Chitthi
Chitthi (Tamil: சித்தி; transl. Stepmother) is a 1966 Indian Tamil language film, directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. The film stars Padmini and Gemini Ganesan. It is based on the play Dayanidhi written by Vai. Mu. Kothainayaki. The film was remade in Hindi as Aurat,[1] in Malayalam as Achante Bharya, in Telugu as Pinni and in Kannada as Chikkamma.
| Chitthi | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | K. S. Gopalakrishnan |
| Screenplay by | K. S. Gopalakrishnan |
| Based on | Dayanidhi by Vai. Mu. Kothainayaki |
| Starring | Padmini Gemini Ganesan |
| Music by | M. S. Viswanathan |
| Cinematography | R. Sampath |
| Edited by | R. Devarajan |
Production company | Chitra Productions |
| Distributed by | Chitra Productions |
Release date | 14 January 1966 |
Running time | 170 Mins |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Cast
- Padmini as Meenakshi
- Gemini Ganesan as Muthaiyya
- Muthuraman as Balu
- Nagesh as Mani
- M. R. Radha as Periyasamy
- V. K. Ramasamy
- V. R. Rajagopal
- V. S. Raghavan
- Vijaya Nirmala as Saroja
- Vijayasree
- Sundari Bai as Periyasamy's mother
- S. D. Subbulakshmi
- Radha Bai
- Rani
Production
The film was an adaptation of stage play Dayanidhi written by Vai. Mu. Kothainayaki.[2]
Themes
According to the book Beyond Bollywood, Chitthi subverts the wicked stepmother trope by making her a figure of suffering and sacrifice, protecting her stepchildren from her callous and irresponsible husband.[3]
Soundtrack
| Chitthi | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | 1966 |
| Recorded | 1966 |
| Genre | Saregama |
| Length | 26:19 |
| Language | Tamil |
| Producer | M. S. Viswanathan |
Music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan and lyrics were written by Kannadasan and Udumalai Narayana Kavi.[4][5]
| No. | Song | Singer | Lyrics | Length(m:ss) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Thaneer Suduvathenna" | T. M. Soundararajan P. Susheela | Kannadasan | 4:02 |
| 2 | "Kalamithu Kalamithu" | P. Susheela | 6:09 | |
| 3 | "Ingey Deivam Pathi" | A. L. Raghavan Mothi | 4:23 | |
| 4 | "Sathipoma Indru" | P. B. Srinivas L. R. Eswari | 3:48 | |
| 5 | "Santhipoma Indru" (Sad) | 3:06 | ||
| 6 | "Maarum Kanni Manam" | P. Susheela | 1:42 | |
| 7 | "Cycle Vandi Mele" | Sirkazhi Govindarajan | Udumalai Narayana Kavi | 3:49 |
Reception
T. M. Ramachandran of Sport and Pastime positively reviewed the film praising Gopalakrishnan's direction and also praising cast and crew members of the film.[6]
References
- Malhotra, Aps (24 May 2012). "Blast From The Past: Aurat (1967)". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- Muthiah, S. (31 December 2001). "A forgotten author and patriot". The Hindu. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- Raghavendra, M. K., ed. (2017). Beyond Bollywood: The Cinemas of South India. HarperCollins. p. 43.
- "Chithi songs". Tamiltunes. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
- "Chithi (1966)". Music India Online. Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- Ramachandran, T. M. (19 February 1966). "Padmini Stages Come-Back!". Sport and Pastime. Vol. 20. p. 42.