Ethir Neechal (1968 film)

Ethir Neechal
Poster
Tamil	எதிர் நீச்சல்
Directed by	K. Balachander
Produced by	N. Selvaraj B. Duraisamy N. Krishnan
Written by	K. Balachander
Based on	Ethir Neechal by K. Balachander
Starring	Nagesh R. Muthuraman Sowcar Janaki Jayanthi Major Sundarrajan Manorama S. N. Lakshmi Sreekanth
Music by	M. S. Viswanathan V. Kumar
Cinematography	N. Balakrishnan
Edited by	N. R. Kittu
Production company	Kalakendra Movies
Distributed by	Kalakendra Movies
Release date	1968
Running time	165 mins
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Ethir Neechal (English: Swim Against the Tide) is a 1968 Tamil language drama film directed by K. Balachander starring Nagesh, Jayanthi, Sowcar Janaki, R. Muthuraman and Sreekanth. It is based on a stage play of the same name, also written by Balachander. The film was remade in Hindi as Lakhon Mein Ek with Mahmood.

Maadhu (Nagesh) is a destitute orphan who performs odd jobs in a multi-family tenancy for his living and education. For the services he renders, he's allowed to sleep under the stairs of the tenancy without any rent. He attends college with the help from one of his college professor and kind people that share roof in that tenancy he lives. Among few people who understand his situation, and are ready to help are Major Sundrarajan and Nair (Muthuraman). He overhears one of the tenants speaking to her husband of getting him married to their daughter (Jayanthi) who is said to be psychologically challenged. He forcefully makes his mind to love their daughter even before they propose a marriage, so as to calm himself that the girl is none other than the girl he loved and not some unknown psychologically challenged girl. How she proves that she's indeed a normal person and also helps Maadhu to prove his worth forms the rest of the plot.

This film was remade in Telugu in 1970 titled Sambarala Rambabu starring Chalam and Sharada.

The music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and V. Kumar. All Songs were written by Vaali.