Saraswati Sabatham(1966)
'Saraswathi Sabatham' is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language Hindu mythological film written and directed by A. P. Nagarajan. The cast includes Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, Padmini, Devika, and K. R. Vijaya. The plot follows Sage Narada who instigates a dispute between Goddesses Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati over which of their powers — knowledge, wealth, or strength — is supreme. Each goddess blesses a human with their respective power, leading to conflict and chaos in the kingdom of Selvapuram. The film is notable for its fictional storyline drawn from Pudhumaipithan's novel 'Vakkum Vakkum', rather than traditional Hindu mythology. It was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres, and received positive reviews for its performances, music, and visual effects. The film was released on 3 September 1966.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1966
- Director
- A. P. Nagarajan
- Language
- Tamil
- Rating
- 7.8/10
Storyline
Sage Narada pits three goddesses against each other. Each goddess blesses a human with her power — knowledge, wealth, or strength. The three humans become arrogant and their gifts cause chaos in a kingdom. The gods must intervene to restore balance and teach a lesson about the importance of all three qualities working together.
“Which power rules them all?”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Saraswati Sabatham
Cast reunions in this film: Sivaji Ganesan & K. V. Mahadevan (35 films together), Sivaji Ganesan & Padmini (21 films together), K. V. Mahadevan & Gemini Ganesan (19 films together), Sivaji Ganesan & Savitri (16 films together), Gemini Ganesan & Savitri (15 films together), and K. V. Mahadevan & A. P. Nagarajan (14 films together).
Trivia
- This film was the first Tamil movie to be shot in Eastmancolor, a popular color film process at the time.
- It featured a rare on-screen collaboration of three leading actresses: Padmini, Savitri, and Devika, each playing a goddess.
- The movie's success led to a wave of mythological films from director A. P. Nagarajan in the late 1960s.
- Famous singer T. M. Soundararajan gave voice to the character of Lord Shiva, played by actor Sivaji Ganesan.
- A special dance sequence was choreographed by the noted dance master V. S. Muthuswami Pillai.
- The film's plot is based on a lesser-known story from Hindu mythology about a debate among the goddesses.
- It was a major box office hit and ran for over 100 days in several theaters across Tamil Nadu.