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{{Infobox film<br />
| name = Annai Velankanni<br />
| image = Annai Velankanni .jpg<br />
| caption = Poster<br />
| director = K. Thangappan<br />
| producer = K. Thangappan<br />
| writer = Sham De Thomson<br />
| screenplay = K. Thangappan<br />
| starring ={{ubl|[[Srividya]]|[[Sivakumar]]|[[Jayalalithaa]]|[[Gemini Ganesan]]|[[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]]}}<br />
| music = [[G. Devarajan]]<br />
| cinematography = G. K. Ramu<br />
| editing = N. M. Sankar<br />
| studio = Giri Movies<br />
| distributor = Giri Movies<br />
| released = {{Film date|1971|08|15|df=y}}<br />
| runtime = 148 mins<br />
| country = India<br />
| language = Tamil<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''''Annai Velankanni''''' ({{lit|Mother Velankanni}}) is 1971 [[Indian film|Indian]] drama film in [[Tamil language|Tamil]]. The film stars [[Gemini Ganesan]], [[Jayalalithaa]], [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]] and [[K. R. Vijaya]]. [[Kamal Haasan]] briefly appears in an uncredited role as Jesus Christ. The film was directed by noted choreographer K. Thangappan. It comprises three stories pertaining to [[Catholicism|Catholic]] beliefs. [[Velankanni]], where the film is set, is a real village in [[India]], and has a large church dedicated to the [[Virgin Mary]] and [[Jesus]].<br />
<br />
The film was dubbed [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language as ''Mary Matha'', released on 25 December 1971. The film was later dubbed into [[Malayalam]]-language as ''Velankanni Mathavu'', released on 27 May 1977 and 1979 [[Hindi]]-language as ''Mata Velankanni''.<br />
<br />
==Plot==<br />
The story pivots around the centuries - an old [[Basilica]] of our lady of health at [[Velankanni]] village near [[Nagapattinam]] in [[Thanjavur]] district in [[Tamil Nadu]]. With the patron saint of the Basilica, [[Mother Mary]] performing in lives of the devotee is narrated as a flashback, the story involving Nurse Mary ([[Jayalalithaa]]) and Susainathan ([[Gemini Ganesan]]) is in the present.<br />
<br />
Mary ([[Jayalalithaa]]) is a nurse in a hospital at [[Nagapattinam]] and is a devotee of [[Mother Mary]] of [[Velankanni]]. She narrates the story of Kamakshi ([[K. R. Vijaya]]), a milkmaid and her son Sundaram in Velankanni village to a child patient [[Baby Sumathi]]. Mother Mary appears before Sundaram, who is on his way to the landlord's ([[R. Muthuraman]]) house at Nagapattinam to deliver milk. The landlord, a bureaucrat, is an atheist. Sundaram gives milk to mother Mary to feed the [[Infant Jesus]]. The landlord is annoyed about milk and does not believe the story of "A Lady with a Child" that caused the shortage. A miracle occurs - the milk pot overflows spontaneously. The Mother Mary appears before the landlord and he becomes a believer, a devotee of Mother Mary; he generously helps his tenant Karuppayyan ([[S. V. Ramadoss]]) in the conducting of his daughter's marriage Chellayi ([[Srividya]]) to her rich lover ([[Sivakumar]]).<br />
<br />
The story of Swarnam ([[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]] and her lame son Raja ([[Master Sekhar]]) in Velankanni Village is narrated by Doctor Sundararajan ([[Major Sundararajan]]) to his assistant. Villagers often poked fun at Swarnam and Raja because of his lameness. On his way to the market to sell curds and milk, Mother Mary appears before Raja and cures him. Mother Mary assigns Raja the task of building a [[Church (building)|Church]] for her on the spot where she appeared before him under supervision of Priest Francis (S. V. Subbaiah).<br />
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Meanwhile, Mary rejects marriage proposals from young doctors in the hospital. She is waiting for mother Mary's Oracle to decide her marriage and the miracle occurs. Both Susainathan ([[Gemini Ganesan]]), the son of rich landlord in Nagapattinam and Mary have the same dream. Both of them are singing praises of the Mother Mary. The meet each other in the Church and eventually get married. While Mary is away from the hospital meeting Susainathan, the Kind mother attends to Mary's duties disguised as a nurse.<br />
<br />
==Cast==<br />
{{colbegin}}<br />
*[[Srividya]] as Chellayee<br />
*[[Sivakumar]] as Rangaiah<br />
*[[Jayalalithaa]] as Nurse Mary <br />
*[[Gemini Ganesan]] as Susai Nathan<br />
*[[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]] as Swarnam<br />
*[[Master Sekhar]] as Raasa, Swarnam's Son<br />
*[[Major Sundarrajan]] as Sudararajan, Head Doctor <br />
*[[K. R. Vijaya]] as Kamkshi<br />
*[[R. Muthuraman]] as landlord<br />
*[[Devika]] as Kannamma, landlord's Wife<br />
*[[Sachu]] as Candle Seller Woman<br />
*[[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] as Doll Seller Woman<br />
* S. V. Subbaiah as Father Francis <br />
*[[Nagesh]] as Kannaiah<br />
*[[Thengai Srinivasan]]<br />
*[[Srikanth (Tamil actor, born 1940)|Srikanth]] as Doctor Antony<br />
{{colend}}<br />
<br />
===Cameo Appearance===<br />
{{colbegin}}<br />
* [[Kamal Haasan]] as Jesus<br />
* Baby Sumathi as patient <br />
* [[S. Ramadoss]] as Karuppaiah, Chellayee's father<br />
* Janaki as Velayee, Kamakshi's Neighbour<br />
* I. S. R. as Thangaiah<br />
* Gemini Balu as Mayandi<br />
* Siva Sooriyan as villager<br />
* A. Veerappan as villager<br />
* [[Karikol Raju]] as villager<br />
* G. Sakunthala as Annam<br />
* S. Rama Rao as Sundaram<br />
* V. R. Thilagam as Sundaram's wife<br />
* Pushpamala in Cameo Appearance<br />
* [[Master Prabhakar]] as Ayyakannu<br />
* [[Suruli Rajan]] as Arunachalam, Village President <br />
* Lakshmi Prabha as Susainathan's mother<br />
{{colend}}<br />
<br />
== Release and reception ==<br />
''Annai Velankanni'' was released on 15 August 1971.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.dinamani.com/cm-jayalalitha/2016/dec/06/%E0%AE%9C%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BE-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D-2610816.html |title=ஜெயலலிதா நடித்த திரைப்படங்களின் பட்டியல் |date=6 December 2016 |work=[[Dinamani]] |access-date=22 September 2018 |language=ta}}</ref> The film was dubbed [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language as ''Mary Matha'', released on 25 December 1971.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 December 1971 |title=Mary Matha |page=6 |work=[[Andhra Patrika]] |url=https://www.pressacademyarchives.ap.nic.in/newspaperframe.aspx?bookid=9366}}</ref> The film was later dubbed into [[Malayalam]]-language as ''Velankanni Mathavu'', released on 27 May 1977<ref name="thehindu">{{cite web |author=B. Vijayakumar |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/velankanni-mathavu-1977/article8011033.ece |title= Old is Gold - Velankanni Mathavu 1977 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=December 20, 2015 |accessdate=2016-09-14 |archive-url=https://archive.is/2018.09.22-161810/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/velankanni-mathavu-1977/article8011033.ece |archive-date=22 September 2018}}</ref> and 1979 [[Hindi]]-language as ''Mata Velankanni''.<br />
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===Reception===<br />
[[Kamal Haasan]], who was the assistant director of the film appeared in a cameo as [[Jesus Christ]] in the scene.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinehistory/2021/01/29013346/2299481/cinima-history.vpf |title=ஜெமினிகணேசன் உதவியால் எனக்கு வாய்ப்பு கிடைத்தது - கமலஹாசன் வெளியிட்ட தகவல் |language=ta |date=29 January 2021 |access-date=6 May 2021 |work=[[Maalai Malar]] |archive-url=https://archive.is/2021.05.29-140016/https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinehistory/2021/01/29013346/2299481/cinima-history.vpf |archive-date=29 May 2021}}</ref> Where he carries the cross to calvary. The crucifixion scene with the background song ''Deva Maindhan'' is sung by [[T. M. Soundararajan]]. Besides the real location scene at [[Nagapattinam]] and [[Velankanni]], the film was shot at [[AVM Studios]] and Saradha Studios. Abhayadev translated to Malayalam the dialogues written by Sam D. Dasan for the original Tamil - based on the screenplay of K. Thangappan. The cinematography done jointly by R. N. Pillai and B. B. Lucas was impressive and the scene shot around the Church at Velankanni impressed the audience. K.R.Sadayappa Chettiar, film financier had a dream that he cast [[Jayalalithaa]] in the film opposite [[Gemini Ganesan]]. Jayalalithaa excelled in her role as a nurse. It was a multi-starrer movie, other popular stars who acted in the movie besides Gemini Ganesan, Muthuraman, Sivakumar, S. V. Subbaiah, Major Sundararajan, Sreekanth were Malayalam Star Vincent, Thengai Srinivasan, Rajan, Padmini, K. R. Vijaya, Srividya, Devika and Manorama.<ref name="thehindu"/> [[Srividya]] and [[Sivakumar]] paired first time in this movie.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=27 October 2006 |title=Subtle portraits, eloquent eyes |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/subtle-portraits-eloquent-eyes/article3231120.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418065344/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/subtle-portraits-eloquent-eyes/article3231120.ece |archive-date=18 April 2015}}</ref><br />
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===Box office===<br />
B. Vijayakumar Stated in the article that the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]-dubbed versions were box office hits. Both versions were box office hits in [[Kerala]].<ref name="thehindu"/><br />
<br />
==Soundtrack==<br />
The music was composed by [[G. Devarajan]], while the lyrics were written by [[Kannadasan]], [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]] and Ayyasamy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=t0001346|title=Annai Velakanni Songs|accessdate=2014-06-25|publisher=raaga}}</ref><br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"<br />
! No. !! Song !! Singers !! Length (m:ss)<br />
|-<br />
| 1 || "Devamaindhan Pogindran" || [[T. M. Soundararajan]] || 03:23<br />
|-<br />
| 2 || "Kadal Alai Thaalaattum" || [[P. Madhuri]] || 04:01<br />
|-<br />
| 3 || "Karunai Kadale" || [[P. Susheela]] || 03:40<br />
|-<br />
| 4 || "Karunai Mazhaiyae" || P. Susheela || 03:39<br />
|-<br />
| 5 || "Neelakkadalin Oratthil" || T. M. Soundararajan, P. Madhuri|| 03:22<br />
|-<br />
| 6 || "Pera Orani" || T. M. Soundararajan, P. Madhuri|| 06:39<br />
|-<br />
| 7 || "Thandhana Thaana" || [[K. J. Yesudas]], P. Madhuri|| 06:01<br />
|-<br />
| 8 || "Vaanamennum Veedhiyile" || K. J. Yesudas, P. Madhuri|| 03:12<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*{{IMDb title|0810757}}<br />
* {{YouTube|id=vfLWhmYO8Zg|title=Annai Velankanni}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:1971 films]]<br />
[[Category:Indian films]]<br />
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]<br />
[[Category:1970s Tamil-language films]]<br />
[[Category:Indian films based on actual events]]<br />
[[Category:Christian missions]]<br />
[[Category:Portrayals of the Virgin Mary in film]]<br />
[[Category:Films about Christianity]]<br />
[[Category:Films based on Indian folklore]]<br />
[[Category:Portrayals of Jesus in film]]<br />
[[Category:Marian apparitions in film]]</div>2401:4900:4C19:2DDC:C63:F24E:1512:6ABC