Navarathinam

Navarathinam (transl. Nine Gems) is a 1977 Indian Tamil-language road film, written and directed by A. P. Nagarajan, his final film. It stars M. G. Ramachandran, Latha, Jayachitra and Zarina Wahab. The film was released on 5 March 1977, and failed commercially.

Navarathinam
Theatrical release poster
Directed byA. P. Nagarajan
Written byA. P. Nagarajan
Produced byC. N. Venkataswami
StarringM. G. Ramachandran
Latha
Jayachitra
Zarina Wahab
CinematographyA. Shanmugham
Edited byT. Vijaya Rangam
R. G. Pandhu Rangam
Music byKunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Production
company
C. N. V. Movies
Release date
  • 5 March 1977 (1977-03-05)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

Thangam, lives up to his name as a gold-hearted person, leaves his house in search of a future. He meets nine different women from different statuses in life and they all fall in love with him and help him. He first meets Manikkam who is a kurathi who falls in love with him and whom he falls in love with. He then meets Pushpa who is a stage performer whom he saves but turns down her proposal and moves on. Then he meets Maragadam, Muthamma, Gomaidi and his journey continues. He meets and reforms a prostitute Vairam. He meets a hipster Neela to whom he shows how deep and valuable the culture is. He finally meets Pavalai and Vayiduriam before marrying Manikkam in the end.

Cast
Lead actor
Lead actresses
Supporting actresses
Supporting actors

Production

Navarathinam was A. P. Nagarajan's final film, as well as his only film with M. G. Ramachandran.[2] Considering the poor financial plight of Nagarajan, Ramachandran acted in the film without taking any remuneration and concentrated on minimal budget, by shooting all the scenes in his Sathya Studios, without outdoor shoots.[3] Zarina Wahab initially suggested her friend Vijaya for one of the female lead roles, but Ramachandran refused; Wahab herself was chosen.[4]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan.[5] The song "Ladke Se Mili Ladki", written by Bollywood lyricist P. L. Santoshi, consists predominantly of Hindi lyrics.[6]

SongSingersLyricsLength
"Ladke Se Mili Ladki" (Aa Gaye Hain) (Hindi)K. J. Yesudas & Vani JairamP. L. Santoshi4:36 (film version)
"Puriyaadhadhai Puriyavaikkum"P. Susheela, (MGR for dialogues)Na. Kamarasan3:01 (film version)
"Palukku Kanda Sa Kerugu" (Telugu, English & Carnatic)Balamuralikrishna & Vani Jairam, (MGR & Y. Vijaya for dialogues)Nellai Arulmani8:38 (film version)
"Ungalil Nam Annaavai Paarkiren"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Vani JairamPulamaipithan2:58 (film version)
"Kuruvikkaara Machchaane"Balamuralikrishna & Vani JairamVaali3:28 (film version)
"Maanum Odi Varalaam" (Not in the movie, not held)K. J. YesudasMuthulingam3:03 (film version)

Release and reception

Navarathinam was released on 5 March 1977.[7][8] Kanthan of Kalki negatively reviewed the film, criticising Nagarajan's execution of an innovative story.[9] Ananda Vikatan called the film a "a march of nine gems", noting that though the story was subpar, there was amusement.[3] The film failed commercially;[10] according to historian Sachi Sri Kantha, a potential reason was that the plot was strung around "national unity" as a political propaganda for Ramachandran's newly formed party and it's then ally Indira Gandhi's Congress Party, prior to the 1977 Indian general election.[3]

References
  1. "பொண்ணுக்கு தங்க மனசு படம் மூலம் கதாநாயகி ஆனார் ஜெயசித்ரா". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  2. மாதவன், பிரதீப் (20 February 2015). "நடிப்பைத் துறந்த படைப்பாளி!". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  3. Sri Kantha, Sachi (3 October 2022). "MGR Remembered – Part 68 | 'Navarathinam' Movie and March 1977 General Election". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  4. Sebastian, Shevlin (13 July 2017). "Location Diaries: When an elephant went crazy". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  5. "Navarathinam ( EP 45 RPM )". AVDigital. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  6. Vamanan (11 December 2017). "இந்தியில் பாடிய தமிழ் சினிமா அன்று முதல் இன்று வரை!". Dinamalar (in Tamil). Nellai. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. "எம்.ஜி.ஆர். நடித்த படங்களின் பட்டியல்". Ithayakkani (in Tamil). 2 April 2011. Archived from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  8. சுவாமிநாதன், ஸ்ரீதர் (30 April 2016). "எம்ஜிஆர் 100 | 55 - இசைபட வாழ்ந்தவர்!". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  9. காந்தன் (27 March 1977). "நவரத்தினம்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 15. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  10. Sri Kantha, Sachi (27 December 2019). "MGR Remembered – Part 54 | An Overview of the Final 31 movies of 1970s". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
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