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Deiva Thai
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	P. Madhavan
Screenplay by	R. M. Veerappan T. N. Balu K. Balachander (dialogues)
Story by	Nanabhai Bhatt
Produced by	R. M. Veerappan
Starring	M. G. Ramachandran B. Saroja Devi M. N. Nambiar S. A. Ashokan
Cinematography	Sundaram
Music by	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Production company	Sathya Movies
Distributed by	Emgeeyaar Pictures
Release date	18 July 1964 (1964-07-18)
Running time	175 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Deiva Thai (transl. Divine Mother) is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language film, produced and co-written by R. M. Veerappan, directed by P. Madhavan and starring M. G. Ramachandran. It was released on 18 July 1964 and became one of the most successful Tamil films of the year.

Plot

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Sivagami, a widow, brings up her only son Maran, in the worship of Karunagaran, as his father had died in tragic circumstances. She hides from him for a long time, the real version of the facts. Indeed, Karunagaran, inveterate player of poker, killed a player accidentally during a game in which the player beats him by cheating, shocked to realise that he is the reason for his death, Karunagaran escapes from that quickly. Maran becomes a C.I.D. officer and settles in the new mission to dismantle the traffickers' network. It turns out that the man who heads this terrorist organisation is none other than his father, Karunagaran. Maran and the one who is called up now, Baba (alias Karunagaran), ignore each other, their family ties, except Sivagami, are in the centre of a cornelian dilemma. To choose between her husband or his son? To assure his role of faithful wife or that of an affectionate mother?

Cast

• M. G. Ramachandran as C.I.D. Maran
• B. Saroja Devi as Megala
• M. N. Nambiar as Madhan
• S. A. Ashokan as Karunakaran
• S. V. Sahasranamam as D.I.G. Mohan
• Nagesh as Vidwan Sargunam
• Pandari Bai as Sivakami
• S. N. Lakshmi as Megala's grandmother
• Senthamarai as Doctor

Production

K. Balachander, while working in the Accountant General's office, was offered to write the dialogues for the film by its lead actor M. G. Ramachandran. Balachander was initially reluctant, as he was more theatre-oriented, but on the insistence of his friends he decided to work on the film. The producer R. M. Veerappan convinced Balachander to write the dialogues and launched him in the silver screen business. During filming, director P. Madhavan threatened to quit due to Ramachandran's interference, but ultimately due to Veerappan's persuasion, Ramachandran continued acting in the film without interfering further. The film remained the only collaboration between Madhavan and Ramachandran.

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy.

Release and reception

Deiva Thai was released on 18 July 1964, and distributed by Emgeeyaar Pictures. The Sunday Standard wrote "Indeed, it is all a twice-told tale. And yet, the picture enthrals a section of the audience for which it is intended, thanks to the fast tempo of surroundings and director Madhavan's success in wringing the best out of the few emotional sequences despite a weak and loose script". T. M. Ramachandran wrote in Sport and Pastime, "The story may be ordinary but it is imaginatively treated". Kanthan of Kalki praised the dialogues by Balachander. It was one of the most successful Tamil films of the year.

References

1. ""பால்கே" விருது பெற்ற பாலச்சந்தருக்கு நடிகர்கள் வாழ்த்து". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 30 April 2011. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
2. "திரை உலகுக்கு வாருங்கள்: பாலசந்தருக்கு எம்.ஜி.ஆர். அழைப்பு" [MGR invited Balachander to enter film industry]. Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 24 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
3. Magan, Tamil (29 June 2003). "Balachander – the maverick and the master". Chennai Online. translated by Hari Krishnan. Archived from the original on 29 June 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
4. "எம்ஜிஆரின் கட்டளைக்கு அடிபணிய மறுத்த இயக்குநர்". News18 (in Tamil). 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
5. "பிரபல இயக்குநர் பி.மாதவனின் 100 நாள் ஓடிய முதல் திரைப்படம் எது தெரியுமா?". News18 (in Tamil). 16 November 2022. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
6. "Deiva Thai (1964)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
7. "Deiva Thai ( EP , 45 RPM )". AVDigital. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
8. "Deiva Thai". The Indian Express. 18 July 1964. p. 10. Retrieved 19 January 2021 – via Google News Archive.
9. "Deiva Thai". The Sunday Standard. 12 July 1964. p. 3. Retrieved 16 November 2021 – via Google News Archive.
10. "Deiva Thai". The Sunday Standard. 25 July 1964. p. 3. Retrieved 11 February 2021 – via Google News Archive.
11. Ramachandran, T. M. (8 August 1964). "New Concern Hits Headlines". Sport and Pastime. Vol. 18. p. 50. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023 – via Internet Archive.
12. காந்தன் (16 August 1964). "தெய்வ தாய்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 25. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
13. Guy, Randor (2 April 2016). "Dheiva Thaai (1964)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2016.

External links

• Deiva Thai at IMDb

• 1964 films
• 1960s Indian films
• 1960s Tamil-language films
• Films directed by P. Madhavan
• Films scored by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
• Films with screenplays by K. Balachander
• Tamil-language Indian films