Thanippiravi

Thanippiravi (transl. Exceptional One) is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language film directed by M. A. Thirumugam starring M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa. The film, produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar, was released on 16 September 1966, and was not commercially successful, having run for ten weeks in theatres.

Thanippiravi
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	M. A. Thirumugam
Screenplay by	Aaroor Dass
Story by	Madurai Thirumaran
Produced by	Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar
Starring	M. G. Ramachandran Jayalalithaa
Cinematography	N. S. Varma
Edited by	M. A. Thirumugam M. G. Balu Rao
Music by	K. V. Mahadevan
Production company	Thevar Films
Release date	16 September 1966 (1966-09-16)
Running time	145 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Plot

Cast

• M. G. Ramachandran as Muthaiya
• C. L. Anandan as Ravi
• M. N. Nambiar as Sub-inspector Soundharam
• S. A. Ashokan as Rathnapuram
• Nagesh as Chowry
• V. K. Ramasamy as Doreracy
• Athithyan as Singaram
• Tiruchi Selandhar Rajan as Madhasamy
• Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar as the boss
• Jayalalithaa as Radha
• Revathi as Sivagami
• Manorama as Gowry
• P. K. Saraswathi as Meenatchi

Production

In the film, Ramachandran's character initially sports a beard and beret, taking inspiration from the Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara.^[1]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics by Kannadasan.^[2] The song "Uzhaikkum Kaigale" conveys Ramachandran's leftist beliefs, and highlights "the role of the worker in building society".^[1]

Song	Singers	Length
"Ethir Paaramal"	P. Susheela	05:38
"Kannathil Ennadi"	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	03:36
"Oray Muraithan"	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	03:09
"Neram Nalla Neram" (Duet)	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	03:13
"Neram Nalla Neram" (Solo)	T. M. Soundararajan	03:30
"Sirippenna Sirppenna"	P. Susheela	04:33
"Uzhaikkum Kaigale"	T. M. Soundararajan	03:12

Release and reception

Thanippiravi was released on 16 September 1966 in most centres, and on 18 September in Madras (now Chennai).^[3][4] Kalki said the film stood out compared to other Tamil films with regards to action and romance sequences.^[5] The film was not commercially successful, having run for ten weeks in theatres.^[1] Since Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa appeared as the gods Murugan and Valli in a dream sequence, many of the actors' fans worshipped pictures of the actors in their goddess avatars as if worshipping the actual gods.^[6][7]