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{{short description|1961 film by B. R. Panthulu}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Kappalottiya Thamizhan.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[B. R. Panthulu]]
| screenplay = Chithra Krishnaswamy
| based_on = {{based on|''Kappalottiya Thamizhan''|[[M. P. Sivagnanam]]}}
| producer = B. R. Panthulu
| starring = [[Sivaji Ganesan]] [[Gemini Ganesan]] [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]]
| cinematography = W. R. Subba Rao Karnan
| editing = R. Devarajan
| music = [[G. Ramanathan]]
| studio = Padmini Pictures
| released = {{film date|1961|11|7|df=y}}
| runtime = 197 minutes{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=369}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Kappalottiya Thamizhan''''' ({{Translation|The [[Tamils|Tamilian]] who launched a ship}}) is a 1961 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[historical drama]] film produced and directed by [[B. R. Panthulu]]. The film stars [[Sivaji Ganesan]], [[Gemini Ganesan]] and [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]]. It is based on the 1944 book of the same name by [[M. P. Sivagnanam]], a biography of [[V. O. Chidambaram Pillai]] who founded the Swadeshi Stream Navigation Company to break the monopoly of the [[British Raj|British]] over maritime trade out of India.

''Kappalottiya Thamizhan'' was released on 7 November 1961. The film received critical acclaim, and won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]] at the [[9th National Film Awards]]. Though it performed poorly at the box office during its initial release, it fared better after receiving tax exemption during its re-release 1967.

== Plot ==
[[V. O. Chidambaram Pillai]] has devoted himself to the cause of [[Indian independence movement|India's freedom]] from the [[British Empire]]. Chidambaram, appearing for the peasant Madasami, wins a case filed by an agent of a British proprietor. Chidambaram's father, who appeared for the agent, sends his son to [[Thoothukudi]] lest the British proprietor should give him any trouble. Madasami who accompanies Chidambaram, looks after the latter's salt-pan. At Thoothukudi, Chidambaram meets [[Subramaniya Siva]], a freedom fighter and works for the Swadeshi movement.

Chidambaram receives a complaint from some of the local merchants that the British Shipping Company had refused to load their goods. Against great odds, Chidambaram starts the National Shipping Company with Indian Capital to free Indian trade from dependence on foreign liners. The company prospers despite attempts by the British Company to sabotage the ship of the Indian firm. Chidambaram incurs the displeasure of the Government by organising a strike for getting the grievances of the local coral mill workers redressed and by organising public celebrations to mark the release of [[Bipin Chandra Pal]] in contravention of a prohibitory order.

Chidambaram, along with Siva, is invited to Tirunelveli by the District Collector, Winch. The collector directs them not to engage in political activity and also orders them out of the District. They defy the orders and are arrested. In the trial which ensues, Chidambaram is sentenced to 20 years life imprisonment and Siva to 10 years. Chidambaram's sentence is reduced to six years on appeal. The imprisonment of these two leaders sparks off mass unrest which is put down ruthlessly. Some time later, the new District Collector [[Robert Ashe (civil servant)|Ashe]] is shot dead by a patriotic [[Vanchinathan]], who commits suicide before the police can reach him.

The news of the unrelenting struggle outside gives much consolation to Chidambaram and Siva who are treated barbarously in the prison. Chidambaram emerges from the prison a broken man only to witness a series of disappointments – Chidambaram's brother has become insane, Siva is a victim of [[leprosy]] contracted during his term in prison, people have forgotten him and his role in the Indian independence movement, the National Shipping Company is bought by its British rival and leaders like [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]] and [[Subramania Bharati|Bharathiyar]] die one after another. Chidambaram devotes the last years of his life to the study of literature and dies still dreaming of the day when India would be free.

== Cast ==

{{Col-begin|width=50%}}
{{col-break|width=10%}}
;Male cast<ref name="song book" /><ref name="credits" />
* [[Sivaji Ganesan]] as [[V. O. Chidambaram Pillai]]
* [[Gemini Ganesan]] as Madasami
* [[T. K. Shanmugam]] as [[Subramaniya Siva]]
* [[S. V. Subbaiah]] as [[Subramania Bharati|Bharathiyar]]
* [[K. Balaji|Balaji]] as [[Vanchinathan]]
* [[V. Nagayya|Nagayya]] as Ulaganathan Pillai
* [[T. S. Durairaj]] as Sangan
* [[A. Karunanidhi|Karunanidhi]] as Mannarsami
* [[N. N. Kannappa|M. N. Kannappa]] as Meenakshisundaram
* [[M. R. Santhanam]] as ''Aid'' Ekambaram
* T. N. Sivathanu as Vanchi's father-in-law
* Veerasami as a lawyer
* Eswaran as Neelakanta Brahmachari
* K. V. Srinivasan as Shankara Krishna Iyer
* [[C. R. Parthiban|Parthiban]] as Judge Pinhe
* Natarajan as Pandit Durai Thevar
* S. A. Kannan as [[C. Vijayaraghavachariar|{{small|Salem}} Vijayaraghavachariar]]
* Nannu as Fakir Muhammed Seth
* Sayeeram as ''Sakshi'' Dharmanayagam Pillai
* Master Thyagarajan as a blind boy
{{col-break|width=15%}}
;Female cast<ref name="song book" /><ref name="credits" />
* [[Savitri (actress)|Savithri]] as Kannamma
* [[Kumari Rukmani]] as V. O. C.'s wife, Meenakshi Ammal
* Gemini Chandra as Vanchi's wife, Ponnammal
* [[T. P. Muthulakshmi]] as (Sudhandira Devi) Singamma
* S. R. Janaki as Madasami's mother
* Saraswathi as Iyengar's wife
* Sasikala as Bharathiyar's wife, Chellammal
* Radhabhai as Paramayi Ammal
;Guest artists<ref name="song book" /><ref name="credits" />
* [[S. V. Ranga Rao]] as Winch
* [[S. A. Ashokan|Ashokan]] as [[Robert Ashe (civil servant)|Ashe]]
* [[K. Sarangapani]] as Rayar
* [[O. A. K. Thevar]] as Vaduguraman
* Stunt Somu as Sudalai
{{col-end}}
;Supporting cast<ref name="song book" /><ref name="credits" />
* [[Karikol Raju]], Thangaraju, M. S. Karuppaiah, Mani Iyer, Vijayakumar, Kuppusami, V. P. S. Mani, Somanathan, S. A. G. Sami, Harihara Iyer, T. P. Harisingh, Gopraj, V. Mahalingam, Balakrishnan, Natarajan, Raja, Subbaiah, Ramkumar, Ibrahim, Thoothukudi Arunachalam Kuzhavinar, Master Krishna, Seetharaman and Baby Pappi.

== Production ==
On 14 January 1960, ''Kappalottiya Thamizhan'', a biopic of [[V. O. Chidambaram Pillai]], was announced, to be produced and directed by [[B. R. Panthulu]] under Padmini Pictures.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 January 1960 |title=Kappalottiya Thamizhan |url=http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h452/pammalaar/GEDC4975-1.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210706121900/http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h452/pammalaar/GEDC4975-1.jpg |archive-date=6 July 2021 |access-date=6 July 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The film is based on the 1944 book of the same name by [[M. P. Sivagnanam]], a biography of Chidambaram Pillai.<ref name="Hindu" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 June 2020 |title=ம.பொ. சிவஞானம் பிறந்த தினம்: 1906 |trans-title=M. P. Sivagnanam's birthday: 1906 |url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/timeline/kalasuvadugal/2020/06/26085756/1639941/ma-po-sivanjanam-birthday.vpf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701225430/https://www.maalaimalar.com/timeline/kalasuvadugal/2020/06/26085756/1639941/ma-po-sivanjanam-birthday.vpf |archive-date=1 July 2020 |access-date=15 December 2020 |website=[[Maalai Malar]] |language=ta}}</ref> During a time when the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] was gaining political ground in [[Tamil Nadu]], a time when there was competition between parties, and films were pitched against each other, the opposition unleashed a malicious propaganda that since Chidambaram belonged to the [[Indian National Congress]], ''Kappalottiya Thamizhan'' was a film for the Congress. Certain people did not want the masses to be "stirred" by the nationalist spirit.{{sfn|Ganesan|Narayanaswamy|2007|p=14}}

[[Sivaji Ganesan]] was hesitant to do the role of Chidambaram Pillai as he doubted whether he could perform the role flawlessly, but later accepted and studied various material to understand Chidambaram Pillai.<ref name="TEAR" /> [[S. V. Subbaiah]] was cast as the poet [[Subramania Bharati]] alias Bharathiyar, taking inspiration from his role as Kavi Anandar from the play ''Kaviyin Kanavu'' (1945).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krishnamachari |first=Suganthy |date=1 December 2004 |title=Devarum magizhkindra senthamizh natakam |url=http://www.hindu.com/ms/2004/12/01/stories/2004120100460400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125185307/http://www.hindu.com/ms/2004/12/01/stories/2004120100460400.htm |archive-date=25 January 2013 |access-date=6 May 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> [[V. Nagayya]] who was then in "dire straits", was signed up for a significant role, that of Ulaganathan Pillai, as Panthulu wanted to give him a "break in films".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=2 February 2012 |title=A 100 goes unsung |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2853657.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105233021/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2853657.ece |archive-date=5 January 2013 |access-date=6 May 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

According to historian [[S. Theodore Baskaran]], there is no evidence of any research undertaken for making the film. He stated that the film had no [[prop]]s, apart from the character's costumes and the female characters' ear-lobes, which were done to create a "period effect".{{Sfn|Baskaran|1996|p=132}} Though then known for his theatrical-style acting, Ganesan tried acting naturally during the prison sequences and his character's trauma of disillusionment.{{Sfn|Baskaran|1996|pages=131–132}} While primarily in black and white,{{Sfn|Baskaran|1996|p=131}} the film was partly coloured using [[Gevacolor]], and the colour sequences were processed at the Film Centre, [[Mumbai]].<ref name="song book" />

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack of the film was composed by [[G. Ramanathan]].<ref name="song book" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kappalottiya Thamizhan (1961) |url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/album/T0001351.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907162823/http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/album/T0001351.html |archive-date=7 September 2012 |access-date=24 March 2012 |website=[[Raaga.com]]}}</ref> All the songs are based on poems, written by Subramania Bharati.<ref name="Hindu" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Vasudevan |first=C. V. |date=31 December 2016 |title=The classic quartet |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/The-classic-quartet/article16969757.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103111356/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/The-classic-quartet/article16969757.ece |archive-date=3 January 2017 |access-date=3 January 2017 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"
! Song !! Singers !! Length
|-
| "Chinnakkuzhandaigal" || [[P. Susheela]] || 02:39
|-
| "Endru Thaniyum Indha" || [[Thiruchi Loganathan]] || 02:18
|-
| "Kaatru Veliyidai Kannamma" || [[P. B. Sreenivas]], P. Susheela || 03:43
|-
| "Nenjil Uramumindri" || [[Sirkazhi Govindarajan]] || 02:11
|-
| "Odi Vilaiyadu Paappa" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan, V. T. Rajagopalan, [[K. Jamuna Rani]], Rohini || 03:41
|-
| "Paarukkullae Nalla Naadu" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan || 02:39
|-
| "Thanneer Vittom" || Thiruchi Loganathan || 03:07
|-
| "Vandhae Maatharam Enbom" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan || 02:44
|-
| "Vellippani Malai" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan, Thiruchi Loganathan|| 03:42
|-
| "Endru Thaniyum Indha" || [[P. Leela]] || 02:18
|-
| "Unavu Sellavillai Sagiyee" || [[L. R. Eswari]], K. Jamuna Rani || 03:18
|}

== Release ==
''Kappalottiya Thamizhan'' was released on 7 November 1961,{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|p=156}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=71-80 |url=http://www.nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp8.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622042406/http://www.nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp8.htm |archive-date=22 June 2011 |access-date=22 March 2013 |website=Nadigarthilagam.com}}</ref> and failed commercially, losing ₹7 lakh (worth ₹29 crore in 2021 prices).{{Sfn|Ganesan|Narayanaswamy|2007|p=148}} Tax exemption was offered during its re-release in 1967,{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|p=157}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 November 2019 |title=வெண்ணிற நினைவுகள்: திரையில் கண்ட பாரதி |trans-title=White Memories: Bharati as seen on screen |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/literature/525661-s-ramakrishnan-series.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724160239/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/literature/525661-s-ramakrishnan-series.html |archive-date=24 July 2020 |access-date=24 July 2020 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref> making it the first Tamil film to get tax exemption from the [[government of India]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saju |first=M. T. |date=4 August 2011 |title=Government rains on film world tax holiday |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Government-rains-on-film-world-tax-holiday/articleshow/9476213.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517074200/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Government-rains-on-film-world-tax-holiday/articleshow/9476213.cms |archive-date=17 May 2017 |access-date=24 March 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |location=Chennai}}</ref> About the film's initial failure, Ganesan felt that since the Congress did not understand artistic sensitivities, ''Kappalottiya Tamizhan'' was a failure. He also stated that he was not upset for losing money making the film to kindle the national spirit, but rather happy that he could harness the medium to remind people of the Indian freedom fighters of the bygone era.{{Sfn|Ganesan|Narayanaswamy|2007|p=149}} At the [[9th National Film Awards]], ''Kappalottiya Thamizhan'' won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=State Awards for Films |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202115652/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=2 December 2016 |access-date=8 September 2011 |publisher=[[International Film Festival of India]] |pages=26–27}}</ref>

== Critical reception ==
The magazines ''Kalai'' and ''Thendral'' gave the film positive reviews, saying every Tamilian should see it.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1961 |title=கப்பலோட்டிய தமிழன் |url=http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h452/pammalaar/GEDC4997-1.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/BdcII |archive-date=27 December 2021 |access-date=6 September 2021 |magazine=Kalai |language=ta}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=11 November 1961 |title=திரைப்பட விமர்சனம் {{!}} கப்பலோட்டிய தமிழன் |url=http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h452/pammalaar/GEDC4998-1.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/cCZsw |archive-date=28 December 2021 |access-date=6 September 2021 |magazine=Thendral |language=ta}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' praised Krishnaswamy's writing, and compared the film favourably to ''[[Veerapandiya Kattabomman (film)|Veerapandiya Kattabomman]]'' (1959), another biopic also directed by Panthulu and starring Ganesan.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=19 November 1961 |title=கப்பலோட்டிய தமிழன் |url=https://archive.org/download/kalki1961-11-19/kalki1961-11-19.pdf |access-date=1 July 2024 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=27–28 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> On Ganesan's performance, Chidambaram's son Subramaniam said it was like seeing his father alive on the screen, a statement Ganesan considered his "highest award".<ref name="TEAR" /> Following Ganesan's death in 2001, S. Viswanathan of ''[[Frontline (magazine)|The Frontline]]'' said, "Critics list several films as his best in terms of performance. However, according to the Ganesan, his career best was ''Kappalottiya Thamizhan''."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Viswanathan |first=S. |date=2001 |title=Tamil cinema's lodestar |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/obituary/article30159761.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819114238/https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/obituary/article30159761.ece |archive-date=19 August 2020 |access-date=19 September 2020 |magazine=[[Frontline (magazine)|The Frontline]] |volume=18 |issue=16}}</ref>

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="Hindu">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=20 December 2014 |title=Blast from the Past – Kappalottiya Thamizhan (1961) |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/blast-from-the-past-column-kappalottiya-thamizhan/article6711018.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141221065342/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/blast-from-the-past-column-kappalottiya-thamizhan/article6711018.ece |archive-date=21 December 2014 |access-date=18 August 2016 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
<ref name="TEAR">{{Cite news |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R. |date=27 July 2001 |title=Role that moved him to tears |url=http://www.hindu.com/2001/07/27/stories/09270226.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125040229/http://www.hindu.com/2001/07/27/stories/09270226.htm |archive-date=25 January 2013 |access-date=24 March 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
<ref name="song book">{{Cite book |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7JevgDCLbuNRlJobWNDMUZ4SDA/view |title=கப்பலோட்டிய தமிழன் |publisher=Padmini Pictures |year=1961 |language=ta |trans-title=The Tamilian who launched a ship |type=[[song book]]}}</ref>
<ref name="credits">{{Cite AV media |title=Kappalottiya Thamizhan |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=Padmini Pictures |year=1961 |time=0:52 to 1:40 |time-caption=Opening credits, from}}</ref>
</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Baskaran |first=S. Theodore |author-link=S. Theodore Baskaran |title=The Eye of the Serpent: An Introduction to Tamil Cinema |publisher=East West Books |year=1996 |location=Chennai |oclc=243920437}}
* {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |author-link=G. Dhananjayan |title=Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931–2013 |title-link=Pride of Tamil Cinema |publisher=Blue Ocean Publishers |year=2014 |oclc=898765509}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Ganesan |first1=Sivaji |author-link=Sivaji Ganesan |title=Autobiography of an Actor |title-link=Autobiography of an Actor |last2=Narayanaswamy |first2=T. S. |publisher=Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust |year=2007 |location=Chennai |oclc=297212002 |orig-date=2002}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Rajadhyaksha |first1=Ashish |author-link=Ashish Rajadhyaksha |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema |last2=Willemen |first2=Paul |author-link2=Paul Willemen |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] and [[Oxford University Press]] |year=1998 |isbn=0-19-563579-5 |orig-date=1994}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
{{B. R. Panthulu}}
{{NationalFilmAwardBestFeatureFilmTamil}}
[[Category:1960s biographical drama films]]
[[Category:1960s historical drama films]]
[[Category:1961 Indian films]]
[[Category:1961 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1961 films]]
[[Category:Best Tamil Feature Film National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Drama films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Epic films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Films directed by B. R. Panthulu]]
[[Category:Films scored by G. Ramanathan]]
[[Category:Films set in 1870]]
[[Category:Films set in 1880]]
[[Category:Films set in 1890]]
[[Category:Films set in 1900]]
[[Category:Films set in 1910]]
[[Category:Films set in 1920]]
[[Category:Films set in 1930]]
[[Category:Films set in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Films set in the British Raj]]
[[Category:Films set in the Indian independence movement]]
[[Category:Films set on ships]]
[[Category:History of India on film]]
[[Category:Indian biographical drama films]]
[[Category:Indian films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Indian historical drama films]]
[[Category:Indian history in popular culture]]
[[Category:Sailing films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Works about ships]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]

Kappalottiya Thamizhan - Revision history

KatherinLigertwo at 01:45, 16 April 2026