November 7 this year marked the 49th anniversary of the release of the iconic Tamil film, Urimaikural, starring MG Ramachandran. As it approaches nearly half a century since its debut, let’s delve into the film’s cast, themes, and some intriguing trivia.
Released on November 7, 1974, Urimaikural was helmed by renowned Tamil director CV Sridhar. The film boasts an ensemble cast featuring MG Ramachandran, Latha, Anjali Devi, MN Nambiar, and VS Raghavan. Y Kannaiah produced the film under the banner of Chitralaya, and its melodious soundtrack was composed by MS Vishwanathan.
Urimaikural falls into the action-drama genre and enjoyed the distinction of becoming a silver jubilee hit at the box office. The plot revolves around a respected farmer’s journey as he navigates various hardships in pursuit of his love. The film’s songs, such as Vizhiye Kathayiyi and Aambilaingala Ninga, became audience favorites and played a pivotal role in helping the director clear his debts.
The inception of Urimaikural can be traced back to the inspiration drawn from the Telugu film Dasara Pullodu, which featured Agniyeni Nageswara Rao and was released in 1971. Director Sridhar and his close friend, director Chitralaya Gopu, watched this Telugu film and decided to create an adaptation in Tamil. Initially, Sivaji Ganesan was approached for the lead role, but director Sridhar ultimately chose MG Ramachandran for the part, a decision met with surprise from Gopu Chitralaya. Nonetheless, Sridhar’s belief in MG Ramachandran’s capabilities drove the project forward, and shooting commenced.
The filming took place near MG Ramachandran’s estate in Mugalivakkam, Chennai, which inevitably attracted a throng of his fervent fans eager to catch a glimpse of the legendary actor. To manage the crowd and maintain order during the shoot, the police had to be summoned.
During a particular phase of shooting, due to political reasons, the police were unable to provide security for a few days, causing concern among the filmmakers. MG Ramachandran reassured them not to be anxious and urged them to proceed according to the schedule. On the following day, when MG Ramachandran arrived on set, he brought along several uniformed men to help maintain order and control the already amassed crowd of fans.
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