Iru Kodugal(1969)
'Iru Kodugal' (transl. Two Lines) is a 1969 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Balachander. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, and Jayanthi in lead roles. The story follows Gopinath, who marries Janaki in secret but is forced to separate from her. He later marries Jaya without revealing his past, leading to a crisis when Janaki becomes his boss. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, the first for Balachander. It was based on a stage play of the same name and was a commercial success. The film was released on 2 October 1969.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube, Einthusan
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1969
- Director
- K. Balachander
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 56m
- Rating
- 7.8/10
Storyline
Gopinath marries Janaki in secret but is forced to leave her. He starts a new life and marries Jaya, hiding his past. Years later, Janaki becomes his boss at work. A rumor spreads that they are having an affair, and Jaya discovers the truth. A tragic accident forces both women to face their pain and make an impossible choice.
“Two wives. One secret. One heartbreaking choice.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Iru Kodugal
Cast reunions in this film: Nagesh & Gemini Ganesan (25 films together), K. Balachander & Nagesh (19 films together), V. S. Raghavan & Nagesh (19 films together), Nagesh & Sowcar Janaki (16 films together), Nagesh & Sachu (16 films together), and Nagesh & V. Kumar (14 films together).
Trivia
- This was the first Tamil film to feature a female lead character who is a government collector, a high-ranking official role.
- The film's title 'Iru Kodugal' translates to 'Two Lines', symbolising the parallel lives of the two wives.
- It was one of the earliest films to showcase K. Balachander's signature focus on complex family relationships and strong female characters.
- The movie was adapted from a stage play, reflecting Balachander's deep roots in theatre.
- Actress Jayalalithaa was initially considered for a lead role, but the part eventually went to another actress.
- The film's conflict revolves around a government office setting, which was an unusual backdrop for a family drama at the time.
- It featured cinematography by P. N. Sundaram, who was known for his work in many successful black-and-white films of the era.