Babu (1971 film)

Babu is a 1971 Indian Tamil-language film directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar.^[1] The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Vijayasri, Sowcar Janaki, and Vennira Aadai Nirmala. It is a remake of the Malayalam film Odayil Ninnu,^[2] which itself was based on P. Kesavadev's novel of the same name.^[3][4] Ganesan played a rickshaw puller who adopts his landlord's daughter.^[5][6][7] The film became a blockbuster at the box office, running for over 100 days in theatres.^[8]

Babu
Poster
Directed by	A. C. Tirulokchandar
Screenplay by	A. C. Tirulokchandar
Based on	Odayil Ninnu by P. Kesavadev
Starring	Sivaji Ganesan Vijayasri Sowcar Janaki Vennira Aadai Nirmala
Cinematography	M. Viswanatha Rai
Edited by	R. G. Gopu
Music by	M. S. Viswanathan
Production company	Cine Bharath Productions
Distributed by	AVM Productions
Release date	18 October 1971 (1971-10-18)
Running time	169 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Plot

Babu is an orphan and a rickshaw puller. He loses the only person he has ever loved, the lunch girl Kannamma, and gives up on life. Once, he meets Sankar, who takes him to his house, gives him his new clothes as he is in impoverished state and lets his daughter eat with him on the same plate without any regards to his appearance or class. Babu becomes indebted to the family for life. Sankar dies and Babu takes it upon himself to fulfil the dreams of Sankar, making Ammu a graduate.

With the usual troubles of society miscasting the relationship between Parvathi and Babu, things get worse when Ammu falls in love with Prem affecting her education. She realises the truth soon and starts focusing on her education. Finally, when time comes for marriage between rich Prem and educated Ammu, Babu wants to stay away for he does not want the stigma of being brought up by a poor uneducated rickshaw associated with her. Ammu, Parvathi, Prem and Vedhachalam, millionaire father of Prem, insist on his presence and with the threat of calling off the marriage, he relents.

Cast

• Sivaji Ganesan as Babu^[9]
• Sowcar Janaki as Parvathi
• Balaji as Sankar
• Sundarrajan as Vedhachalam
• V. K. Ramasamy as Singaram Pillai
• Nagesh as Thulukanam
• Sivakumar as Prem
• M. R. R. Vasu as Vatti Vadivel
• B. Nirmala as Ammu
• Vijayasri as Kannamma
• Vijayachandrika as Thulukanam's wife
• Roja Ramani as Young Ammu
• Sridevi as Child Ammu^[10]
• S. V. Ramadas as Mill Owner
• A. Karunanidhi as Siluvai
• K. M. Nambirajan as Enemy
• Subbiah as Rickshaw puller
• Gemini Balu as Rowdy
• Master Ramu as Child Babu
• Shanmugasundari as Bakkiyam (uncredited)
• Kowsalya Senthamarai as Prem's sister (uncredited)

Soundtrack

The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, while the lyrics were written by Vaali.^[11] The song "Idho Endhan Deivam" became popular upon release.^[12]

Song	Singers
"Varadappa Varadappa"	T. M. Soundararajan (Group Corus)
"Aadhi Mudhale"	T. M. Soundararajan, Sirkazhi Govindarajan, L. R. Eswari, S. C. Krishnan
"Idho Endhan Deivam" 1	T. M. Soundararajan
"Antha Kalathil"	L. R. Eswari
"Enna Solla"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, L. R. Eswari
"Idho Endhan Deivam" 2	T. M. Soundararajan, S. Janaki