Arunagiri Nadhar(1964)
Arunagirinathar is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language biographical film directed by T. R. Ramanna. The film stars T. M. Soundararajan as the 15th-century poet Arunagirinathar, with M. R. Radha, B. S. Saroja, Sarada, C. Lakshmi Rajyam, and Master Raghunath in supporting roles. The story follows a young man who abandons his family for a life of debauchery, contracts leprosy, and attempts suicide before being saved by Lord Murugan. The film explores themes of sin, sacrifice, and redemption through divine intervention. It was praised for Soundararajan's performance and its musical score composed by G. Ramanathan and T. R. Pappa. The film was released on 7 August 1964.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1964
- Director
- T. R. Ramanna
- Language
- Tamil
- Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
A young man named Arunagiri wastes his life on prostitutes and gambling. He neglects his wife and forces his sister to sell everything they own. When he contracts leprosy and tries to kill himself, Lord Murugan saves him and shows him a path of devotion.
“From sinner to saint in one leap”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Arunagiri Nadhar
Cast reunions in this film: Pushpalatha & M. R. Radha (9 films together), T. R. Ramanna & M. R. Radha (4 films together), and M. R. Radha & T. R. Pappa (3 films together).
Trivia
- This was the first Tamil film to be based on the life of the saint-poet Arunagirinathar.
- The film's music was composed by G. Ramanathan, who used rare ragas to match the devotional theme.
- It was shot in black and white despite color films becoming popular in Tamil cinema by the mid-1960s.
- Actor Sivaji Ganesan was initially considered for the lead role before S. S. Rajendran was cast.
- The movie includes a scene depicting the historic Tiruvannamalai temple, a key location in the saint's life.
- It faced censorship challenges due to its strong religious content during the production period.
- The film did not perform well commercially, as mythological dramas were declining in popularity then.