Aadi Perukku (pronunciation also spelt Aadipperukku) is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language romance film edited and directed by K. Shankar. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, B. Saroja Devi and Devika, while M. V. Rajamma and K. D. Santhanam play supporting roles. It was released on 2 August 1962, and failed at the box office.

Aadi Perukku
Theatrical release poster
Directed byK. Shankar
Written byMakkalanban
Javar Seetharaman
Produced byK. Madhanagopal
StarringGemini Ganesan
B. Saroja Devi
Devika
CinematographyThambu
Edited byK. Shankar
K. Neelakandan
Music byA. M. Rajah
Production
company
Madhan Theatres
Release date
  • 2 August 1962 (1962-08-02)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot edit

Padma lives with her widowed mother and her brother, a harbour worker. The family finds refuge in the house of Raja, a poet. Padma's brother dies in an accident.

Cast edit

Production edit

The film shares its name with Aadi Perukku, a festival in Tamil Nadu which pays tribute to water's life-sustaining properties. Despite that, the festival is not referenced anywhere onscreen except the song "Annaiyin Arule Vaa", near the end of which Gemini Ganesan's character is shown singing the last two lines as a tribute to the festival. Shooting took place at the now non-existent Majestic Studios.[2]

Soundtrack edit

The soundtrack was composed by A. M. Rajah.[3][1]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Annaiyin Arule Vaa"Kothamangalam SubbuSirkazhi Govindarajan03:32
2."Idhuthaan Ulagamaa"KannadasanP. Susheela03:24
3."Kannaale Pesum"K. D. SanthanamP. Susheela03:12
4."Kannizhanda Manidhar"KannadasanA. M. Raja, P. Susheela03:12
5."Kaaveri Oram"K. D. SanthanamP. Susheela03:16
6."Pengal Illaatha"Kothamangalam SubbuA. M. Raja, P. Susheela06:44
7."Puriyaathu"SurathaP. B. Sreenivas04:44
8."Thanimaiyile Inimai" (duet)K. D. SanthanamA. M. Raja, P. Susheela03:21
9."Thanimaiyile Inimai" (male)K. D. SanthanamA. M. Raja03:31
Total length:33:36

Release and reception edit

Aadi Perukku was released on 2 August 1962.[4] On 10 August, The Indian Express called it "another insipid medley of romance, comedy and melodrama [...] A story of unfulfilled love, the film is heavily padded with the usual quantum of songs, dances and other box office gimmicks." The reviewer however praised the performances of the cast members.[5] Kanthan of Kalki lauded Saroja Devi's performance, but said she was the only reason to watch the film just once.[6] According to historian Randor Guy, the film did not succeed commercially because of the "somewhat predictable storyline, the many deaths and the lack of significance of the title".[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d ஆடிப்பெருக்கு (song book) (in Tamil). Madhan Theatres. 1962.
  2. ^ a b Guy, Randor (7 March 2015). "Blast from the Past: Aadiperukku – 1962". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Aadi Perukku (1962)". Music India Online. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  4. ^ ராம்ஜி, வி. (17 August 2022). "60-ம் ஆண்டு கொண்டாடும் படங்கள்; அற்புதமான பாடல்கள்!". Kamadenu (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Aadi Perukku". The Indian Express. 10 August 1962. p. 3. Retrieved 25 April 2022 – via Google News Archive.
  6. ^ காந்தன் (2 September 1962). "ஆடிப்பெருக்கு". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 24. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.

External links edit