View source for Kandhan Karunai

{{Distinguish|Kannan Karunai}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Kandhan Karunai
| image          = Kandhan Karunai poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[A. P. Nagarajan]]
| screenplay     = A. P. Nagarajan
| based_on       = {{based on|''Kanthapuranam''|[[Kachiyapper]]}}
| starring       = [[Kandhan Karunai#Cast|See ''cast'']]
| producer       = A. L. Srinivasan
| cinematography = [[K. S. Prasad]]
| editing        = R. Devarajan
| music          = [[K. V. Mahadevan]] [[Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan]] '''(1 song)'''
| studio         = A. L. S. Productions
| released       = {{Film date|df=yes|1967|1|14}}
| runtime        = 150 minutes
| country        = India
| language       = Tamil
}}

'''''Kandhan Karunai''''' ({{translation|By the mercy of Kandhan}}) is a 1967 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Hindu mythological film]], written and directed by [[A. P. Nagarajan]]. It features an [[ensemble cast]] including [[Sivaji Ganesan]], [[Gemini Ganesan]], [[K. B. Sundarambal]], [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]], [[J. Jayalalithaa|Jayalalithaa]], [[K. R. Vijaya]] and [[Sivakumar]]. This was the debut film for [[Sridevi]], who had starred as Lord Murugan at the age of 3.

== Plot ==
The film revolves around [[Murugan]], his birth, marriage, and acceptance of the post of head of the army of heaven. In [[Hinduism]], there are six abodes of Lord Muruga, known as the "[[Six Abodes of Murugan|Arupadaiveedu]]". The story behind each of the abodes is portrayed chronologically in the film. It starts with [[Swamimalai]], where Lord Muruga teaches the meaning of the word 'OM' to his father, Shiva. He goes to [[Palani]] Hills after a fight over a sacred fruit, that is his second abode. Then he wins over the demon king Surapadman in [[Thiruchendur]] and that is his third abode. The King of Heaven, [[Indra]] offers his daughter's hand in appreciation of Lord Muruga's victory, and he marries her in [[Thirupparamkunram]], his fourth abode. He later marries Valli in his fifth abode of [[Thiruthani]], and after a short dispute between both his wives, they amicably settle in [[Pazhamudircholai]], his sixth abode. All the events are summarized by [[Nakkeerar]], a great Tamil poet portrayed by [[Sirkazhi Govindarajan]] at the end of the film.

== Cast ==

{{Cast listing|
* [[Sivakumar]] as [[Murugan]], Shiva and Parvati's son, Ganesha's brother, Valli and Deivanai's husband
** [[Master Sridhar]] as Adolescent Murugan
** [[Sridevi]] as Child Murugan
* [[Sivaji Ganesan]] as [[Veerabaahu]], Murugan's army commander
* [[Gemini Ganesan]] as [[Shiva]], Parvati's husband, Ganesha and Murugan's father
* [[K. B. Sundarambal]] as [[Avvaiyar (Sangam poet)|Avvaiyar]]
* [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]] as [[Parvati]], Shiva's wife, Ganesha and Murugan's mother
* [[J. Jayalalithaa|Jayalalithaa]] as [[Valli]], Murugan's second wife.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=Nivedita |date=27 September 2014 |title=Jayalalithaa, the golden girl of Tamil cinema |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/jayalalithaa-the-golden-girl-of-tamil-cinema/story-4btYTbOsQmYwzjJMYRyQ9K.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727154255/http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/jayalalithaa-the-golden-girl-of-tamil-cinema/story-4btYTbOsQmYwzjJMYRyQ9K.html |archive-date=27 July 2017 |access-date=13 January 2018 |website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>
* [[K. R. Vijaya]] as [[Deivanai]], Murugan's first wife.
* [[S. A. Ashokan]] as [[Śūrapadmā|Soorapadman]], the demon king, Banukopan's father
* [[K. Balaji]] as Banugopan, Soorapadman's son
* [[E. R. Sahadevan]] as Simhamukha, a demon, Soorapadman's brother
* [[Nagesh]] as Nageswaran
* [[V. Gopalakrishnan (actor)|V. Gopalakrishnan]] as Jayanta, Indra's son who was kidnapped by Soorapadman
* [[S. V. Ramadas]] as Soorapadman's assistant
* [[Sirkazhi Govindarajan]] as [[Nakkeerar]] (cameo)
* [[S. Varalakshmi]] as [[Shachi]], Indra's wife, Jayanta's mother
* [[G. Sakunthala]] as Ajamukhi
* [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] as Valli's friend
* [[Ambika Sukumaran|Ambika]] as Paduma Komalai
* [[Manimala (actress)|Manimala]] as Banugopan's wife
* [[B. V. Radha]] as Ajamukhi's assistant
}}

== Production ==
[[Vijayakumar (Tamil actor)|Vijayakumar]] was supposed to play Lord Murugan in the film, but he was replaced by Sivakumar. Vijayakumar instead appeared as one of the lords who was in the jail.<ref>{{Cite web |title="கந்தன் கருணை" படத்தில் முருகனாக நடிப்பது யார்? சிவகுமாருடன் விஜயகுமார் போட்டி |url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2013/05/24224431/actor-vijayakumar-and-sivakuma.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061523/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2013/05/24224431/actor-vijayakumar-and-sivakuma.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=9 October 2015 |website=[[Maalai Malar]] |language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ஏ.எல்.எஸ். தயாரித்த கந்தன் கருணை: முருகன் வேடத்தில் சிவகுமார் |url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2015/01/04224628/cine-history-sivakumar.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106104856/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2015/01/04224628/cine-history-sivakumar.html |archive-date=6 January 2015 |access-date=9 October 2015 |website=[[Maalai Malar]] |language=ta}}</ref> [[Kannadasan]] recommended Sridevi for her role. This was the debut film for actress [[Sridevi]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 February 2021 |title='You're the best baby in the world.' On Sridevi's 3rd death anniversary, daughter Janhvi Kapoor mourns actress and shares handwritten note |work=[[The Economic Times]] |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/youre-the-best-baby-in-the-world-on-sridevis-3rd-death-anniversary-daughter-janhvi-kapoor-mourns-actress-and-shares-handwritten-note/articleshow/81191784.cms |url-status=live |access-date=2021-09-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917091116/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/youre-the-best-baby-in-the-world-on-sridevis-3rd-death-anniversary-daughter-janhvi-kapoor-mourns-actress-and-shares-handwritten-note/articleshow/81191784.cms |archive-date=17 September 2021}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The music was composed by [[K. V. Mahadevan]], for which he received the [[National Film Award for Best Music Direction]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kandan Karunai (1967) |url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=t0001243 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816040750/http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0001243 |archive-date=16 August 2014 |access-date=2014-06-18 |website=[[Raaga.com]]}}</ref><ref name="National Awards Winners 1967: Complete list of winners of National Awards 1967">{{Cite news |title=National Awards 1967 Winners |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-awards/national-awards-winners/1967/108 |website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=11 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324034914/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-awards/national-awards-winners/1967/108 |archive-date=24 March 2020}}</ref> The song "Thiruparankundrathil Nee" was composed by [[Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title='திருப்பரங்குன்றத்தில் நீ சிரித்தால்...' இசைத்தட்டுக்காக குன்னக்குடி இசை அமைத்த பாடல் 'கந்தன் கருணை'யில் இடம் பெற்றது |url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/07/08183430/thiruparankumrathil-nee-sirith.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402105029/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/07/08183430/thiruparankumrathil-nee-sirith.html |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=9 October 2015 |website=[[Maalai Malar]] |language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Balasubramanian |first=V. |date=12 September 2008 |title=His music touched the masses |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/his-music-touched-the-masses/article1435645.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=9 October 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150315062909/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/his-music-touched-the-masses/article1435645.ece |archive-date=15 March 2015}}</ref> The song "Arupadai Veedu" is a [[ragamalika]]; it starts off with [[Kambhoji|Kambodhi]] followed by [[Hindolam]], [[Chakravakam (raga)|Chakravakam]], [[Kanada (family of ragas)|Kaanada]], [[Hamsanandi|Hamsanandhi]], [[Nattakurinji|Natakurinji]] and [[Kapi (raga)|Kapi]]. "Solla Solla inikkudhadaa" song is set to [[List of Janya ragas|Kundhalavarali]] raaga."Thiruparankundrathil Nee" song set in [[Suddha Dhanyasi]] ragam and "Arumugamana Porul" song set in [[Mohanam]] ragam."Vellimalai Mannava" song set in [[Charukesi]] ragam.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 August 2012 |title=Devotional Kambhoji |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/devotional-kambhoji/article3787091.ece |url-status=live |access-date=9 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709061158/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/devotional-kambhoji/article3787091.ece |archive-date=9 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwF9fhXhMiU |title=Kandhan Karunai {{!}} Tamil Movie Songs {{!}} Audio Jukebox {{!}} கந்தன் கருணை பாடல்கள் |date=2017-01-10 |last=Saregama Tamil |author-link=Saregama |access-date=2017-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709061238/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwF9fhXhMiU |archive-date=9 July 2022 |url-status=live |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length
|-
| "Aarumugamana Porul" || [[Renuka]], [[S. Janaki]]. [[Soolamangalam Sisters|Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi]] || [[Kannadasan]] || 03:24
|-
| "Aarumuga Saravana" || [[P. Susheela]] || [[Sankaradas Swamigal]] || 00:54
|-
| "Arupadai Veedu Konda" || [[Sirkazhi Govindarajan]]|| rowspan="2" | Kannadasan || 06:41
|-
| "Ariyathu Ketkum" || [[K. B. Sundarambal]] || 06:06
|-
| "Konjum Kili" || S. V. Ponnusamy || Sankaradas Swamigal || 01:11
|-
| "Kurinjiyile Poo Malarnthu" || P. Susheela || rowspan="7" | Kannadasan || 03:44
|-
| "Manam Padaithen" || P. Susheela || 04:01
|-
| "Murugane Senthil" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan || 00.58
|-
| "Munthum Thamizh" || [[S. C. Krishnan]], [[A. L. Raghavan]], [[K. Jamuna Rani]], [[A. P. Komala]] || 01:51
|-
| "Muruga Muruga Muruga" || K. B. Sundarambal || 01:43
|-
| "Solla Solla" (Film Version) || P. Susheela || 02:22
|-
| "Solla Solla" (Full Version) || P. Susheela || 03:21
|-
| "Thirupparang Kundrathil" || Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, P. Susheela || Poovai Senguttavan || 03:23
|-
| "Vallimalai Pothigaimalai" || P. Susheela || Kannadasan ||
|-
| "Vellimalai Mannava" || [[S. Varalakshmi]] || Kannadasan || 01:54
|-
| "Vetrivel Veeravel" || [[T. M. Soundararajan]] || Kannadasan || 02:41
|}

== Reception ==
''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' appreciated Nagarajan for taking an old story and reinventing it.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=5 February 1967 |title=கந்தன் கருணை |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1967/feb/05-02-1967/p17.jpg |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |language=ta |page=17 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220725053007/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1967/feb/05-02-1967/p17.jpg |archive-date=25 July 2022 |access-date=25 July 2022}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=0192198}}

{{A. P. Nagarajan}}
[[Category:1967 Indian films]]
[[Category:1967 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1967 films]]
[[Category:Films about Hinduism]]
[[Category:Films directed by A. P. Nagarajan]]
[[Category:Films scored by K. V. Mahadevan]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by A. P. Nagarajan]]
[[Category:Hindu mythological films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]