Dan at 14:34, 8 March 2026

2026-03-08T14:34:34Z

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{{short description|1969 film by K. Balachander}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Iru Kodugal
| image = Iru Kodugal.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[K. Balachander]]
| screenplay = K. Balachander
| based_on = {{based on|''Iru Kodugal''|Joseph Anandan}}
| producer = N. Selvaraj B. Duraisamy N. Krishnan V. Govindarajan
| starring = [[Gemini Ganesan]] [[Sowcar Janaki]] [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]]
| cinematography = N. Balakrishnan
| editing = N. R. Kittu
| music = [[V. Kumar]]
| studio = Kalakendra Movies
| distributor =
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1969|10|2}}
| runtime = 176 minutes
}}
'''''Iru Kodugal''''' ({{translation|Two lines}}) is a 1969 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] directed by [[K. Balachander]]. The film stars [[Gemini Ganesan]], [[Sowcar Janaki]], [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]], [[Nagesh]], [[V. S. Raghavan]], [[S. N. Lakshmi]] and others. The story revolves around one man who was [[Bigamy|married to two women]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murugesan |first=Deepauk |date=23 April 2011 |title=Trois |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAxMS8wNC8yMyNBcjAzMzAw&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom |url-status=dead |access-date=11 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121846/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAxMS8wNC8yMyNBcjAzMzAw&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> ''Iru Kodugal'' won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]], the first film by Balachander to win the award.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=2 May 2011 |title=The granddaddy of Tamil films |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-granddaddy-of-tamil-films/article1985465.ece |url-status=live |access-date=11 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214155455/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-granddaddy-of-tamil-films/article1985465.ece |archive-date=14 December 2013}}</ref> The film, which was based on a stage play of same name, was remade in [[Kannada]] as ''[[Eradu Rekhegalu]]'', in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''Collector Janaki'' and in [[Hindi]] as ''[[Sanjog (1971 film)|Sanjog]]''.

== Plot ==
Gopinath falls in love with Janaki and they get married in [[Varanasi|Kasi]]. The marriage is not accepted by Gopinath's mother and the couple gets separated. Janaki is pregnant and her father, realising that no man will marry Janaki a second time, decides to make her a collector. Gopinath meanwhile had moved to South India, where he later married Jaya by hiding his previous marriage. They live a happy life with their three children and Jaya's father. Gopinath works as a clerk in the collector's office. A new collector arrives at the office, and it turns out to be Janaki. They tend to work together, until one of the employees in Janaki's office, Babu, spreads a rumour stating that there is an affair between Janaki and Gopinath. This rumour reaches Jaya and she is completely disturbed. Jaya discovers the secret of Gopinath's affair with Janaki. Meanwhile, the sons of both Janaki and Jaya, Ramu and Prabhakar drowned in water and have been admitted to Hospital. Somehow Jaya manages the disturbance of the secret and accepts Janaki as her sister. But Ramu dies in hospital while Prabhakar survives. Jaya gives Janaki her son as a gift. Janaki and Prabhakar leave for abroad as Janaki received her duty abroad.

== Cast ==
* [[Gemini Ganesan]] as Gopinath
* [[Sowcar Janaki]] as Janaki<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |date=10 November 2017 |title=Aramm Movie Review |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/aramm-movie-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024121918/https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/aramm-movie-review |archive-date=24 October 2022 |access-date=6 March 2018 |website=[[Film Companion]] |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan}}</ref>
* [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]] as Jaya
* [[Nagesh]] as Babu
* [[V. S. Raghavan]] as Janaki's father
* [[S. V. Sahasranamam]] as Jaya's father
* Harikrishnan as Harikrishnan
* S. Ramarao as Ramarao
* Gokulnath as Gnanaprakasham
* [[S. N. Lakshmi]] as Janaki's aunt
* [[Sachu]]
* Gemini Mahalingam
* Seshadri as Gopinath's father
* [[C. K. Saraswathi]] as Gopinath's mother
* [[Shoba]] as Shoba
* Sumathi as Sumathi
* [[Master Prabhakar]] as Prabhakar
* Master Adhinarayan as Ramu

== Production ==
''Iru Kodugal'' was based on the stage play of same name written by Joseph Anandan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-13 |title=IFFI 2019 to screen K Balachander's Iru Kodugal |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/iffi-2019-to-screen-k-balachanders-iru-kodugal-6118044/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107101150/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/iffi-2019-to-screen-k-balachanders-iru-kodugal-6118044/ |archive-date=7 January 2022 |access-date=2022-01-07 |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> It is the first collaboration between Balachander and Ganesan.{{sfn|Ganesh|2011|pages=61–62}} Though uncharacteristic of Janaki to ask for roles, she asked Balachander for a role and got it.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shiva Kumar |first=S. |date=23 October 1983 |title=I never failed as an actress – Janaki |url=https://mobile.twitter.com/sshivu/status/1486294918997762048 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126150501/https://mobile.twitter.com/sshivu/status/1486294918997762048 |archive-date=26 January 2022 |access-date=26 January 2022 |work=[[Sunday Mid-Day]] |pages=36 |via=[[Twitter]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=ஜானகி |first=சௌகார் |author-link=Sowcar Janaki |date=30 May 1993 |title=முத்திரை படம்; விசித்திர அனுபவம்! |trans-title=Identity film, weird experience |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1993-05-30/page/n64/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230805051408/https://archive.org/details/kalki1993-05-30/page/n63/mode/2up |archive-date=5 August 2023 |access-date=5 August 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=62–63 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> In a scene in the film Janaki's character meets the Chief Minister. Balachander wanted to bring in former Chief Minister [[C. N. Annadurai]] (he died 1969) for the scene but did not want to use a [[Double (occupation)|body double]] in his place. Instead, Annadurai's voice was [[Impressionist (entertainment)|imitated]] by Sivagangai Sethurajan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-02 |title=இரு கோடுகள்: புன்னகை மன்னன் பூவிழிக் கண்ணன் ருக்மணிக்காக... |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1132211-iru-kodugal-movie.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121131728/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1132211-iru-kodugal-movie.html |archive-date=21 November 2023 |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref> Also, a pair of glasses on the table and a pen in the foreground are seen, implying that Annadurai is the intended character.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=Meera |date=15 September 2009 |title=Significant contribution to Tamil theatre, cinema |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/significant-contribution-to-tamil-theatre-cinema/article20358.ece |url-status=live |access-date=11 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214155445/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/significant-contribution-to-tamil-theatre-cinema/article20358.ece |archive-date=14 December 2013}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The music was scored by [[V. Kumar]], and [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]] wrote the lyrics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iru Kodugal (1969) |url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=t0001606 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618135407/http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0001606 |archive-date=18 June 2009 |access-date=20 June 2014 |website=[[Raaga.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Iru Kodugal |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/iru-kodugal/7tFs-dnPabM_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506034235/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/iru-kodugal/7tFs-dnPabM_ |archive-date=6 May 2019 |access-date=6 May 2019 |website=[[JioSaavn]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Song !! Singers !! Length
|-
| "Moondru Thamizh Thoondri" || [[T. M. Soundararajan]], [[A. L. Raghavan]], K. Suvarna || 04:58
|-
| "Naan Oru Gumastha" || T. M. Soundararajan || 02:50
|-
| "Punnagai Mannan" || [[K. Jamuna Rani]], [[P. Susheela]] || 05:04
|-
| "Kavidhai Ezhudhiya" || [[P. Leela]], P. Susheela || 02:37
|-
| "Pappa paatu paadiya " || T. M. Soundararajan || 03:37
|}

== Release and reception ==
''Iru Kodugal'' was released on 2 October 1969.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 October 1969 |title=Iru Kodugal |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19691002&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=1 June 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=5 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''[[The Indian Express]]'' praised Balachander for adapting the play very well: "No doubt they are very good dramatic moments but there is tendency to overdo the symbolism" and went on to praise the performances of the lead actors.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 October 1969 |title=Cinema |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19691004&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=1 May 2019 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=12 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The film was a commercial success,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bharathi |first=Veena |date=13 October 2013 |title=Celebrating a big screen beauty |work=[[Deccan Herald]] |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/362729/celebrating-big-screen-beauty.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307022628/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/362729/celebrating-big-screen-beauty.html |archive-date=7 March 2018}}</ref> and won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]] – President's silver medal in 1970, while Janaki won the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ashok Kumar|first=S. R.|date=25 December 2006|title=Still ready to act: Sowcar Janaki|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/25/stories/2006122502790200.htm|url-status=dead|access-date=11 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105184139/http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/25/stories/2006122502790200.htm|archive-date=5 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6TU9AAAAYAAJ&q=kodugal|title=India Who's who|publisher=INFA Publications|year=2000|pages=282, 286}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
''Iru Kodugal'' was remade in [[Kannada]] as ''[[Eradu Rekhegalu]]'', in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''Collector Janaki'' and in [[Hindi]] as ''[[Sanjog (1971 film)|Sanjog]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 January 2015|title=Remembering the prodigy: 10 most memorable films of K Balachander|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/photos/entertainment/remembering-the-prodigy-10-most-memorable-films-of-k-balachander/photo-6k5EXh8cKOoan0pqY51bpL.html|url-status=live|access-date=1 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405025157/https://www.hindustantimes.com/photos/entertainment/remembering-the-prodigy-10-most-memorable-films-of-k-balachander/photo-6k5EXh8cKOoan0pqY51bpL.html|archive-date=5 April 2018}}</ref> Malathi Rangarajan said Janaki "stomped the screen and stole our hearts [..] came up with a stellar performance".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=8 March 2014 |title=Women of Steel |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/women-of-steel/article5761759.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220093042/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/women-of-steel/article5761759.ece |archive-date=20 December 2021 |access-date=20 December 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Clips from the film were screened along with clips from other films such as ''[[Server Sundaram]]'' (1964), ''[[Arangetram (1973 film)|Arangetram]]'' (1973), ''[[Aval Oru Thodar Kathai]]'' (1974), ''[[Avargal]]'' (1977) and ''[[Azhagan]]'' (1991) at a function held in Balachander's honour at [[Tiruchirappalli]] in January 2015,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=G. |date=22 January 2015 |title=Rich tributes paid to Balachander |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/rich-tributes-paid-to-balachander/article6810307.ece |access-date=2 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502054539/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/rich-tributes-paid-to-balachander/article6810307.ece |archive-date=2 May 2015}}</ref> a month after his death.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 December 2014 |title=K Balachander: The man who gave us Rajinikanth, Kamal Hassan dies |work=[[The Economic Times]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/k-balachander-the-man-who-gave-us-rajinikanth-kamal-hassan-dies/articleshow/45622244.cms |url-status=live |access-date=2 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326020550/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/k-balachander-the-man-who-gave-us-rajinikanth-kamal-hassan-dies/articleshow/45622244.cms |archive-date=26 March 2016}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Ganesh |first=Narayani |title=Eternal Romantic: My Father, Gemini Ganesan |publisher=[[Roli Books]] |year=2011 |isbn=978-81-7436-578-1}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0154651}}

{{K. Balachander}}
{{NationalFilmAwardBestFeatureFilmTamil}}
{{TamilNaduStateFilmAwardBestActress|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:1969 Indian films]]
[[Category:1969 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1969 drama films]]
[[Category:1969 films]]
[[Category:Best Tamil Feature Film National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Fiction about polygamy]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. Balachander]]
[[Category:Films scored by V. Kumar]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by K. Balachander]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:Indian films based on plays]]
[[Category:Tamil films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Iru Kodugal - Revision history

Dan at 14:34, 8 March 2026