Khalidmendi at 05:05, 4 March 2026

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{{Short description|1955 film by Sundar Rao Nadkarni}}
{{distinguish|text=the politician [[K. Kodeeswaran]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Koteeswaran poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Sundar Rao Nadkarni]]
| screenplay = Sundar Rao Nadkarni Kangeyan
| based_on = {{based on|''Haach Mulacha Baap''|B. V. Warerkar}}
| producer = Sundar Rao Nadkarni B. Radhakrishna
| starring = [[Sivaji Ganesan]] [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]] [[S. Balachander]] [[Ragini (actress)|Ragini]]
| cinematography = G. K. Ramu
| editing = Sundar Rao Nadkarni
| music = [[S. V. Venkatraman]]
| studio = Sri Ganesh Movietone
| distributor = Bell Pictures<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=13 November 1955 |title=கோடீஸ்வரன் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1955-11-13/page/26/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240909114904/https://archive.org/details/kalki1955-11-13/page/26/mode/2up |archive-date=9 September 2024 |access-date=9 September 2024 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=27 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
| released = {{Film date|1955|11|13|df=y}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Koteeswaran''''' ({{translation|Millionaire}}) is a 1955 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[comedy film]]<ref name="IE review" /> co-written, co-produced, edited and directed by [[Sundar Rao Nadkarni]]. The film stars [[Sivaji Ganesan]], [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]], [[S. Balachander]] and [[Ragini (actress)|Ragini]]. Based on B. V. Warerkar's [[Marathi language|Marathi]] play ''Haach Mulacha Baap'', it revolves around two friends setting out to fight against the [[Dowry system in India|dowry system]] in their village. The film was released on 13 November 1955.

== Plot ==
{{more plot|date=March 2021}}
Chandar and Kannan are friends. They return to their village after completing their studies, but are shocked by the prevalence of the [[Dowry system in India|dowry system]]. They both set out to fight against it.

== Cast ==
{{Col-begin|width=60%}}
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Male cast<ref name="songbook" />
* [[Sivaji Ganesan]] as Doctor Chandar
* [[S. Balachander]] as Pasupathy
* Sriram as Kannan
* [[K. A. Thangavelu]] as [[Rao Bahadur]] Ramasami
* [[Serukalathur Sama|Sirukalathur Sama]] as Jakamba
* Sattam Pillai Venkatraman as Rangu Pillai
* A. Ganesh Singh as Servant Karuppan
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Female cast<ref name="songbook" />
* [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]] as Neela
* [[Ragini (actress)|Ragini]] as Kamala
* [[Rushyendramani]] as Parvathi
* [[Sachu|Baby Saraswathi]] as Usha
* Baby Rajakumari as Rani
;Male support cast
* M. A. Ganapathi Bhat, S. V. Shanmugam, Vijaymani.
{{col-end}}

== Production ==
''Koteeswaran'' is based on ''Haach Mulacha Baap'', a [[Marathi language|Marathi]] play written by B. V. Warerkar. It was directed by [[Sundar Rao Nadkarni]] who also produced the film with B. Radhakrishna under Sri Ganesh Movietone, and wrote the screenplay alongside Kangeyan. The dialogues were written by [[Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass]] and Kangeyan. Cinematography was handled by G. K. Ramu, the art direction by D. S. Kotkavngar and the editing by Nadkarni.<ref name="songbook" /> The final length of the film was {{convert|16246|feet|metres}}.<ref name="lakshmansruthi" />

== Soundtrack ==
The music was composed by [[S. V. Venkatraman]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Neelamegam |first=G. |title=Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 |date=December 2014 |publisher=Manivasagar Publishers |edition=1st |location=Chennai |pages=91 |language=Tamil}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"
! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length
|-
| "Ulaavum Thendral Nilaavai" ||[[A. M. Rajah]], [[P. Susheela]]|| rowspan="5" |[[Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass]]|| 03:35
|-
| "Palikumaa, Kanavuthaan Palikumaa" || P. Susheela ||
|-
| "Vandhadu Yogam Vaazhvile" ||[[P. Leela]], [[Jikki]]||
|-
| "Arullilaarkku...Bagavaane Kelaiiyaa Pachondhi" || P. Leela || 03:21
|-
| "Madhu Nilai Maaraadha...Gaanatthaale Kaadhalaaginene" || Jikki || 03:29
|-
| "Yaazhum Kuzhalum" || A. M. Rajah, P. Susheela || T. K. Sundara Vathiyar || 03:50
|-
| "Kattikko Thaali Kattikko" ||[[S. V. Venkatraman]], P. Leela || Gemini Seetharaman || 06:16
|-
| "Isai Amudham Pol Undo" || P. Leela || rowspan=2|[[Papanasam Sivan]]|| 03:27
|-
| "Ennudalum Ullak Kaadhalum Unakke" ||[[M. L. Vasanthakumari]]|| 02:27
|}

== Release and reception ==
''Koteeswaran'' was released on 13 November 1955, [[Diwali]] day.<ref name="lakshmansruthi" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 February 2020 |title='எங்கிருந்தோ வந்தாள்' இங்கிருந்து வந்தாள்! |url=http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/85203 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605152432/http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/85203 |archive-date=5 June 2021 |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=[[Dinamalar]] |location=Nellai |language=ta}}</ref> ''[[The Indian Express]]'' wrote, "Crisp and spicy dialogue is the highlight" of the film.<ref name="IE review" />

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="songbook">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/download/sok.Kodeeswaran_SunderRaoNadkarni_1955/136.%20Kodeeswaran_SunderRaoNadkarni_1955.pdf |title=கோடீஸ்வரன் |publisher=Sri Ganesh Movietone |year=1955 |language=ta |trans-title=Millionaire |type=[[song book]] |access-date=5 October 2022 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
<ref name="lakshmansruthi">{{Cite web |title=1955 – கோடீஸ்வரன் – ஸ்ரீகணேஷ் மூவிடோன் (மராதி நாடகம்) |trans-title=1955 – Koteeswaran – Sri Ganesh Movietone (Marathi play) |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1955-cinedetails13.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190305090442/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1955-cinedetails13.asp |archive-date=5 March 2019 |access-date=5 March 2019 |website=[[Lakshman Sruthi]] |language=Tamil}}</ref>
<ref name="IE review">{{Cite news |date=25 November 1955 |title=Kodeeswaran |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19551125&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=8 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

</references>

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

[[Category:1955 Indian films]]
[[Category:1955 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1955 comedy films]]
[[Category:1955 films]]
[[Category:Films scored by S. V. Venkatraman]]
[[Category:Indian comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian films based on plays]]
[[Category:Tamil-language comedy films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Koteeswaran - Revision history

Khalidmendi at 05:05, 4 March 2026