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Thai Meethu Sathiyam

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Thai Meethu Sathiyam
Theatrical release poster
Directed byR. Thyagarajan
Story bySandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar
Produced bySandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar
Starring
CinematographyV. Ramamurthy
Edited byM. G. Balu Rao
Music byShankar–Ganesh
Production
company
Release date
  • 30 October 1978 (1978-10-30)
Running time
137 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Thai Meethu Sathiyam (transl. I swear upon my mother) is a 1978 Indian Tamil-language Curry Western film directed by R. Thyagarajan and produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar. The film stars Rajinikanth and Sripriya, with Mohan Babu, Prabhakar, Suruli Rajan, Sundararajan, A. V. M. Rajan, S. A. Ashokan, Nagesh, Ambareesh, Jayamalini and Sukumari in supporting roles. It focuses on a shepherd who vows to avenge his parents by killing the murderers.

The film was originally planned by Thevar in the late 1960s under the title Marupiravi (transl. Rebirth) with M. G. Ramachandran intended to star; however, as Ramachandran was unwell and involved in a legal case, the film was shelved. Thevar later revived the project as Thai Meethu Sathiyam, with Rajinikanth cast in the lead role as Ramachandran had retired from acting by then. It was the last film produced by Thevar to be released.

Thai Meethu Sathiyam was released on 30 October 1978, a month after Thevar's death. The film became a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.

Plot

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Babu is a shepherd with a dog named Ramu. When criminals Balu and Johnny murder his parents, he swears upon his mother that he will have revenge. Babu trains under the local zamindar, and is revealed to be naturally skilled at marksmanship. After dressing himself like a cowboy, equipping himself with the zamindar's guns and a horse, and with Ramu as his aide, he fulfils his promise by killing the criminals.

Cast

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Production

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In the late 1960s, Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar had planned to produce a film starring M. G. Ramachandran, titled Marupiravi; however, Ramachandran was unwell at that time, as well as involved in a legal case, resulting in the film being shelved. Thevar later revived the film in the late 1970s with a new title, Thai Meethu Sathiyam, but as Ramachandran had retired from acting after becoming the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth was instead cast.[4][5] The film, directed by R. Thyagarajan, was Rajinikanth's first film in the Western genre, and the plot took inspiration from several Curry Westerns starring Jaishankar.[3] It was the last film produced by Thevar to be released; he died on 8 September when the film was still in production.[6] Cinematography was handled by V. Ramamurthy and editing by M. G. Balu Rao.[7]

Themes

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Thai Meethu Sathiyam deals with one of the most recurrent themes in Tamil cinema: revenge. Like most Thyagarajan films, this has an animal playing a prominent character. The Economic Times likened the relationship between Babu and his dog Ramu to that of Wallace and Gromit.[8]

Soundtrack

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The soundtrack was composed by the duo Shankar–Ganesh.[9]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Neram Vandhachu"MaraP. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan3:55
2."Sathiyathin Thathuvathai"BaraniT. M. Soundararajan3:51
3."Babu Babu Enge"BaraniP. Susheela3:22
4."Uravum Undu"BaraniP. Susheela3:56
Total length:15:04

Release and reception

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Thai Meethu Sathiyam was released on 30 October 1978, Diwali day.[10] Ananda Vikatan rated the film 44 out of 100.[11] Despite facing competition from many other Diwali releases,[12] the film became a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres,[13] and Rajinikanth "carved out for himself a niche in vendetta roles".[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Maderya, Kumuthan (2010). "Rage against the state: historicizing the "angry young man" in Tamil cinema". Jump Cut. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  2. ^ Ramachandran 2014, p. 86.
  3. ^ a b c d Ramachandran 2014, p. 85.
  4. ^ "சாண்டோ சின்னப்பா தேவர்! (18)". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 6 December 2015. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  5. ^ ""திரை இசைத் திலகம்" கே.வி. மகாதேவன் - 32- பிஜிஎஸ் மணியன் எழுதும் தொடர்". Andhimazhai (in Tamil). 24 November 2014. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  6. ^ "எம்.ஜி.ஆரை நெகிழ வைத்த சாண்டோ சின்னப்ப தேவர்! ( நூற்றாண்டு விழா சிறப்பு பதிவு)". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 27 June 2015. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  7. ^ Thai Meethu Sathiyam (motion picture) (in Tamil). Dhandayuthapani Films. 1978. Opening credits, from 0:00 to 2:29.
  8. ^ "Avenging cowboy in rural TN". The Economic Times. 15 December 2007. Archived from the original on 7 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  9. ^ "Thaimeedu Sathiyam Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by Shankar Ganesh". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  10. ^ "கமலுக்கு 'சிகப்பு ரோஜாக்கள்' - ரஜினிக்கு 'தாய் மீது சத்தியம்' - மேலும் கமலுக்கு 4; ரஜினிக்கு 2". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 3 November 2019. Archived from the original on 3 November 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  11. ^ "விகடன் பொக்கிஷம்: ஒரு தீபாவளி... 11 படங்கள்!". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 19 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  12. ^ "மேல் நாடுகளில் இந்தியாவின் மானம் பறந்தன!". Dinamalar (in Tamil). Nellai. 14 August 2017. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ "சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் ரஜினிகாந்த் வாழ்க்கை வரலாறு 19" (PDF). Canada Uthayan (in Tamil). Canada. 5 December 2014. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.

Bibliography

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