Agathiyar is a 1972 Indian
Tamil-language
Hindu mythological film written, directed, and produced by
A. P. Nagarajan. The soundtrack was composed by
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan. The film stars
Sirkazhi Govindarajan playing the main character,
T. R. Mahalingam,
A. V. M. Rajan,
Kumari Padmini,
R. S. Manohar,
Suruli Rajan,
Manorama and
Sridevi were in supporting roles. This film ran for 100 days and won widespread appreciation. The film was dubbed into
Hindi
Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...
under the title ''Maharish'' in 1986.
Plot
The story is about Agathiyar Muni, who is considered to be the embodiment of one of celestial intellectuals who descended on earth to enlighten human beings. During the wedding of
Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
and
Goddess Parvati, the earth tilted to the northern side, as the whole world was witnessing the marriage. Shiva gave the responsibility of balancing the earth to Agathiyar by going to the southern side. Agathiyar is also given the additional responsibility of spreading goodness and equality. He has the additional task of spreading the
Tamil language
Tamil (, , , also written as ''Tamizhil'' according to linguistic pronunciation) is a Dravidian language natively spoken by the Tamil people of South Asia. It is one of the longest-surviving classical languages in the world,. "Tamil is one of ...
. Many small stories between heaven and earth are interwoven in the movie. The stories teach one to lead a simple existence without ego. It also shows how Agathiyar's journey facing Vindhya Mount,
River Kaveri, Vilvala/Vaathapi, Lord Murugan, A Farmer,
Ravana
According to the Mahakavya, Hindu epic, ''Ramayana'', Ravana was a kingJustin W. Henry, ''Ravana's Kingdom: The Ramayana and Sri Lankan History from Below'', Oxford University Press, p.3 of the island of Lanka, in which he is the chief antag ...
,Urvashi, Tholkappiyan thereby teaching them the greatness of humility.
Cast
;Actors
*
Sirkazhi Govindarajan as
Agathiyar
*
T. R. Mahalingam as
Narathar
*
A. V. M. Rajan as
Lord Siva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism.
Shiva is known as ''The Destroyer' ...
*
R. S. Manohar as
Ravaneswaran/
Langeswaran
*
T. K. Bhagavathy as
Devendran
* Sasikumar as
Jayandran (Devendran's son)
*
Sivakumar as Poet
Tholkappiayan
*
Suruli Rajan
*
A. K. Veerasamy as Saint
*
Usilai Mani as Boodham
*
O. A. K. Thevar as
Vinthiyan (Vindhya mount)
* T. N. Sivathanu as Vadhaapi or Saththamuni
*
Typist Gopu as Vilvala or Saagaramuni
*
E. R. Sahadevan
*
K. D. Santhanam
*
Shanmugasundari
*
Master Sekhar
*
Master Sridhar
*Gundu Karuppaiah
*S. Ramarao
;Actresses
*
Kumari Padmini as
Goddess Parvathy
*
Lakshmi as
Ponni/
Kaviri
*
C. R. Vijayakumari as
Mandothari
*
Manorama as Selli
*
A. Sakunthala as
Urvasi
*
M. Bhanumathi as Kakkai Padiniyar
*
Rajakokila
*
Baby Sridevi as
Lord Murugan
* V. Vasantha
* P. Seethalakshmi
* Kalasree
Soundtrack
Music was composed by
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan. The song "Isaiyai Tamizhai" is set in
Kharaharapriya raga. The song "Vendriduven" is a
ragamalika comprising 16 ragas and is composed in such a way that the name of the raga used in each stanza is a word play on a common Tamil word which sounds similar to the raga's name starting with
Nattai,
Bhairavi,
Todi,
Arabhi,
Shanmukhapriya,
Darbar,
Hamsadhwani,
Vasantha,
Mohanam, Manolayam,
Bageshri, Saranga,
Kamboji,
Gowrimanohari,
Kalyani and
Saraswathi.
Reception
References
External links
*
{{A. P. Nagarajan
1970s dance films
1970s Indian films
1972 musical films
1970s Tamil-language films
1972 films
Films about Hinduism
Films about royalty
Films directed by A. P. Nagarajan
Films scored by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Films with screenplays by A. P. Nagarajan
Hindu devotional films
Hindu mythological films
Indian dance films
Indian films based on actual events
Indian musical films
Indian religious epic films
Tamil-language Indian films