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{{Short description|1968 film by K. Shankar}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Kudiyirundha Koyil
| image = Kudiyirundha Koyil.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[K. Shankar]]
| screenplay = Swornam
| based_on = {{based on|''[[China Town (1962 film)|China Town]]''}}
| producer = T. S. Raja Sunderasan
| starring = {{plainlist|
*[[M. G. Ramachandran]]
*[[J. Jayalalithaa|Jayalalithaa]]
*[[Rajasree]]
}}

| cinematography = V. Ramamoorthy
| editing = K. Shankar<br />[[K. Narayanan]]
| music = [[M. S. Viswanathan]]
| studio = Saravana Screens
| distributor = 
| released = {{film date|1968|3|15|df=y}}
| runtime = 166 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget = 
| gross = 
}}

'''''Kudiyirundha Koyil''''' ({{translation|The Temple where I resided}}) is a 1968 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[spy film]] directed by [[K. Shankar]]. The film stars [[M. G. Ramachandran]], [[J. Jayalalithaa|Jayalalithaa]] and [[Rajasree]], with [[L. Vijayalakshmi]], [[Pandari Bai]], [[M. N. Nambiar]], [[Major Sundarrajan|Sundarrajan]], [[V. K. Ramasamy (actor)|V. K. Ramasamy]], [[S. V. Ramadas]] and [[Nagesh]] in supporting roles. A remake of the 1962 [[Hindi]] film ''[[China Town (1962 film)|China Town]]'', it revolves around twins who become separated as children: one grows up to be a criminal, and the other is tasked with apprehending him.

''Kudiyirundha Koyil'' was released on 15 March 1968. The film was a box office success, running for more than 100 days in theatres, and became a turning point in Ramachandran's career. For his performance, he won his first [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor]].

== Plot ==
Twins Sekhar and Anand, along with their mother Mangalam, witness their father Ramnadhan being murdered by Nagappan, an escaped convict who Ramnadhan had testified against. This prompts the family to leave to Madras to pursue a new life. But when Sekhar gets down from the train to fetch some water, it leaves without him. Nagappan arrives and kidnaps Sekhar, who is raised by him as a criminal. Sekhar remains unaware that the same man killed his father.

Years later, Sekhar who now calls himself "Babu", is an established criminal and is the most wanted man in the city. Meanwhile, Anand is a club-dancer and neither he nor Babu are aware of each other's existence. During a police encounter, Babu is grievously wounded and seeks shelter in Mangalam's house, although he does not recognise her as his mother. He develops a soft corner for her, but when Nagappan (now known as Boopathy, the owner of a cabaret and employer of Babu) learns about this, he tries to eradicate the kind-self out of Babu.

During another police encounter, Babu is again wounded, but becomes insane this time, also becoming amnesiac. [[Deputy inspector general of police|D. I. G.]] Mogan comes across Anand, and after seeing the striking resemblance between him and Babu, advises him to act as Babu to get all the secrets of the gang and have them arrested. Anand agrees, but later realises Babu is his brother. Anand's girlfriend Jaya sees him having lot of money in a briefcase, and the police chase him. Unaware of the truth, she thinks he has turned into a criminal, and refuses to speak to him. Mangalam also learns of this, and becomes heartbroken. However, Mangalam and Jaya soon reconcile with Anand after learning of the truth, and they also learn that Babu is his brother.

Babu's girlfriend Asha discovers that Anand is impersonating Babu, but he surrenders to her and explains about Babu's medical condition, subsequently revealing himself as Babu's brother. Asha forgives him and the duo subsequently team up to defeat Nagappan and his men. Babu later escapes from the prison to kill Anand when learning about him, but is cornered by Jaya, who tells him that Anand is his brother. Babu does not believe this, and kidnaps Jaya. He is later stopped by Mangalam, who makes him realise that he is her son and Anand is his brother. Remembering that Nagappan killed his father, he teams up with Anand to defeat Nagappan, who is later arrested. Subsequently, Babu returns to being "Sekhar", and reunites with his family.

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|* [[M. G. Ramachandran]] as Anand and Sekhar/Babu<ref name="Firstpost" />
* [[J. Jayalalithaa|Jayalalithaa]] as Jaya<ref name="Firstpost" />
* [[Rajasree]] as Asha<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 May 2020 |title=இரண்டாவது நாயகியாகவே நிலைத்தவர் ராஜஸ்ரீ |url=http://kungumam.co.in/ThArticalinnerdetail.aspx?id=6451&id1=85&issue=20200501 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513073857/http://kungumam.co.in/ThArticalinnerdetail.aspx?id=6451&id1=85&issue=20200501 |archive-date=13 May 2020 |access-date=28 May 2021 |website=[[Kungumam (magazine)|Kungumam]] |language=ta}}</ref>
*[[L. Vijayalakshmi]] (special appearance in the song "Aadaludan Paadalai")<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krishnamachari |first=Suganthy |date=5 February 2015 |title=From Natya to numbers |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/interview-with-l-vijayalakshmi/article6860381.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229092752/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/interview-with-l-vijayalakshmi/article6860381.ece |archive-date=29 February 2016 |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
* [[Pandari Bai]] as Mangalam<ref name="hindutamil" />
* [[M. N. Nambiar]] as Boopathy/Nagappan<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aravind |first=CV |date=18 March 2019 |title=Remembering MN Nambiar: From 'Anbe Vaa' to 'Thillana Mohanambal', the menacing villain |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/remembering-mn-nambiar-anbe-vaa-thillana-mohanambal-menacing-villain-98534 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528045252/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/remembering-mn-nambiar-anbe-vaa-thillana-mohanambal-menacing-villain-98534 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |access-date=28 May 2021 |website=[[The News Minute]]}}</ref>
* [[Major Sundarrajan|Sundarrajan]] as [[Deputy inspector general of police|D. I. G.]] Mogan
* [[V. K. Ramasamy (actor)|V. K. Ramasamy]] as [[Rao Bahadur]] Singaram<ref name="kalkionline" />
* [[S. V. Ramadas]] as Ramnadhan
* [[Nagesh]] as Jaya's elder brother<ref name="hindutamil" />
* [[Sekhar (actor)|Master Sekhar]] as young Anand/Sekhar}}

== Production ==
''Kudiyirundha Koyil'' is a remake of the 1962 [[Hindi]] film ''[[China Town (1962 film)|China Town]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 October 2010 |title=Forever young |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/forever-young/cid/472271 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627090452/https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/forever-young/cid/472271 |archive-date=27 June 2020 |access-date=24 June 2020 |work=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]]}}</ref> It was the first Tamil film to feature a [[Bhangra (dance)|Bangra]] dance sequence in the song "Aadaludan Paadalai". Ramachandran had to practice for one month to dance in the song, which was shot over the course of three days.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Narasimhan |first=T.A. |date=24 December 2007 |title=MGR learnt Bangra for month to dance with L. Vijayalakshmi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/MGR-learnt-Bangra-for-month-to-dance-with-L.-Vijayalakshmi/article14900505.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224141234/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/MGR-learnt-Bangra-for-month-to-dance-with-L.-Vijayalakshmi/article14900505.ece |archive-date=24 February 2020 |access-date=24 February 2020 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sri Kantha |first=Sachi |author-link=Sachi Sri Kantha |date=9 December 2018 |title=MGR Remembered – Part 47 {{!}} Comparison of Chaplin and MGR |url=https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-47/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109095652/https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-47/ |archive-date=9 January 2021 |access-date=28 May 2021 |website=[[Ilankai Tamil Sangam]]}}</ref> In portraying Sekhar/Babu, Ramachandran applied make-up to give the character a dark complexion, while he kept his original fair-skinned complexion for portraying Anand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maderya |first=Kumuthan |date=2010 |title=Rage against the state: historicizing the "angry young man" in Tamil cinema |url=http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc52.2010/Tamil/text.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804204808/http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc52.2010/Tamil/text.html |archive-date=4 August 2020 |access-date=24 June 2020 |website=[[Jump Cut (journal)|Jump Cut]]}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by [[M. S. Viswanathan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kudiyiruntha Kovil (1968) |url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=t0000088 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311093031/http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0000088 |archive-date=11 March 2012 |access-date=24 March 2012 |website=[[Raaga.com]]}}</ref> The song "Thulluvadho Ilamai" belongs to [[Pasodoble]], a Spanish musical genre,<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 October 2019 |title=இரண்டு பாதுஷாக்களும் இன்னிசை தான்சேனும் 03: குதூகலித்த துள்ளுவதோ இளமை! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/518488-youthful.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105105257/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/518488-youthful.html |archive-date=5 January 2021 |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref> and is also set to [[Mayamalavagowla]], a [[Carnatic raga]].{{sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=163}} "Kunguma Pottin Mangalam" was the only film song written by Roshanara Begum in her life.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Balasubramanian |first=V. |date=30 May 2013 |title=Man behind the golden voice |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/man-behind-the-golden-voice/article4765684.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817043341/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/man-behind-the-golden-voice/article4765684.ece |archive-date=17 August 2013 |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> "Naan Yaar? Nee Yaar?" earned [[Pulamaipithan]] recognition as a lyricist.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parthasarathy |first=Anusha |date=28 December 2010 |title=Memories of Madras – The Sands of time |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/Memories-of-Madras-The-Sands-of-time/article12572666.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105105258/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/Memories-of-Madras-The-Sands-of-time/article12572666.ece |archive-date=5 January 2021 |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The interlude from "Aadaludan Paadalai" was re-used in the song "Namma Kattula Mazhai Peiyuthu" from ''[[Pattiyal]]'' (2006).<ref>{{Cite web |last=நரேன் |date=26 March 2009 |title=ரீமிக்ஸ் – நல்ல இசையின் வறட்சி ?! |url=https://www.nilacharal.com/%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%80%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B8%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B2-%E0%AE%87%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B1/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241226012039/https://www.nilacharal.com/%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%80%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B8%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B2-%E0%AE%87%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B1/ |archive-date=26 December 2024 |access-date=26 January 2025 |website=Nilacharal |language=Ta}}</ref> The song "Ennai Theriyuma" was later remixed by [[Achu Rajamani|Achu]] for a film [[Nenu Meeku Telusa?|with the same name]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Srinivasan |first=Pavithra |date=17 September 2008 |title=Music Review: Yennai Theriyuma? |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssy/20080917.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105105300/https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssy/20080917.htm |archive-date=5 January 2021 |access-date=24 June 2020 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> "Aadaludan Paadalai", which is set in [[Sindhu Bhairavi (raga)|Sindhu Bhairavi]], was remixed by [[Mani Sharma]] for ''[[Yagam (2010 film)|Sinam]]'' (2012) and by [[Amresh Ganesh]] for ''[[Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva]]'' (2017).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |date=9 March 2017 |title=After Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva release, is Raghava Lawrence planning to enter politics? |url=http://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/motta-shiva-ketta-shiva-is-raghava-lawrence-planning-to-enter-tamil-nadu-politics-3323978.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328200741/http://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/motta-shiva-ketta-shiva-is-raghava-lawrence-planning-to-enter-tamil-nadu-politics-3323978.html |archive-date=28 March 2017 |access-date=28 March 2017 |website=[[Firstpost]]}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Un Vizhiyum En Vaalum
| extra1 = [[T. M. Soundararajan]], [[L. R. Eswari]]
| lyrics1 = [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]]
| length1 = 3:17
| title2 = Ennai Theriyuma
| extra2 = T. M. Soundararajan, Chorus
| lyrics2 = Vaali
| length2 = 3:38
| title3 = Neeyethan Enakku
| extra3 = T. M. Soundararajan, [[P. Susheela]]
| lyrics3 = Vaali
| length3 = 3:35
| title4 = Naan Yaar? Nee Yaar?
| extra4 = T. M. Soundararajan
| lyrics4 = [[Pulamaipithan]]
| length4 = 3:19
| title5 = Thuluvadho Ilamai
| extra5 = T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari, Chorus
| lyrics5 = Vaali
| length5 = 3:37
| title6 = Aadaludan Paadalai
| extra6 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
| lyrics6 = [[Alangudi Somu]]
| length6 = 6:07
| title7 = Kunguma Pottin Mangalam
| extra7 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
| lyrics7 = Roshanara Begum
| length7 = 3:42
| title8 = Thaaiyai (Kovilum Deivam)
| extra8 = [[M. S. Viswanathan]]
| lyrics8 =
| length8 = 0:32
| total_length = 27:47 
}}

== Release and reception ==
''Kudiyirundha Koyil'' was released on 15 March 1968.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 December 2016 |title=ஜெயலலிதா நடித்த திரைப்படங்களின் பட்டியல் |url=https://www.dinamani.com/cm-jayalalitha/2016/dec/06/ஜெயலலிதா-நடித்த-திரைப்படங்களின்-பட்டியல்-2610816.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624160454/https://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 |archive-date=24 June 2020 |access-date=24 June 2020 |work=[[Dinamani]] |language=ta}}</ref> ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' positively reviewed the film, comparing it favourably to earlier Ramachandran films featuring him in dual roles.<ref name="kalkionline" /> ''[[Dinamani]]'' praised Ramachandran's performance in Sekhar's role.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=7 June 1981 |title=குடியிருந்த கோவில் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1981-06-07/page/n11/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230407131406/https://archive.org/details/kalki1981-06-07/page/n11/mode/2up |archive-date=7 April 2023 |access-date=7 April 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=10 |language=Ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> The film was a box office success, and ran more than 100 days in theatres. Ramachandran considered it the tenth turning point in his career. For his performance, Ramachandran won his first [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sri Kantha |first=Sachi |author-link=Sachi Sri Kantha |date=16 January 2018 |title=MGR Remembered – Part 48 {{!}} 100 Movies and Beyond |url=https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-48/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811030948/https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-48/ |archive-date=11 August 2020 |access-date=5 January 2021 |website=[[Ilankai Tamil Sangam]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=நரசிம்மன் |first=டி.ஏ. |date=27 January 2017 |title=என்னருமை தோழி..! 20: எம்.ஜி.ஆருக்கு ஆலோசனை! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/blogs/219271-20.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105105338/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/blogs/219271-20.html |archive-date=5 January 2021 |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref> At the same ceremony, T. M. Soundararajan won the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer|award for Best Male Playback Singer]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 March 1970 |title=State film awards |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19700301&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=15 May 2021 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=5 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="Firstpost">{{Cite web |date=16 February 2017 |title=Jayalalithaa and MGR's best song-and-dance numbers in Tamil cinema: Throwback Thursday |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/jayalalithaa-and-mgrs-best-song-and-dance-numbers-in-tamil-cinema-throwback-thursday-3286300.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929112949/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/jayalalithaa-and-mgrs-best-song-and-dance-numbers-in-tamil-cinema-throwback-thursday-3286300.html |archive-date=29 September 2020 |access-date=28 May 2021 |website=[[Firstpost]]}}</ref>
<ref name="hindutamil">{{Cite news |date=17 November 2019 |title=68 - ம் ஆண்டில் எம்ஜிஆருக்கு ஜோடி ஜெயலலிதா; ஒரே ஆண்டில் எட்டு படங்கள் |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/525630-mgr-jayalalitha.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528045233/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/525630-mgr-jayalalitha.html |archive-date=28 May 2021 |access-date=28 May 2021 |work=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref>
<ref name="kalkionline">{{Cite magazine |date=31 March 1968 |title=குடியிருந்த கோயில் |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1968/mar/31-03-1968/p25.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220725114045/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1968/mar/31-03-1968/p25.jpg |archive-date=25 July 2022 |access-date=26 July 2022 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=25 |language=ta}}</ref>

</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Sundararaman |title=Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music |publisher=Pichhamal Chintamani |year=2007 |edition=2nd |oclc=295034757 |orig-date=2005}}

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

{{K. Shankar}}

[[Category:1968 Indian films]]
[[Category:1960s spy films]]
[[Category:1968 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1968 films]]
[[Category:Films about twin brothers]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. Shankar]]
[[Category:Films scored by M. S. Viswanathan]]
[[Category:Indian spy films]]
[[Category:Tamil remakes of Hindi films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Twins in Indian films]]

Kudiyirundha Koyil - Revision history

Narayanacancercentre at 05:10, 4 March 2026