Navarathinam

Navarathinam (transl. Nine Gems) is a 1977 Indian Tamil-language road film, written and directed by A. P. Nagarajan, his final film. It stars M. G. Ramachandran, Latha, Jayachitra and Zarina Wahab. The film was released on 5 March 1977, and failed commercially.

Navarathinam
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	A. P. Nagarajan
Written by	A. P. Nagarajan
Produced by	C. N. Venkataswami
Starring	M. G. Ramachandran Latha Jayachitra Zarina Wahab
Cinematography	A. Shanmugham
Edited by	T. Vijaya Rangam R. G. Pandhu Rangam
Music by	Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Production company	C. N. V. Movies
Release date	5 March 1977 (1977-03-05)
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Plot

Thangam, lives up to his name as a gold-hearted person, leaves his house in search of a future. He meets nine different women from different statuses in life and they all fall in love with him and help him. He first meets Manikkam who is a kurathi who falls in love with him and whom he falls in love with. He then meets Pushpa who is a stage performer whom he saves but turns down her proposal and moves on. Then he meets Maragadam, Muthamma, and Gomaidi and his journey continues. He meets and reforms a prostitute Vairam. He meets a hipster Neela to whom he shows how deep and valuable the culture is. He finally meets Pavalai and Vayiduriam before marrying Manikkam in the end.

Cast

Lead actor

• M. G. Ramachandran as Thangam

Lead actresses

• Latha as Manikkam
• Zarina Wahab as Pushpa
• P. R. Varalakshmi as Maragadam
• Shubha as Muthamma
• Jaya as Gomaidi
• Sripriya as Vairam
• Y. Vijaya as Neela
• Jayachitra as Pavalai^[1]
• Kumari Padmini as Vayiduriyam

Supporting actresses

• S. Varalakshmi as Thangam's mother
• C. K. Saraswathi as Sagunan
• S. N. Lakshmi as Pangajethamma
• Puspalatha as Pavalai's sister

Supporting actors

• A. V. M. Rajan as Raja
• M. N. Nambiar as Dharmaseelan
• P. S. Veerappa as Manaru
• Nagesh as Ratnam
• Thengai Srinivasan as Muthamma's father
• C. R. Parthiban as IG of Police
• K. Kannan as Gunaseelan
• M. B. Shetty as Djagou
• Senthamarai as Police inspector
• Isari Velan as Pavalai's uncle
• Shanmugasundari as Tripurasundari / Pimpstress
• Ennathe Kannaiah as Villager
• Oru Viral Krishna Rao as The worker of teashop
• Loose Mohan as House broker
• T. K. S. Natarajan as Housekeeper

Production

Navarathinam was A. P. Nagarajan's final film, as well as his only film with M. G. Ramachandran.^[2] Considering the poor financial plight of Nagarajan, Ramachandran acted in the film without taking any remuneration and concentrated on minimal budget, by shooting all the scenes in his Sathya Studios, without outdoor shoots.^[3] Zarina Wahab initially suggested her friend Vijaya for one of the female lead roles, but Ramachandran refused; Wahab herself was chosen.^[4]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan.^[5] The song "Ladke Se Mili Ladki", written by Bollywood lyricist P. L. Santoshi, consists predominantly of Hindi lyrics.^[6]

Song	Singers	Lyrics	Length
"Ladke Se Mili Ladki" (Aa Gaye Hain) (Hindi)	K. J. Yesudas & Vani Jairam	P. L. Santoshi	4:36 (film version)
"Puriyaadhadhai Puriyavaikkum"	P. Susheela, (MGR for dialogues)	Na. Kamarasan	3:01 (film version)
"Palukku Kanda Sa Kerugu" (Telugu, English & Carnatic)	Balamuralikrishna & Vani Jairam, (MGR & Y. Vijaya for dialogues)	Nellai Arulmani	8:38 (film version)
"Ungalil Nam Annaavai Paarkiren"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Vani Jairam	Pulamaipithan	2:58 (film version)
"Kuruvikkaara Machchaane"	Balamuralikrishna & Vani Jairam	Vaali	3:28 (film version)
"Maanum Odi Varalaam" (Not in the movie, not held)	K. J. Yesudas	Muthulingam	3:03 (film version)

Release and reception

Navarathinam was released on 5 March 1977.^[7][8] Kanthan of Kalki negatively reviewed the film, criticising Nagarajan's execution of an innovative story.^[9] Ananda Vikatan called the film a "a march of nine gems", noting that though the story was subpar, there was amusement.^[3] The film failed commercially;^[10] according to historian Sachi Sri Kantha, a potential reason was that the plot was strung around "national unity" as a political propaganda for Ramachandran's newly formed party and it's then ally Indira Gandhi's Congress Party, prior to the 1977 Indian general election.^[3]