Vietnam Veedu

Vietnam Veedu (transl. Vietnam House) is a 1970 Indian Tamil-language drama film, directed by P. Madhavan and written by Sundaram. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini, with Nagesh, K. A. Thangavelu, Srikanth, M. Bhanumathi and Rama Prabha in supporting roles. Produced by Sivaji Productions, it is based on Sundaram's play of the same name. The film was released on 11 April 1970 and became a commercial success. It won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film. The film was remade in Telugu as Vintha Samsaram (1971).[2]

Vietnam Veedu
Poster
Directed byP. Madhavan
Written bySundaram
Based onVietnam Veedu
by Sundaram
Produced bySivaji Ganesan
StarringSivaji Ganesan
Padmini
CinematographyP. N. Sundaram
Edited byR. Devarajan
Music byK. V. Mahadevan
Production
company
Release date
  • 11 April 1970 (1970-04-11)
Running time
164 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

"Prestige" Padmanabhan Iyer, the manager of a reputed company, lives with his wife Savithri, sons Sridhar and Murali, and a daughter. He is famous for living with prestige and is a keen observer of status in all matters. Sridhar is married while Murali is looking for a job. With his hard earned money, Padmanabhan buys his ancestral house, sold earlier due to poverty and names it "Vietnam Veedu" (Vietnam House) because of the constant tiffs among the family members, similar to the Vietnam War. His major problem is that he is unable to come to terms with his children's behaviour. He retires from his job, is unable to accept the situation, and gets worried about how his sons will manage the family. Added to this, they spoil his "Prestige" image.

Sridhar, who accepts bribes at his work place, is arrested by the police after a search of their home and subsequently loses his job. Murali takes a loan from a moneylender and does not repay it. Hence, the moneylender lands up at Vietnam Veedu and demands repayment from Padmanabhan. The neighbours come to know of these happenings and mock him for living with false prestige. Padmanabha feels dejected; only Savithri empathises with him. He fears that after his death, his children will not take good care of their mother.

Padmanabhan's constant worry leads to a serious medical problem; his family doctor advises him not to get overexcited. Padmanabhan undergoes a surgery after which the doctor says that though he is fine now, he may not be able to take any exciting news, as his heart is weak. Now all the family members are reconciled with each other and take good care of him. Padmanabhan soon receives a letter from his previous employer offering him the post of director, for which he would be required to go abroad for training. Reading this, he is overjoyed that he is still revered by many for his ethics and honesty, but due to the resultant excitement he dies.

Cast

Production

Vietnam Veedu was the first full-length play written by Sundaram, and intended for the United Amateur Artistes (UAA) troupe, co-founded by his mentor Y. G. Parthasarathy. After writing the script, he approached Parthasarathy, who was uninterested in the play being staged. It later caught the attention of Sivaji Ganesan who, impressed with the script, decided to stage it through his Sivaji Nataka Manram troupe.[5] The play was inaugurated in 1965, and became a resounding success; Sundaram earned the title of the play as the prefix to his name. Ganesan later bought the rights to adapt the play for the screen.[6][7] According to Venkatesh Chakravarthy, Regional Director and HOD-Direction at the LV Prasad Film & TV Academy, Chennai, the plot is based on Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman.[8] The closing text added to the screen was, "Idhu padam alla, paadam" (This is not a film, this is a lesson) rather than the usual "Vanakkam" (Welcome).[9]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan.[10] The song "Palakkattu Pakkathile" was remixed in Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008).[11] The song "Un Kannil Neer Vazhindhaal" is set in Kapi raga.[12]

SongSingersLength
"Paalakkaattu Pakkathile"T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela03:53
"Un Kannil Neer Vazhindhaal"T. M. Soundararajan03:59
"Oh My Lady"A. L. Raghavan, L. R. Eswari03:29
"Endrum Pudhidhaaga...."
Ulagatthile Oruvan Ena		P. Susheela, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, A. L. Raghavan06:29

Release and reception

Vietnam Veedu was released on 11 April 1970.[13] Ananda Vikatan appreciated the way the bonding between Ganesan and Padmini was depicted.[14] The film was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.[15] It also won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film.[16]

Legacy

Vietnam Veedu is included with other Ganesan films in Yettavathu Ulaga Athisayam Sivaji (Sivaji, the Eighth Wonder of the World), a compilation DVD featuring Ganesan's "iconic performances in the form of scenes, songs and stunts" which was released in May 2012.[17][18]

References
  1. Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 407.
  2. Jeyaraj, D.B.S. (4 August 2018). "The sweet and sour real life romance of reel actors Savitri and Gemini". Daily FT. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  3. Dhananjayan 2011, p. 248.
  4. "பிரஸ்டீஜ் பத்மநாபன் – சாவித்திரியை வாழ்த்துவோம்! – வியட்நாம் வீடு'க்கு 49 வயசு". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 11 April 2019. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  5. Bhatt, Karthik (7 April 2017). "Vietnam Veedu : From Stage to Celluloid". The Cinema Resource Centre. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  6. Sundaram, Vietnam Veedu (11 March 2005). "A veteran reminisces ..." The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  7. S, Srivatsan (9 April 2020). "Pride and prestige: Remembering 'Vietnam Veedu' on its 50th anniversary". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  8. Kolappan, B. (6 August 2016). "'Vietnam Veedu' Sundaram passes away". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  9. மாதவன், பி. (8 April 1979). "படமல்ல; பாடம்!" [This is not a film; this is a lesson!]. Kalki (in Tamil). p. 62. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  10. "Vietnam Veedu (1970)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  11. "Looking for meaty roles". The Times of India. 22 October 2008. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  12. "திரையில் மிளிரும் வரிகள் 8 – காதல் கீதமா, குழந்தைப் பாடலா?". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). April 2016. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  13. Rangan, Baradwaj (11 April 2020). "Sivaji Ganesan's 'Vietnam Veedu' Turns 50: A Rewind To The Film, Its Time, And Its Leading Man". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  14. Dhananjayan 2011, p. 249.
  15. Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 242.
  16. Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 246.
  17. "DVD on Sivaji Ganesan to be released on May 6". The Hindu. 5 May 2012. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  18. Iyer, Aruna V. (12 May 2012). "For the love of Sivaji". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.

Bibliography
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