Kungumam(1963)
'Kungumam' is a 1963 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Krishnan–Panju. It stars Sivaji Ganesan, Urvashi Sarada, S. S. Rajendran, C. R. Vijayakumari, and S. V. Ranga Rao. The story follows Sundaram, a young man who returns from the United States to find his father has committed a murder. To protect his father, Sundaram goes into hiding and takes the blame for the crime. The film explores themes of family loyalty, justice, and sacrifice. It was produced by K. Mohan and released on 2 August 1963. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube, Dailymotion
- Theatrical Release
- 1 August 1963
- Director
- Krishnan-Panju
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 25m
- Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
Sundaram returns from America to a broken home. His father is a fugitive wanted for murder. To save his father, Sundaram takes the blame and goes on the run. He must hide his identity, protect his family, and fight for the woman he loves.
“A son's sacrifice for his father's freedom.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Kungumam
Cast reunions in this film: Nagesh & R. Muthuraman (43 films together), Nagesh & Manorama (39 films together), Nagesh & Sivaji Ganesan (38 films together), Nagesh & K. V. Mahadevan (37 films together), Sivaji Ganesan & K. V. Mahadevan (35 films together), and Sivaji Ganesan & Manorama (32 films together).
Trivia
- The film was produced by Sivaji Ganesan's wife Kamala Ganesan under the banner 'Kamala Pictures'.
- It was one of the few films where actor Sivaji Ganesan played a character who returns from America.
- The movie's title 'Kungumam' refers to kumkum, a traditional red powder used in Hindu rituals.
- This was one of the early films in Tamil cinema to explore the theme of a son taking blame for his father's crime.
- Music director Viswanathan–Ramamurthy, a famous duo, composed the songs for this drama.
- The film released the same year as the classic 'Naanum Oru Penn', showcasing Sivaji Ganesan's busy schedule.
- A scene where Sivaji Ganesan's character goes absconding was partly shot in a forest set, a common location in 1960s Tamil films.