Kappalottiya Tamizhan facts for kids
Kappalottiya Tamizhan (which means "The Tamilian who drives the ship") is a Tamil movie from 1961. It tells the exciting story of a real-life hero, V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, who was a brave freedom fighter. He worked hard to make India free from British rule. The movie was directed by B.R. Panthulu and starred famous actors like Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesan. Even though it won a special award, the National Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, it didn't make much money at the box office.
Contents
A Story of Freedom
This movie brings to life the story of V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, often called V.O.C. He was a very important person in India's fight for independence. V.O.C. was known for starting the first Indian shipping company. This was a big step against the British companies that controlled trade at the time. The movie shows his courage and how he inspired many people.
Who Was V.O.C.?
V.O.C. was a lawyer, a leader, and a strong supporter of Indian businesses. He believed that Indians should control their own trade and industries. His shipping company, the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, was a symbol of self-reliance. The movie highlights his efforts to challenge British power in India.
Meet the Movie Makers
The film was made by a talented team. B.R. Panthulu was the director, guiding the actors and crew.
The Main Actors
Sivaji Ganesan played the role of V. O. Chidambaram Pillai. He was a very popular actor known for his powerful performances. Gemini Ganesan also played an important part in the movie. Other actors like S. V. Subbaiah, T. K. Shanmugham, S. V. Ranga Rao, Savitri, and S. A. Ashokan helped bring the story to life.
Why This Movie Was Special
Kappalottiya Tamizhan was special for a few reasons. It was one of the first movies to tell the story of a freedom fighter in such detail.
National Award Winner
The movie received the National Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. This award is given to films that are considered excellent in their category. It showed that the movie was highly respected for its quality and important message.
Tax Exemption for Patriotism
The Government of India decided that this movie did not need to pay taxes. This was because the movie showed strong feelings of patriotism and love for the country. It was the first Tamil movie to get such a tax break. This special treatment showed how important the government felt the movie's message was.
Box Office Performance
Even with its important message and awards, Kappalottiya Tamizhan did not do well financially. It lost about 7 Lakhs (700,000) Indian Rupees. This means that not enough people bought tickets to watch it in theaters. Sometimes, even great movies with important stories don't become big hits.
