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Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Krishnan–Panju
Screenplay by	Javar Seetharaman
Based on	The Parent Trap by David Swift
Produced by	A. V. Meiyappan
Starring	Jaishankar Jamuna
Cinematography	S. Maruti Rao G. Vittal Rao
Edited by	Panjabi Vittal
Music by	M. S. Viswanathan
Production company	AVM Productions
Release date	19 November 1965 (1965-11-19)
Running time	167 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum (transl. Child and God) is a 1965 Indian Tamil-language children's film directed by Krishnan–Panju. It is based on the American film The Parent Trap (1961) which in turn was based on Erich Kästner's 1949 German novel Lisa and Lottie (German: Das doppelte Lottchen). The film stars Jaishankar and Jamuna, with Nagesh, Sundarrajan, G. Varalakshmi, Santha, Kutty Padmini, M. S. S. Bhagayam and V. R. Thilagam in supporting roles. It tells the story of twin sisters attempting to reunite their separated parents.

The film, produced by AVM Productions and featuring music by M. S. Viswanathan, was released on 19 November 1965. It was a commercial success, and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. Krishnan–Panju remade the film twice; in Telugu as Leta Manasulu (1966) and in Hindi as Do Kaliyan (1967). It was also remade in Malayalam as Sethubandhanam (1974) and in Kannada as Makkala Bhagya (1976).

Plot

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Twins Lalitha and Padmini get separated at birth because of their parents' separation. Later, the sisters decide to reunite their parents and work together for it.

Cast

Male cast

• Jaishankar as Chandrasekar "Sekar"
• Nagesh as Sundaram
• Sundarrajan as Ramalingam

Female cast

• Jamuna as Sathyabama "Bama"
• G. Varalakshmi as Alamelu
• Santha as Nirmala
• Kutty Padmini Lalitha "Lalli" and Padmini "Pappi"
• M. S. S. Bhagayam as Sogusamma
• V. R. Thilagam as Pankajam

Production

Development

M. Kumaran of AVM Productions saw the American film The Parent Trap (1961), based on Erich Kästner's German novel Lisa and Lottie, and saw potential for a Tamil version of it; he persuaded his brother Saravanan to watch the film. Saravanan complied, but was sceptical over the story's commercial viability if filmed in Tamil and also felt audience would not be receptive towards the concept of divorce, although Kumaran remained adamant. They later asked Javar Seetharaman to watch The Parent Trap and if he could Indianise it in his screenplay; AVM was impressed with his screenplay. Saravanan said Seesumpatti Rajagopal wrote the climax portions. Krishnan–Panju were selected to direct the film, titled Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum. Cinematography was handled by S. Maruti Rao and G. Vittal Rao, art direction by A. K. Sekar, and Panju edited the film under the pseudonym "Panjabi".

Casting and filming

Jaishankar was selected to play the male lead and was paid ₹10,000 (equivalent to ₹670,000 or US$8,000 in 2023). Kutty Padmini portrayed twin sisters; in the scenes where both characters appear, split screen and body double techniques were used. The climax was shot at Palani.

Soundtrack

The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The song "Pazhamuthir Solaiyile" is set in the Abheri raga, and "Enna Vegam Nillu Bhama" is set in Shivaranjani. The song "Anbulla Maanvizhiye" was remixed by Rafi in the film Jaggubhai (2010), and "Enna Vegam" was remixed by Mursak in Kadhal Meipada (2011). Randor Guy of The Hindu wrote, "One of the major factors contributing to the success of the movie was its melodious music composed by M. S. Viswanathan. Many of the songs became hits and are still remembered today".

Release and reception

Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum was released on 19 November 1965. The Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan, in a review dated 19 December 1965, applauded Padmini's performance and stated that she was the sole reason to watch the film, which the reviewer called childish. Writing for Sport and Pastime, T. M. Ramachandran criticised the film's lack of originality, but called it a "clever adaptation" of The Parent Trap, and described Padmini's dual role performance as the film's "pièce de résistance". Kalki appreciated the cast performances, but criticised the film for lacking AVM's signature touch. The film was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres. At the 13th National Film Awards, it won in the Best Tamil Film category.

Remakes

Krishnan–Panju remade the film twice; in Telugu as Leta Manasulu (1966) and in Hindi as Do Kaliyan (1967). It was also remade in Malayalam as Sethubandhanam (1974) and in Kannada as Makkala Bhagya (1976).

References

1. ^ Dhananjayan 2014, p. 188.
2. ^ Glaser 2022, p. 109.
3. ^ Glaser 2022, p. 108.
4. ^ சரவணன், ஏவி.எம். (13 March 2005). "ஜெயலலிதாவின் ஆர்வம்!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 44–47. Retrieved 25 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
5. Saravanan 2013, pp. 157–158.
6. ^ "Kuzhandhaiyum Deivamum". The Indian Express. 19 November 1965. p. 3. Retrieved 4 February 2019 – via Google News Archive.
7. ^ Guy, Randor (30 July 2011). "Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum 1965". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
8. சரவணன், ஏவி.எம். (18 March 2017). "36. குறைந்த சம்பளத்தில் நடித்த ஜெமினிகணேசன்". Dina Thanthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
9. Glaser 2022, p. 110.
10. Saravanan 2013, p. 158.
11. "Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum". JioSaavn. 19 November 1965. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
12. "Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
13. Mani, Charulatha (5 August 2011). "A Raga's Journey – Aspects of Abheri". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
14. Sundararaman 2007, p. 153.
15. Mani, Charulatha (28 September 2012). "Sivaranjani for pathos". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
16. Sundararaman 2007, p. 130.
17. Pillai, Sreedhar (26 January 2010). "Gung-ho about Jaggubhai". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
18. கிருஷ்ணா, மனோஜ் (2 May 2009). "திரைக்கதிர்: என்ன கோபம் சொல்லு பாமா..." Dinamani (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
19. Dhananjayan 2014, p. 190.
20. Ramachandran, T. M. (18 December 1965). "Another Box-Office from A.V.M." Sport and Pastime. Vol. 19. p. 51. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023 – via Internet Archive.
21. "குழந்தையும் தெய்வமும்". Kalki (in Tamil). 12 December 1965. p. 47. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
22. "Recipients of State Awards for Films 1965" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
23. Glaser 2022, p. 111.

Bibliography

• Dhananjayan, G. (2014). Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931–2013. Blue Ocean Publishers. OCLC 898765509.
• Glaser, Ed (2022). How the World Remade Hollywood: Global Interpretations of 65 Iconic Films. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-1-4766-4467-7.
• Saravanan, M. (2013) . AVM 60 Cinema (in Tamil) (3rd ed.). Rajarajan Pathippagam. OCLC 1158347612.
• Sundararaman (2007) . Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music (2nd ed.). Pichhamal Chintamani. OCLC 295034757.

External links

• Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum at IMDb

• 1965 films
• 1960s children's films
• 1960s Indian films
• 1960s Tamil-language films
• AVM Productions films
• Best Tamil Feature Film National Film Award winners
• Films about twin sisters
• Films based on adaptations
• Films based on Lottie and Lisa
• Films directed by Krishnan–Panju
• Films scored by M. S. Viswanathan
• Films with screenplays by Javar Seetharaman
• Indian children's films
• Indian remakes of American films
• Tamil films remade in other languages
• Tamil-language Indian films
• Twins in Indian films