Motor Sundaram Pillai(1966)
Motor Sundaram Pillai is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by S. S. Balan in his directorial debut. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, Jayalalithaa, and Ravichandran. It follows a respected man who secretly maintains two separate households with two wives. The story explores the consequences of his double life when his children from both families unknowingly fall in love. Produced by Gemini Studios, the film is a remake of the Hindi film Grahasti (1963), itself based on an American film. The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The film was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres upon its release on 26 January 1966.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 26 January 1966
- Director
- S. S. Balan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 40m
- Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
Motor Sundaram Pillai is a kind and respected man with a dangerous secret. He has two wives and two families living in separate homes. His carefully balanced life begins to collapse when his son from one family falls in love with his daughter from the other. He must stop the wedding without revealing the truth.
“One man. Two wives. Two families. One secret.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Motor Sundaram Pillai
Cast reunions in this film: M. S. Viswanathan & Sivaji Ganesan (110 films together), Nagesh & M. S. Viswanathan (108 films together), M. S. Viswanathan & Major Sundarrajan (54 films together), M. S. Viswanathan & Jayalalitha (46 films together), Nagesh & Major Sundarrajan (43 films together), and Nagesh & Sivaji Ganesan (38 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title refers to the nickname of the protagonist, a successful businessman, which highlights his identity.
- It was one of the early films for actor Sivakumar, who played a supporting role before becoming a major star.
- The movie's conflict revolves around a then-taboo subject, adding a layer of social drama to the family plot.
- Director S.S. Balan was known for his work in Telugu cinema, and this was one of his few Tamil directorial ventures.
- The soundtrack was composed by the duo M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy, who dominated Tamil film music at the time.
- The story's setting in a large joint family was a common but popular theme in 1960s Tamil cinema.
- Despite its dramatic plot, the film did not achieve major commercial success compared to other hits of that year.