# Irumbu Thirai (1960 film)

Irumbu Thirai (transl. Iron Curtain) is a 1960 Indian Tamil-language film produced and directed by S. S. Vasan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Vyjayanthimala, K. A. Thangavelu and B. Saroja Devi, with S. V. Ranga Rao, Pandari Bai and Vasundhara Devi in supporting roles. A remake of Vasan's own Hindi film Paigham (1959), it revolves around two brothers Manikam and Kondamuthu and their mill owner.
The soundtrack was composed by S. V. Venkatraman and the lyrics were written by Kothamangalam Subbu, Papanasam Sivan and Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram. The editing was done by M. Umanath while the camera was handled by P. Elappa and N. C. Bala Krishna. The film was released on 14 January 1960 and ran more than 175 days in theatres.

## Plot

The story revolves around two brothers Manikam and Saravanan and their mill owner.

## Cast

* Sivaji Ganesan as Manickavasagam (alias) Manickam
* Vyjayanthimala as Jayanthi
* B. Saroja Devi as Malathi
* Pandari Bai as Parvathi
* S. V. Subbaiah as Saravanan
* S. V. Ranga Rao as Mohanarangam
* Vasundhara Devi as Jayanthi's mother
* Radha Bai as Malathi's mother
* K. A. Thangavelu as Kottamuthu
* T. S. Durairaj as Gundu Pillai
* Vanaja as Challi
* D. Balasubramaniam as Judge
* Parthiban as Circle Inspector
* Javar Seetharaman as Lawyer
* Mukherji as Inspector
* Seetalakshmi as Sheela
* G. V. Sharma as Jeevan
* Pushpamala as Kamala
* Master Gopi as Bhola
* Karupaiah as Kundan
* S. R. Janaki as Saravanan and Manickam's mother
* Pattusamy as Sleuth
* Azhwar Kuppusami as Prosecutor
* Kannan as Factory Laber's

## Production

In 1959, S. S. Vasan, the proprietor of Gemini Studios, began working on a film built around capital-labour relations. The film, which was the Tamil remake of his own Hindi film Paigham, was untitled, and the creative team of Gemini could not come up with a convincing title. Vasan invited his employees to suggest a title for the under-production film, and he received an abundance of entries; one office boy submitted as many as 2500 entries. After examining one by one, Vasan chose the title Irumbu Thirai (transl. Iron Curtain). He also hosted a reception to honour the boy who suggested the title and rewarded him with some prize money. Besides producing, Vasan also directed the film.
The female cast of Paigham – Vyjayanthimala, B. Saroja Devi and Pandari Bai – returned to star in Irumbu Thirai, while Sivaji Ganesan reprised the role originally played by Dilip Kumar. It was a "coup of sorts" for Vasan to cast Ganesan since the latter had earlier been rejected by the former for a role in Chandralekha (1948), an incident which created a permanent rift between them. Vyjayanthimala's mother Vasundhara Devi played her screen mother as well, having done the same in Paigham. The final length of the film was 18396 feet.

## Themes

Irumbu Thirai focuses on capital-labour relations, and the conditions of working-class people.

## Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by S. V. Venkatraman. The album had Kothamangalam Subbu, Papanasam Sivan and Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram as the lyricists. The song "Nenjil Kudiyirukkum" is set in the carnatic raga known as Shanmukhapriya, while the classical-themed "Enna Seidhaalum" is set in Kharaharapriya.
| Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length |
| "Nenjil Kudiyirukkum" | T. M. Soundararajan & P. Leela | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 03:57 |
| "Aasai Konda Nenju Rendu" | P. Leela | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 04:27 |
| "Manidharai Manidhar Sari Nigar Samamaai" | Sirkazhi Govindarajan | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 02:40 |
| "Kaiyile Vaanginen Paiyile Podalai" | Thiruchi Loganathan | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 03:00 |
| "Erai Piditthavanum English Padichavanum" | Thiruchi Loganathan | Kothamangalam Subbu | 03:19 |
| "Nandri Ketta Manitharukku" | Sirkazhi Govindarajan | Kothamangalam Subbu | 03:22 |
| "Dabba Dabba Dabba" | S. C. Krishnan | Kothamangalam Subbu | |
| "Padipirkum Oru Kumbidu" | P. Leela & Jikki | Kothamangalam Subbu | 02:47 |
| "Nikkatuma Pogatuma" | Thiruchi Loganathan & K. Jamuna Rani | Kothamangalam Subbu | |
| "Enna Seidhaalum" | (Radha) Jayalakshmi | Papanasam Sivan | 02:52 |

## Release and reception

Irumbu Thirai was released on 14 January 1960. Kanthan of Kalki wrote. The film was a commercial success, running for over 175 days in theatres and thereby becoming silver jubilee film.