Server Sundaram

For the unreleased film, see Server Sundaram (unreleased film).

Server Sundaram
Black and white newspaper ad. From top to bottom are the pictures of K. R. Vijaya, R. Muthuraman and Nagesh
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKrishnan–Panju
Written byK. Balachander
Based onServer Sundaram
by K. Balachander
Produced byA. V. Meiyappan
StarringNagesh
Muthuraman
K. R. Vijaya
CinematographyS. Maruti Rao
Edited byS. Panjabi
R. Vittal
Music byViswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Production
company
Release date
  • 11 December 1964 (1964-12-11)
Running time
165 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Server Sundaram is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film directed by Krishnan–Panju and produced by A. V. Meiyappan. The film stars Nagesh as the title character. Muthuraman and K. R. Vijaya play the other lead roles while Major Sundarrajan, S. N. Lakshmi and Manorama play supporting roles. It focuses on a hotel waiter who strives to reach greater heights after he becomes an actor to attain the love of his restaurateur's daughter.

The film was adapted from a 1963 play of the same name written by K. Balachander, with the play also featuring Nagesh himself in the title role along with Sundarrajan and Lakshmi who reprised their roles in the film. Balachander also wrote the screenplay for the film. Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy composed the film's soundtrack and background music, while Kannadasan, Vaali and V. Seetharaman wrote the lyrics for the soundtrack's songs.

Server Sundaram was released on 11 December 1964. It received critical acclaim, with praise directed mainly at Nagesh's performance and Balachander's screenplay. The film went on to become a commercial success, with a theatrical run of over 100 days. At the 12th National Film Awards, it won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil under the Certificate of Merit category, and the Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil.

Server Sundaram earned Nagesh and Balachander their breakthrough in Tamil cinema and led to many successful collaborations between the two. It became the first Tamil film to show numerous behind-the-scenes looks at various processes involved in film-making such as the studio interiors and song recording. The film was remade into Hindi as Main Sunder Hoon (1971) and Kannada as Server Somanna (1993).

  1. ^ Goble 1999, p. 21.