Thiruneelakantar

1939 Indian film

M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Tirunelveli Paapa
"Yaanai" Vaidyanatha Iyer
S. S. Rajamani
Serukalathur Sama
N. S. Krishnan
T. A. Mathuram

CinematographyJitan BanerjiEdited byR. S. ManiMusic byPapanasam Sivan

Production
company

Trichy Thyagaraj Films Ltd

Release date

9 September 1939 (1939-09-09)^[1]

Running time

148 MinutesCountryIndiaLanguageTamil

Thiruneelakantar is a 1939 Indian Tamil-language film directed by Raja Sandow and starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. The film, based on the life of Tirunilakanta Nayanar, was a big hit^[2] and was known for Thyagaraja Bhagavathar's acting^[2] apart from his songs.^[3] The noted nadaswaram player T. N. Rajarathinam Pillai makes a guest appearance.^[3]

Cast

M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar as Thiruneelakantar^[4]
Sirukalathur Sama as Siva Yogi^[4]
Thirunelveli Papa as Neelaya Thatchi
N. S. Krishnan as Chokan
T. A. Mathuram as Bommi^[4]
T. S. Durairaj
R. Balasaraswathi as Saraswathi^[4]
S. S. Rajamani as Kalavathi^[4]

Soundtrack

Soundtrack was composed by Papanasam Sivan. The song "Dheena Karunakaraney" was well received and became a cult classic.^[2] The song Pavazhamaal is a Thiruvisaippa composed by Thiruvaliyamudhanar.^[a] T. N. Rajarathnam Pillai set the tune for this in the raga Nattai.

Saavn track listing^[5]
No.	Title	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Saraasarangal"	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar	02:49
2.	"Un Azhagai Kaana"	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar	03:01
3.	"Dheena Karunakarane"	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar	03:08
4.	"Chidhambara Naadha"	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar	03:22
5.	"Pavazhamaal"	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar	03:38
6.	"Orunaal Oru Pozhuthu"	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar	03:15

Release

Randor Guy of The Hindu wrote "Remembered for MKT’s scintillating songs and the comedy by NSK-TAM."^[2]

References

^ Forgotten Tamil Cinema - The Early Years [@oldtamilcinema] (9 January 2019). "Thiruneelakantar (1939) — After Chitamani (1936), M.K.Thyagaraja Bhagavathar was on a roll. Ambikapathi, Thiruneelakandar, Sivakavi and reached his pinnacle in Haridas (1944). MKT was a great singer, but is generally criticized for his acting. Not this one, though" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Guy, Randor (3 September 2009). "Blast from the past – Thiruneelakantar (1939)". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
^ ^a ^b "MKT Filmography Part I". M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar fan site. Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e திருநீலகண்டர் (song book) (in Tamil). Trichy Thyagaraj Films. 1939.
^ "Thiruneelakandar". Saavn. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2016.