Ek Tha Raja (1951 film)

Ek Tha Raja

Theatrical Poster
Directed by K. Ramnoth
Produced by Jupiter Pictures
Written by A. S. A. Sami
Starring M. G. Ramachandran
M. N. Nambiar
S. A. Natarajan
Anjali Devi
Javar Seetharaman
Serukulathur Sama
Madhuri Devi
Music by C. R. Subburaman
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Cinematography Masthan
W. R. Subbarao
Edited by M. A. Thirumugham
Release dates
  • 15 June 1951
Running time
 175 minutes (15,760 feet)
Country India
Language Hindi

Ek Tha Raja (English: Once Upon A Time, There Was King) is a 1951 Tamil film directed by K. Ramnoth and starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and M. N. Nambiar. The screen play was written by A. S. A. Sami based on a Marie Corelli novel. This film cemented the onscreen image of MGR as a social rebel and fighter for justice. It was also made in Hindi (as Ek tha Raja) at the same time. It was the first Tamil film to receive an "A" (Adults Only) certificate from the film censor board.[1][2][3][4][5]

Plot

A King's (Serukalathur Sama) mistress (Anjali Devi) usurps his power and casts him adrift in a river. The two princes of the kingdom (Sahasranamam and MGR) are denied their birthright. The deposed king wanders the country in the guise of a sage. The younger prince (MGR) leads a popular rebellion against the usurper-queen and restores the kingdom to his father.

Cast and crew

Production

After the success of Rajakumari (1947) - his first film as hero, MGR wanted to act in a film which would be centered around him. He persuaded A. S. A. Sami to write a script that would promote him as a fighter against injustice. Sami wrote a script based on Marie Corelli's novel Vendetta with elements of Robin Hood in it. The script was initially titled Karikalan (after the chola king karikalan). This was a break from tradition, when the usual practice was to give the hero (and the film title) Sanskrit names like Veerasimhan or Pratapan. The film's title was changed to Marmayogi (lit. The mysterious sage) to avoid it being confused as a historical film. The film was produced by Jupiter Pictures at the Central Studios in Coimbatore. K. Ramnoth was hired as director. Serukulathur Sama, Sahasranamam, S. A. Natarajan, M. N. Nambiar and Anjali Devi were cast in the film. The film's dialogue was written carefully to embellish MGR's image as a social rebel and do-gooder. The film was also made simultaneously in Hindi as Ek tha raja. The film was given an "A" (Adults Only) certificate by the film censor board because it featured a ghost.[1][4][3][6][7][8]

Reception

The film was released on 2 February 1951 and was a box office success. It cemented MGR's onscreen image as a champion of the underprivileged and hinted at his political ambitions. His lines in the film became famous - especially the Naan kuri vaithaal thavara maatten! Thavarumey aanaal kuri vaikka maatten (lit.If I aim, it will not fail; if it will fail, I will not aim).[1][3][4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Blast from the Past - Marmayogi 1951, The Hindu 14 March 2004
  2. ↑ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1994). Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. British Film Institute. p. 302. ISBN 0-85170-455-7, ISBN 978-0-85170-455-5.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal padaitha Tamil Thiraipada Varalaaru (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publications. pp. 28:57.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Pandian, M. S. S (1992). The image trap: M.G. Ramachandran in film and politics. Sage. p. 45. ISBN 0803994036, ISBN 978-0-8039-9403-4.
  5. ↑ Baskaran, S. Theodore (1996). The eye of the serpent: an introduction to Tamil cinema. Chennai: East West Books. p. 180.
  6. ↑ "Walt Disney to produce Kamal film 'Marma Yogi'". www.nowrunning.com. 2008-01-17. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  7. ↑ "Marma Yogi - Kamal and Walt Disney". www.indiaglitz.com (in Walt Disney to produce Kamal film 'Marma Yogi'). 2008-01-19. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  8. ↑ Unilit, Volume 24. Secunderabad,: Andhra Viswa Sahiti. 1985. p. 18.

External links