Paasam
Paasam (transl. Affection) is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language film directed by T. R. Ramanna. It stars M. G. Ramachandran, M. R. Radha and B. Saroja Devi. The film was released on 31 August 1962 and failed commercially.
| Paasam | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | T. R. Ramanna |
| Story by | 'Thuraiyoor' K. Murthy |
| Produced by | T. R. Ramanna |
| Starring | M. G. Ramachandran M. R. Radha B. Saroja Devi |
| Cinematography | M. A. Rahman |
| Edited by | R. Rajagopal |
| Music by | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy |
Production company | R. R. Pictures |
| Distributed by | Emgeeyaar Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 158 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
Depicts the extraordinary love of a son towards his mother. Gopi is brought up in a juvenile home, as he accidentally commits a murder. After his release he searches for his mother and brother, but is unable to trace them. He lands up in the same village, where his brother Raghu, lives and works as a government officer. He falls in love his friend Kali's sister, Chandra, but Kali refuses the alliance, accusing him of being an orphan. Raghu and Chandra are to be engaged. Angry at being thwarted and little knowing that Raghu is his brother, he joins Swaminathan in trying to trap Raghu in a burglary case. Ironically, both Raghu and Gopi do not know the true identity of Swaminathan. It is he who had thrown away his wife Shanta, their mother, several years ago. Several truths are revealed when Gopi meets his mother face to face. Is he able to set things right?
Cast
- M. G. Ramachandran as Gopi
- M. R. Radha as Swaminathan
- B. Saroja Devi as Manju
- T. R. Rajakumari as Shantha
- Sheeladevi as Chandra
- Kalyan Kumar as Raghu
- Ashokan as Kali
- T. R. Ramachandran as Swaminathan's servant
- S. N. Lakshmi as Meenakshi
- C. K. Saraswathi as Swaminathan's sister
- Lakshmi Rajyam as Bakkiyam
- 'Kottapuli' Jayaraman as Iyer
- Kannaiah as Swaminathan's sidekick
- Soundar as Mayandi
Soundtrack
The music was composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and lyrics were written by Kannadasan.[1]
| Song | Singers | Length |
|---|---|---|
| "Jal Jal Jal Enum Salangai" | S. Janaki | 03:41 |
| "Pal Vannam Paruvam" | P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela | 03:48 |
| "Maalaiyum Iravum" | P. B. Sreenivas, S. Janaki | 03:26 |
| "Therathu Silaiyethu" | P. Susheela | 03:16 |
| "Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga" | T. M. Soundararajan | 03:41 |
| "Uravu Solla Oruvarindri" | P. Susheela | 04:29 |
| "Vengaikku Kurivaithu" | Sirkazhi Govindarajan | 04:04 |
Release and reception
Paasam was released on 31 August 1962[2] and distributed by Emgeeyaar Pictures in Madras,[3] delayed from a 24 August release.[4] The film failed commercially because fans of Ramachandran could not digest seeing his character dying and considered it anticlimactic.[5][6] Ramanna received hundreds of letters from fans condemning him. He said the film's ending not only made him understand the actor's dominance, "but also that one could not say things that are in contradiction with people's sentiments".[7]
References
- "Paasam". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- "Paasam". The Indian Express. 31 August 1962. p. 8. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- "Paasam". The Indian Express. 26 August 1962. p. 3. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- "Paasam". The Indian Express. 15 August 1962. p. 10. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- Sri Kantha, Sachi (16 January 2018). "MGR Remembered – Part 48 | 100 Movies and Beyond". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 7 January 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- Vaasanthi 2008, p. 63.
- Kannan 2017, p. 122.
Bibliography
- Kannan, R. (28 June 2017). MGR: A Life. India: Penguin Random House. ISBN 978-93-86495-88-4.
- Vaasanthi (2008). Cut-outs, Caste and Cines Stars. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-306312-4.