FILM

Relook Times

Dheivam, the 1972 film, has several unique features of its own. Remember? We are all looking for something in everything but what we are looking for us is still unclear to us. We have almost looked at everything but still not satisfied. So, “why don’t we re-look for if we have missed something.”

“Come on, you’re aren't looking for the name of the director and producer, they have nothing to do with what you are looking for.”

At the beginning of the film, Thirumuruga Kripananda Variyar narrates an anthology of six stories which highlights the miracles of Lord Muruga. The Stories are sketched in such a fashion that one should get the idea of faith in God, who is ever witnessing our actions. This can be visibly seen in all the narrations but remains prominent in the first story which is set at Marudhamalai, Coimbatore. This story is about a thief who tries to steal Lord Murugan's jewels and later turns to an ardent saint of Lord of Marudhamalai himself. The opening scene is emphasized and decorated with the evergreen song, “Marudhamalai maa maniye murugaiyyah”.

The second narration opens on a husband’s betrayal of a poor women who is left alone with a child. One person from the village informs about his recent settlement with another girl at Swamimalai. She rushes to the place with her child and the incidents follow revealing the grace of Lord Muruga. This portion is garnished with “Naadariyum oru malai” song.

The third story happens at Palani Murugan temple when one of the main characters of the story prays, for the prosperity that he had got on praying to the Lord. Outside the temple, he meets one of his old friends who is disappointed with insufficient money to start a business which his prosperous friend readily agrees to pay in the name of trust and faith. The rest of the story explains the grace of Dhandayudhapaani swami of Palani. The artistic order is given to the story with the rhyming Tamil song “Varuvandi tharuvandi malaiyandi”.

A merchant at Tirunelveli losses the last worth of public's gold to a thief which he had been safe-keeping. He returns to this wife furiously, who is a great devotee of Lord Murugan. They somehow mange to reach a marriage ceremony happening at Thiruchendur with neighbour’s jewels and the rest unfold in the constitutive scenes. This story significantly brings out the factor of Karma and it's significance are well portrayed in the divine presence. The flavour of Thiruchendur is brought out through the epic song, “Thiruchendurin kadalorathil”.

The next story is set at Thiruparamkundram where two friends are seen in conversation with each other, one is deeply interested in prayers to Lord Muruga while other calls him to club. The story concludes with various thrilling facts, which many least care for it. The significance lies in the fact that one who is rich with moral characters becomes essentially divine by nature. The truth is put forward in a lucid, direct style.

The final part of the narration is set in Thiruthani. A newly married couple are in the process of getting ready for their union, soon the couple conversation start with how the Lord's grace was helpful in convincing their parents for their wedlock and they agree to visit the temple before their union. On their way back from the temple they meet with a grave consequence. This story is an example for how all hurdles can be overcome with His blessings.

With this, the anthology narrated by Swami Kripananda variyar gets concluded.

Every story in the narration is starred by popular figures of the age. The subtle aspects of the film should be noted for gaining the most out of it. The idea of Karma, moral qualities, and the faith in God saves you from any trouble and helps you climb the ladder for more spiritual endeavours.

This film was produced by M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar, who was a zealous devotee of Lord Muruga. He had heartily owed half of the returns from the films he produced to beneficial activities of the Lord’s temples. There remains many buildings and constructions in the name of Chinnappa Thevar at the various temple premises. The film was directed by M. A. Thirumugam. The roles were starred by actors like Gemini Ganesan, R. Muthuraman, A. V. M. Rajan, K. R. Vijaya, Sowkar Janaki and many others. The all-time popular songs were worded by Kannadasan, composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and voiced by singers like T. M. Soundararajan, Seergazhi Govindarajan and Ramani Ammal.