Sumaithaangi (Eng: One Who Shoulders the Burden) is a 1962 Tamil language movie directed by C. V. Sridhar. Sumaithaangi, produced by Kovai Chezhiyan, had musical score by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and was released on 7 December 1962.
The plot is about the life of a young man (Gemini Ganesan) who could not lead his life the way he wanted but gets forced to undergo so many sacrifices and pressures. Sumaithaangi is considered as one of the finest classics in Tamil cinema, crafted by the legendary director C. V. Sridhar and is best remembered for Gemini Ganesan’s performance.
Sumaithaangi starts with a typical middle-class family counting on the salary of Muthuraman, as he goes to each member comprising retired father Sarangapani, younger brother Gemini Ganesan (GG) and younger sister L.Vijayalakshmi, giving their monthly quota.
GG is a collegian, who is challenged by his friends, Nagesh and others to try his youthful exuberance against Devika, their former school teacher V.S.Raghavan’s only daughter. He accepts the challenge and enters their household as a student trying to learn English literature. As days pass by, GG successfully makes Devika fall in love with him.
Muthuraman is the lead member and the family thrives purely on his earnings. One day, a dejected Muthuraman informs everyone that he has lost his job. His sick company is wound up. Consequently, the family is left with bare minimum to meet with. Pressure mounts on GG to leave his college and take up a job. GG gets a job for Rs. 150. Gemini happily owns the family’s responsibility. Meanwhile, L.Vijayalakshmi is in love with GG’s friend and has to get married. It so happens that while walking on the beach, GG identifies a purse, which belongs to a retired judge. He hands it over to the retired judge, who soon visits GG’s house, meets Sarangapani, mentions about GG’s noble deed and expresses his desire to offer his daughter in marriage to GG. He also promises a decent job for Muthuraman and also Rs.20,000 as additional sum to support the family. The judge’s daughter is Indira Devi, a friend of Devika and a chronic fits patient. This nervous weakness of his daughter was duly conveyed to Sarangapani but he decides not to inform GG in the larger interests of the family. The enduring double benefit makes Sarangapani conceal the shortcoming.
Meanwhile, V.S.Raghavan aware of the love, meets Sarangapani and proposes for Devika but Sarangapani rejects it outright, saying that this alliance will do no good to both the families. GG reluctantly had to yield out of family pressure and decides to sacrifice his love. Devika is shocked by this development and so is V.S.Raghavan. L.Vijayalakshmi happily marries her lover.
Directed by C. V. Sridhar
Produced by Kovai Chezhiyan
Written by C. V. Sridhar
Screenplay by C. V. Sridhar
Story by Ra. Ki. Rangarajan
Starring Gemini Ganesan, Devika, R. Muthuraman, Nagesh, L. Vijayalakshmi, Haranath, Leelavathi
Music by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Cinematography A. Vincent
Edited by N. M. Shankar
Production Visaalakshi Films
Distributed by Visaalakshi Films
Release dates 7 December 1962
Running time 147 mins
Country India
Language Tamil
