Kanchana (1952 film)

Kanchana

Promotional poster in Tamil
Directed by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu
Produced by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu
Written by Manickam
Munshi Paramu Pillai
Screenplay by Manickam
Story by Kanchanayin Kanavu
by Lakshmi Tripurasundari
Starring K. R. Ramasamy
Lalitha
Padmini
M. N. Nambiar
Release date
  • 1 May 1952 (1952-05-01)
Country India
Language Tamil
Telugu
Malayalam

Kanchana is a 1952 Indian Tamil-Telugu-Malayalam drama film produced and directed by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu. The story is based on a popular Tamil novel Kanchanayin Kanavu, authored by Lakshmi Thiripurasundari.[1]

Plot

Pushpanathan is Zamindar of Mathur and his widowed mother Ponnammal. He is persuaded by his college mate Manohar to start a textile mill. Manohar manages to manipulate and divert Pushpanathan's wealth. He introduces Pushpanathan to a dancer in the city, Bhanumathi. Bhanumathi, though daughter of a prostitute, leads an honorable life. Bhanumathi is in love with Pushpanathan.

Neelamegham Pillai, the former accountant of the Zamindari, now lives in utter poverty. His grandchildren are Kanchana and Sabeshan. Pushpanathan comes to help his family. He becomes enamoured by Kanchana and weds her. He assures Bhanumathi that his marriage will not affect his love for her. Kanchana is ill-treated by her mother-in-law. She is heart-broken when she comes to know of her husband's relationship with Bhanumathi. The financial crisis caused by the construction of the textile mill and domestic worries disturbs Pushanathan's peace of mind.

Seetha, a young lady doctor comes to Mathur. Pushpanathan is drawn to her. But Seetha is in love with her college mate doctor Sabeshan. Kanchana burns with suspicion and jealousy. Seetha leaves Mathur to avoid Pushpanathan, who vents his anger on the wife. Kanchana leave home and Pushpanathan does not allow Kanchana to take her son. Ponnammal gradually begins to realise what the value of Kanchana. She and Bhanumati asks Pushpanathan to bring Kanchana back home. Bhanumathi dies and transfers all her wealth to Kanchana's son. The story ends with Sabeshan wedding Seetha and Pushpanathan brings Kanchana back to home.

Cast

Production

Kanchana was the screen version of a popular Tamil novel ‘Kanchanayin Kanavu', authored by Tripurasundari, popularly known by her pen name "Lakshmi". The novel serially published in the Tamil weekly ‘Ananda Vikatan' got widespread acceptance and appreciation from the readers for the morals it conveyed.[2] The popularity of the novel prompted Sreeramulu Naidu to produce the film based on this story.[1]

Soundtrack

There are two Kritis composed by Muthuswami Dikshitar and sung by M. L. Vasanthakumari included in the film. The raga that is called Tharangini in Muthuswami Dikshitar school, is otherwise known as Charukesi.

Music was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu while the lyrics were penned by Papanasam Sivan, V. A. Gopalakrishnan and Namakkal R. Balasubramaniam. Singer is K. R. Ramaswamy. Playback singers are P. A. Periyanayaki, M. L. Vasanthakumari and (Radha) Jayalakshmi.[3]

No. Song Singer/s Lyricist Duration (m:ss)
1 Maye Thvam yaahi
(Raga: Tharangini) 		M. L. Vasanthakumari Muthuswami Dikshitar 02:21
2 'Shivakameshwari Chintaye
(Raga: Kalyani) 		02:44
3 Ullam Kavarndha En P. A. Periyanayaki & K. R. Ramasami
4 Etham Poattu Iraikanum (Radha) Jayalakshmi
5 Pazhaniyappa Nin Padam
(Raga: Simhendramadhyamam)		 Papanasam Sivan
6 En Vaazhve Sogam Aaguma P. A. Periyanayaki
7 O Aasai Rajaa
8 Inimel Orupothum
9 Azhagu Nilaa Vaa Vaa
10 Chella Kiliye chezhundhene
11 Inba Padaginile Thunba Puyal
12 Gandhi Mahaanai Kumbiduvai

Trivia

Novelist Lakshmi said, while her novel was serialised in the weekly, readers asked her whether she had actresses Lalitha and Padmini in her mind when writing the novel. Therefore, when Sri Ramulu Naidu bought the rights to make the novel into a film, she requested him to cast Lalitha and Padmini in the roles.[3]

Reception

Although the performances of Ramasami, Lalitha, Padmini and Duraiswami were praised, according to Randor Guy, Kanchana was not commercially successful in either of its versions.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 B. Vijayakumar. "Old gold". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  2. ↑ Dhananjayan 2014, p. 95.
  3. 1 2 G. Neelamegam. Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition December 2014. p. 33 - 34.
  4. ↑ "Kanchana 1952". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.

Bibliography

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