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{{short description|1972 film}}
{{for|the title character|Agastya}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Agathiyar
| image          = Agathiyar poster.jpg
| caption        = Poster
| director       = [[A. P. Nagarajan]]
| writer         = A. P. Nagarajan
| starring       = [[Sirkazhi Govindarajan]]
| cinematography = W. R. Subba Rao
| editing        = T. Vijayarangam
| music          = [[Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan]]
| studio         = Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures
| released       = {{Film date|df=yes|1972|1|15|ref1=<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agathiyar (1972) |url=https://screen4screen.com/movies/agathiyar |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119111952/https://screen4screen.com/movies/agathiyar |archive-date=19 November 2023 |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=Screen 4 Screen}}</ref>}}
| runtime        = 153 minutes
| country        = India
| language       = Tamil
}}
'''Agathiyar''' is a 1972 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Hindu mythological film]] written, directed, and produced by [[A. P. Nagarajan]]. The soundtrack was composed by [[Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan]]. The film stars [[Sirkazhi Govindarajan]] playing the main character, [[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]], [[A. V. M. Rajan]], [[Kumari Padmini]], [[R. S. Manohar]], [[Suruli Rajan]], [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] and [[Sridevi]] were in supporting roles. This film ran for 100 days and won widespread appreciation.<ref>{{Cite web |title="KALAIMAMANI" SIRKALI'S MEMORABLE MOVIES |url=http://sirkali.org/movies.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041617/http://sirkali.org/movies.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=4 November 2015 |website=sirkali.org}}</ref> The film was dubbed into [[Hindi]] under the title ''Maharish'' in 1986.

== Plot ==
The story is about Agathiyar Muni, who is considered to be the embodiment of one of celestial intellectuals who descended on earth to enlighten human beings. During the wedding of [[Shiva]] and [[Goddess Parvati]], the earth tilted to the northern side, as the whole world was witnessing the marriage. Shiva gave the responsibility of balancing the earth to Agathiyar by going to the southern side. Agathiyar is also given the additional responsibility of spreading goodness and equality. He has the additional task of spreading the [[Tamil language]]. Many small stories between heaven and earth are interwoven in the movie. The stories teach one to lead a simple existence without ego. It also shows how Agathiyar's journey facing Vindhya Mount, [[River Kaveri]], Vilvala/Vaathapi, Lord Murugan, A Farmer,[[Ravana]], Urvashi, Tholkappiyan thereby teaching them the greatness of humility.

== Cast ==
;Actors
* [[Sirkazhi Govindarajan]] as [[Agastya|Agathiyar]]
* [[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]] as [[Narada|Narathar]]
* [[A. V. M. Rajan]] as [[Lord Shiva|Lord Siva]]
* [[R. S. Manohar]] as [[Ravana|Ravaneswaran]]/[[Ravana|Langeswaran]]
*[[T. K. Bhagavathi|T. K. Bhagavathy]] as [[Indra|Devendran]]
* Sasikumar as [[Jayanta|Jayandran]] (Devendran's son)
* [[Sivakumar]] as Poet [[Tholkappiar|Tholkappiayan]]
* [[Suruli Rajan]]
*[[A. K. Veerasamy]] as Saint
*[[Usilai Mani]] as Boodham
*[[O. A. K. Thevar]] as [[Vindhya Range|Vinthiyan]] (Vindhya mount)
* T. N. Sivathanu as Vadhaapi or Saththamuni
* [[Typist Gopu]] as Vilvala or Saagaramuni
*[[E. R. Sahadevan]]
* [[K. D. Santhanam]]
*[[Shanmugasundari]]
* [[Master Sekhar]]
* [[Master Sridhar]]
*Gundu Karuppaiah
*S. Ramarao

;Actresses
* [[Kumari Padmini]] as [[Goddess Parvathy]]
* [[Lakshmi (actress)|Lakshmi]] as [[River Kaveri|Ponni]]/[[River Kaveri|Kaviri]]
* [[C. R. Vijayakumari]] as [[Mandodari|Mandothari]]
* [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] as Selli
*[[C. I. D. Sakunthala|A. Sakunthala]] as [[Urvashi|Urvasi]]
* [[M. Bhanumathi]] as Kakkai Padiniyar
* [[Rajakokila]]
* [[Baby Sridevi]] as [[Murugan|Lord Murugan]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 February 2021 |title=7 memorable performances by Sridevi as a child actor, watch |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/sridevi-top-performances-child-actor-on-death-anniversary-7201669/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221174606/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/sridevi-top-performances-child-actor-on-death-anniversary-7201669/ |archive-date=21 February 2022 |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref>
* V. Vasantha
* P. Seethalakshmi
* Kalasree

== Soundtrack ==
Music was composed by [[Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agathiyar (1972) |url=http://mio.to/album//Agathiyar+(1972) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118085803/http://mio.to/album//Agathiyar+(1972) |archive-date=18 November 2015 |access-date=4 November 2015 |website=Music India Online}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Agathiyar (1972) |url=http://play.raaga.com/tamil/album/Agathiyar-songs-T0001344 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119183601/http://play.raaga.com/tamil/album/Agathiyar-songs-T0001344 |archive-date=19 November 2015 |access-date=2 November 2015 |website=[[Raaga.com]]}}</ref> The song "Isaiyai Tamizhai" is set in [[Kharaharapriya]] raga.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=13 April 2012 |title=A Raga's Journey&nbsp;— Kingly Kharaharapriya |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-ragas-journey-kingly-kharaharapriya/article3310742.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823092601/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-ragas-journey-kingly-kharaharapriya/article3310742.ece |archive-date=23 August 2019 |access-date=16 December 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The song "Vendriduven" is a [[ragamalika]] comprising 16 ragas and is composed in such a way that the name of the raga used in each stanza is a word play on a common Tamil word which sounds similar to the raga's name starting with [[Nata (raga)|Natta]]<nowiki/>i,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=20 December 2013 |title=Versatile Nattai |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/versatile-nattai/article5482691.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221051732/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/versatile-nattai/article5482691.ece |archive-date=21 December 2019 |access-date=16 December 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> [[Bhairavi (Carnatic)|Bhairavi]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=6 July 2012 |title=Bewitching Bhairavi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/bewitching-bhairavi/article3609568.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831023836/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/bewitching-bhairavi/article3609568.ece |archive-date=31 August 2021 |access-date=31 August 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> [[Hanumatodi|Todi]], [[Arabhi]], [[Shanmukhapriya]], [[Darbar (raga)|Darbar]], [[Hamsadhvani|Hamsadhwani]], [[Vasantha (raga)|Vasantha]], [[Mohanam]], Manolayam, [[Bageshri]], Saranga, [[Kambhoji|Kamboji]], [[Gourimanohari|Gowrimanohari]], [[Kalyani (raga)|Kalyani]] and [[Vachaspati (raga)|Saraswathi]].

{| class="wikitable" style="— collapse:collapse; font -size:95%;"
|-  style="background:#cccccf; text-align:center;"
! Songs !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length (m:ss)
|-
| "Ulagam Samanilai Peravendum" || [[Sirkazhi Govindarajan]] || rowspan=4|Ulundurpet Shanmugam || 3:06
|-
| "Aandavan Tharisaname" || [[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]]  || 3:42
|-
| "Malainindra Thirukumara" || T. R. Mahalingam || 2:20
|-
| "Ventriduven Unnai" || [[T. M. Soundararajan]], Sirkazhi Govindarajan || 8:07
|-
| "Thaayir Chirandha" || [[T. K. Kala]] || Poovai Senguttuvan || 2:55
|-
| "Kannai Pole Mannai Kakkum" || [[L. R. Eswari]] and Chorus || Puthuneri Subramnyam || 3:55
|-
| "Naadanthai Vaali Kaveri" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan || rowspan=3|[[K. D. Santhanam]]|| 3:33
|-
| "Thalaiva Thavaputhalvaa" || M. R. Vijaya and P. Radha|| 4:35
|-
| "Isaiyai Thamizhai" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan, T. R. Mahalingam || 3:29
|-
| "Namachivayamena Solvome" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan, T. R. Mahalingam || Era. Pazhanisamy || 4:17
|-
| "Muzhu Muthar Porulae" || T. R. Mahalingam || Nellai Arulmani || 2:10
|}

== Reception ==
{{empty section|date=August 2024}}
<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 February 1972 |title=அகத்தியர் |url=https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP372-8-10-31 |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=[[Theekkathir]] |pages=3 |language=ta |via=[[Endangered Archives Programme]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0246414}}
{{A. P. Nagarajan}}

[[Category:1970s dance films]]
[[Category:1972 Indian films]]
[[Category:1972 musical films]]
[[Category:1972 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1972 films]]
[[Category:Films about Hinduism]]
[[Category:Films about royalty]]
[[Category:Films directed by A. P. Nagarajan]]
[[Category:Films scored by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by A. P. Nagarajan]]
[[Category:Hindu devotional films]]
[[Category:Hindu mythological films]]
[[Category:Indian dance films]]
[[Category:Indian films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Indian musical films]]
[[Category:Indian religious epic films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]