Viduthalai (1954 film)

Viduthalai is a 1954 Indian Tamil-language crime drama film directed and produced by K. Ramnoth. It was adapted from the play The First and the Last by John Galsworthy. The film stars V. Nagayya and Manohar. It was released on 12 February 1954 and failed at the box office.

Plot
Periaswamy, a crooked lawyer, tries to get his brother Chellaiah off a murder charge by framing Murugan, a horse carriage driver. Overcome with guilt, Chellaiah donates the money he wins in a lottery to Murugan and confesses to his crime in a letter before committing suicide. Periaswamy burns the letter, believing it will affect his chances of being promoted to judge, but the police arrest him, thinking he committed double murder.

Cast

 * V. Nagayya as Periaswamy
 * Manohar as Chellaiah
 * T. V. Kumudhini as Chellaiah's wife
 * Peer Mohammed as Murugan
 * Nott Annaji Rao as the judge

Production
Viduthalai was adapted from the play The First and the Last by John Galsworthy, and was the inaugural production of New Era Productions. Cinematography was handled by Babulnath Walke, and the editing by Paul G. Yadav. K. Ramnoth directed the film, which was produced by G. Ramakrishnan.

Soundtrack
The music was composed by Lakshman Raghunath.

Release and reception
Viduthalai was released on 12 February 1954, and was distributed by Subbu & Co. The film failed commercially, jeopardising Ramnoth in the process.