Karaikkal Ammaiyar (film)

Karaikkal Ammaiyar காரைக்கால் அம்மையார்
DVD Cover
Directed by	A. P. Nagarajan
Produced by	Indra Rajan
Written by	A. P. Nagarajan
Story by	A. P. Nagarajan
Starring	Lakshmi K. B. Sundarambal R. Muthuraman Sivakumar Srividya Manorama V. S. Raghavan S. V. Sahasranamam Suruli Rajan
Music by	Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Cinematography	W. R. Subbah Rao
Edited by	T. Vijayarangam
Production company	EVEEYAAR Films/E. V. R. Films
Distributed by	EVEERYAAR Films/E. V. R. Films
Release date	1 January 1973
Running time	150 mins
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Karaikkal Ammaiyar (தமிழ்: காரைக்கால் அம்மையார்) is a 1973 Indian Tamil Hindu mythological film written and directed by A. P. Nagarajan and produced by EVR Films. The film's soundtrack was composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan. The film stars Lakshmi—who played the younger-age Punithavathi role—and K. B. Sundarambal—who played the old-age role—as the title characters, with R. Muthuraman, Manorama , Suruli Rajan, V. S. Raghavan, S. V. Sahasranamam, Sivakumar and Srividya playing supporting roles. Karaikkal Ammaiyar is one of the three women saints among the 63 Nayanmars and is considered one of the greatest figure of Tamil literature. She was born in Karaikkal during the Chola period, a maritime center. Ammaiyar was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and she is believed to have lived during the 6th century. Named Punithavathi.

Punithavathi (Lakshmi) right from childhood she had great faith in Lord Shiva and worshipped him daily. As a young girl, she built a Sivalingam in sand stunning people. Her father Dhanathatthan(V. S. Raghavan) was a Merchant. As a young girl, She chanted Namshivaya Mantra of Lord Shiva several times daily, and took care of of Shiva coming to her village. Later She was married to Paramathathan(R. Muthuraman) son of a wealthy merchant from Nagapattinam. Devotee of Lord Shiva continued to visit her home, who she lavishly food and gave cloths to. Once, her husband sent her two Mangoes to be kept for him. That day, a hungry Siva devotee come to her residence. As lunch was not yet ready. Punithavathi gave the guest Curd rice and one of the Mangoes. Later, when the husband came home she served a mango, he asked for the second. She was at a loss and prayed to Lord Shiva(Sivakumar). Suddenly, a mango appeared in her hands. She served the mango to her husband, who found it extremely divine delicious compared to the previous one and asked her now she got the second fruit. Since he was not religious, she was scared of revealing the truth. He began suspecting her and asked to get another fruit. She gave him a Mango that she got by prayer, the fruit disappeared when he touched it. He realised that his wife was no ordinary women.