Agathiyar

For the title character, see Agastya.

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.^[2] The film was dubbed into Hindi under the title Maharish in 1986.

Agathiyar
Poster
Directed by	A. P. Nagarajan
Written by	A. P. Nagarajan
Starring	Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Cinematography	W. R. Subba Rao
Edited by	T. Vijayarangam
Music by	Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Production company	Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures
Release date	15 January 1972 (1972-01-15)[1]
Running time	153 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

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 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. 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,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
• 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^[3]
• V. Vasantha
• P. Seethalakshmi
• Kalasree

Soundtrack

Music was composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan.^[4][5] The song "Isaiyai Tamizhai" is set in Kharaharapriya raga.^[6] 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,^[7] Bhairavi,^[8] Todi, Arabhi, Shanmukhapriya, Darbar, Hamsadhwani, Vasantha, Mohanam, Manolayam, Bageshri, Saranga, Kamboji, Gowrimanohari, Kalyani and Saraswathi.

Songs	Singers	Lyrics	Length (m:ss)
"Ulagam Samanilai Peravendum"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan	Ulundurpet Shanmugam	3:06
"Aandavan Tharisaname"	T. R. Mahalingam		3:42
"Malainindra Thirukumara"	T. R. Mahalingam		2:20
"Ventriduven Unnai"	T. M. Soundararajan, Sirkazhi Govindarajan		8:07
"Thaayir Chirandha"	T. K. Kala	Poovai Senguttuvan	2:55
"Kannai Pole Mannai Kakkum"	L. R. Eswari and Chorus	Puthuneri Subramnyam	3:55
"Naadanthai Vaali Kaveri"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan	K. D. Santhanam	3:33
"Thalaiva Thavaputhalvaa"	M. R. Vijaya and P. Radha		4:35
"Isaiyai Thamizhai"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan, T. R. Mahalingam		3:29
"Namachivayamena Solvome"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan, T. R. Mahalingam	Era. Pazhanisamy	4:17
"Muzhu Muthar Porulae"	T. R. Mahalingam	Nellai Arulmani	2:10

Reception

^[9]