Aman Mehta at 05:17, 4 March 2026

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{{Short description|1960 film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Baghdad Thirudan poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = T. P. Sundaram
| producer = T. P. Sundaram<br />Harilal Patoviya
| writer = A. S. Muthu (dialogues)
| starring = [[M. G. Ramachandran]]<br />[[Vyjayanthimala]]
| music = [[G. Govindarajulu Naidu]]
| cinematography = M. Krishnaswamy
| runtime = 169 minutes
| editing = G. D. Joshi
| studio = Southern Movies
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1960|05|06}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Baghdad Thirudan''''' ({{translation|The Thief of Baghdad}}) is a 1960 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[swashbuckler film]] produced and directed by T. P. Sundaram. The film stars [[M. G. Ramachandran]] and [[Vyjayanthimala]], with [[M. N. Nambiar]], [[T. S. Balaiah]], [[T. R. Ramachandran]], [[S. A. Ashokan]], [[M. N. Rajam]], A. Sandhya and [[S. N. Lakshmi]] in supporting roles. It is a remake of the 1924 American film ''[[The Thief of Bagdad (1924 film)|The Thief of Bagdad]]'' and was inspired by 1951 film ''[[The Prince Who Was a Thief]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=17 February 2011 |title=Superstar of the silent era |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Superstar-of-the-silent-era/article14941711.ece |url-status=live |access-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417061945/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Superstar-of-the-silent-era/article14941711.ece |archive-date=17 April 2021}}</ref> The film was released on 6 May 1960.

== Plot ==
{{more plot|date=April 2021}}
Following the betrayal of the Prime Minister, the Maharaja and the Maharani of the kingdom are murdered and their son, Abu, is hidden in a herd of cows. Abu is found by robbers, who were hidden in the forest and eventually grows up to become their leader. The two impostors who sit on the throne have a daughter and a child servant who poses as the son who survived the death of the former royal couple. Abu robs the rich to give to the poor and strives to reconquer his kingdom.

== Cast ==
{{Col-begin|width=60%}}
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Male cast
* [[M. G. Ramachandran]] as Abu
* [[M. N. Nambiar]] as Hyder / Chinna Sarkar
* [[T. S. Balaiah]] as Periya Sarkar
* [[T. R. Ramachandran]] as Abu's friend
* [[S. A. Ashokan]] as Qayyum
*[[S. V. Sahasranamam]]
*K. Kannan as Bandit
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Female cast
* [[Vyjayanthimala]] as Zarina
* [[M. N. Rajam]] as Princess Zubeida
* [[S. N. Lakshmi]] as Begum
* Sandhya as Gulshad
* M. S. S. Bhagyam
* K. S. Angamuthu as Princess Friend
* [[Helen (actress)|Helen]] as Dancer
{{col-end}}

== Production ==
''Baghdad Thirudan'' was financed by Krishnaswamy Naidu, the former owner of Golden Studios. A single set in the film cost {{INRConvert|30000|year=1960}}, yet [[M. G. Ramachandran]] always wanted new sets. By this type of over-expenditure, it was believed that the film would ultimately cost {{INRConvert|500000|year=1960}}. Ramachandran demanded that an additional {{INRConvert|200000|year=1960}} be spent to complete the film, much to Naidu's horror.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sri Kantha |first=Sachi |author-link=Sachi Sri Kantha |date=17 October 2011 |title=Kannadasan's Minor Book(let) on MGR: Random Notes |url=https://sangam.org/2011/10/Kannadasan_Booklet.php?uid=4486 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200104064118/https://sangam.org/2011/10/Kannadasan_Booklet.php?uid=4486 |archive-date=4 January 2020 |access-date=19 May 2017 |website=[[Ilankai Tamil Sangam]]}}</ref> ''Baghdad Thirudan'' was also the only film that featured Ramachandran opposite [[Vyjayanthimala]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sri Kantha |first=Sachi |author-link=Sachi Sri Kantha |date=8 April 2015 |title=MGR Remembered – Part 26 {{!}} V.C. Ganesan: A reputable rival in Movies and Politics |url=https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-26/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803090549/https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-26/ |archive-date=3 August 2020 |access-date=17 April 2021 |website=[[Ilankai Tamil Sangam]]}}</ref> Ramachandran briefly served as the film's editor. He said, "I was at the editing table, and it was so easy to join the cuts, because the movements just flowed into each other".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rajan |first=Anjana |date=15 January 2007 |title=Screen, stage and beyond |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/screen-stage-and-beyond/article2239100.ece |url-status=live |access-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925205807/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/screen-stage-and-beyond/article2239100.ece |archive-date=25 September 2020}}</ref> [[S. N. Lakshmi]] had to fight a leopard in one scene without the use of a [[stunt double]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Raman |first=Mohan V |author-link=Mohan Raman |date=20 February 2012 |title=An actor par excellence |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/an-actor-par-excellence/article2912927.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202225343/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/an-actor-par-excellence/article2912927.ece |archive-date=2 February 2014}}</ref> She later remarked that she feared cats.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=28 May 2010 |title=Courage goaded her on … |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Courage-goaded-her-on-%E2%80%A6/article16303894.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180119073913/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Courage-goaded-her-on-%E2%80%A6/article16303894.ece |archive-date=19 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Parthasarathy |first=Anusha |date=2 March 2011 |title=Plays were crowd pullers |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article1502113.ece |url-status=live |access-date=12 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202223824/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article1502113.ece |archive-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The music composed by [[G. Govindarajulu Naidu]]. All lyrics were penned by [[A. Maruthakasi]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Neelamegam |first=G. |title=Thiraikalanjiyam – Part 1 |date=December 2014 |publisher=Manivasagar Publishers |edition=1st |location=Chennai |pages=204 |language=ta}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Song !! Singers !! Length
|-
| "Azhagu Laila" || A. P. Komala || 02:28
|-
| "Enthan Kathai Idhana" || rowspan=4|P. Suseela || 02:51
|-
| "Vetri Kollum Vaalendhi" || 05:24
|-
| "Kanneerin Vellam" || 03:16
|-
| "Pothukulunguthey...Sokkudhe Manam" || 03:30
|-
| "Bul Bul Paarvaiyile" || K. Jamuna Rani || 02:12
|-
| "Siricha Pothum" || Jikki & group || 02:44
|-
| "Unmai Anbin" || T. M. Soundararajan & P. Suseela || 02:18
|-
| "Yaarukku Dimikki" || T. M. Soundararajan || 02:34
|}

== Release and reception ==
''Baghdad Thirudan'' was released on 6 May 1960,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Table: Chronological List of MGR's Movies released between 1960 and 1967 |url=https://sangam.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Table-Chronological-List-of-MGR-Movies-released-1960-1967.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616112435/http://sangam.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Table-Chronological-List-of-MGR-Movies-released-1960-1967.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2016 |access-date=17 April 2021 |website=[[Ilankai Tamil Sangam]]}}</ref> and had an average run.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://tamildigitallibrary.in/book-detail.php?id=jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZt8l0U3&tag=%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%88%20%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%20%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D.%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BF.%E0%AE%86%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D. |title=சாதனை நாயகன் எம்.ஜி.ஆர். |publisher=Arulmozhi Publications |year=1997 |pages=28 |language=ta |trans-title=MGR, the man of achievements}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Kanthan of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' said there was nothing special about the film, but it could be watched for Ramachandran.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=காந்தன் |date=22 May 1960 |title=பாக்தாத் திருடன் |url=https://ibb.co/T0HQfyy |url-status=usurped |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |language=ta |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701105631/https://ibb.co/T0HQfyy |archive-date=1 July 2022 |access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref> Later it was dubbed in Hindi and released as ''Baghdad'' in 1962.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1960 – பாக்தாத் திருடன் – சதர்ன் மூவிஸ் |trans-title=1960 – Baghdad Thirudan – Southern Movies |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1960-cinedetails30.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209021253/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1960-cinedetails30.asp |archive-date=9 February 2017 |access-date=17 April 2021 |website=[[Lakshman Sruthi]] |language=ta}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}

{{One Thousand and One Nights}}
{{Aladdin}}

[[Category:1960 films]]
[[Category:1960 Indian films]]
[[Category:1960 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Demons in film]]
[[Category:Fictional caliphs]]
[[Category:Films about Islam]]
[[Category:Films about magic rings]]
[[Category:Films about princes]]
[[Category:Films about princesses]]
[[Category:Films about shapeshifting]]
[[Category:Films about witchcraft]]
[[Category:Films about wizards]]
[[Category:Films based on Aladdin]]
[[Category:Films based on The Thief of Bagdad]]
[[Category:Films set in Baghdad]]
[[Category:Films set in palaces]]
[[Category:Films set in the Middle East]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Genies in film]]
[[Category:Indian action adventure films]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian fantasy action films]]
[[Category:Indian fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:Indian fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian fantasy drama films]]
[[Category:Indian historical comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian historical musical films]]
[[Category:Indian musical comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian remakes of American films]]
[[Category:Indian swashbuckler films]]
[[Category:Sound film remakes of silent films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language action adventure films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Baghdad Thirudan - Revision history

Aman Mehta at 05:17, 4 March 2026