Iru Kodugal

What links here Related changes Page information
Created by Dan
Last edited March 8, 2026


Iru Kodugal
File:Iru Kodugal.jpg


Theatrical release poster

Directed by K. Balachander


Produced by N. Selvaraj
B. Duraisamy
N. Krishnan
V. Govindarajan
Starring Gemini Ganesan
Sowcar Janaki
Jayanthi
Cinematography N. Balakrishnan
Edited by N. R. Kittu
Music by V. Kumar





Country India
Language Tamil



Iru Kodugal (Template:Translation) is a 1969 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Balachander. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, Jayanthi, Nagesh, V. S. Raghavan, S. N. Lakshmi and others. The story revolves around one man who was married to two women.[1] Iru Kodugal won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, the first film by Balachander to win the award.[2] The film, which was based on a stage play of same name, was remade in Kannada as Eradu Rekhegalu, in Telugu as Collector Janaki and in Hindi as Sanjog.

Plot

Gopinath falls in love with Janaki and they get married in 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

Production

Iru Kodugal was based on the stage play of same name written by Joseph Anandan.[4] It is the first collaboration between Balachander and Ganesan.Template:Sfn Though uncharacteristic of Janaki to ask for roles, she asked Balachander for a role and got it.[5][6] 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 body double in his place. Instead, Annadurai's voice was imitated by Sivagangai Sethurajan.[7] Also, a pair of glasses on the table and a pen in the foreground are seen, implying that Annadurai is the intended character.[8]

Soundtrack

The music was scored by V. Kumar, and Vaali wrote the lyrics.[9][10]

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.[11] 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.[12] The film was a commercial success,[13] 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.[14][15]

Legacy

Iru Kodugal was remade in Kannada as Eradu Rekhegalu, in Telugu as Collector Janaki and in Hindi as Sanjog.[16] Malathi Rangarajan said Janaki "stomped the screen and stole our hearts [..] came up with a stellar performance".[17] Clips from the film were screened along with clips from other films such as Server Sundaram (1964), 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,[18] a month after his death.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Trois. The Times of India(23 April 2011). Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  2. ↑ The granddaddy of Tamil films. The Hindu(2 May 2011). Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  3. ↑ Aramm Movie Review, Rangan, Baradwaj. Film Companion(10 November 2017). Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  4. ↑ IFFI 2019 to screen K Balachander's Iru Kodugal. The Indian Express(2019-11-13). Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  5. ↑ I never failed as an actress – Janaki. Sunday Mid-Day(23 October 1983). Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  6. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  7. ↑ இரு கோடுகள்: புன்னகை மன்னன் பூவிழிக் கண்ணன் ருக்மணிக்காக.... Hindu Tamil Thisai(2023-10-02). Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  8. ↑ Significant contribution to Tamil theatre, cinema. The Hindu(15 September 2009). Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  9. ↑ Iru Kodugal (1969). Raaga.com. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  10. ↑ Iru Kodugal. JioSaavn. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  11. ↑ Iru Kodugal. The Indian Express(2 October 1969). Retrieved 1 June 2018.Template:Cbignore
  12. ↑ Cinema. The Indian Express(4 October 1969). Retrieved 1 May 2019.Template:Cbignore
  13. ↑ Celebrating a big screen beauty. Deccan Herald(13 October 2013). Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  14. ↑ Still ready to act: Sowcar Janaki. The Hindu(25 December 2006). Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  15. ↑ India Who's who{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. INFA Publications(2000)Template:Cbignore
  16. ↑ Remembering the prodigy: 10 most memorable films of K Balachander. Hindustan Times(2 January 2015). Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  17. ↑ Women of Steel. The Hindu(8 March 2014). Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  18. ↑ Rich tributes paid to Balachander. The Hindu(22 January 2015). Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  19. ↑ K Balachander: The man who gave us Rajinikanth, Kamal Hassan dies. The Economic Times(23 December 2014). Retrieved 2 May 2015.

Bibliography

  • Eternal Romantic: My Father, Gemini Ganesan{{#if:Ganesh|, Ganesh}. Roli Books(2011). ISBN 978-81-7436-578-1

Template:K. Balachander Template:NationalFilmAwardBestFeatureFilmTamil Template:TamilNaduStateFilmAwardBestActress

Retrieved from "https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Iru_Kodugal&oldid=454764"
Discover more