| Neerkumizhi | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | K. Balachander |
| Written by | K. Balachander |
| Based on | Neerkumizhi by K. Balachander |
| Produced by | A. K. Velan |
| Starring | Nagesh Sowcar Janaki V. Gopalakrishnan Major Sundarrajan Jayanthi |
| Cinematography | Nimay Ghosh |
| Edited by | V. B. Natarajan |
| Music by | V. Kumar |
| Production company | Thirumalai Films |
| Release date |
|
| Running time | 129 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Neerkumizhi (pronounced [n̪iːɾkumiɻi] transl. Water bubble) is a 1965 Indian Tamil-language film directed by K. Balachander in his directorial debut. It portrayed the stories of patients and staff in a hospital setting. The film is based on Balachander's play of the same name. It was released on 23 October 1965. The film was remade in Telugu as Chiranjeevi (1969), and in Malayalam as Aaradimanninte Janmi (1972).
Plot
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Sethu, an orphan is a patient who is constantly playing pranks on the other hospital patients, the nurse in-charge and the doctors. A romantic bond develops between a young doctor, Indra and another patient, a football player, Arun much to the chagrin of her father, the senior-most doctor in the hospital. The football player has a greedy brother who tries to arrange for his sibling to be killed. How Sethu, on learning that he is terminally ill cherishes the short time he has to live and takes it upon himself to unite the lovers forms the rest of the story.
Cast
- Nagesh as Sethu
- Sowcar Janaki as Dr. Indra
- V. Gopalakrishnan as Arun
- Major Sundarrajan as Dr. Balakrishnan
- Jayanthi as the nurse in-charge
- I. S. R. as patient
- S. N. Lakshmi
- Shoba as nurse
Production
Neerkumizhi marked the directorial debut of K. Balachander who earlier worked as a screenwriter and it was based on his stage play of the same name. The film was produced by A. K. Velan under Thirumalai Films. Cinematography was handled by Nimay Ghosh, and the art direction by Ranganna. A. K. Velan who saw the play decided to adapt it as a film and insisted Balachander to direct the film adaptation to which he agreed despite initial reservations due to his lack of knowledge about film direction. Sowcar Janaki, Nagesh, Major Sundarrajan and V. Gopalakrishnan, who were part of the play, returned to the film adaptation. Balachander said that he was advised by friends and relatives to change the title but he was adamant and kept the title.
Soundtrack
The music was composed by V. Kumar, in his debut. Balachander wanted Sirkazhi Govindarajan to sing the song "Aadi Adangum" as he felt that "his emphasis on certain words and letters always produced the effect required." The title song is based on "The Green Leaves of Summer".
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Aadi Adangum Vazhkkaiyada" | Suratha | Sirkazhi Govindarajan | 3:16 |
| 2. | "Kanni Nadhiyoram" | Alangudi Somu | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | 3:13 |
| 3. | "Neeril Neendhidum" | Alangudi Somu | P. Susheela | 3:26 |
| Total length: | 9:55 | |||
Release and reception
Neerkumizhi was released on 23 October 1965, during Diwali day. Ananda Vikatan, in a review dated 14 November 1965, said that despite its few flaws, the film could be watched once for Nagesh. Writing in Sport and Pastime, T. M. Ramachandran named it his favourite Diwali release of the year because "it blazes a new trail in screen entertainment", while calling it better than the original play. Kalki praised the film for its story and Nagesh's performance.
References
- Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (4 August 2018). "The sweet and sour real life romance of reel actors Savitri and Gemini". Daily FT. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
- "தமிழ் டூ மலையாளம் உண்டல்லோ?". Puthiya Thalaimurai (in Tamil). 16 July 2015. p. 12.
- ^ ராஜகுமாரன், எஸ். (14 August 2015). "ஆடி அடங்கும் வாழ்க்கையடா! – 50 ஆண்டுகள் நிறைவு செய்த நீர்க்குமிழி". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ Guy, Randor (3 May 2011). "The KB school". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- ^ "Neerkumizhi". The Indian Express. 23 October 1965. p. 3. Retrieved 8 February 2019 – via Google News Archive.
- பாலச்சந்தர், கே. (8 January 1995). "நினைவலைகள் – 23" [Memories – 23] (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 12–14. Retrieved 13 July 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- Kolappan, B. (23 December 2014). "He took Tamil cinema beyond hero-centric creations". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- Balasubramanian, V. (18 February 2011). "Director felicitated". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- "Neerkumizhi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Single". Apple Music. 1 December 1965. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ Ramachandran, T. M. (4 December 1965). "A Basket of Mixed Fruits". Sport and Pastime. Vol. 19. p. 51. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023 – via Internet Archive.
- Krishnamachari, Suganthy (19 December 2013). "Temple bell timbre". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- Krishnaswamy, S. (2 October 1966). "Madras Film Letter". The Illustrated Weekly of India. Vol. 87. p. 43. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
- "1965 – நீர்க்குமிழி – திருமலை பிக்" [1965 – Neerkumizhi – Thirumalai Pic.]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- சேகர்; சந்தர் (14 November 1965). "சினிமா விமர்சனம்: நீர்க்குமிழி". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- "நீர்க்குமிழி". Kalki (in Tamil). 7 November 1965. p. 24. Archived from the original on 23 July 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
External links
- Neerkumizhi at IMDb