Thai Meethu Sathiyam (transl. I swear upon my mother) is a 1978 Indian Tamil-language Curry Western film directed by R. Thyagarajan and produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar. The film stars Rajinikanth and Sripriya, with Mohan Babu, Prabhakar, Suruli Rajan, Sundararajan, A. V. M. Rajan, S. A. Ashokan, Nagesh, Ambareesh, Jayamalini and Sukumari in supporting roles. It focuses on a shepherd who vows to avenge his parents by killing the murderers.
Thai Meethu Sathiyam | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | R. Thyagarajan |
Story by | Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar |
Produced by | Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar |
Starring | |
Cinematography | V. Ramamurthy |
Edited by | M. G. Balu Rao |
Music by | Shankar–Ganesh |
Production company | Dhandayuthapani Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 137 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Tamil |
The film was originally planned by Thevar in the late 1960s under the title Marupiravi (transl. Rebirth) with M. G. Ramachandran intended to star; however, as Ramachandran was unwell at that time, as well as involved in a legal case, the film was shelved. Thevar later revived the project as Thai Meethu Sathiyam, with Rajinikanth cast in the lead role as Ramachandran had retired from acting by then. It was the last film produced by Thevar to be released; he died when the film was still in production.
Thai Meethu Sathiyam was released on 30 October 1978, a month after Thevar's death, and became a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.
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Babu is a shepherd with a dog named Ramu. When criminals Balu and Johnny murder his parents, he swears upon his mother that he will have revenge. Babu trains under the local zamindar, and is revealed to be naturally skilled at marksmanship. After dressing himself like a cowboy, equipping himself with the zamindar's guns and a horse, and with Ramu as his aide, he fulfils his promise by killing the criminals.
In the late 1960s, Chinnappa Thevar had planned to produce a film starring M. G. Ramachandran, titled Marupiravi; however, Ramachandran was unwell at that time, as well as involved in a legal case, resulting in the film being shelved. Thevar later revived the film in the late 1970s with a new title, Thai Meethu Sathiyam, but as Ramachandran had retired from acting after becoming the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth was instead cast.[5][6] The film, directed by R. Thyagarajan, was Rajinikanth's first film in the Western genre, and the plot took inspiration from several Curry Westerns starring Jaishankar.[3] It was the last film produced by Thevar to be released; he died on 8 September when the film was still in production.[7]
Thai Meethu Sathiyam deals with one of the most recurrent themes in Tamil cinema: revenge. Like most Thyagarajan films, this has an animal playing a prominent character. The Economic Times likened the relationship between Babu and his dog Ramu to that of Wallace and Gromit.[8]
The soundtrack was composed by the duo Shankar–Ganesh.[9]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Neram Vandhachu" | Mara | P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan | 3:55 |
2. | "Sathiyathin Thathuvathai" | Barani | T. M. Soundararajan | 3:51 |
3. | "Babu Babu Enge" | Barani | P. Susheela | 3:22 |
4. | "Uravum Undu" | Barani | P. Susheela | 3:56 |
Total length: | 15:04 |
Thai Meethu Sathiyam was released on 30 October 1978, Diwali day.[10] Despite facing competition from many other Diwali releases,[11] the film became a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres,[12] and Rajinikanth "carved out for himself a niche in vendetta roles".[1]
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Works by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar | |
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