Uthama Puthiran (1940 film)

1940 film

Uthama Puthiran

Theatrical poster

Directed by| T. R. Sundaram
Written by| D. V. Chari (dialogues)
Screenplay by| T. V. Swami
Story by| N. Mian
Produced by| Modern Theatres (Salem)
Starring| P. U. Chinnappa
M. V. Rajamma
Cinematography| P. V. Krishna Iyer
Edited by| P. P. Varghese
Music by| G. Ramanathan[2]

Release date

* 24 October 1940 (1940-10-24)[1]

Running time

| 212 minutes
Language| Tamil

Utthama Puthiran is the 1940 Tamil language film directed by T. R. Sundaram. P. U. Chinnappa, M. V. Rajamma, T. S. Balaiah played the lead roles. It was the first Tamil film in which the leading actor P. U. Chinnappa played a double role.

## Contents

* 1 Production
* 2 Cast
* 2.1 Guest Appearance
* 3 Soundtrack
* 4 Themes and influences
* 5 References
* 6 External links
* 7 Bibliography

## Production[edit]

Uthama Puthiran was adapted from the 1939 Hollywood film The Man in the Iron Mask, which was based on the 1847–1850 novel The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later by the French adventure fiction maestro, Alexandre Dumas.[1] The film was produced and directed by the Salem based movie mogul, T. R. Sundaram, it proved successful and established the singing star of the 1940s, P. U. Chinnappa. The film featured him in dual roles and thus made him a first Tamil actor to feature him double roles. The double action scenes of Chinnappa was shot by Bodo Gutschwager, a German technician.[3] There was a sequence of the twins engaged in a duel while singing a duet, throwing challenges making it one of the rare scenes in Indian cinema.[4]

M. V. Rajamma, Kannada theatre and film actress, played the heroine.[5] Uthama Puthran was her second film with Chinnappa, the first being Yayathi (1938).[4] T. S. Balaiah portrayed the negative role. The film had supporting cast featuring NSK, Mathuram, Kali N. Ratnam, and P. A. Periyanayaki.[4]

## Cast[edit]

* P. U. Chinnappa as Vikrama Pandiyan / Sokkanatha Pandiyan
* M. V. Rajamma as Meenatchi
* T. S. Balaiah as 'Minister' Naganathan
* T. S. Krishnaveni as Shanthamani
* Kali N. Ratnam as Pattabi
* Pulimoottai Ramasamy as Subbramani Samy

### Guest Appearance[edit]

* N. S. Krishnan as Iyengar
* T. A. Mathuram as Iyengar's wife

## Soundtrack[edit]

The music was composed by G. Ramanathan[2] and the lyrics were penned by S. Velsamy.[6] Even though the British Indian government banned the Tamil rebel poet Bharati's work, Sundaram had the actor render the famous song "Senthamizh Naadenum Podhiniley" and got away with it.[4][3][7]

No  | Title  | Singer(s)  | Length

|
|
|

1  | Igamo Unadharul  | P. U. Chinnappa | \--
2  | Kalangamilla Madhiyaa  | P. U. Chinnappa | \--
3  | Senthamizh Naadenum  | P. U. Chinnappa | \--

## Themes and influences[edit]

Uthama Puthiran adapted from Hollywood film The Man in the Iron Mask which was based on novel of same name notably became the first Tamil film to feature an actor in two roles.[4] The story of identical twins was used often in Tamil cinema, and Dumas himself used it to write his famous The Corsican Brothers which was also adapted into Tamil.[8] The Gemini Studios version Apoorva Sagotharargal (1949) with M. K. Radha playing the twins was a box office hit.[3] M. G. Ramachandran played the twins in a rehash of the film titled Neerum Neruppum.[9] The film was remade again in 1958 with Sivaji Ganesan.[3][10] Uthama Puthiran also was the inspiration behind Imsai Arasan 23 m Pulikesi, a 2006 historical comedy film starring comedian Vadivelu as the twins.[11][3]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Dhananjayan 2014, p. 34.
2. ^ a b Vamanan (December 2006). Sangeetha Chakravarthi G. Ramanathan (in Tamil) (1st ed.). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. pp. 46 & 50.
3. ^ a b c d e Dhananjayan 2014, p. 35.
4. ^ a b c d e "Uthama Puthiran 1940". 2 May 2008.
5. ^ "M. V. Rajamma, the favorite 'Amma'". Kalyanamalai.
6. ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019.
7. ^ "P U Chinnappa – Tamil film songs". www.indian-heritage.org. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
8. ^ "Uthama Puthiran — Making history with historicals". IndiaGlitz. 19 September 2006. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
9. ^ Guy, Randor (17 March 2011). "A trailblazer". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 April 2012.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
10. ^ Guy, Randor (5 January 2013). "Blast from the Past: Uthama Puthran 1958". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
11. ^ "Messages in a light vein — Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikesi". The Hindu. 14 July 2006. Archived from the original on 17 July 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2012.

## External links[edit]

* Article about the film by Randor Guy in Hindu

## Bibliography[edit]

* Dhananjayan, G. (2014). Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931–2013. Blue Ocean Publishers. OCLC 898765509.

* v
* t
* e

Modern Theatres

Key people|

* T. R. Sundaram (founder)

Films produced|

| 1930s|

* Modern Girl (1935)
* Bandit of the Air (1936)
* Country Girl (1936)
* Modern Lady (1936)
* Modern Youth (1937)
* Mr. Ammanchi (1937)
* Naveena Nirupama (1937)
* Padma Jothi (1937)
* Sathi Ahalya (1937)
* Balan (1938)
* Dhaksha Yagnam (1938)
* Kambar (1938)
* Maya Mayavan (1938)
* Mayuradhawaja (1938)
* Santhanadevan (1938)
* Thayumanavar (1938)
* Maanikka Vaasakar (1939)
* Manmadha Vijayam (1939)
* Sathyavaani (1939)
* Sri Sankarachariyar (1939)

|

1940s|

* Harihara Maya (1940)
* Raja Yogam (1940)
* Sathyavaani (1940)
* Sathi Mahananda (1940)
* Sathi Murali (1940)
* Uthama Puthiran (1940)
* Vikrama Oorvasi (1941)
* Bhaktha Gowri (1941)
* Dhayalan (1941)
* Ashok (1942)
* Manonmani (1942)
* Sathi Suganya (1942)
* Sivalinga Satchi (1942)
* Arundhathi (1943)
* Dewan Bahadur (1943)
* Soorapuli (1943)
* Sow Sow (1944)
* Rajarajeswari (1944)
* Burma Rani (1945)
* Chitra (1946)
* Sangram (1946)
* Subhathra (1946)
* 1000 Thalaivangi Apoorva Chinthamani (1947)
* Sulochana (1947)
* Adhithan Kanavu (1948)
* Ahimasa Yuddham (1948)
* Bhojan (1948)

1950s|

* Thigambara Samiar (1950)
* Manthiri Kumari (1950)
* Maaya Rambha (1950)
* Ponmudi (1950)
* Aada Janma (1951)
* Sarvadhikari (1951)
* Kaadu (1952)
* The Jungle (1952)
* Atthinti Kapuram (1952)
* Kalyani (1952)
* Savathiporu (1952)
* Valayapathi (1952)
* Mangala Gowri (1953)
* Thirumbi Paar (1953)
* Deva Kannika (1954)
* Illara Jothi (1954)
* Sugam Enge (1954)
* Kathanayaki (1955)
* Maheswari (1955)
* Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (1956)
* Pasavalai (1956)
* Aravalli (1957)
* Kitna Badal Gaya Insan (1957)
* Veera Kankanam (1957)
* Petra Maganai Vitra Annai (1958)
* Engal Kuladevi (1959)
* Thalai Koduthaan Thambi (1959)
* Vannakili (1959)

1960s|

* Anna Chellalu (1960)
* Kaithi Kannayiram (1960)
* Kandam Becha Kottu (1961)
* Kumudham (1961)
* Modern Girl (1961)
* Kavitha (1962)
* Kattu Roja (1963)
* Konjum Kumari (1963)
* Yarukku Sontham (1963)
* Amma Enge (1964)
* Chitrangi (1964)
* Vallavanukku Vallavan (1965)
* Iru Vallavargal (1966)
* Monagallaku Monagadu (1966)
* Vallavan Oruvan (1966)
* Ethirigal Jakkirathai (1967)
* Kadhalithal Podhuma (1967)
* Evaru Monagadu (1968)
* Naangu Killadigal (1969)

1970s|

* CID Shankar (1970)
* Justice Viswanathan (1971)
* Nenu Manishine (1971)
* Karunthel Kannayiram (1972)
* Thedi Vandha Lakshmi (1973)
* Prayachitham (1974)
* Kaali Koyil Kabali (1979)
* Vallavan Varugiraan (1979)

1990s|

* Jenanaayakan (1999)

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by T. R. Sundaram

* Naveena Nirupama (1937)
* Padhma Jothi (1937)
* Sathi Akalya (1937)
* Maanikka Vaasakar (1939)
* Uthama Puthiran (1940)
* Manonmani (1942)
* Sathi Suganya (1942)
* Arundhati (1943)
* Dewan Bahadur (1943)
* Rajarajeswari (1944)
* Burma Rani (1945)
* Subhadhra (1946)
* 1000 Thalaivangi Apoorva Chinthamani (1947)
* Adhithan Kanavu (1948)
* Manthiri Kumari (1950)
* Thigambara Samiar (1950)
* Sarvadhikari (1951)
* Valayapathi (1952)
* Thirumbi Paar (1953)
* Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (1956)
* Sollu Thambi Sollu (1959)
* Thalai Koduthaan Thambi (1959)
* Kandam Becha Kottu (1961)

* v
* t
* e

The d'Artagnan Romances by Alexandre Dumas

* The Three Musketeers
* Twenty Years After
* The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later

Characters|

* Athos
* Aramis
* Porthos
* d'Artagnan
* Cardinal Richelieu
* Milady de Winter
* Comte de Rochefort
* George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
* Anne of Austria
* Louis XIII
* Louis XIV
* Tréville

Films|

| The Three
Musketeers|

* The Three Musketeers (1916)
* Les Trois Mousquetaires (1921)
* The Three Musketeers (1921)
* The Three Musketeers (1932)
* The Three Musketeers (1933)
* The Three Musketeers (1935)
* The Three Musketeers (1939)
* The Three Musketeers (1942)
* The Three Musketeers (1946)
* The Three Musketeers (1948)
* Blades of the Musketeers (1953)
* The Three Musketeers (1953)
* The Three Musketeers (1961)
* The Three Musketeers (1973)
* The Four Musketeers (1974)
* The Three Musketeers (1993)
* The Musketeer (2001)
* The Three Musketeers (2011)
* 3 Musketeers (2011)
* The Three Musketeers (2013)

|

Twenty Years
After|

* The Return of the Musketeers (1989)
* Musketeers Twenty Years After (1992)

The Vicomte of
Bragelonne|

* The Iron Mask (1929)
* The Man in the Iron Mask (1939)
* Uthama Puthiran (1940)
* Lady in the Iron Mask (1952)
* The Count of Bragelonne (1954)
* The King's Prisoner (1954)
* Uthama Puthiran (1958)
* Le Masque de fer (1962)
* The Fifth Musketeer (1979)
* The Secret of Queen Anne or Musketeers Thirty Years After (1993)
* The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)

Other sequels|

* At Sword's Point (1952)
* The Secret Mark of D'Artagnan (1962)
* Revenge of the Musketeers (1994)
* The Return of the Musketeers, or The Treasures of Cardinal Mazarin (2009)

Animated|

* The Four Musketeers (1936)
* Three Blind Mouseketeers (1936)
* The Three Musketeers (1974)
* Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004)
* Barbie and the Three Musketeers (2009)
* Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds (2021)

Tom and Jerry|

* The Two Mouseketeers
* Touché, Pussy Cat!
* Tom and Chérie
* Royal Cat Nap

Television|

| Series|

| Live-action|

* The Three Musketeers (1966)
* The Mind Robber (1968)
* d'Artagnan and Three Musketeers (1978)
* Young Blades (2005)
* The Musketeers (2014)

|

Animated|

* The Three Musketeers (1968)
* Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds (1981)
* The Three Musketeers Anime (1987–89)
* The Return of Dogtanian (1989)
* Albert the Fifth Musketeer (1993–94)
* The Three Musketeers (2009–10) (puppetry)

Films|

| Live-action|

* The Three Musketeers (1959)
* The Three Musketeers (1969)
* The Man in the Iron Mask (1977)
* La Femme Musketeer (2004)

|

Animated|

* The Three Musketeers (1973)
* The Man in the Iron Mask (1985)
* Dogtanian: Special (1985)
* The Three Musketeers (1986)
* Dogtanian: One For All and All For One (1995)

Games|

* Touché: The Adventures of the Fifth Musketeer
* The Three Musketeers (1987 video game)
* The Three Musketeers (2006 video game)
* The Three Musketeers: One for All!

Musicals|

* The Three Musketeers (1928)
* 3 Musketiers

Other
adaptations|

* The Three Mesquiteers
* Dog in Boots
* The Three Must-Get-Theres
* The Three Mouseketeers (comics)
* The Three Musketeers (South Korean adaptation)

Khaavren Romances|

* The Phoenix Guards
* Five Hundred Years After
* The Viscount of Adrilankha
* The Baron of Magister Valley

Related|

* Auguste Maquet (collaborator)
* A Modern Musketeer
* The Three Muscatels
* Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno
* Man in the Iron Mask
* Musketeers of the Guard
* 3 Musketeers (chocolate bar)

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