Cast
What it is about
Muthaiya is a young agronomist and farmer, resourceful and hardworking, who introduces new sowing methods on his family's land with the aim of raising harvests for the benefit of ordinary people rather than profit. When he defends farmers who have been dispossessed of their land by a neighbouring big landowner, Velupandhiyan, he earns that man's enmity. The story grows more tangled through a romance between Muthaiya and Vijaya, who happens to be the landowner's sister-in-law.
How it was made
Vivasayi was directed by M. A. Thirumugam and produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar, who also appears in the film in a role. The lead, M. G. Ramachandran, was shot in the throat by M. R. Radha in January 1967 while the project was underway. While he was recovering in hospital, Chinnappa Thevar visited him and paid the advance for the film. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and the cast also includes K. R. Vijaya, Manorama, Nagesh and M. N. Nambiar.
Reception and legacy
The film was released on 1 November 1967, on Diwali day, and was distributed by Senthil Movies. The Indian Express criticised it for lacking contact with reality despite presenting itself as a realistic portrait of rural life. The magazine Kalki, meanwhile, had little to say about the story or the performances.
Trivia
A shoot interrupted
The lead actor was shot in the throat in January 1967 and was hospitalised while the film was in progress. Its producer visited him in hospital and paid the advance for the project.
A real agricultural setting
The title song was filmed in the fields of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University rather than on a studio set.
Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.