Motor Sundaram Pillai

Motor Sundaram Pillai, a man known for being virtuous, leads a double life, having two sets of families. == Cast ==

;Male cast • Sivaji Ganesan as Motor Sundaram Pillai • Padmini Priyadarshini as dancer in Rangoon == Production ==

The 1959 American film The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker, adapted from a play written by Liam O'Brien, which was inspired by a real life incident, was a global success, especially in Madras (now Chennai). Veppatthur Kittu of Gemini Studios wrote a screenplay based on this film (with changes made to suit regional tastes) and approached Sivaji Ganesan to act. He refused, and Gemini Studios proprietor S. S. Vasan produced Kittu's screenplay in Hindi as Grahasti (1963). When Ganesan saw this film, he offered to act if Kittu made a Tamil version. Vasan later announced the Tamil version, titled Motor Sundaram Pillai. Like Grahasti, this too featured some changes from the American film. It marked the directorial debut of Vasan's son Balan. Cinematography was handled by P. Ellappa. == Soundtrack ==

The soundtrack album was composed by M. S. Viswanathan. In the song "Gubu Gubu Naan Engine", singer L. R. Eswari imitated engine sounds while A. L. Raghavan imitated train car sounds. The song "Maname Muruganin" is set in the Carnatic raga known as Hindolam. Lyricist Kothamangalam Subbu initially wanted it to be in Atana, but as Viswanathan wanted it to be in Hindolam, Subbu assented. The song was re-used in the Telugu film Manchi Kutumbam (1968) as "Manase Andhala Brindavanam". == Release and reception ==

Motor Sundaram Pillai was released on 26 January 1966. T. M. Ramachandran of Sport and Pastime wrote, "Though, up to the interval, it contains the usual quota of songs, dances, romantic chases of the young lovers and comedy [...] it grips the audience with a clever and logical twist in the story." == References ==