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Meenava Nanban

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Meenava Nanban
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySridhar
Written bySridhar
Produced byK. R. Sadayappa Chettiar
StarringM. G. Ramachandran
Latha
Vennira Aadai Nirmala
CinematographyN. Balakrishnan
Edited byM. Umanath
Music byM. S. Viswanathan
Production
company
Muthu Enterprise
Release date
  • 14 August 1977 (1977-08-14)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Meenava Nanban (transl. Friend of fishermen) is a 1977 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by Sridhar. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran and Latha, with Vennira Aadai Nirmala, M. N. Nambiar, Nagesh among others enacting supporting roles. It was released on 14 August 1977.[1]

Plot

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Kumaran, an adventurer comes to a fishing enclave who help him. He meets the arrogant daughter of Nagaraj, Kamali, who treats them with disrespect and reforms her as they fall in love with each other in the process. He then takes it upon himself to defend the fishermen exploited by Nagaraj. Together with Kamali, they reform Nagaraj while saving him from the bad guys, Arun and Selvaraj, he associates with who turn on him.

Cast

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Production

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After the success of Urimaikural (1974), Sridhar decided to make another film with M. G. Ramachandran titled Naanum Oru Thozhilali (transl. I too am a worker); however it got dropped after Sridhar felt it lacked a strong plot.[2] Sadayappa Chettiar approached Sridhar expressing interest to produce a film with Ramachandran as lead actor and Sridhar directing. Sridhar named the film as Latchiya Kanavu (transl. Ambitious dream) while simultaneously making another film with Ramachandran titled Anna Nee En Deivam. Sridhar later changed the title from Latchiya Kanavu to Meenava Nanban as per Ramachandran's suggestion.[3] Meenava Nanban was the second and final collaboration of Ramachandran with Sridhar, after Urimaikural. Santhana Bharathi, who worked as assistant director, recalled that another famous director P. Vasu joined as assistant in the film's unit.[4][5]

Ramachandran performed his own stunt in a scene by jumping from a 12 metres (39 ft) building, but sustained no injuries.[6] A few scenes of Meenava Nanban were shot at Manipal. The filming was stopped for a few months because Sridhar met with an accident, damaging his left eye.[3] After the operation, Sridhar restarted both films – Meenava Nanban and Anna Nee En Deivam – at the same time. During that time, Ramachandran won the 1977 elections and became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, due to which Anna Nee En Deivam was shelved after canning few scenes but Sridhar completed Meenava Nanban with climax was shot in a set of a boat resembling flood in studio.[7] Ramachandran wore a wig to portray his character, and ensured it remained consistent throughout the course of production to preserve continuity.[8]

Soundtrack

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The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan.[9][10] Muthulingam recalled that Ramachandran discovered that he did not write any song despite production being near completion, so he insisted him to write the song "Thangathil Mugam Eduthu".[11] The song "Pongum Kadalosai" is based on Valaji raga.[12]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Nerukku Neraai"PulamaipithanT. M. Soundararajan4:01
2."Pongum Kadalosai"VaaliVani Jairam4:36
3."Thangathil Mugameduthu"MuthulingamK. J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam3:15
4."Pattathu Rajavum"VaaliT. M. Soundararajan4:32
5."Neram Pournami"VaaliS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam4:26
6."Kannazhagu Singarikku"PulamaipithanT. M. Soundararajan, Vani Jairam3:07
Total length:23:57

Reception

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Anna reviewed the film in two halves; the first was published on 21 August 1977,[13] and the second the following day.[14]

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ ஸ்ரீதர், டைரக்டர் (25 October 1992). "உரிமைக்குரலின் வெற்றி!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 73–74. Retrieved 9 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ a b ஸ்ரீதர், டைரக்டர் (1 November 1992). "எம்.ஜி.ஆருடன் வாக்குவாதம்!". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 50–51. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ Ashok Kumar, S.R. (16 November 2006). "This character artist's first love is direction". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  5. ^ "மாதா பிதா குரு நண்பன் தெய்வம்..." Kalki (in Tamil). 6 April 1997. pp. 29–30. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  6. ^ S, Srivatsan (15 June 2019). "When Sivaji Ganesan said 'MGR does better stunts'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  7. ^ ஸ்ரீதர், டைரக்டர் (8 November 1992). "படத்தை முடித்து கொடுத்த முதல்வர்!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 59–61. Retrieved 2 June 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ Kannan, Uma (27 June 2011). "Kollywood's make-up specialists of the 1960s". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Meenava Nanban Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan". Macsendisk. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Meenava Nanban". Gaana. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  11. ^ Prasad, G. (22 March 2008). "Evergreen and universal appeal". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  12. ^ Mani, Charulatha (16 August 2013). "Wake up to Valaji". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  13. ^ "மீனவ நண்பன்". Anna (in Tamil). 21 August 1977. p. 4. Retrieved 29 July 2024 – via Endangered Archives Programme.
  14. ^ "மீனவ நண்பன்". Anna (in Tamil). 22 August 1977. p. 4. Retrieved 29 July 2024 – via Endangered Archives Programme.
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