JulianaThurston at 15:50, 5 April 2026

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{{short description|1960 film by Vedantam Raghavayya}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Adutha Veettu Penn
| image = Adutha Veettu Penn poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Vedantam Raghavayya]]
| screenplay = [[Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass|Thanjai Ramaiah Dass]]
| story = Arun Chowdhury
| producer = [[P. Adinarayana Rao|Adi Narayana Rao]]
| starring = [[Anjali Devi]]<br />[[T. R. Ramachandran]]<br />[[K. A. Thangavelu]]
| cinematography = C. Nageswara Rao
| editing = N. S. Prakasam
| music = P. Adinarayana Rao
| studio = [[Anjali Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|1960|02|11|df=y}}
| runtime = 145 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Adutha Veettu Penn''''' ({{translation|The Girl Next Door}}) is a 1960 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[romantic comedy]] film<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mohan |first=Ashutosh |date=11 February 2020 |title=Tamil Cinema And The Evolution Of The Romcom |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/tamil-cinema-and-the-evolution-of-the-romcom |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200412065841/https://www.filmcompanion.in/tamil-cinema-and-the-evolution-of-the-romcom/ |archive-date=12 April 2020 |access-date=12 April 2020 |website=[[Film Companion]]}}</ref> directed by [[Vedantam Raghavayya]] and written by [[Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass]]. The film stars [[Anjali Devi]] (who co-produced the film with her husband, composer [[P. Adinarayana Rao]]), [[T. R. Ramachandran]] and [[K. A. Thangavelu]]. It is a remake of the [[Bengali language|Bengali]] film ''[[Pasher Bari]]'' (1952), itself based on the namesake short story by Arun Chowdhury. In ''Adutha Veettu Penn'', a simple man wants to impress a woman he loves by singing, but since he cannot, his friend, a singer, sings in secret while the simple man merely [[lip sync]]s, and wins the woman's love. The film was released on 11 February 1960, and became a success.

== Plot ==
{{more plot|date=May 2021}}
Mannaru, a simple man, falls in love with his wealthy neighbour Leela, who sings and dances well. He wants to impress her by singing, but he cannot sing. So he seeks the help of his friend, a singer who agrees. While the friend sings in secret, Mannaru merely [[lip sync]]s. Leela is charmed by what she thinks is Mannaru singing and falls in love with him. Soon the truth comes out, and the rest of the film deals with how the tangle between the lovers is solved.

== Cast ==
Adapted from the film's songbook and opening credits:<ref name="song book" /><ref name="movie" />
;Male cast
{{Cast listing|* [[T. R. Ramachandran]] as Mannaru
* [[K. A. Thangavelu]] as the singer
* [[K. Sarangapani]] as Mannaru's uncle
* [[M. R. Santhanam]]
* Pakkirisami
* L. Narayana Rao as Saroja's father
* [[A. Karunanidhi]] as friend
* [[P. D. Sambandam]] as the marriage broker
* Friend Ramsami as friend
* S. Venkataraman as friend
* K. Ramu, K. Chetty, P. Ramachandra Rao}}

;Female cast
{{Cast listing|* [[Anjali Devi]] as Leela
* [[C. T. Rajakantham]] as Leela's mother
* [[M. Saroja]] as Leela's friend
* Balakumari
* [[T. P. Muthulakshmi]] as Saroja
* Madhuri
* Ranjitham, Radharani (as Julius Caesar in ‘Mannava Va’ Song), Rita}}

== Production ==
''Adutha Veettu Penn'' is a remake of the [[Bengali language|Bengali]] film ''[[Pasher Bari]]'' (1952), itself based on the namesake short story by Arun Chowdhury.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vamanan |author-link=Vamanan |date=23 April 2018 |title=Tamil cinema's bong connection |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/tamil-cinemas-bong-connection/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228093357/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/tamil-cinemas-bong-connection/ |archive-date=28 February 2019 |access-date=29 September 2020 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> The film was produced by [[Anjali Devi]] (who also starred as the female lead) and her husband [[P. Adinarayana Rao]], who also composed the music.<ref name="thehindu" /> Anjali Devi reprised her role from ''Pasher Bari''{{'}}s [[Telugu language|Telugu]] adaptation ''[[Pakka Inti Ammayi]]'' (1953).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=29 September 2013 |title=Pakkinti Ammayi (1953) |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/pakkinti-ammayi-1953/article5180279.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227035810/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/pakkinti-ammayi-1953/article5180279.ece |archive-date=27 December 2018 |access-date=27 December 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The film's animated opening credits were created by Dayabhai Patel.<ref name="thehindu" /> The screenplay was written by [[Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass]], cinematography was handled by C. Nageswara Rao, and the editing by N. S. Prakasam.<ref name="movie" /> While primarily in black and white, the film was partly coloured using [[Gevacolor]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 April 1959 |title=Adutha Veettu Penn |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19590424&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=24 February 2019 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=10 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Its final length was {{Convert|16887|feet|metres}}.<ref name="lakshmansruthi" />

== Influences ==
Although the opening credits of ''Adutha Veettu Penn'' acknowledge the source film ''Pasher Bari'',<ref name="movie" /> Saritha Rao Rayachoti (writing for [[Scroll.in]]) opines that it has some similarities with [[Edmond Rostand]]'s play ''[[Cyrano de Bergerac (play)|Cyrano de Bergerac]]'', in which the male lead Cyrano loves his cousin Roxane but feels he is not worthy of her due to his large nose; so he romances her by proxy, i.e. he writes her love letters for which another man, Christian de Neuvillette, claims credit at Cyrano's request. According to Rayachoti, the film eschewed the play's [[tragedy]] elements in favour of [[romantic comedy]] overtones.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rayachoti |first=Saritha Rao |date=26 November 2018 |title='Cyrano de Bergerac' is the gift that keeps giving, whether it's 'Padosan' or 'Bareilly Ki Barfi' |url=https://scroll.in/reel/901796/cyrano-de-bergerac-is-the-gift-that-keeps-giving-whether-its-padosan-or-bareilly-ki-barfi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181226033403/https://scroll.in/reel/901796/cyrano-de-bergerac-is-the-gift-that-keeps-giving-whether-its-padosan-or-bareilly-ki-barfi |archive-date=26 December 2018 |access-date=26 December 2018 |website=[[Scroll.in]]}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack album was composed by [[P. Adinarayana Rao]],<ref name="song book" /> with lyrics were by [[Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adutha Veettu Penn |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/adutha-veettu-penn-mw0001359479 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181226035252/https://www.allmusic.com/album/adutha-veettu-penn-mw0001359479 |archive-date=26 December 2018 |access-date=19 September 2015 |website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> The song "Vanitha Maniye" is set in the [[Hamsadhvani]] raga,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=1 March 2013 |title=A bright start |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/a-bright-start/article4465608.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303173615/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/a-bright-start/article4465608.ece |archive-date=3 March 2013 |access-date=23 September 2017 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>{{sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=165}} while "Kannale Pesi Pesi Kolladhe" is set in [[Keeravani]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saravanan |first=T. |date=20 September 2013 |title=Ragas hit a high |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/ragas-hit-a-high/article5149905.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181226035819/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/ragas-hit-a-high/article5149905.ece |archive-date=26 December 2018 |access-date=26 December 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> and "Kangalum Kavi Paaduthe" is set in [[Hindolam]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 December 2018 |title=Know your raga: Hindolam – Soulful swaras |url=https://newstodaynet.com/index.php/2018/12/12/know-your-raga-hindolam-soulful-swaras/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226042728/https://newstodaynet.com/index.php/2018/12/12/know-your-raga-hindolam-soulful-swaras/ |archive-date=26 December 2018 |access-date=26 December 2018 |work=[[News Today]]}}</ref>{{sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=136}} The album was a major breakthrough for [[P. B. Sreenivas]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saqaf |first=Syed Muthahar |date=18 April 2013 |title=His voice will never fade |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/his-voice-will-never-fade/article4629794.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227043259/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/his-voice-will-never-fade/article4629794.ece |archive-date=27 December 2018 |access-date=27 December 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> who sang five of the film's songs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=3 October 1997 |title=Golden voice of a glorious era |url=http://kommu.tripod.com/articles/pbs.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227043836/http://kommu.tripod.com/articles/pbs.html |archive-date=27 December 2018 |access-date=27 December 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]] |pages=27}}</ref> According to ''[[The Hindu]]''{{'}}s B. Kolappan, the film "proved beyond doubt that Sreenivas was going to secure an established place in Tamil film music."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kolappan |first=B. |date=14 April 2013 |title=Veteran singer PBS passes away |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/veteran-singer-pbs-passes-away/article4617069.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227171657/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/veteran-singer-pbs-passes-away/article4617069.ece |archive-date=27 December 2018 |access-date=27 December 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"
! Song !! Singers !! Length
|-
| "Maalaiyil Malar Solaiyil" || [[P. B. Sreenivas]] || 03:30
|-
| "Mannava Vaa" || [[P. Susheela]] || 04:30
|-
| "Sayonaaraa Tokyo" ||P. B. Sreenivas, [[S. Janaki]]|| 03:18
|-
| "Katraar Niraindha Sangamidhu" || [[A. L. Raghavan]] || 03:32
|-
| "Kannale Pesi Pesi Kolladhe" || P. B. Sreenivas || 03:27
|-
| "Kangalum Kavi Paadudhe" || [[Sirkazhi Govindarajan]], [[Thiruchi Loganathan]]|| 03:09
|-
| "Malarkodi Naane" || P. Susheela || 03:15
|-
| "Kaiyyum Odala Kaalum Odala" || S. C. Krishnan, [[T. V. Rathnam]]|| 03:07
|-
| "Vaadaatha Pushpame.... Vanithaa Maniye" || P. B. Sreenivas || 02:48
|-
| "Kanni Thamizh" || P. Susheela || 04:02
|-
| "Enakkaga Neeye" || P. Susheela, P. B. Sreenivas|| 04:02
|}

== Release and reception ==
''Adutha Veettu Penn'' was released on 11 February 1960.<ref name="lakshmansruthi" /> A review from the magazine ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'', dated 27 March 1960, called the film a must-watch for the comedy and dance sequences which were in colour.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=முனுசாமி |last2=மாணிக்கம் |date=27 March 1960 |title=சினிமா விமர்சனம்: அடுத்த வீட்டுப் பெண் |url=https://www.vikatan.com/anandavikatan/2009-sep-09/vikatan-pokkisham/41570.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627091157/https://www.vikatan.com/anandavikatan/2009-sep-09/vikatan-pokkisham/41570.html |archive-date=27 June 2018 |access-date=26 December 2018 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref> Kanthan of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' said no one could have done the role of Mannaru better than Ramachandran.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=காந்தன் |date=13 March 1960 |title=அடுத்த வீட்டுப் பெண் |url=https://ibb.co/4gYv128 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122033138/https://ibb.co/4gYv128 |archive-date=22 November 2022 |access-date=22 November 2022 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=73 |language=ta}}</ref> According to historian [[Randor Guy]], it was a major commercial success primarily because of its full-length situational comedy, then a rarity in Indian cinema and more so in Tamil.<ref name="thehindu" />

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="song book">{{Cite book |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7JevgDCLbuNb001UXhfOFJGR1k/view |title=அடுத்த வீட்டுப் பெண் |publisher=[[Anjali Pictures]] |year=1960 |language=ta |type=[[song book]] |url-access=registration}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
<ref name="movie">{{Cite AV media |title=Adutha Veettu Penn |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=[[Anjali Pictures]] |year=1960 |time=0:00 to 4:35 |time-caption=Opening credits, from}}</ref>
<ref name="lakshmansruthi">{{Cite web |title=1960 – அடுத்த வீட்டுபெண் – அஞ்சலி பிக். படோசன் (இ) – பக்க இண்டி அமம்மாயி (தெ) பஷீர் பேட்டி (பெ). |trans-title=1960 – Adutha Veettu Penn – Anjali Pic. Padosan (hi) – Pakka Inti Ammayi (te) Pashir Bari (be). |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1960-cinedetails1.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923074541/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1960-cinedetails1.asp |archive-date=23 September 2017 |access-date=23 September 2017 |website=[[Lakshman Sruthi]] |language=Tamil}}</ref>
<ref name="thehindu">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=7 September 2013 |title=Adutha Veettu Penn 1960 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/adutha-veettu-penn-1960/article5104325.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908103335/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/adutha-veettu-penn-1960/article5104325.ece |archive-date=8 September 2013 |access-date=7 September 2013 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Sundararaman |title=Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music |publisher=Pichhamal Chintamani |year=2007 |edition=2nd |location=Chennai |oclc=295034757 |orig-date=2005}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
{{Vedantam Raghavayya}}

[[Category:1960 films]]
[[Category:1960 Indian films]]
[[Category:1960 romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:1960 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films about fraud]]
[[Category:Films based on adaptations]]
[[Category:Films based on Indian short stories]]
[[Category:Films directed by Vedantam Raghavayya]]
[[Category:Films partially in color]]
[[Category:Films scored by P. Adinarayana Rao]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:Tamil remakes of Bengali films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language romantic comedy films]]

Adutha Veettu Penn - Revision history

JulianaThurston at 15:50, 5 April 2026