{{Use Indian English|date=July 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox film | name = Avan Pithana? | image = Avan Pithana.jpg | caption = Poster | director = P. Neelakantan | screenplay = M. Karunanidhi | based_on = {{Based on|''Dagudu Moothalu''}} | producer = R. Periyanayagam<br />S. P. Karupaiah<br />P. Angamuthu | starring = S. S. Rajendran<br />C. R. Vijayakumari | cinematography = T. M. Sundara Babu | editing = | music = R. Parthasarathi | studio = Umayal Productions | released = {{Film date|df=yes|1966|4|29}} | country = India | language = Tamil }} '''''Avan Pithana?''''' ({{translation|Is He Mad?}}) is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film directed by P. Neelakantan, produced by R. Periyanayagam and written by M. Karunanidhi. It is a remake of the Telugu film ''Dagudu Moothalu'' (1964). The film stars S. S. Rajendran, C. R. Vijayakumari, S. V. Sahasranamam, T. S. Balaiah and T. P. Muthulakshmi. It was released on 29 April 1966.
== Plot == {{more plot|date=July 2022}} Nallaiah, a wealthy industrialist, discovers his son intends to marry an impoverished woman, causing Nallaiah to disown him. The son and wife die separately, leaving their son Kumar destitute. A couple running a tea shop adopt Kumar and raise him as their own. One day, Kumar offers the shop as shelter to a young woman named Gomathi. He later gets her a job as Nallaiah's nurse, unaware of his own relation. Nallaiah is ill and shows regret over his decision to disown his son. Nallaiah gives Gomathi access to his safe as a sign of trust. When Nallaiah dies, this leads to a war over his property. Two miscreants forge Nallaiah's will to give themselves inheritance, but Kumar is able to prove that he is Nallaiah's grandson and receives the inheritance.
== Cast == {{cast listing| * S. S. Rajendran as Kumar * C. R. Vijayakumari as Gomathi * S. V. Sahasranamam as Nallaiah * T. S. Balaiah and T. P. Muthulakshmi as miscreants * Nagesh as Chinnaya * Sachu as Sasi * Udaya Chandrika * A. Karunanidhi * Pakoda Kadhar }}
== Production == ''Avan Pithana?'' was directed by P. Neelakantan and produced by R. Periyanayagam, S. P. Karupaiah and P. Angamuthu under Umayal Productions.<ref name="lakshmansruthi" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=8 May 1966 |title=அவன் பித்தனா? |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1966/may/08-05-1966/p33.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220726034823/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1966/may/08-05-1966/p33.jpg |archive-date=26 July 2022 |access-date=26 July 2022 |magazine=Kalki |page=33 |language=ta}}</ref> It was remade from the Telugu film ''Dagudu Moothalu'' (1964),<ref>{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=3 June 2017 |title=Dagudu Moothalu (1964) |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/blast-from-the-past-dagudu-moothalu-1964/article18713343.ece |url-status=live |access-date=14 February 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180214154419/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/blast-from-the-past-dagudu-moothalu-1964/article18713343.ece |archive-date=14 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nadadhur |first=Srivathsan |date=20 August 2015 |title=Daagudu Moothalu: The 'hidden' treasures unveiled |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/daagudu-moothalu-the-hidden-treasures-unveiled/article7561719.ece |url-status=live |access-date=7 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206140748/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/daagudu-moothalu-the-hidden-treasures-unveiled/article7561719.ece |archive-date=6 December 2017}}</ref> with M. Karunanidhi writing the remake, while T. M. Sundara Babu handled the cinematography.<ref name="RandorGuy" /> The final length of the film was {{convert|4379|metres|feet}}.<ref name="lakshmansruthi" />
== Soundtrack == The soundtrack was composed by R. Parthasarathi.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Avan Pithana |url=https://tamilsongslyrics123.com/movie/Avan%20Pithana |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917052949/https://tamilsongslyrics123.com/movie/Avan%20Pithana |archive-date=17 September 2021 |access-date=17 September 2021 |website=Tamil Songs Lyrics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Avan Piththana |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/avan-piththana-mw0001581586 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180214163244/https://www.allmusic.com/album/avan-piththana-mw0001581586 |archive-date=14 February 2018 |access-date=14 February 2018 |website=AllMusic}}</ref> {{Track listing | headline = Track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | title1 = Iraivan Irukkindrana | lyrics1 = Kannadasan | extra1 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | length1 = 5:19 | title2 = Kizhakku Veluthathadi | lyrics2 = Kannadasan | extra2 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | length2 = 3:31 | title3 = Aayiram Mutham | lyrics3 = Trichy Thiyagarajan | extra3 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | length3 = 3:11 | title4 = Maapillai Manasukku | extra4 = P. Susheela | lyrics4 = M. K. Athmanathan | length4 = 3:31 | title5 = Aandavan Padaippil | extra5 = L. R. Eswari | lyrics5 = Kannadasan | length5 = 3:23 | total_length = 18:55 <!-- Automatically generated with User:JPxG/TrackSum.js --> }}
== Release and reception == ''Avan Pithana?'' was released on 29 April 1966.<ref name="lakshmansruthi" /> ''Kalki'' praised it for the performances of Rajendran, Vijayakumari and Balaiah, but felt Nagesh could have been better utilised.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=15 May 1966 |title=அவன் பித்தனா? |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1966/may/15-05-1966/p29.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220726035527/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1966/may/15-05-1966/p29.jpg |archive-date=26 July 2022 |access-date=17 November 2021 |magazine=Kalki |page=29 |language=ta}}</ref>
== References == <references>
<ref name="RandorGuy">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=13 August 2016 |title=Avan Pithana? (1966) |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Avan-Pithana-1966/article14568245.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170601081505/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Avan-Pithana-1966/article14568245.ece |archive-date=1 June 2017 |access-date=14 February 2018 |work=The Hindu}}</ref> <ref name="lakshmansruthi">{{Cite web |title=1966 – அவன் பித்தனா – உமையாள் புரொ. |trans-title=1966 – Avan Pithana – Umayal Pro. |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1966-cinedetails2.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180214152823/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1966-cinedetails2.asp |archive-date=14 February 2018 |access-date=14 February 2018 |website=Lakshman Sruthi |language=Tamil}}</ref>
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== External links == * {{IMDb title|0247940}} {{P. Neelakantan}} Category:1966 Indian films Category:1966 Tamil-language films Category:1966 comedy-drama films Category:1966 films Category:Films directed by P. Neelakantan Category:Films with screenplays by M. Karunanidhi Category:Indian comedy-drama films Category:Tamil remakes of Telugu films Category:Tamil-language Indian films