Aadi Perukku (film)

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 by	K. Shankar
Written by	Makkalanban Javar Seetharaman
Produced by	K. Madhanagopal
Starring	Gemini Ganesan B. Saroja Devi Devika
Cinematography	Thambu
Edited by	K. Shankar K. Neelakandan
Music by	A. M. Rajah
Production company	Madhan Theatres
Release date	2 August 1962 (1962-08-02)
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Plot

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

Male cast[1] Gemini Ganesh as Raja & Philanthropist Krishnan Chandrababu as Biscuit K. D. Santhanam as Ramalingam P. D. Sambandam as Koithan Pillai Karikol Raju G. K. Pillai S. G. Eswaran as Sivanandam C. V. V. Panthulu as Well wisher Mahalingam as Sundaram R. Shankaran Gemini Balu Wahab Kashmiri

Female cast[1] B. Saroja Devi as Padma Devika as Latha M. V. Rajamma as Parvathi K. V. Shanthi as Thangam C. K. Saraswathi as Mangalam Vidyavathi as Principal Devaki as Female Beggar Supporting cast[1] G. V. Sharma, V. P. Natarajan

Production

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

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

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Annaiyin Arule Vaa"	Kothamangalam Subbu	Sirkazhi Govindarajan	3:32
2.	"Idhuthaan Ulagamaa"	Kannadasan	P. Susheela	3:24
3.	"Kannaale Pesum"	K. D. Santhanam	P. Susheela	3:12
4.	"Kannizhanda Manidhar"	Kannadasan	A. M. Raja, P. Susheela	3:12
5.	"Kaaveri Oram"	K. D. Santhanam	P. Susheela	3:16
6.	"Pengal Illaatha"	Kothamangalam Subbu	A. M. Raja, P. Susheela	6:44
7.	"Puriyaathu"	Suratha	P. B. Sreenivas	4:44
8.	"Thanimaiyile Inimai" (duet)	K. D. Santhanam	A. M. Raja, P. Susheela	3:21
9.	"Thanimaiyile Inimai" (male)	K. D. Santhanam	A. M. Raja	3:31
Total length:				33:36

Release and reception

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]