Adimai Penn

Slave Woman) is a 1969 Indian Tamil-language historical action film directed by K. Shankar and produced by M. G. Ramachandran and R. M. Veerappan.

The film stars Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, with Ashokan, Pandari Bai, Rajasree, Manohar, Chandrababu and Cho in supporting roles.

The project entered production with him directing and starring, B. Saroja Devi and K. R. Vijaya co-starring and P. N. Sundaram as cinematographer, but was dropped after some progress.

Adimai Penn was released on 1 May 1969 and became a box office success, with a theatrical run of over 175 days, and a turning point in Ramachandran's career.

A digitally restored version of the film was released on 14 July 2017 Abhirami Mangamma, a princess, is desired by Sengodan, a king.

The king's aide is imprisoned and sees Vengaiyan, who has been forced to live in a two-foot-high cell, and has not learnt how to speak or eat with his hands.

The aide dies in his granddaughter Jeeva's arms after she promises to heal Vengaiyan and help abolish slavery in their country.

When he is helping the girl (who is bound between two heavy wooden planks, like a pillory), his spine straightens, allowing him to stand normally.

When he sees his mother's condition, Vengaiyan vows to free the country from Sengodan's enslavement.

The prince, with help from Jeeva and others, attacks a group of soldiers and begins freeing people from slavery.

During one assault, he meets Magudapathy, the leader of the neighbouring Pavala kingdom who is related to Sengodan.

The commander goes to the prison and admits his plan; Vengaiyan kills him and escapes with Pavalavalli, thinking she is Jeeva.

When relaunched with a new story, Ramachandran remained in his positions (except directing, which was given to K. Shankar) and Jayalalithaa was cast as the sole female lead, while V. Ramamoorthy was hired as the new cinematographer,[9] and K. Narayanan as the editor.

[9] During the filming, Ramachandran was given a white fur cap to shield him from the desert sun; this would later become his signature look.

[17] According to Ramachandran, Adimai Penn is neither a historical nor a social, or a "story with exciting, cinematic effects", but it focuses "on some fundamental issues in the society, which makes the human spirit to suffer and weaken.

[18] It marked Jayalalithaa's debut as a playback singer;[19] on the sets of Kannan En Kadhalan (1968), Ramachandran saw her perform a Mirabai bhajan.

[20] Although the first Tamil film signed by playback singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam was Shanti Nilayam,[21] Adimai Penn (in which he sang "Aayiram Nilave Vaa") ended up releasing earlier.