Pilot Premnath

Pilot Premnath
Pilot Premnath
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	A. C. Tirulokchandar
Screenplay by	A. C. Tirulokchandar
Based on	Mezhugu Bommaigal; by R. Venkat
Produced by	D. M. Chandrasena; M. M. Saleem; T Mukundan Menon;
Starring	Sivaji Ganesan; Malini Fonseka
Cinematography	T. S. Vinayagam
Edited by	B. Kanthasamy
Music by	M. S. Viswanathan
Production; company	Cine India Productions
Release date	30 October 1978;
Countries	India; Sri Lanka
Language	Tamil

Pilot Premnath is a 1978 Tamil-language film written and directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan as the eponymous character. It is based on R. Venkat's play Mezhugu Bommaigal (transl. Wax Figurines). The film, the first joint Indo-Sri Lankan co-production in history, was shot entirely in Sri Lanka, while post-production took place in India. It was released on 30 October 1978.

Plot

Pilot Premnath, devastated by the tragic loss of his wife in an accident, redirects his love and affection towards his two sons and a blind daughter. However, a significant shift occurs when he discovers an unsent letter written by his late wife.

Cast

Sivaji Ganesan as Premnath
Malini Fonseka as Premnath's wife
Vijayakumar as Premnath's son
Jai Ganesh as Premnath's son
Jayachitra as Vijayakumar's lover
Sridevi as Kanchan
Major Sundarrajan as Balu
Prem Anand as Kanchan's lover
Thengai Srinivasan as Premnath's co-pilot
Manorama as Thengai Srinivasan's wife
Sathyapriya as Jai Ganesh's lover

Production

Pilot Premnath was directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar, who also wrote the screenplay while Aaroor Dass wrote the dialogues. The film was produced by D. M. Chandrasena, Mukundan Menon and M. M. Saleem. The first joint Indo-Sri Lankan co-production in history, it was shot entirely in Sri Lanka, while post-production took place in Madras, India.^[1]^[2] The film was an adaptation of the play Mezhugu Bommaigal written by R. Venkat.^[3] Sivaji Ganesan portrayed the lead character originally played by A. R. Srinivasan,^[4] and Sridevi portrayed that character's blind daughter, reprising the role originally played by Sachu.^[5]^[6]

Soundtrack

The songs were composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and written by Vaali.^[7] The song "Azhagi Oruthi" belongs to Baila, a Sri Lankan genre.^[8]

Track listing
No.	Title	Singer(s)
1.	"Ilangaiyin Ilam Kuyil"	T. M. Soundararajan, Vani Jairam
2.	"Azhagi Oruthi"	P. Jayachandran, L. R. Eswari
3.	"Muruganendra Thirunaamam"	T. M. Soundararajan
4.	"Who Is The Black Sheep"	T. M. Soundararajan
5.	"Kopithootta Mudhalalikku"	L. R. Eswari, Ceylon Manohar

Release and reception

Pilot Premnath was released on 30 October 1978, Diwali day.^[9] The Hindu wrote, "Excellent photography is the chief asset of Pilot Premnath". The Indian Express wrote, "Captivating photography and M. S. Viswanathan's music. A few of the melodious numbers are bound to become hits".^[10] Kousigan of Kalki appreciated the film for its music and cinematography, especially the capturing of Sri Lankan locales on camera.^[11] Kumudam described Tirulokchandar as an expert in making a rich story dramatic, the ending as delicious ending, and concluded it was a once-in-a-lifetime feat.^[12] Ananda Vikatan rated the film 48 out of 100.^[13] Historian Randor Guy noted that the film was a "reasonable success" in both the countries it was produced.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Guy, Randor (19 April 2014). "Pilot Premnath 1978". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
^ Fernando, Susitha (10 July 2012). "Indo-Lanka film-production after four decades". The Sunday Times. Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
^ Venkatramanan, Geetha (30 March 2012). "Drama with dignity". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
^ Kumar, S. R. Ashok (6 January 2012). "Showbitz – 'Kolaveri' rules!". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
^ Kumar, S. R. Ashok (13 April 2012). "Showbitz". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
^ "ரோஜா மலரே! - 67: நடிகரால் ஏற்பட்ட காயம் - குமாரி சச்சு". Dinamani (in Tamil). 6 December 2020. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
^ "Pilot Premnath Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
^ Vamanan (6 February 2018). "His Surangani ferried Baila tunes from Lankan shores". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
^ "கமலுக்கு 'சிகப்பு ரோஜாக்கள்' - ரஜினிக்கு 'தாய் மீது சத்தியம்' - மேலும் கமலுக்கு 4 ; ரஜினிக்கு 2". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 3 November 2019. Archived from the original on 3 November 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
^ "பைலட் பிரேம்நாத்". Dina Thanthi. 17 December 1978. p. 12. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
^ கெளசிகன் (12 November 1978). "பைலட் பிரேம்நாத்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 57. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
^ தீனதயாளன், பா. (18 June 2016). "'நட்சத்திர இயக்குநர்' திருலோகசந்தர்!". Dinamani (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 21 June 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
^ "விகடன் பொக்கிஷம்: ஒரு தீபாவளி... 11 படங்கள்!". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 19 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.

External links

Pilot Premnath at IMDb

[randor_guy-1] Guy, Randor (19 April 2014). "Pilot Premnath 1978". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.

[2] Fernando, Susitha (10 July 2012). "Indo-Lanka film-production after four decades". The Sunday Times. Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.

[3] Venkatramanan, Geetha (30 March 2012). "Drama with dignity". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.

[4] Kumar, S. R. Ashok (6 January 2012). "Showbitz – 'Kolaveri' rules!". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.

[5] Kumar, S. R. Ashok (13 April 2012). "Showbitz". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.

[6] "ரோஜா மலரே! - 67: நடிகரால் ஏற்பட்ட காயம் - குமாரி சச்சு". Dinamani (in Tamil). 6 December 2020. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.

[7] "Pilot Premnath Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.

[8] Vamanan (6 February 2018). "His Surangani ferried Baila tunes from Lankan shores". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2021.

[9] "கமலுக்கு 'சிகப்பு ரோஜாக்கள்' - ரஜினிக்கு 'தாய் மீது சத்தியம்' - மேலும் கமலுக்கு 4 ; ரஜினிக்கு 2". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 3 November 2019. Archived from the original on 3 November 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2021.

[10] "பைலட் பிரேம்நாத்". Dina Thanthi. 17 December 1978. p. 12. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.

[11] கெளசிகன் (12 November 1978). "பைலட் பிரேம்நாத்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 57. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.

[12] தீனதயாளன், பா. (18 June 2016). "'நட்சத்திர இயக்குநர்' திருலோகசந்தர்!". Dinamani (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 21 June 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2024.

[13] "விகடன் பொக்கிஷம்: ஒரு தீபாவளி... 11 படங்கள்!". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 19 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.

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