{{short description|1974 film by P. Madhavan}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox film | image = Thangappathakkam.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = P. Madhavan | writer = Mahendran | based_on = {{Based on|''Thangappathakkam''|Mahendran}} | producer = Shanthi Narayanaswamy<br />T. Manohar | starring = Sivaji Ganesan<br />K. R. Vijaya<br />Srikanth<br />Prameela | cinematography = P. N. Sundaram | editing = R. Devarajan | music = M. S. Viswanathan | studio = Sivaji Productions | released = {{film date|df=yes|1974|6|1}} | runtime = 164 minutes{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=262}} | country = India | language = Tamil }} '''''Thangappathakkam''''' ({{translation|Gold medal}}) is a 1974 Indian Tamil-language crime drama film, directed by P. Madhavan and written by Mahendran. Based on Mahendran's play of the same name, the film stars Sivaji Ganesan, K. R. Vijaya, Srikanth and Prameela. It focuses on a disciplined police officer who is dedicated to his job, while his rebellious son, on the contrary, is a criminal and resents his father. Ganesan reprises his role from the play.
''Thangappathakkam'' was released on 1 June 1974. The film was a commercial success, running for over 175 days in theatres, and thereby becoming a silver jubilee film. It served as an inspiration for the Telugu film ''Kondaveeti Simham'' (1981), the Hindi film ''Shakti'' (1982) and the Kannada film ''Kadamba'' (2004).
== Plot == Choudhry is a strict and committed police officer. Though a loving husband and father, his top priority is his duty. While he upholds the principles of justice and honesty, his son Jagan proves contrary to this even at a young age. After his father berates him for skipping school and indulging in gambling, Jagan runs away from home. He lands in Bombay, where he is caught by the police for a petty theft and sent to juvenile prison. Though Choudhry's wife Lakshmi longs to meet their son, Choudhry prevents her as he feels it would hamper Jagan's reformation process.
Years later, Choudhry is promoted to Superintendent of Police. Jagan, after his release, returns home. While affectionate towards his mother, he still dislikes his father. This hatred has been ingrained over the years since his father had ignored him for the sake of duty. Jagan falls in love with a woman named Vimala, marries and brings her home. Choudhry and Lakshmi accept her, hoping that all differences have been sorted out and they would now be able to enjoy domestic happiness. However, father and son are still at loggerheads.
Jagan, who befriended other criminals in prison, indulges in several illegal activities like theft, kidnapping and smuggling, and is wanted by the police. Choudhry tries his best to reform Jagan, but fails. His repeated attempts to reform him are misunderstood by Jagan, who decides to take revenge on his father for blocking his path to easy riches. In their fight, the family splits, and a depressed Lakshmi dies. Jagan does not come even for her cremation.
Jagan decides to sell sensitive military documents to a foreign country for a large sum. Choudhry learns of this, confronts him and persuades him to stop, but Jagan refuses and shoots Choudhry, who is forced to shoot back. Jagan dies in the arms of Choudhry, who survives, and is later rewarded with a gold medal for his valour.
== Cast == <!-- sorted per credits --> {{cast listing| * Sivaji Ganesan as S. P. Choudhry * K. R. Vijaya as Lakshmi * Srikanth as Jagan * Prameela as Vimala * V. K. Ramasamy as Gopalsamy * Major Sundarrajan as Mayandi * Cho as Constable Sundaram and Vaiyapuri * R. S. Manohar as Manimangalam Minor * Suruli Rajan as Soodamani * Manorama as Muthammal * Pushpamala as Karuppaiee * V. R. Thilakam as Savithiri * K. Vijayan as D. I. G. Palanivel *Poornam Viswanathan (guest appearance) * Veeraragavan as Rajasekaran Chettiar / Inspector Nithyanandan }}
== Production == ''Irandil Ondru'' ({{Translation|One in two}}) was a play written by Mahendran for actor Senthamarai.<ref name="dinamalarnellai" /> While naming the male lead character, a Superintendent of Police, Mahendran could not find any convincing name in Tamil; he found the Bengali name "Choudhry" convincing, and finalised that name.{{sfn|Mahendran|2013|p=224}} After seeing the play, Sivaji Ganesan bought the rights and staged the play again with some changes under the title ''Thangappathakkam'', starring as Choudhry.{{sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|p=183}}<ref name="Hindu Tamil" /> This play, which was inaugurated in 1972, was directed by S. A. Kannan.<ref name="TCRC" /> It became a huge success, being staged more than 100 times.<ref name="dinamalarnellai" /> Ganesan's company Sivaji Productions decided to adapt it into a film with the same title, with P. Madhavan directing.{{sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|p=183}}<ref name="Hindu Tamil" />
Ganesan's daughter Shanthi Narayanaswamy produced the film along with T. Manohar.<ref name="TCRC" /><ref name="movie" /> Mahendran wrote the film's dialogues and was also credited for the original story.{{sfn|Mahendran|2013|p=343}} Ganesan reprised his role from the play as Choudhry,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |author-link=G. Dhananjayan |date=7 October 2014 |title=Sivaji: Benchmark for long, colossus forever |url=http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31807&articlexml=Sivaji-Benchmark-for-long-colossus-forever-07102014006005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180822134536/http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31807&articlexml=Sivaji-Benchmark-for-long-colossus-forever-07102014006005 |archive-date=22 August 2018 |access-date=22 August 2018 |work=The Times of India}}</ref> K. R. Vijaya was cast as his wife Lakshmi, reprising the role originally played by Sivakami while Srikanth was cast as Choudhry's son Jagan, reprising the role originally played by Rajapandian.<ref name="TCRC" />{{sfn|Mahendran|2013|p=224}} Cho was cast in two roles: a politician named Vaiyapuri and his older brother Sundaram, a constable.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 December 2016 |title=ஜக்குவுக்குள் ஒரு துக்ளக்! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/90668-.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010060408/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/90668-.html |archive-date=10 October 2019 |access-date=10 October 2019 |work=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 January 2020 |title=திரையில் குடும்பக் கட்டுப்பாடு பிரசாரம் – 1 |url=http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/84013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126175559/http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/84013 |archive-date=26 November 2020 |access-date=2 September 2020 |website=Dinamalar |language=ta |location=Nellai}}</ref> The politician character was not present in the play.<ref name="dinamalarnellai" /> Mahendran did not write any dialogue for the scene where Lakshmi dies, instead he "visually depict[ed] the sorrow of a widower, which was very challenging", although Ganesan managed it successfully in a single take.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prabhakar |first=Siddharth |last2=Ramesh |first2=Neeraja |date=3 April 2019 |title=When silence spoke more than words |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/when-silence-spoke-more-than-words/articleshow/68700331.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191010055345/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/when-silence-spoke-more-than-words/articleshow/68700331.cms |archive-date=10 October 2019 |access-date=10 October 2019 |work=The Times of India}}</ref> Cinematography was handled by P. N. Sundaram, and editing by R. Devarajan.<ref name="movie" /> Choudhry's home was built as set in Vijaya Studios.<ref>{{cite news|title="தங்கப்பதக்கம்" படத்திற்கு ரூ. 1 ½ லட்சம் செலவில் செட் |work=Navamani|language=ta|access-date=24 January 2026|date=1 August 1973|via=Endangered Archives Programme|url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_22_1_58/4.jp2/0,0,5761,8503/5761,8503/0/default.jpg|pages=4|archive-url=https://archive.today/20260124041421/https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_22_1_58/4.jp2/0,0,5761,8503/5761,8503/0/default.jpg|archive-date=24 January 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Themes == According to Ganesan, ''Thangappathakkam'' is not about a man killing his son to receive a gold medal, but a police officer's commitment to his post. In his view, the story elucidates the code of conduct for police officers and how they should perform their duties; the character upholds justice, so the title "Thangappathakkam" (meaning gold medal) actually personifies this dutiful police officer.{{sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|p=183}} Within the film, Vaiyapuri calls the policy Annaism (introduced in 1973 by politician M. G. Ramachandran, described by him as "a blend of the fine aspects of Gandhism, communism and capitalism") as "Appaism" (Anna meaning elder brother and Appa meaning father), as a means of ridiculing the policy which was known for being very radical.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 August 2017 |title=When Annaism sought de-mon |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2017/aug/15/when-annaism-sought-de-mon-1643267--1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181211055723/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2017/aug/15/when-annaism-sought-de-mon-1643267--1.html |archive-date=11 December 2018 |access-date=10 December 2018 |work=The Indian Express}}</ref>
== Soundtrack == The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics by Kannadasan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thanga Pathakkam Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan |url=https://mossymart.com/product/thanga-pathakkam-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814074009/https://mossymart.com/product/thanga-pathakkam-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan-2/ |archive-date=14 August 2021 |access-date=14 August 2021 |website=Mossymart}}</ref> The song "Thatti Sellum" is set in the Carnatic raga known as Valaji,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=16 August 2013 |title=Wake up to Valaji |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/wake-up-to-valaji/article5028958.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203154239/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/wake-up-to-valaji/article5028958.ece |archive-date=3 December 2018 |access-date=3 December 2018 |work=The Hindu}}</ref>{{sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=161}} and "Sumaithangi Saaithal" is set in Harikambhoji.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=6 December 2013 |title=Positively tranquil |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/positively-tranquil/article5429675.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702180738/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/positively-tranquil/article5429675.ece |archive-date=2 July 2018 |access-date=5 June 2019 |work=The Hindu}}</ref>{{sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=159}}
{{Track listing | headline = Track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | title1 = Sothanai Mel Sothanai | extra1 = T. M. Soundararajan, Prameela | length1 = 3:54 | title2 = Thatti Sellum | extra2 = Vani Jairam, Saibaba | length2 = 4:49 | title3 = Nallathoru Kudumbam | extra3 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | length3 = 4:04 | title4 = Sumaithangi Saaithal | extra4 = T. M. Soundararajan | length4 = 3:37 | total_length = 16:24 <!-- Automatically generated with User:JPxG/TrackSum.js --> }}
== Release and reception == <!-- https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP372-6-22-2-80 --> ''Thangappathakkam'' was released on 1 June 1974.<ref name="Hindu Tamil" /> F. C. Arul, the then Inspector General of Tamil Nadu, made all possible arrangements to exhibit the film in 16 mm in all police stations throughout Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{Cite book |last=David |first=C. R. W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l384AAAAMAAJ&q=%22made+all+possible+arrangements+to+exhibit+this+film%22 |title=Cinema as Medium of Communication in Tamil Nadu |publisher=Christian Literature Society |year=1983 |pages=40 |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126175638/https://books.google.com/books?id=l384AAAAMAAJ&q=%22made+all+possible+arrangements+to+exhibit+this+film%22&dq=%22made+all+possible+arrangements+to+exhibit+this+film%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjhkcenttHhAhUEg-YKHdhwA8IQ6AEIKjAA |archive-date=26 November 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 30 June 1974, the Tamil magazine ''Ananda Vikatan'' appreciated the film and mentioned that Ganesan showed how a police officer should behave and live through his fantastic acting, and added that the film was a gold medal for Ganesan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 June 1974 |title=சினிமா விமர்சனம்: ''தங்கப் பதக்கம்'' |trans-title=Movie Review: ''Thanga Pathakkam'' |url=https://www.vikatan.com/arts/nostalgia/41495--2 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200512084242/https://www.vikatan.com/arts/nostalgia/41495--2 |archive-date=12 May 2020 |access-date=12 May 2020 |website=Ananda Vikatan |language=ta}}</ref> Kanthan of ''Kalki'' lauded the performances of the lead cast, particularly Srikanth for portraying a new kind of villain not usually seen in Tamil films, in addition to Madhavan's direction and Mahendran's writing.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=காந்தன் |date=30 June 1984 |title=தங்கப்பதக்கம் |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1974/jun/30-06-1974/p61.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220729032023/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1974/jun/30-06-1974/p61.jpg |archive-date=29 July 2022 |access-date=29 November 2022 |magazine=Kalki |page=61 |language=ta}}</ref> ''Thangappathakkam'' was a commercial success, running for over 175 days in theatres, thereby becoming a silver jubilee film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Selvaraj |first=N. |date=20 March 2017 |title=வெள்ளி விழா கண்ட தமிழ் திரைப்படங்கள் |trans-title=Tamil films that completed silver jubilees |url=http://puthu.thinnai.com/?p=34587 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170329085911/http://puthu.thinnai.com/?p=34587 |archive-date=29 March 2017 |access-date=3 December 2018 |website=Thinnai |language=Tamil}}</ref>{{sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|p=242}} It won the Chennai Film Fans' Association Awards for Best Film, Best Actor (Ganesan), Best Story (Mahendran) and Best Actress (Vijaya).<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 March 2000 |title=அன்றிலிருந்து இன்றுவரை சினிமா |url=http://www.vlambaram.com/archives/March%2015,%2000.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228192205/http://www.vlambaram.com/archives/March%2015,%2000.pdf |archive-date=28 February 2019 |access-date=19 September 2020 |work=Vlambaram |language=ta}}</ref> == Impact == ''Thangappathakkam'' was dubbed in Telugu as ''Bangaru Pathakkam'' in 1976.{{sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|p=183}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 June 1976 |title=Bangaru Pathakam (Celluloid) |url=http://movies.syzygy.in/censor/bangaru-pathakam-celluloid |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181203151845/http://movies.syzygy.in/censor/bangaru-pathakam-celluloid |archive-date=3 December 2018 |access-date=3 December 2018 |website=Central Board of Film Certification}}</ref> It served as an inspiration for the Telugu film ''Kondaveeti Simham'' (1981),<ref>{{Cite news |last=Srikanth |date=18 January 2004 |title=Kadamba – Kannada |url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jan182004/mr2.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140325065406/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jan182004/mr2.asp |archive-date=25 March 2014 |access-date=3 December 2018 |work=Deccan Herald}}</ref> the Hindi film ''Shakti'' (1982),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verma |first=Sukanya |author-link=Sukanya Verma |date=22 August 2013 |title=This tragedy is never a spoiler in Shakti |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-classic-revisited-dilip-kumar-amitabh-bachchan-face-off-in-shakti/20130822.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231021050658/https://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-classic-revisited-dilip-kumar-amitabh-bachchan-face-off-in-shakti/20130822.htm |archive-date=21 October 2023 |access-date=21 October 2023 |website=Rediff.com}}</ref> and the Kannada film ''Kadamba'' (2004).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nanda Kumar |first=S. |date=22 October 2016 |title=Buzzing with ideas |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/577197/buzzing-ideas.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203141326/https://www.deccanherald.com/content/577197/buzzing-ideas.html |archive-date=3 December 2018 |access-date=3 December 2018 |work=Deccan Herald}}</ref> According to Rediff's N. Sathiya Moorthy, Ganesan's characterisation of Choudhry "became a role model for aspiring young police officers".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sathiya Moorthy |first=N. |date=22 July 2001 |title=Sivaji: Actor who revolutionised Tamil cinema |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2001/jul/21siv1.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181213102008/https://www.rediff.com/news/2001/jul/21siv1.htm |archive-date=13 December 2018 |access-date=13 December 2018 |website=Rediff.com}}</ref> The characterisation of the role became a benchmark in such a way that many later Tamil films would often refer to Choudhry when mentioning an "honest and upright officer".<ref name="TCRC" /> According to film historian G. Dhananjayan, the scene where Choudhry does not utter even a word after his wife's demise "is the way [Mahendran] started his brand of cinema".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 April 2019 |title=J Mahendran: A legend who redefined Tamil cinema |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/mahendran-a-legend-who-redefined-tamil-cinema/article26711490.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403130921/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/mahendran-a-legend-who-redefined-tamil-cinema/article26711490.ece |archive-date=3 April 2019 |access-date=20 December 2019 |work=Business Line |agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref> In ''Kalakalappu'' (2012), Pachchai Perumal (George Maryan)'s aspiration is to become a police commissioner and he admires several police officers in films such as S. P. Choudhry.<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L2szg6BtG4|title=#Santhanam #MirchiSiva அமிதாப் மாமாக்கு கோவம் வந்துருச்சு!! #tamilComedy #kalakalappucomedy #climax|language=ta|time=5:33|date=30 April 2021|via=YouTube}}</ref>
== References == <references>
<ref name="movie">{{Cite AV media |title=Thanga Pathakkam |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=Sivaji Productions |year=1974 |time=0:00 to 2:51 |time-caption=Opening credits, from}}</ref> <ref name="dinamalarnellai">{{Cite web |date=20 November 2016 |title=செலுலாய்ட் சோழன் சிவாஜி தொடர் 152 – சுதாங்கன் |url=http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/18406 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181203171458/http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/18406 |archive-date=3 December 2018 |access-date=3 December 2018 |website=Dinamalar |language=ta |location=Nellai}}</ref> <ref name="TCRC">{{Cite web |date=21 May 2015 |title=Thanga Padhakkam : From stage to celluloid |url=https://tcrcindia.com/2015/05/21/thanga-padhakkam-from-stage-to-celluloid/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181211055115/https://tcrcindia.com/2015/05/21/thanga-padhakkam-from-stage-to-celluloid/ |archive-date=11 December 2018 |access-date=11 December 2018 |website=The Cinema Resource Centre}}</ref> <ref name="Hindu Tamil">{{Cite web |date=22 November 2018 |title=என்றும் மின்னும் 'தங்கப் பதக்கம்' |trans-title=The ever-shining ''Thanga Pathakkam'' |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/144267-.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010061820/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/144267-.html |archive-date=10 October 2019 |access-date=10 October 2019 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}</ref>
</references>
== Bibliography == * {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |author-link=G. Dhananjayan |title=The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1931–1976 |publisher=Galatta Media |year=2011 |oclc=733724281}} * {{Cite book |last1=Ganesan |first1=Sivaji |author-link=Sivaji Ganesan |title=Autobiography of an Actor: Sivaji Ganesan, October 1928 – July 2001 |title-link=Autobiography of an Actor |last2=Narayana Swamy |first2=T.S. |publisher=Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust |year=2007 |location=Chennai |oclc=297212002 |orig-date=2002}} * {{Cite book |last=Mahendran |author-link=Mahendran (filmmaker) |title=சினிமாவும் நானும் |publisher=Karpagam Publications |year=2013 |language=ta |trans-title=Cinema and I |oclc=54777094 |orig-date=2004}} * {{Cite book |last=Sundararaman |title=Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music |publisher=Pichhamal Chintamani |year=2007 |edition=2nd |oclc=295034757 |orig-date=2005}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
{{P. Madhavan}}
Category:1970s police films Category:1974 Tamil-language films Category:1974 crime drama films Category:1974 films Category:1974 Indian films Category:Fictional portrayals of the Tamil Nadu Police Category:Films about dysfunctional families Category:Films about father–son relationships Category:Films about filicide Category:Films directed by P. Madhavan Category:Films scored by M. S. Viswanathan Category:Indian crime drama films Category:Indian films based on plays Category:Indian police films Category:Tamil films remade in other languages Category:Tamil-language crime drama films Category:Tamil-language Indian films