{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox film | image = Illara Jothi.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = G. R. Rao<br />[[T. R. Sundaram]] (supervisor) | story = [[Kannadasan]] | producer = [[T. R. Sundaram]] | starring = [[Sivaji Ganesan]]<br />[[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]]<br />[[Sriranjani Jr.|Sriranjani]] | cinematography = G. R. Rao | editing = L. Balu | music = [[G. Ramanathan]] | studio = [[Modern Theatres]] | released = {{Film date|1954|04|09|df=y}} | country = India | language = Tamil }}
'''''Illara Jothi''''' ({{Translation|The Light of the House}}) is a 1954 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language film, directed by G. R. Rao and produced by [[Modern Theatres]]. The film stars [[Sivaji Ganesan]], [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]] and [[Sriranjani Jr.|Sriranjani]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=11-20 |url=http://nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp2.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213527/http://nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp2.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=2 September 2014 |website=nadigarthilagam.com}}</ref> It was released on 9 April 1954.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 April 1954 |title=Illara Jothi |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19540409&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=2 April 2019 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=1 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
== Plot == Manohar is an under appreciated poet and playwright. He is married to Kaveri, a kind hearted personality who cannot match Manohar's intellect. During his travails he is found by Chitra, a connoisseur of fine arts and drama. She encourages Manohar to become a published author and refers him to her contacts. Manohar achieves dramatic success, money flows in to his life, his lifestyle changes and he spends a lot of time with Chitra neglecting Kaveri. After some struggles he realises Kaveri is ready to let go of him and sacrifice her love for him. He realises his selfishness in this drama and apologises to both Kaveri and Chitra, finally making up with Kaveri. {{No plot|date=July 2021}}
== Cast == Cast according to the opening credits and the song book.<ref name="songbook">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/download/sok.IllaraJothi_G.R.Rao_1954/124.%20Illara%20Jothi_G.R.Rao_1954.pdf |title=இல்லற ஜோதி |publisher=[[Modern Theatres]] |year=1954 |language=ta |trans-title=The Light of the House |type=[[song book]] |access-date=17 June 2022 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> {{Col-begin|width=60%}} {{col-break|width=50%}} ;Male cast * [[Sivaji Ganesan]] as Manohar * [[K. A. Thangavelu|Thangavelu]] as Nettilingam * K. K. Perumal as Professor * Thirupathisami as Savadhan Pillai * M. N. Krishnan as Monk * [[S. A. Ashokan|Ashokan]] as Mohan * Rama Rao as Ameena * Sethupathi as Unani Doctor * Kottapuli Jayaraman as Story Seer * Kittan as Publishing Boss * [[K. K. Soundar|Soundar]] as Rajaman Singh * Raju {{col-break|width=50%}} ;Female cast * [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]] as Chitrakekha * [[Sriranjani, Jr.|Sriranjani]] as Kaveri * [[C. K. Saraswathi]] as Anantha * Kamalam as Lakshmi ;Dance * Chandra-Kamala {{col-end}}
== Production == [[Anarkali]]-[[Jahangir|Salim]] drama appeared in a dance-song sequence in this film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bali |first=Karan |date=19 March 2016 |title=The fascinating tale of the many Anarkalis |url=https://scroll.in/reel/805349/the-fascinating-tale-of-the-many-anarkalis |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228054122/https://scroll.in/reel/805349/the-fascinating-tale-of-the-many-anarkalis |archive-date=28 December 2018 |access-date=22 July 2021 |website=[[Scroll.in]]}}</ref> [[Kannadasan]] had claimed in his autobiography that [[M. Karunanidhi]] had plagiarised his script, when he (Kannadasan) was serving a jail sentence for his activism as a group leader for the [[Kallakudi demonstration]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangaraj |first=R. |date=4 October 2020 |title=P K Muthusamy, writer-lyricist in centenary year -- did not want to be a burden to mankind |url=http://chennai2000plus.com/news-events/35/p-k-muthusamy-writer-lyricist-in-centenary-year-did-not-want-to-be-a-burden-to-mankind |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915070332/http://chennai2000plus.com/news-events/35/p-k-muthusamy-writer-lyricist-in-centenary-year-did-not-want-to-be-a-burden-to-mankind |archive-date=15 September 2021 |access-date=15 September 2021 |website=Chennai2000plus.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sri Kantha |first=Sachi |author-link=Sachi Sri Kantha |date=5 May 2019 |title=MGR Remembered – Part 51 {{!}} About the Plagiarism charge on Karunanidhi |url=https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-51/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909131651/https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-51/ |archive-date=9 September 2021 |access-date=15 September 2021 |website=[[Ilankai Tamil Sangam]]}}</ref> The [[song book]], however, does not include Karunanidhi's name for his contribution.<ref name="songbook" />
== Soundtrack == The music was composed by [[G. Ramanathan]]. Lyrics were by Kannadasan.<ref name="songbook" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Neelamegam |first=G. |title=Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 |publisher=Manivasagar Publishers |year=2014 |location=Chennai |pages=67 |language=ta}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" ! Song !! Singers !! Length |- | "Kalangamillaa Kaadhalile" || [[A. M. Rajah]] & [[Jikki]] || 02:01 |- | "Siruvizhi Kurunagai" || [[P. Leela]] || 03:31 |- | "Annam Polum...Paar Paar Paar Indha Paravayai Paar" || Swarnalatha || 03:09 |- | "Unakkum Enakkum Uravu Kaatti" || Jikki || 02:50 |- | "Chittu Pole Vaanagam" || Jikki || 03:00 |- | "Ketpadhellam Kaadhal Geedhangale"|| P. Leela || 04:08 |- | "Kalyaana Vaiboga Naale" || Jikki || 03.00 |- | "Pennillaa Oorile Pirandhu" || Jikki || 03:20 |- | "Kangal Irandil Onru Ponal" || S. J. Kantha || 03:34 |- | "Kalai Thenoorum Kanni Thamizh" || A. M. Rajah & P. Leela || 04:10 |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title}}
{{Modern Theatres}}
[[Category:1954 Indian films]] [[Category:1954 Tamil-language films]] [[Category:1954 drama films]] [[Category:1954 films]] [[Category:Films scored by G. Ramanathan]] [[Category:Indian drama films]] [[Category:Tamil-language drama films]] [[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]