Ratha Thilagam
Ratha Thilagam () is a 1963 Indian Tamil-language romantic war film directed by Dada Mirasi. The film stars Sivaji and Savitri Ganesan (no relation). Based on the Sino-Indian border dispute of 1962, it was released on 14 September 1963. The film was not commercially successful. Plot. Kumar is a graduate who decides to enlist in the Indian Army, following news of Chinese invasion in the country during the midst of the Sino-Indian War, only to find out that his love interest Kamala was working against the Indian Army. Production. "Ratha Thilagam" is based on the Sino -Indian border dispute of 1962. It was directed by Dada Mirasi who also wrote the screenplay. It was produced under National Movies by Panchu Arunachalam and P. V. Krishnan while Kannadasan, along with, P.C. Ganesan and Thyagan wrote the dialogue; Kannadasan also presented the film. Cinematography was handled by Jagirdhar and editing by R. Devarajan. Themes. Critic Baradwaj Rangan noted "Ratha Thilagam"s similarities to the Bengali film "Saptapadi" (1961) in that both films had "the backdrop of war, the star-crossed lovers, and, of course, the staging of "Othello", which, in both films, appears to have been dubbed by the  same voices (Jennifer Kapoor, Utpal Dutt)." Writing for "The Times of India", Ganesh Krishnamoorthy felt that, as the film was set in the backdrop of the Sino-Indian War, "this scene, used as a play enacted by the characters, provides a structural unity to the main plot." Soundtrack. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan. The songs "Oru Koppaiyila", "Pasumai Niraintha" were well received. Release and reception. "Ratha Thilagam" was released on 14 September 1963. Kanthan of "Kalki" praised the film for the comedy subplot and the "Othello" play. T. M. Ramachandran, writing for "Sport and Pastime", commended Ganesan  and Savitri's performances, calling their roles in the Othello play the film's "pièce de résistance". The film was not commercially successful.