Oru Thaai Makkal was based on the 1960s superhit Hindi movie Ayee Milan Ki Bela , starring Rajendra Kumar, Dharmendra, Saira Banu, and Shashikala that was directed by Mohan Kumar. The film is set in the house of Rajan, a rich man. Rajan’s maid (Pandari Bai) gives birth to male twins. At the same time, Rajan’s wife delivers a stillborn baby, and is told she cannot conceive thereafter. Rajan then decides to take one baby born to the maid, and begs Pandari Bai to keep it as a secret from his wife.
His wife raises the child as her own. Years later, the maid’s son (MGR) grows up and works on a farm, while the other son, (Muthuraman), growing up as Rajan’s son, goes abroad and returns to India highly qualified. The manager of the farm (Ashokan) has a daughter (Jayalalithaa), who is drawn to MGR, but because of the difference in their status he keeps himself away, even though he falls in love with her. The parents propose to marry Jayalalithaa to Muthuraman, who has already fallen in love with her. But Jayalalithaa is not interested in him. Further complications arise at the farm. The manager (M.N. Nambiar), the villain, cheats the farm owner by stealthily selling away agriculture produce from the farm. When he is caught red-handed, he puts the blame on MGR. Muthuraman, in the meantime, kidnaps Jayalalithaa in order to force her into marrying him. MGR then rushes in to save her from the clutches of Muthuraman. The brothers separated at birth are unaware of their relationship.
All the complications are solved and the couple unites in the end.
Oru Thaai Makkal was produced by Nanjil Productions and T.A. Durai Raj, and directed by Pa. Neelakantan, who made as many as 17 films with MGR, with most becoming hits.
This film, however, was not a major success and ran only for 70 days, which, is a disappointment for an MGR movie.
The Tamil version was written by Sornam, a close associate of MGR and Neelakantan, and music was composed by M.S. Viswanathan, with lyrics by Vaali and Kavignar Kannadasan.
The songs, however, did not become hits as expected. Cinematography was by V. Ramamurthi and editing was by R. Devarajan.
This movie, including the lead cast of the main roles, had many similarities with another MGR-Jayalalithaa movie, Kannan En Kadhalan , which came out a few years earlier.
Remembered for: Fine performances of MGR and Jayalalithaa as the lovers, and the polished performance of Muthuraman.
