed upon by Mani. The film was entirely shot at Ooty and Mohana Kumari was in charge of the art direction. Camera techniques were used in the song "Bhoomiyil Iruppadhu" to show that a helium balloon was flying, while in reality it was not. [1]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics by Kannadasan. [4] [5] S. P. Balasubrahmanyam made his debut in Tamil cinema with this film by singing the song "Iyarkai Ennum", [6] even though Adimai Penn (which he signed after Shanti Nilayam) was released first. Balasubrahmanyam's remuneration for the song was ₹150 (equivalent to ₹7,800orUS$97 in 2023). [7]

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Iyarkai Ennum" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela 3.29
2."Kadavul Orunaal"P. Susheela4.33
3."Boomiyil Irupathum Vanathil" T. M. Soundararajan 3.02
4."Selvangale"P. Susheela3.08
5."Pennai Parthum" L. R. Eswari 3.24
6."Iraivan Varuvaan"P. Susheela3.52
Total length:16.96

Release and reception

Shanti Nilayam was released on 23 May 1969. [8] The Indian Express said the film "succeeds extraordinarily in so far as it adapts (or copies) The Sound of Music. But it fails miserably in other parts". The critic lauded Marcus Bartley's cinematography, particularly the outdoor shots, but felt the indoor shots "do not go with the story", and though the sets were well designed, "nothing more than a few sofa sets are used". They also praised the music and said Ganesan was "very stiff" in romantic scenes and Kanchana was "ravishing" despite her role not being well written. [9] The film ran for over 100 days in theatres, [10] and Bartley won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography. [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>Palum Pazhamum</i> 1961 film by A. Bhimsingh

Palum Pazhamum is a 1961 Indian Tamil-language film directed by A. Bhimsingh. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. It was released on 9 September 1961. The film was remade in Kannada as Beratha Jeeva, and in Hindi as Saathi.

<i>Panam Padaithavan</i> 1965 film by T. R. Ramanna

Panam Padaithavan is a 1965 Indian Tamil-language film produced and directed by T. R. Ramanna, and written by Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran, Sowcar Janaki and K. R. Vijaya. It was released on 27 March 1965.

<i>Kasethan Kadavulada</i> 1972 film by Chitralaya Gopu

Kasethan Kadavulada is a 1972 Indian Tamil-language heist comedy film written and directed by Chithralaya Gopu. The film stars Muthuraman and Lakshmi, with M. R. R. Vasu, Thengai Srinivasan, Srikanth, Moorthy, Manorama, Rama Prabha and Jayakumari in supporting roles. It focuses on a young man (Muthuraman) collaborating with his cousin (Srikanth) and friend (Srinivasan) to steal money from his stingy stepmother (Manorama).

<i>Iru Kodugal</i> 1969 film by K. Balachander

Iru Kodugal is a 1969 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Balachander. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, Jayanthi, Nagesh, V. S. Raghavan, S. N. Lakshmi and others. The story revolves around one man who was married to two women. Iru Kodugal won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, the first film by Balachander to win the award. The film, which was based on a stage play of same name, was remade in Kannada as Eradu Rekhegalu, in Telugu as Collector Janaki and in Hindi as Sanjog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Bartley</span> Indian cinematographer

Marcus Bartley was an Anglo-Indian cinematographer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema along with a few Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil films. He was the cinematographer of all time classics like Shavukaru (1950), Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Missamma (1955), Maya Bazaar (1957), Gundamma Katha (1962), Chemmeen (1965), Ram Aur Shyam (1967). He won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography in 1970 for Shanti Nilayam. He also won the Gold Medal at the Cannes Film Festival for Best Cinematography, becoming the first Indian to win the award.

<i>Irumbu Thirai</i> (1960 film) 1960 Indian film

Irumbu Thirai is a 1960 Indian Tamil-language film produced and directed by S. S. Vasan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Vyjayanthimala, K. A. Thangavelu and B. Saroja Devi, with S. V. Ranga Rao, Pandari Bai and Vasundhara Devi in supporting roles. A remake of Vasan's own Hindi film Paigham (1959), it revolves around two brothers Manikam and Kondamuthu and their mill owner.

<i>Puthiya Paravai</i> 1964 film directed by Dada Mirasi

Puthiya Paravai is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language romantic thriller film directed by Dada Mirasi. Produced by Sivaji Ganesan, the film stars himself, B. Saroja Devi, M. R. Radha and Sowcar Janaki, with Nagesh, Manorama, V. K. Ramasamy, O. A. K. Thevar and S. V. Ramadas in supporting roles. The plot revolves around Gopal, who falls in love with Latha, a woman he recently befriended, when his presumed-dead wife Chitra arrives to tell him that she is still alive. He claims her to be an impostor but no one believes him.

<i>Oli Vilakku</i> 1968 film by Tapi Chanakya

Oli Vilakku is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language action film, directed by Tapi Chanakya and produced by S. S. Vasan. It is a remake of the Hindi-language film Phool Aur Patthar (1966). The film stars M. G. Ramachandran, Jayalalithaa and Sowcar Janaki, with S. A. Ashokan, Manohar, Cho and V. S. Raghavan in supporting roles. It was released on 20 September 1968, and was one of the most successful Tamil films of the year, and became a turning point in Ramachandran's career.

<i>Kalyana Parisu</i> 1959 film by C. V. Sridhar

Kalyana Parisu is a 1959 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by Sridhar. The film stars Gemini Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi while K. A. Thangavelu, Vijayakumari, M. Saroja, S. D. Subbulakshmi, A. Nageswara Rao and M. N. Nambiar play supporting roles. A triangular love story, it is about two close sisters whose lives turn upside down when they both fall in love with the same man. Out of respect, the younger sister decides to sacrifice her love, unknown to the elder sister.

<i>Iru Malargal</i> 1967 film by A. C. Tirulokchandar

Iru Malargal is a 1967 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed by A. C. Tirulogchander. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini and K. R. Vijaya, with Nagesh, S. A. Ashokan, V. Nagayya, Manorama and Roja Ramani in supporting roles. It revolves around a man who faces upheavals in his life as he is caught between his lady-love and his devoted wife.

<i>Teen Bahuraniyan</i> 1968 Indian film

Teen Bahuraniyan is a 1968 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by S. S. Vasan and S. S. Balan. It is a remake of 1967 Tamil film Bama Vijayam. Sowcar Janaki, Kanchana and Jayanthi star as the female leads, reprising their roles from the original film.

<i>Parthal Pasi Theerum</i> 1962 film by A. Bhimsingh

Parthal Pasi Theerum is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language film directed by A. Bhimsingh. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, B. Saroja Devi and Sowcar Janaki, while Kamal Haasan was a child artist. It was released on 14 January 1962.

<i>Thenum Paalum</i> 1971 Indian film

Thenum Paalum is a 1971 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed by P. Madhavan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini and B. Saroja Devi. It was released on 22 July 1971.

<i>Vilaiyattu Pillai</i> 1970 film by A. P. Nagarajan

Vilaiyattu Pillai is a 1970 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by A. P. Nagarajan and produced by Gemini Studios. It is based on Kothamangalam Subbu's novel Rao Bahadur Singaram, which was serialised in the magazine Ananda Vikatan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini and Kanchana. It deals with the romance between a woman who raises a bull and a man who sets out to tame it.

<i>Lakshmi Kalyanam</i> (1968 film) 1968 film by G. Or. Nathan

Lakshmi Kalyanam is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by G. Or. Nathan and produced by A. L. Srinivasan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, K. Balaji and M. N. Nambiar. It was released on 15 November 1968. The film was remade in Telugu as Pelli Koothuru (1970).

<i>Mayangukiral Oru Maadhu</i> 1975 film by S. P. Muthuraman

Mayangukiral Oru Maadhu is a 1975 Indian Tamil-language film directed by S. P. Muthuraman and produced by S. Baskar. The film stars Muthuraman and Sujatha, with Thengai Srinivasan, Vijayakumar and Fatafat Jayalaxmi in supporting roles. It revolves around a woman who must try to keep a one-night stand that she had in college a secret from her husband, and thwart a persistent blackmailer intent on collecting money from her to keep quiet about it.

<i>Naanum Oru Penn</i> 1963 film by A. C. Tirulokchandar

Naanum Oru Penn is a 1963 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar. The film stars S. S. Rajendran and R. Vijayakumari, with S. V. Ranga Rao, M. R. Radha, S. V. Subbaiah, C. K. Nagesh, Rajan and C. S. Pushpalatha in supporting roles. It revolves around a dark complexioned and uneducated girl and how she convinces everyone that more than appearance and education, it is the character which is important for a woman.

<i>Ave Kallu</i> 1967 film by A. C. Tirulokchandar

Ave Kallu is a 1967 Indian Telugu-language mystery thriller film directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar and produced by AVM Productions, starring Krishna and Kanchana. It was simultaneously made in Tamil as Athey Kangal, with Kanchana reprising her role. The film was released on 14 December 1967. It is considered the first Telugu crime film to be entirely made in colour.

<i>Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa</i> 1971 Indian film

Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa is a 1971 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film, directed by N. S. Chakravarthi in his debut, produced by Sridhar and written by Gopu. The film features an ensemble cast including Ravichandran, Nagesh, Thengai Srinivasan, Moorthy, Mali, Kanchana, Rama Prabha, Sachu, Sundari Bai and Vijaya Chandrika. It was remade in Telugu as Vintha Illu Santha Gola (1976).

References

  1. 1 2 Dhananjayan 2014, p. 209.
  2. ↑ நரசிம்மன், டி.ஏ. (12 October 2018). "சி(ரி)த்ராலயா 38: கோபுவிடம் கதை கேட்ட வாசன் !". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "சித்ராலயா கோபுவின், மலரும் நினைவுகள்! (12)". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 26 July 2020. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  4. ↑ "Shanti Nilayam (1969)". Raaga.com . Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "Shanthi Nilayam Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  6. ↑ நவ்ஷத் (6 January 2017). "எஸ்பிபி 50 ஆண்டுகள்: எனக்கு இசைதான் தாய்மொழி'". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  7. ↑ Gopu, Chitralaya (25 September 2020). "Remembering SPB's maiden song". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "Shanti Nilayam". The Indian Express . 23 May 1969. p. 12. Retrieved 30 August 2018– via Google News Archive.
  9. ↑ "Julie Andrews—Jane Eyre combination". The Indian Express . 25 May 1969. p. 5. Retrieved 3 April 2024– via Google News Archive.
  10. ↑ Guy, Randor (28 March 2015). "Shanthi Nilayam 1969". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "Eleventh National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals . 21 November 1970. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2024.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.